FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a cable reel assembly cable for transporting and storing cable, rope, twine or other elongate materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One common type of reel assembly consists of opposed end flanges bolted to a respective end of a cylindrical rigid spool. The flanges and rigid spool are usually made from wood although other materials such as metal, fibreboard or plastics may be used. In practice when cable has been unwound from the reel assembly, it is desirable to return the reel assembly to the cable manufacturer for re-winding. However, due to their shape and size, a considerable amount of space is required during transportation and storage. To reduce transportation and storage space, the reel assembly may be disassembled. Unfortunately, unbolting of the end flanges is labour intensive and even when disassembled, a considerable amount of space is required for transporting and storing the rigid cylindrical spools.

Segmented spool reel assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Patents 2652992, 1767710, 1915825, and German patent 2439488. These reel assemblies have a segmented spool formed from substantially rigid segmented spool sections usually made from sheet metal. During assembly securing bolts are guided through respective apertures in one of the end flanges, then through apertures in lugs or flanges in the spool sections and finally through apertures in the other end flange. Nuts are then threaded onto the securing bolts and tightened to secure the end flanges to respective ends of the spool sections. U.S. Patents 1767710 and 1915825 further disclose flanged apertures positioned in longitudinal edges of the spool sections which allow adjacent spool edge

attachment by nuts and bolts before the spool sections are bolted to the end flanges.

Although it is possible to disassemble segmented spool reel assemblies, considerable space is required to store and transport the spool sections due to their substantially rigid arcuate shape. In addition, their assembling and disassembling can be both time consuming and skill may be required in guiding the bolts from flange to flange. Disclosed in U.K. Patent specification

1170714 is a deformable spool reel assembly having a spool formed from a pair of resilient drum forming plates hinged together at their adjacent longitudinal edges. When disassembled the spool is substantially flat and during assembly a wire rope is wound in a loop around the flat spool. The rope is then tightened until the properties of the hinges and resilient drum forming plates are shaped into a cylinder. Opposed faces of the end flanges have annular projections for assisting in positioning and supporting the cylindrical spool during attachment to the end flanges which are attached to the cylindrical spool by securing bolts in a similar manner to that of segmented spool reel assemblies. To assemble the deformed spool reel assembly is time consuming and requires tightening of the rope and shape the drum forming plates into a cylinder. Furthermore, when assembled, ridges may be formed on the spool at or near the hinges which may therefore mark the cable wound thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a reel assembly which overcomes or at least alleviates some of the problems associated with prior art reel assemblies.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a reel assembly including:-

one or more flexible spool sections adapted to form a spool; and two opposed end flanges for releasable securement to a respective end of said spool, wherein the releasable securement of each one of the end flanges to the spool is provided by complementary engagement means associated therewith.

Suitably, when formed the spool is cylindrical . The one or more flexible spool sections may be resilient and thereby deformed when forming the spool. Preferably, at least one of the spool sections resliently forms a shape in which the majority of a surface thereof is flat. More preferably, at least one of the spool sections resiliently forms an undulating surface.

One or more of the complementary engagement means associated with one of the spool sections may be positioned adjacent intersections of the undulating surface.

Preferably, at least one of the engagement means associated with said spool is adjacent a longitudinal edge thereof.

Suitably, the complementary engagement means provides the releasable securement by relative rotation therebetween.

Preferably, said complementary engagement means includes one or more sockets and spigots. Preferably, the sockets are located in the end flanges and the spigots are located adjacent ends of said spool section. The sockets may be apertures in said end flanges. The spigots may be integral with said spool section.

Suitably, a free end of each spigot has a shoulder for abutting an outwardly facing surface of a said end flange.

Preferably, opposed longitudinal edges of

the one or more spool sections forming the spool may be releasably attached by complementary edge engagement means associated therewith.

Suitably, the complementary edge engagement means are adapted to engage each other by relative longitudinal movement along the opposed edges.

Suitably, one or more of the spool sections have a plurality of longitudinally formed channels in a surface thereof. The channels may be substantially "V" shape in cross section.

