Abstract:
A telecommunications cable spool for storing, paying-out, and reeling-in a telecommunications cable includes a spool, an axis of rotation, and a rotatable cable guide mounted about the axis. The spool defines a wrapping area that receives a plurality of wraps of the cable and defines a circumference. The axis passes through the spool within the circumference. The guide defines a rotating cable guide path with a first end adjacent the wrapping area and a second end positioned near the axis. The first end of the path is oriented at least partially tangential to the circumference, and the second end of the path is oriented at least partially aligned with the axis. The cable is routed along a cable route that extends between first and second ends with a storage portion between the ends of the route. The route includes a transitional portion along the guide path between the storage portion and the second end of the route. A portion of the transitional portion is routed through a center of the storage portion. A deployed portion of the cable is paid-out from the second end of the cable route.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/640,449, filed Apr. 30, 2012, and titled “CABLE STORAGE SPOOL WITH CENTER FEED,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Spools, reels, cassettes, and cartridges can be used to store telecommunications cable (e.g., electrical cable and/or fiber optic cable). The spools include a hub or a drum about which the cable is wound. The hub of the spools is often cylindrical, and the cable is often wrapped around the cylindrical hub in a predominantly circumferential manner. By winding up the cable on the spool, the cable can be compactly stored and transported, protected from tangling and kinking, and kept ready for easy deployment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a telecommunications cable spool for storing, paying-out, and reeling-in a telecommunications cable. The telecommunications cable spool includes a spool, an axis of rotation, and a rotatable cable guide. The spool defines a wrapping area that is adapted to receive a plurality of wraps of the telecommunications cable. The wrapping area defines a circumference. The axis of rotation passes through the spool within the circumference of the wrapping area. The rotatable cable guide is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation. The rotatable cable guide defines a rotating cable guide path that extends between a first end that is adjacent the wrapping area of the spool and a second end that is positioned nearer to the axis of rotation than the circumference of the wrapping area. The first end of the rotating cable guide path is oriented at least partially tangential to the circumference of the wrapping area, and the second end of the rotating cable guide path is oriented at least partially aligned with the axis of rotation. 
         [0004]    Other aspects of the present disclosure may include a telecommunications cable spool for storing and paying-out a telecommunications cable. The telecommunications cable spool includes a cable route of a variable length, a spool that defines a wrapping area, and a guide member. The telecommunications cable is routed along the variable length of the cable route. The cable route extends between a first end and a second end. The cable route includes a storage portion that is positioned between the first and the second ends of the cable route. The storage portion includes a coil-like configuration. The cable route includes a transitional portion that is positioned between the storage portion and the second end of the cable route. The transitional portion includes a first end that smoothly transitions from the coil-like configuration of the storage portion and a second end. A portion of the transitional portion is routed through the coil-like configuration of the storage portion. The spool defines a wrapping area that is adapted to receive a plurality of wraps of the coil-like configuration of the storage portion of the cable route. The guide member is adapted to guide the telecommunications cable along the transitional portion of the cable route. The guide member is adapted to receive a stored portion of the telecommunications cable from the storage portion of the cable route and is adapted to pay-out a deployed portion of the telecommunications cable from the second end of the transitional portion of the cable route. 
