Compressible cord reel

Abstract

A compressible reel that includes two flanges, a flange connector, and two core wraps, where the flange connector and core wraps include scoring such that the compressible reel may be compressed substantially flat.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A compressible reel, comprising:
 two flat flanges of equal size and shape, each of which comprises two flange core wrap slots;   a flange connector comprising:
 three polygon portions, comprising a first half polygon, a full polygon, and a second half polygon, wherein said first half polygon and said second half polygon combined comprise a same shape and size as said full polygon; 
 first and second bridges disposed between said first half polygon and said full polygon, and said full polygon and said second half polygon, respectively, wherein each of said first and second bridges comprises a bridge double scoring and a connector core wrap slot perpendicular to and bisecting said bridge double scoring; 
 four bridge single scorings disposed between said first half polygon and said first bridge; said first bridge and said full polygon; said full polygon and said second bridge; and said second bridge and said second half polygon, respectively, wherein said double scorings of said first and second bridges are parallel to said single scorings; 
   two core wraps, each of which comprises:
 two long sides perpendicular to two short sides; 
 two flange flaps disposed at a center of each of said long sides, sized and dimensioned to fit through said two flange core wrap slots of said flanges; 
 two flange flap double scorings between said flange flaps and said long sides; 
 two connector tabs disposed at a center of each of said short sides, sized and dimensioned to fit through said connector core wrap slots of said first and second bridges of said flange connector; 
 a wrap double scoring parallel to and half way between said long sides, and extending through said connector tabs; 
 a plurality of wrap single scorings disposed perpendicular to said wrap double scoring; 
   at least four first sealings that seal said two flange flaps of said two core wraps to said two flanges; and   at least three second sealing that seal said three polygon portions of said flange connector to said flanges.   
     
     
         2 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , comprised of corrugated plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said two flanges are substantially square in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each side of each of said substantially square flange is between 24 and 28 inches long. 
     
     
         5 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least four first sealings between said flange flaps and said flanges are rivets. 
     
     
         6 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least three second sealings between said polygon portions and said flanges are heat sealings. 
     
     
         7 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said polygon portions of said flange connector are a first half octagon, a full octagon, and a second half octagon. 
     
     
         8 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said plurality of wrap single scorings disposed on each of said core wraps is four wrap single scorings;   two of said four wrap single scorings are disposed on either side of said flange flaps; and   two of said four wrap single scorings are disposed on either side of said two of said four wrap single scorings that are disposed on either side of said flange flaps.   
     
     
         9 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 each side of each of said substantially square flange is between 24 and 28 inches long;   each side of said full octagon of said polygon portions of said flange connecter comprise a length of between 3.5 and 5 inches;   said flange connector comprises a total length of between 42 and 50 inches;   a distance between opposite sides of said full octagon is between 12 and 17 inches;   a distance between said wrap single scorings of said core wraps is equal to said length of each side of said full octagon;   said long sides of said core wraps comprise a length of between 26 and 34 inches; and   said short sides of said core wraps comprise a length of between 9 and 13 inches.   
     
     
         10 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , comprised of a material comprising a grain, wherein:
 said flanges further comprise a flange grain direction;   said bridges further comprise a bridge grain direction, wherein said bridge grain direction is perpendicular to said bridge single scorings and said bridge double scorings; and   said core wrap further comprises a core wrap grain direction, wherein said core wrap grain direction is parallel to said wrap double scoring and perpendicular to said wrap single scorings.   
     
     
         11 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said material is corrugated plastic. 
     
     
         12 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said flanges comprise a center hole between said two flange core wrap slots and said polygon portions comprise a center hole that aligns with said center hole in said flanges. 
     
     
         13 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said flanges comprises finger holes. 
     
     
         14 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said flanges comprises additional holes. 
     
     
         15 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said flanges and said flange connector are made of a material with a same thickness and said core wraps are made of a material with a lesser thickness. 
     
     
         16 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said flange flaps of said core wraps are disposed through said flange core wrap slots and sealed to said flanges with said first sealing;   said polygon portions of said flange connector are sealed to said flanges with said second sealing;   said compressible reel is capable of being disposed in a reel position and a compressed position;   said compressible reel is disposed in a reel position when:
 said connector tabs of said core wraps are tucked into said connector core wrap slots of said flange connector; 
 said wrap double scoring of said core wraps are not folded, such that said core wraps are flat; 
 said bridge double scorings of said bridges are not folded, such that said bridges are flat; and 
 said flange flap double scorings of said core wraps are folded at a right angle such that said flap flanges are perpendicular to said wrap single scorings; and 
   said compressible reel is disposed in a compressed position when:
 said connector tabs of said core wraps are not tucked into said connector core wrap slots; 
 said wrap double scorings of said core wraps are folded; said bridge double scorings of said bridges of said flange connector are folded; and s 
 aid flange flap double scorings of said core wraps are not folded. 
   
