Wire spool repair device and method of using same

Abstract

The present invention advantageously provides a wire spool repair device for a damaged wire spool having a central cylindrical portion with an axial bore and inner cylinder surface and a pair of opposing end plates attached thereto, the repair device including: an end plate, an attachment mechanism disposed on said end plate, a plurality of gripping fingers pivotally attached to said attachment mechanism and operative between retracted and attachment positions, and wherein insertion of said attachment mechanism into the axial bore of a wire spool and pivoting of said plurality of gripping fingers to the attachment position causes said plurality of gripping fingers to move into contacting relationship with the inner cylinder surface of the wire spool thereby attaching the repair device to the wire spool.

1 . A wire spool repair device for a damaged wire spool having a central cylindrical portion with an axial bore and inner cylinder surface, and a pair of opposing end plates attached thereto, the repair device comprising:
 an end plate;   an attachment mechanism disposed on said end plate; and   a plurality of gripping fingers pivotally attached to said attachment mechanism and operative between retracted and attachment positions.   
     
     
         2 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism further includes a spreader base adjacent to said end plate. 
     
     
         3 . The repair device of  claim 2 , wherein said spreader base has the plurality of gripping fingers pivotally attached thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The repair device of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of gripping fingers each has an angled spreader face, said fingers operative between retracted and attachment positions. 
     
     
         5 . The repair device of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of gripping fingers each has a gripping surface adjacent to said angled spreader face. 
     
     
         6 . The repair device of  claim 5 , wherein the attachment mechanism further includes a spreader drive body disposed adjacent to said spreader base. 
     
     
         7 . The repair device of  claim 6 , wherein said spreader drive body has a substantially conical spreader face. 
     
     
         8 . The repair device of  claim 7 , wherein axial translation of the spreader drive body toward the spreader base causes said angled spreader faces of the gripping fingers to come into sliding contact with said conical spreader face thereby causing the gripping fingers to pivot to said attachment position. 
     
     
         9 . The repair device of  claim 6 , wherein the spreader base and spreader drive body each have an axial bore. 
     
     
         10 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein when said attachment mechanism is inserted into the axial bore of a wire spool and said plurality of gripping fingers are pivoted to the attachment position, the plurality of gripping fingers are in contacting relationship with the inner cylinder surface of the wire spool. 
     
     
         11 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein when said attachment mechanism is inserted into the axial bore of a wire spool and the gripping fingers are in the attachment position, the end plate is adjacent and abutting an end plate of a wire spool. 
     
     
         12 . A wire spool repair device for a damaged wire spool having a central cylindrical portion with an axial bore and inner cylinder surface, and a pair of opposing end plates attached thereto, the repair device comprising:
 an end plate;   an attachment mechanism disposed on said end plate having a spreader base and a spreader drive body with a substantially conical spreader face;   a plurality of gripping fingers pivotally attached to said spreader base, each having an angled spreader face, said fingers operative between retracted and attachment positions; and   wherein axial translation of said drive body brings said conical spreader face into sliding contacting relationship with said angled spreader face of said gripping fingers whereby said plurality of gripping fingers are pivoted outward to said attachment position.   
     
     
         13 . The repair device of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of gripping fingers each has a gripping surface adjacent to said angled spreader face. 
     
     
         14 . The repair device of  claim 12 , wherein the spreader base and spreader drive body each have an axial bore. 
     
     
         15 . The repair device of  claim 12 , wherein when said attachment mechanism is inserted into the axial bore of a wire spool and said plurality of gripping fingers are pivoted to the attachment position, the plurality of gripping fingers are in contacting relationship with the inner cylinder surface of the wire spool. 
     
     
         16 . The repair device of  claim 12 , wherein when said attachment mechanism is inserted into the axial bore of a wire spool and the gripping fingers are in the attachment position, the end plate is adjacent and abutting an end plate of a wire spool. 
     
     
         17 . A wire spool repair device for a damaged wire spool having a central cylindrical portion with an axial bore and inner cylinder surface, and a pair of opposing end plates attached thereto, the repair device comprising:
 an end plate;   an attachment mechanism disposed on said end plate having a spreader base and a spreader drive body with a substantially conical spreader face wherein the spreader base and spreader drive body each have an axial bore;   a plurality of gripping fingers pivotally attached to said spreader base, each having an angled spreader face and a gripping surface adjacent to said angled spreader face, said fingers operative between retracted and attachment positions; and   wherein axial translation of said drive body brings said conical spreader face into sliding contacting relationship with said angled spreader face of said gripping fingers whereby said plurality of gripping fingers are pivoted outward to said attachment position.   
     
     
         18 . The repair device of  claim 17 , wherein when said attachment mechanism is inserted into the axial bore of a wire spool and said plurality of gripping fingers are pivoted to the attachment position, the plurality of gripping fingers are in contacting relationship with the inner cylinder surface of the wire spool. 
     
     
         19 . The repair device of  claim 17 , wherein when said attachment mechanism is inserted into the axial bore of a wire spool and the gripping fingers are in the attachment position, the end plate is adjacent an end plate of a wire spool. 
     
     
         20 . The repair device of  claim 17 , wherein said end plate further includes an annular lip adapted to overlap and contain a wire spool end plate when the attachment mechanism is inserted into the axial bore of a wire spool and said repair device end plate is adjacent the wire spool end plate.