         [0005]    A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. These aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a cable winding and unwinding device according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is another exploded perspective view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of another cable winding and unwinding device according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is another exploded perspective view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional end elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is an opposite end elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of still another cable winding and unwinding device according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  is another exploded perspective view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 17  is a top plan view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional end elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 20  is a bottom plan view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 21  is a side elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 22  is an exploded perspective view of yet another cable winding and unwinding device according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 23  is another exploded perspective view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 24  is a top plan view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional end elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 27  is a bottom plan view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 28  is a side elevation view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 29  is a perspective view of still another cable winding and unwinding device according to the principles of the present disclosure, the cable winding and unwinding device storing a stored portion of a telecommunications cable and paying-out a paid-out portion of the telecommunications cable; 
           [0035]      FIG. 30  is the perspective view of  FIG. 29 , but with a cable winder of the cable winding and unwinding device rotated from its position of  FIG. 29 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 31  is the perspective view of  FIG. 29 , but with a cut-away taken from the cable winder of  FIG. 30  and a housing and a cable routing guide structure of the cable winding and unwinding device thereby revealing a spool of the cable winding and unwinding device with the telecommunications cable wound around the spool; 
           [0037]      FIG. 32  is an elevation side view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 29  with the cut-away of  FIG. 31  taken; 
           [0038]      FIG. 33  is a perspective view of the telecommunications cable of  FIG. 29 , the cable winder of  FIG. 30 , and the spool and the cable routing guide structure of  FIG. 31  assembled; 
           [0039]      FIG. 34  is the perspective view of  FIG. 33 , but with a cut-away taken from the cable winder, the spool, and the cable routing guide structure; 
           [0040]      FIG. 35  is an exploded perspective view of the cable winder of  FIG. 30  and the spool and the cable routing guide structure of  FIG. 31  with a cut-away taken from the spool; 
           [0041]      FIG. 36  is the perspective view of  FIGS. 29 and 31 , but showing only the cable winder of  FIG. 30  and the spool and the cable routing guide structure of  FIG. 31  assembled and with the cut-away of  FIG. 34  taken; 
           [0042]      FIG. 37  is the perspective view of  FIGS. 29 ,  31 , and  36 , but showing only the telecommunications cable of  FIG. 29 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 38  is a perspective view of yet another cable winding and unwinding device according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0044]      FIG. 39  is the perspective view of  FIG. 38 , but with a cut-away taken; 
           [0045]      FIG. 40  is a perspective view of the cable winder of  FIG. 30  and the spool and the cable routing guide structure of  FIG. 31  assembled; 
           [0046]      FIG. 41  is a perspective view of still another cable winding and unwinding device according to the principles of the present disclosure, the perspective view of  FIG. 41  taken with a similar orientation to the perspective view of  FIG. 40 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 42  is another perspective view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 41 ; and 
           [0048]      FIG. 43  is a top plan view of the cable winding and unwinding device of  FIG. 41 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0049]    Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like structure. When like structure is included on different embodiments, a prime (′), double prime (″), etc. may be appended to the same reference number to indicate the like structure on a different embodiment. 
         [0050]    According to the principals of the present disclosure, a cable spool assembly  100  is disclosed that may store, pay-out, and reel-in a telecommunications cable  80  (see  FIG. 37 ). The telecommunications cable  80  extends between a first end  82  and a second end  84 . The first end  82  of the telecommunications cable  80  may remain attached to a first device, and the second end  84  of the telecommunications cable  80  may remain attached to a second device while the cable spool assembly  100  stores, pays-out, and reels-in the telecommunications cable  80 . 
         [0051]    The cable spool assembly  100  does not require a rotary union, but rather wraps  86  around the cable spool assembly  100  may be transformed into axial twist along a length of the telecommunications cable  80 . In certain embodiments, one rotation of the axial twist may be imparted to the telecommunications cable  80  as each of the wraps  86  are wound around the cable spool assembly  100 . In other embodiments, the axial twist may be pre-applied to the telecommunications cable  80  and one rotation of the axial twist may be untwisted from the telecommunications cable  80  for each of the wraps  86  that are wrapped on the cable spool assembly  100 . In certain embodiments, an act of wrapping the telecommunications cable  80  about the cable spool assembly  100 , imparts one rotation of the axial twist about the telecommunications cable  80  for each of the wraps  86  that are wrapped upon the cable spool assembly  100 . By winding and unwinding the telecommunications cable  80  about the cable spool assembly  100 , the wraps  86  may be transformed to the axial twist, and the axial twist may be transformed to the wraps  86 . 
         [0052]    Turning now to the figures and in particular  FIGS. 1-6 , a first embodiment of a cable spool assembly  100  is illustrated. The cable spool assembly  100  includes a spool portion  140  that is integrated with a base  120  of the cable spool assembly  100  and a winding/unwinding member  170  that defines a cable path  200 . The spool portion  140  includes a cable wrapping area  146 , a first flange  152 , a second flange  154 , and a circumferential outer wall  156 . The first flange  146  extends between the wrapping area  146  and the circumferential outer wall  156 . The second flange  154  extends radially outwardly from the cable wrapping area  146 , but is spaced an annular distance from the circumferential wall  156  and thereby forms an annular space  158 . 