     
     
         17 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 16 , comprised of a material comprising a grain, wherein:
 said flanges further comprise a flange grain direction;   said bridges further comprise a bridge grain direction, wherein said bridge grain direction is perpendicular to said bridge single scorings and said bridge double scorings;   said core wrap further comprises a core wrap grain direction, wherein said core wrap grain direction is parallel to said wrap double scoring and perpendicular to said wrap single scorings; and   when said compressible reel is disposed in a reel position, said bridge grain direction is perpendicular to said flange grain direction and said core wrap direction.   
     
     
         18 . A compressible reel capable of being disposed in a reel position and a compressed position, and comprised of corrugated plastic comprising a grain, comprising:
 two substantially square, flat flanges of equal size and shape, each of which comprises two flange core wrap slots and a flange grain direction;   a flange connector comprising:
 a first half octagon, a full octagon, and a second half octagon, wherein said first half octagon and said second half octagon combined comprise a same shape and size as said full octagon; 
 first and second bridges disposed between said first half octagon and said full octagon, and said full octagon and said second half octagon, respectively, wherein each of said first and second bridges comprises a bridge double scoring and a connector core wrap slot perpendicular to and bisecting said bridge double scoring; 
 four bridge single scorings disposed between said first half octagon and said first bridge; said first bridge and said full octagon; said full octagon and said second bridge; and said second bridge and said second half octagon, respectively, 
   wherein said double scorings of said first and second bridges are parallel to said single scorings; and
 a bridge grain direction, wherein said bridge grain direction is perpendicular to said bridge single scorings and said bridge double scorings; 
   two core wraps, each of which comprises:
 two long sides perpendicular to two short sides; 
 two flange flaps disposed at a center of each of said long sides, sized and dimensioned to fit through said two flange core wrap slots of said flanges; 
 two flange flap double scorings between said flange flaps and said long sides; 
 two connector tabs disposed at a center of each of said short sides, sized and dimensioned to fit through said connector core wrap slots of said first and second bridges of said flange connector; 
 a wrap double scoring parallel to and half way between said long sides, and extending through said connector tabs; 
 four wrap single scorings disposed perpendicular to said wrap double scoring, wherein:
 two of said four wrap single scorings are disposed on either side of said flange flaps; and 
 two of said four wrap single scorings are disposed on either side of said two of said four wrap single scorings that are disposed on either side of said flange flaps; and 
 
 a core wrap grain direction, wherein said core wrap grain direction is parallel to said wrap double scoring and perpendicular to said wrap single scorings; 
   eight rivets, two of which seals each of said flange flaps of said core wraps, extended through said flange core wrap slots, to said flanges; and   eight heat sealings, four of which seal one of said flanges to said full octagon and four of which seal the other of said flanges to said first and second half octagons;   wherein each of said flanges comprise a center hole between said two flange core wrap slots and said full octagon and said first and second half octagons combined comprise center holes that align with said center hole in said flanges;   wherein said compressible reel is disposed in a reel position when:
 said connector tabs of said core wraps are tucked into said connector core wrap slots of said flange connector; 
 said wrap double scoring of said core wraps are not folded, such that said core wraps are flat; 
 said bridge double scorings of said bridges are not folded, such that said bridges are flat; 
 said flange flap double scorings of said core wraps are folded at a right angle such that said flap flanges are perpendicular to said wrap single scorings; and 
 said bridge grain direction is perpendicular to said flange grain direction and said core wrap direction; 
   wherein said compressible reel is disposed in a compressed position when:
 said connector tabs of said core wraps are not tucked into said connector core wrap slots; 
 said wrap double scorings of said core wraps are folded; 
 said bridge double scorings of said bridges of said flange connector are folded; and 
 said flange flap double scorings of said core wraps are not folded. 
   
     
     
         19 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein:
 each side of each of said substantially square flange is between 24 and 28 inches long   each side of said full octagon of said flange connecter comprises a length of between 3.5 and 5 inches;   said flange connector comprises a total length of between 42 and 50 inches;   a distance between opposite sides of said full octagon is between 12 and 17 inches;   a distance between said wrap single scorings of said core wraps is equal to said length of each side of said full octagon;   said long sides of said core wraps comprise a length of between 26 and 34 inches; and   said short sides of said core wraps comprise a length of between 9 and 13 inches.   
     
     
         20 . The compressible reel as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said corrugated plastic comprising said flanges and said flange connector is thicker than said corrugated plastic comprising said core wraps.