Method of installing cable on cable reel

Abstract

A method of installing a coil of cable in a bag, that includes the steps of placing a coil of cable on a first hub of a first flange of the cable reel; placing a second flange of the cable reel, that is separable from the first flange, opposite from the first flange to hold the coil of cable on the first hub of the first flange; positioning the first flange on or next to a first support frame received in the bag; and placing the second flange on or next to a second support frame received in the bag. The second support frame is positioned in the bag such that the first flange, the coil of cable and the second flange are located between the first support frame and the second support frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of installing a coil of cable in a bag, comprising the steps of:
 placing a coil of cable on a first hub of a first flange of the cable reel;   placing a second flange of the cable reel, that is separable from the first flange, opposite from the first flange to hold the coil of cable on the first hub of the first flange;   positioning the first flange on or next to a first support frame received in the bag; and   placing the second flange on or next to a second support frame received in the bag, wherein the second support frame is positioned in the bag such that the first flange, the coil of cable and the second flange are located between the first support frame and the second support frame.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of engaging the first and second flanges after placing the second flange opposite from the first flange, thereby holding the coil of cable between the first and second flanges. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of engaging the first and second flanges includes snapping the first and second flanges together. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of engaging the first and second flanges includes engaging a second hub of the second flange with the first hub of the first flange. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of disengaging the first flange from the second flange. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of disengaging the first flange from the second flange after opening the bag. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of rotatably coupling the first flange and the first frame and rotatably coupling the second flange and the second frame. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the first hub of the first flange is an elongated wall. 
     
     
         9 . A method of installing a coil of cable in a bag, comprising the steps of:
 placing a coil of cable on a first hub of a first flange of the cable reel;   placing a second flange of the cable reel opposite from the first flange to hold the coil of cable on the first hub of the first flange;   positioning the first flange on or next to a first support frame located in the bag; and   placing the second flange on or next to a second support frame located in the bag, wherein the second support frame is positionable in the bag such that the first flange, the coil of cable and the second flange are located between the first support frame and the second support frame,   wherein the step of placing the coil of cable on the first hub of the first flange occurs before the step of positioning the first flange on the first support frame.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of separating the first flange from the second flange. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of placing the second flange of the cable reel opposite from the first flange to hold the coil of cable on the first hub of the first flange includes engaging a second hub of the second flange with the first hub. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of disengaging the second hub from the first hub after opening the bag. 
     
     
         13 . A method of installing a coil of cable in a bag, the bag having a cover for opening the bag, a base opposite the cover, and sides extending between the cover and the base, comprising the steps of:
 placing a coil of cable on a first hub of a first flange of the cable reel;   placing a second flange of the cable reel, that is separable from the first flange, opposite from the first flange to hold the coil of cable on the first hub of the first flange;   positioning the first flange on or next to a first support frame received in the bag, the first support frame being on an inner surface the base of the bag; and   placing the second flange on or next to a second support frame received in the bag, the second support frame being on an inner surface of the cover of the bag, wherein, when the cover of the bag is closed, the first flange, the coil of cable and the second flange are located between the first support frame and the second support frame inside the bag.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of engaging the first and second flanges after placing the second flange opposite from the first flange, thereby holding the coil of cable between the first and second flanges 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of engaging the first and second flanges includes engaging a second hub of the second flange with the first hub of the first flange. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of disengaging the first flange from the second flange. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of opening the bag by opening the cover and the step disengaging the first flange from the second flange occurs after opening the bag. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of rotatably coupling the first flange and the first frame and rotatably coupling the second flange and the second frame. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the coil of cable is prepacked with a plastic wrap prior to the step of placing the coil of cable on the first hub of the first flange. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of dispensing the cable through a payout slot in the bag.