         [0053]    In the depicted embodiment, the first flange  152  and the second flange  154  are each made of complimentary segments  162  and  164 , respectively, that do not overlap each other along a circumferential direction. By having the first flange  152  and the second flange  154  not overlap each other in the circumferential direction, an injection molding tool can be made to injection mold the spool portion  140  in one piece. Spaces  166  (i.e., gaps) on the first flange  152  may provide an entrance/exit for the telecommunications cable  80 . 
         [0054]    The cable winding/unwinding member  170  includes a hub  172  that is positioned within the cable wrapping area  146  of the spool portion  140 . The winding/unwinding member  170  includes a flange  174  that extends radially outwardly from the hub  172  to a circumferential flange  176  that is positioned through the annular space  158  of the spool portion  140 . The winding/unwinding member  170  defines the cable path  200  that extends from a first end  202  to a second end  204 . The first end  202  is oriented at least partially tangential to the cable wrapping area  146  of the spool portion  140 . The first end  202  is positioned in the annular space  158  defined between the flange  154  and the circumferential outer wall  156  of the spool portion  140 . 
         [0055]    The cable path  200  extends from the first end  202  along an externally facing channel  178  that extends along the circumferential flange  176  of the winding/unwinding member  170  and then onto the flange  174  of the cable winding/unwinding member  170  where it spirals toward the hub  172  of the cable winding/unwinding member  170 . At the hub  172 , the cable path  200  is positioned generally tangentially as it approaches an axis A 1  of the cable winding/unwinding member  170  and is positioned within the cable wrapping area  146  of the spool portion  140 . The spool portion  140  defines an axis A 2  that is concentric with the cable wrapping area  146 . The cable wrapping/unwrapping member  170  defines an axis A 3  that is concentric with the outer flange  176  of the wrapping/unwrapping member  170 . 
         [0056]    As illustrated at  FIG. 2  the second end  204  of the cable path  200  exits the cable spool assembly  100  along a direction substantially parallel to the axes A 1 , A 3 . The telecommunications cable  80  can be deployed from and retracted into an opening  206  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) that is positioned at the second end  204  of the cable path  200 . The opening  206  is defined on the winding/unwinding member  170 . 
         [0057]    The winding/unwinding member  170  may be rotated relative to the base  120  by engaging a drive attachment  194  (e.g., a hex head) of the hub  172 . By rotating the winding/unwinding member  170  in a first rotational direction D 1 , as illustrated at  FIG. 1 , a portion of the telecommunications cable  80  that is external to the cable spool assembly  100  is drawn into the opening  206  and begins following the cable path  200  starting at the second end  204  and leaving at the first end  202 . Upon leaving the cable path  200 , the telecommunications cable  80  is wrapped tangentially around the cable wrapping area  146  between the first flange  152  and the second flange  154 . The wrapping may continue to multiple layers deep. 
         [0058]    Upon rotating the winding/unwinding member  170  in a second rotational direction D 2  as illustrated at  FIG. 1 , a portion of the telecommunications cable  80  that is wrapped about the cable wrapping area  146  may be drawn into the cable path  200  starting at the first end  202  and ending at the second end  204 . The deployment of the telecommunications cable  80  may rotate the winding/unwinding member  170  relative to the base  120  as tension in the telecommunications cable  80  may urge the rotation of the winding/unwinding member  170 . 
         [0059]    As illustrated at  FIGS. 1-6  and  37 , the first end  82  of the telecommunications cable  80  may be deployed through the opening  206 . A length of the telecommunications cable  80  may extend between the cable spool assembly  100  and the second end  84  and may exit the cable spool assembly  100  through the spaces  166  of the base  120 . In the depicted embodiment, the second end  84  is substantially positioned at a fixed distance relative to the cable spool assembly  100  and is therefore non-deployable. 
