Patent ID: 7293734
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for neatly storing and dispensing an elongated element, comprising: (a) a reel assembly comprising a hub and a pair of parallel and opposing polygons, each having an axis, with the axis of the hub being co-linear with the axes of the polygons, the opposing polygons being identified as upper and lower, respectively, with the upper polygon featuring at least one hole sufficiently large to pass an end of the elongated element therethrough; (b) a bucket whose horizontal cross-section defines a regular polygon, and comprising a base and at least one wall attached to the base and defining an edge of the at least one polygon, the at least one wall containing at least one hole therethrough, the hole being sufficiently large to pass an end of the elongated element therethrough, the bucket further more comprising at least one weight located near the base, thereby moving the center of gravity of the apparatus closer to the base; (c) an axle attached to the bucket such that it is co-linear with the axis of the bucket, the reel assembly being mounted on the axle such that the axle is co-linear with the hub of the reel assembly and such that is supports the reel assembly off of the bottom surface of the bucket, and wherein the axle or the surface of the hub in contact with the axle is made of a material that is harder than wood or plastic and which forms a point or near-point contact, thereby forming a low-friction bearing surface, and wherein the hub has an inner diameter than is only slightly larger than the axle diameter.