Preferably, two said spool sections are required to form said spool.

Each spool section may be made from a plastics material. Each end flange may also be made from a plastics material.

There may be one or more releasable locking members for engagement with one of said end flanges and said spool to restrict relative rotation therebetween. Preferably, the locking members are pivotally mounted to a respective one or said end flanges.

Each of the locking members may be pivotally attachable to an inwardly facing surface of a said end flange. Suitably, the spool has spool recesses therein for accommodating at least part of a respective locking member. Each said end flange may have flange recesses in its inwardly facing surface to accommodate at least part of said locking member. There may be a release aperture in each of said flange recesses thereby providing a passage to an outwardly facing surface.

Suitably, each said locking member is of a shape and size such that upon engagement with a respective spool recess, a section of said locking member does not protrude above a surface of said spool. Each said locking member may also be of a

shape and size such that a section thereof does not protrude out of a respective flange recess.

Suitably, there are complementary gripping means associated with said locking member and said spool recess. Preferably, said complementary gripping means are teeth on abutting surfaces.

There may be a spool guide protruding from the inwardly facing surface of each respective end flange. The spool guide may have an outer radial surface of a shape and dimension which conforms to an inner surface of the spool .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to preferred embodiments, in which:

FIG 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a reel assembly;

FIG 2 is a detailed partially exploded perspective view of part of a spool of FIG 1 ; FIG 3 is an end view of a spool section shown in FIG 1 ;

FIG 4 is an end view of a spool when formed from two spool sections of FIG 3;

FIG 5 is a front elevation of part of an inwardly facing surface of an end flange shown in FIG i;

FIG 6 is a detailed perspective view of a locking member shown in FIG 1 ; and

FIG 7 is a detailed cross sectional view of an engaged socket and spigot of FIG 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Illustrated in FIG 1 is a reel assembly 1 including a cylindrical spool 8 formed from two flexible spool sections 2 and 3 which are releasably attached by complementary edge engagement means on opposed longitudinal edges 4 and 5, 6 and 7.

The reel assembly 1 also includes end

flanges 9 and 10 which have sockets in the form of apertures 11. Located adjacent each respective end 13 and 14 of spool sections 2 and 3 are integral spigots 12 for releasable engagement with complementary apertures 11. At a free end of each spigot is a head 12a having a continuous shoulder 12b (refer to FIG 7). Four locking members 15 (two of which are hidden) are pivotally attached by a respective pivot pin 16 to end flange 9. Similarly, (although not shown) there are four locking members 15 pivotally attached by pivot pins 16 to end flange 10.

When in an operative position a section of each locking member 15 resides in a recess 17 in an inwardly facing surface 19 of a respective end flange 9 or 10. Each recess 17 has a release aperture 21 to provide a passage to an outwardly facing surface 20 of each respective end flange 9 or 10. Also when in the operative position a section of a locking member 15 resides in a spool recess 18 at a respective end 13 or 14.

In each end flange 9 and 10 there is a central aperture 22 and in at least one end flange 9 or 10 there is an offset aperture 23 for receiving a drive pin. Bolt receiving apertures 28 are also provided in each end flange.

Referring to FIG 2, edge engagement members 24 are spaced along respective longitudinal edges 4 and 7. Staggered opposed tracks 25 in the form of "U" 26 and "L" 27 shaped members are spaced along longitudinal edges 5 and 6. Engagement members 24 and staggered opposed tracks 25 provide the complementary edge engagement means for longitudinal edges 4 and 7, 5 and 6.

Illustrated in FIG 3 is a side view of a flexible spool section 2 which is biased to form a shape other than the shape it takes when forming cylindrical spool 8. As shown spool section 2, made

from a resilient material, is deformed into part of spool 8. However, when not deformed, spool section 2 returns to a shape having an undulating outer surface 29 in which spigots 12 are positioned adjacent intersections in the undulating outer surface 29. This biased undulating shape and position of spigots 12 allows for spool section 2 to be forcably formed into a smooth arcuate shape. However, other resilient spool section shapes are possible, for example, the spool section could return to a shape in which the majority of outer surface 29 is substantially flat.