         [0060]    Turning now to  FIGS. 7-14 , another embodiment of a cable spool assembly  100 ′ is illustrated. The cable spool assembly  100 ′ is similar to the cable spool assembly  100  and, in general, the description of the cable spool assembly  100 ′ will focus on certain additional features provided on the cable spool assembly  100 ′. As with the cable spool assembly  100 , the cable spool assembly  100 ′ includes a base  120 ′ and a winding/unwinding member  170 ′. The winding/unwinding member  170 ′ defines a cable path  200 ′ similar to the cable path  200 . However, the cable path  200 ′ includes an opening  206 ′ with a smooth transitional area  208  that allows the telecommunications cable  80  to enter and exit the cable path  200 ′ in a range of directions. The transitional area  208  includes curved surfaces that prevent the telecommunications cable  80  from bending in excess of any bend radius limitations. Such bend radius limitations are typically found on optical fiber cables. The transitional area  208  may further benefit the cable spool assembly  100 ′ by reducing friction as the telecommunications cable  80  enters and exits the cable spool assembly  100 ′. 
         [0061]    The winding/unwinding member  170 ′ may further include a drive attachment  194 ′ that includes a square internal drive. As illustrated at  FIG. 7 , the winding/unwinding member  170 ′ may further include finger pockets  196  that may be engaged by placing a finger or a thumb in and thereby rotating the winding/unwinding member  170 ′ relative to the base  120 ′. 
         [0062]    The base  120 ′ may include a set of fastener holes  168 . The fastener holes  168  may be used to mount the cable spool assembly  100 ′ to a structure (a panel, a cabinet, etc.). The base  120 ′ may further include an entrance/exit  148 . As illustrated, the entrance/exit  148  extends radially outwardly from a spool portion  140 ′ and provides a conduit between an interior of the spool portion  140 ′ and an exterior of the cable spool assembly  100 ′. The smooth transitional area  208  and the entrance/exit  148  may work together to allow the telecommunications cable  80  to enter and exit the cable spool assembly  100 ′ along a plane that is substantially parallel to a mounting plane of the cable spool assembly  100 ′. 
         [0063]    The retraction and deployment of the telecommunications cable  80  from the cable spool assembly  100 ′ is similar to that of the cable spool assembly  100 . However, the first end  82  of the telecommunications cable  80  may either be routed downwardly through the opening  206 ′ and exit through a bottom of the cable spool assembly  100 ′, or the first end  82  may be routed through the entrance/exit  148  and thereby enter and exit the cable spool assembly  100 ′ substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the winding/unwinding member  170 ′ (e.g., the axis A 3 ). The second end  84  may enter/exit the cable spool assembly  100 ′ in a manner similar to the cable spool assembly  100 . 
         [0064]    In configurations of the cable spool assembly  100 ′ that include the first end  82  of the telecommunications cable  80  exiting in a downward direction, the first end  82  may be extended away from or retracted into the cable spool assembly  100 ′ in any direction within a hemisphere H, as illustrated at  FIG. 11 . Furthermore, an entrance/exit vector V may vary in orientation as the first end  82  is extended from and retracted into the cable spool assembly  100 ′. 
         [0065]    Turning now to  FIGS. 15-21 , a third embodiment of a cable spool assembly  100 ″ is illustrated. The cable spool assembly  100 ″ is similar to the cable spool assembly  100 ′ but may include smaller proportions on an entrance/exit guiding funnel  208 ′ compared with the smooth transitional area  208 . 
         [0066]    Turning now to  FIGS. 22-28 , a fourth embodiment of a cable spool assembly  100 ″′ is illustrated according to the principals of the present disclosure. The cable spool assembly  100 ″′ includes several of the features found in the cable spool assemblies  100 ,  100 ′, and  100 ″, and wraps and unwraps the telecommunications cable  80  in a similar manner when deploying and retracting the telecommunications cable  80 . The cable spool assembly  100 ″′ further includes a spring  350  that is rotationally connected between a winding/unwinding member  170 ″ and a base  120 ″. In addition, a cable path  200 ″ is substantially included in an interior of the winding/unwinding member  170 ″ and is illustrated not including an externally facing channel. The spring  350  may torsionally preload the winding/unwinding member  170 ″ against the base  120 ″ and thereby provide automatic retraction or semi- automatic retraction of the telecommunications cable  80  into the cable spool assembly  100 ″′. 
         [0067]    In certain embodiments, it may be desired that the winding/unwinding member  170 ″ be held with respect to the base  120 ″ and thereby prevent unwanted retraction of the telecommunications cable  80  even though the spring  350  is applying a torsional load between the winding/unwinding member  170 ″ and the base  120 ″. To accommodate this, the winding/unwinding member  170 ″ includes a hub  172 ′ that includes a catch and release mechanism  173  (see  FIG. 23 ). The catch and release mechanism  173  may include dogs, one-way clutches, centrifugal weights, and/or other items that are typically found in spool hubs that have catch and release features. The catch and release mechanism  173  may be adapted to hold the winding/unwinding member  170 ″ rotationally with respect to the base  120 ″ at certain rotational positions. Alternatively, the catch and release mechanism  173  may be adapted to hold the winding/unwinding member  170 ″ at certain rotational velocities and release the winding/unwinding member  170 ″ at other rotational velocities and thereby allow a user to trigger the activation of the spring  350  and the rewinding of the telecommunications cable  80 . When deploying the telecommunications cable  80  from the cable spool assembly  100 ″′, tension in the telecommunications cable  80  may result in winding the spring  350 . The winding of the spring  350  may be released upon the retraction of the telecommunications cable  80 . 
         [0068]    Turning now to  FIGS. 29-37  and  40 , a fifth embodiment of a cable spool assembly  100 ″″ is illustrated according to the principals of the present disclosure. The cable spool assembly  100 ″ wraps and unwraps the telecommunications cable  80  similar to the cable spool assemblies  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′. The cable spool assembly  100 ″″ includes a base  120 ″′ that has similarities to bases  120 ,  120 ′,  120 ″. The cable spool assembly  100 ″″ also includes a winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ similar to the winding/unwinding members  170 ,  170 ′,  170 ″. 
         [0069]    In certain embodiments, the cable spool assembly  100 ″″ may include a spool  400  that is rotationally separate from the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ and the base  120 ″&#39;. In other embodiments, the spool  400  may be connected to the base  120 ″&#39;. The cable spool assembly  100 ″″ may retract and deploy the telecommunications cable  80  by rotationally moving the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ relative to the base  120 ″′. As with the previous embodiments, the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ may be spring loaded relative to the base  120 ″′. 
         [0070]    To deploy the telecommunications cable  80 , the first end  82  may be pulled away from the cable spool assembly  100 ″″ and thereby cause rotation of the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′. In addition, the telecommunications cable  80  may be deployed by pulling on the second end  84  thereby rotating the spool  400 . In certain embodiments, deploying the telecommunications cable  80  by the first end  82  may be preferred as any twisting that may occur along the telecommunications cable  80  is distributed along a length of the telecommunications cable  80 . 
         [0071]    As illustrated at  FIG. 31 , the telecommunications cable  80  may extend from the cable spool assembly  100 ″″ along an axis AS that includes an external portion  82   e  of the telecommunications cable  80  adjacent the first end  82  and an external portion  84   e  of the telecommunications cable  80  that is adjacent the second end  84 . Thus, the telecommunications cable  80  may be deployed and retracted along the axis A 5 , and portions of the telecommunications cable  80  on both sides of the cable spool assembly  100 ″″ may be coaxial with each other. 
         [0072]    As illustrated at  FIGS. 29-32 , the base  120 ″′ may include a housing  500  that generally encloses the telecommunications cable  80  when the telecommunications cable  80  is within the cable spool assembly  100 ″″. The housing  500  may include a funnel  582  adjacent the external portion  82   e , and a funnel  584  adjacent the external portion  84   e . The funnels  582 ,  584  allow the external portion  82   e  and the external portion  84   e  to be pulled in directions other than along the axis A 5  without violating bend radius requirements of the telecommunications cable  80 . 
         [0073]    As depicted, the base  120 ″′ includes a first passage  502  that is adjacent the external portion  82   e . The base  120 ″′ may also include a passage  504  adjacent the external portion  84   e . As illustrated at  FIGS. 31 and 34 , the passage  504  aligns the external portion  84 e generally tangential to the spool  400 . As further illustrated at  FIGS. 31 and 34 , the first passage  502  may align the external portion  82   e  with the external portion  84   e . The first passage  502  may further align the telecommunications cable  80  with the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′. In the depicted embodiment, the telecommunications cable  80  is thereby aligned generally coaxially with an axis A 6  of the cable spool assembly  100 ″′ when transitioning between the first passage  502  and the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′. 