Longitudinal channels 31 are formed in inner surface 30 of spool section 2, these are "V" shaped in cross section and are formed between ends 13 and 14. Bolt guides 32 are also formed on the inner surface 30 and when the reel assembly 1 is assembled, guides 32 are aligned with respective bolt apertures 28.

In FIG 4, an end view of cylindrical spool 8 formed from spool sections 2 and 3 is illustrated in which spool section 3 is identical to spool section 2 and to avoid repetition it is not described.

FIG 5 shows apertures 11 and a spool guide 33 which protrudes from an inwardly facing surface 19 of end flange 9 (note end flange 10 also has an identical spool guide 33). Spool guide 33 has an outer radial surface of a shape and dimension which conforms to inner surface 30 when formed into a spool.

Apertures 11 have a wide section 34 and narrower section 35. Wide section 34 is of a size to allow a respective head 12a of a spigot 12 to be inserted. If relative rotation between an end flange and spool 8 occurs when head 12a is inserted into wide section 34, head 12a will then be captured behind narrower section 35. Referring to FIGS 6 and 7, locking member 15 has a pivot pin 16 engaging with pin receiving recesses 36 and 37 on inwardly facing surface 19,

thereby pivotally attaching locking member 15 to inwardly facing surface 19.

A spool recess abutment face 36 of locking member 15 has teeth 37 for engaging and gripping complementary teeth 38 in spool recess 18.

In FIG 7, the engagement of teeth 37 and 38 are illustrated. Further, the engagement of spigot 12 with one aperture 11 is shown in which shoulder 12b abuts on an outwardly facing surface of end flange 2 or 3. As shown a section 15a of section of locking member 15 resides in recess 17, the locking member is of a shape and size such that section 15a does not protrude out of recess 17. Similarly, section 15b of locking member 15 does not protrude outside of recess 18.

Ideally, each component comprising reel assembly 1 is moulded from a plastics material such as polypropylene or high density polyethylene. In use, reel assembly 1 is assembled by firstly forming spool 8 in which for example opposed longitudinal edges 4 and 5 are positioned in substantial abutment with their respective ends 13 and 14 slightly misaligned by a distance of half the length of a "T" shaped engaging member 24. By relative longitudinal movement of opposed edges 4 and 5, "T" shaped engaging members 24 engage with opposed tracks 25. After a relative movement equal to half the length of a "T" shaped engaging member 24 ends 13 and 14 are aligned and opposed edges 4 and 5 are attached. In a similar fashion edges 6 and 7 are attached.

Flange 9 is placed on the ground with surface 19 facing upwards. End 13 of spool 8 is positioned with the assistance of spool guide 33 such that spigots 12 engage apertures 11 in wide section 34. Rotating spool 8 and end flange 9 provides rotation of spigots 12 from wide section 34 to narrower section 35 therefore capturing head 12a

behind narrower section 35 and providing releasable securement of spool 8 to flange 9. Locking members 15 are then positioned as shown in FIG 7 thereby disallowing relative rotational movement between spool 8 and end flange 9 which could cause release of spool

8 from end flange 9.

End flange 10 is secured to end 14 in a similar fashion. Teeth 37 and 38 assist in securing locking members 15 in respective recesses 18. Further, when spool 8 is wound with cable the cable provides a further securing of locking members 14 in recess 18.

Bolts may be threaded through apertures 28 to provide a means of strengthening the reel (if desired), in which bolt guides 32 assist in guiding the bolts.

When there is no cable on spool 8 the reel assembly can be disassembled by pushing an elongate rod through release apertures 21 which releases locking members 15. Relative rotation of end flanges

9 and 10 with respect to spool 8 then allows release of spool 8 from end flanges 9 and 10. The spool sections 2 and 3 are then detached.

The spool is then disassembled into two spool sections which return to their relisient shape which do not require large amounts of space when being transported or stored.

Upon returning reel assembly 1 to a cable manufacturer, it can be relatively easily re-assembled and wound with more cable.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment as hereindescribed. For example, spool 8 can be formed from a single spool section.