         [0074]    The first passage  502  may be defined within a tube-like structure  512 , and the passage  504  may be defined within a tube-like structure  514 . The first passage  502  may align with the funnel  582  at a first end. The first passage  502  may become concentric with the axis A 6  at a second end. The spool  400  may be rotatably mounted on the second end of the structure  512 . Likewise, the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ may be rotatably mounted at the second end of the structure  512 . The tube-like structure  514  may be aligned with the funnel  584  and may be further aligned with the first end of the first passage  502 . 
         [0075]    As illustrated at  FIGS. 29-32 , the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ may include a housing  600 . The housing  600 , in conjunction with the housing  500 , may substantially enclose the telecommunications cable  80  in the cable spool assembly  100 ″″. The housing  600  may rotate along with the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′. The housing  600  may be sealed with the housing  500  and thereby provide a sealed enclosure with the housing  500  to house the telecommunications cable  80 . 
         [0076]    The winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ may include a passage  602  that extends from a first end  602   a  (see  FIG. 33 ) to a second end  602   b  (see  FIG. 34 ). The first end  602   a  may be generally tangentially aligned with the spool  400 . In particular, the first end  602   a  may be generally aligned with a wrapping area  402  of the spool  400 . The wrapping area  402  may extend between a first flange  404  and a second flange  406  of the spool  400 . 
         [0077]    The winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ may be rotationally connected to the base  120 ″′ by a threaded connection and thereby move the first end  602   a  as wrapping and unwrapping of the telecommunications cable  80  occurs and thereby wind the telecommunications cable  80  in a helical manner about the wrapping area  402  of the spool  400 . The winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ may be connected to the base  120 ″′ in such a way that reciprocating motion occurs between the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ and the base  120 ″′ thereby winding the telecommunications cable  80  in a helical manner that reverses and continues with multiple layers of cable depth. 
         [0078]    The passage  602  may be included in a tube-like structure  612 . The tube-like structure  612  may smoothly continue from the tube-like structure  512  at a joint between the tube-like structure  512  and the tube-like structure  612 . The tube-like structures  512 ,  514 , and  612  may be coated internally with a low friction material (e.g., Teflon®) to facilitate easy passage of the telecommunications cable  80  through the passages  502 ,  504 , and  602 . 
         [0079]    As illustrated at  FIG. 37 , the telecommunications cable  80  may be defined along various segments. As the telecommunications cable  80  is retracted and deployed, the telecommunications cable  80  may pass from one segment to other segments. In particular, the external portion  82   e  is defined adjacent the first end  82  and may be a deployed portion of the telecommunications cable  80  adjacent the first end  82 . As the external portion  82   e  enters the first passage  502 , an interior segment  82   i  may be defined along the length of the first passage  502 . Upon entering the passage  602  of the winding/unwinding member  170 ″′ an interior segment  80   i  of the telecommunications cable  80  may be defined. The interior segment  80   i  may be defined along the length of the passage  602 . Upon transitioning to the wrapping area  402  of the spool  400 , a wrapping segment  80   r  may be defined about the wrapping area  402 . The wrapping segment  80   r  may disappear upon all of the telecommunications cable  80  being removed from the spool  400 , as may happen upon full deployment of the telecommunications cable  80  and may also not appear when initially wrapping the telecommunications cable  80  about the spool  400 . The wrapping segment  80   r  may continue around the wrapping area  402  multiple times, and each revolution may form one of the wraps  86 . Upon transitioning away from the spool  400 , an internal segment  84   i  may be defined within the tube-like structure  514 . Upon exiting the tube-like structure  514 , the internal segment  84   i  may transition to the external portion  84   e . And finally, the external portion  84   e  terminates at the second end  84 . Either or both of the ends  82 ,  84  may be terminated by a fiber optic connector. 
         [0080]    Turning now to  FIGS. 38 and 39 , a sixth embodiment of a cable spool assembly  100 ″″′ is illustrated according to the principals of the present disclosure. The cable spool assembly  100 ″″′ is similar to the cable spool assembly  100 ″″ except that the external portion  82   e  is deployed from the cable spool assembly  100 ″″′ generally parallel to an axis A 7  of the cable spool assembly  100 ″″′. The axis A 7  is generally coaxial with an axis of rotation of the spool  400 . The cable spool assembly  100 ″″′ may include a housing and other features that were illustrated on the cable spool assembly  100 ″″. When paying-out the telecommunications cable  80  from the cable spool assembly  100 ″″′, the first end  82  extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axis A 7 , and the second end  84  of the telecommunications cable  80  extends tangentially to the wrapping area  402  of the spool  400 . Thus, the external portion  84   e  is oriented approximately perpendicular to the external portion  82   e . The cable spool assembly  100 ″″′ includes a base  120 ″″ similar to the base  120 ″′ but with a tubular portion  512 ′ that is centered about the axis A 7 . The tube-like structure  512 ′ includes a passage  502 ′ that is generally concentric with the axis A 7 . 
         [0081]    Turning now to  FIGS. 41-43 , a seventh embodiment of a cable spool assembly  100 ″″″ is illustrated according to the principles of the present disclosure. As illustrated at  FIGS. 41 and 40 , the cable spool assembly  100 ″″″ is in a similar perspective view as the cable spool assembly  100 ″″. In the configurations illustrated at  FIGS. 40 and 41 , the cable spool assemblies  100 ″″ and  100 ″″″ generally perform in the same manner. However, the cable spool assembly  100 ″″″ includes a tube-like portion  514 ′ that is rotatably mounted about the tube-like structure  512  adjacent the spool  400 . As illustrated at  FIGS. 42 and 43 , the rotatable mounting of the tube-like structure  514 ′ allows an angle a to be defined between the tube-like structure  512  and the tube-like structure  514 ′. Thus, the angle a between the external portion  84   e  and the external portion  82   e  can be adjusted between 0 degrees and 360 degrees. In certain embodiments, the angle a may be a fixed angle (e.g., 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, etc.) and may not necessarily be adjustable. In other embodiments, the angle a may be adjusted as desired, including while the telecommunications cable  80  is being deployed (i.e., paid-out) and/or reeled-in. 
         [0082]    According to the principals of the present disclosure, the cable spool assemblies  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″ can pay-out and/or reel-in an extended length of the telecommunications cable  80  without disconnecting the telecommunications cable  80  from a paid-out end  82  (i.e. the first end). The cable spool assemblies  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″ can pay-out and/or reel-in the extended length of the telecommunications cable  80  without disconnecting the telecommunications cable  80  from a base end  84  (i.e. the second end). In particular, the paid-out end  82  can be pulled from the cable spool assemblies  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″ at various lengths including the extended lengths to bring the paid-out end  82  of the telecommunications cable  80  to a desired location. 
         [0083]    As mentioned above, the cable spool assemblies  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″ do not require a rotary union. Rather, the wraps  86  of a stored portion of the telecommunications cable  80  within a storage area of the cable spool assembly  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″′,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″ are transformed into axial twist along the length of the telecommunications cable  80  while the cable spool assembly  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″ is paying-out a paid-out portion of the telecommunications cable  80 . The accumulated twist in the telecommunications cable  80  can be managed by choosing an appropriate size (e.g., diameter) for the wrapping area  146 ,  402 . In particular, the larger the diameter of the wrapping area  146 ,  402 , the lower the accumulated twist per unit length of the telecommunications cable  80  (i.e., one twist per π×the diameter of the wrapping area  146 ,  402 ). Depending on the application, an optimal size of the wrapping area  146 ,  402  may be selected based on properties of the telecommunications cable  80  and the available space for the cable spool assembly  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″. 
         [0084]    The telecommunications cable  80  is transferred from the stored portion to a transitional portion (e.g., the segments  80   i  and/or  82   i ) and then to the paid-out portion  82   e . The transitional portion  80   i ,  82   i  is adjacent and between the wraps  86  of the stored portion and the paid-out portion  82   e . The paid-out end  82  is continuously connected to the base end  84  while the telecommunications cable  80  is being paid-out. 
         [0085]    The cable spool assemblies  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″ may include a terminal. The terminal may not necessarily be substantially extendable from the cable spool assembly  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″. The terminal may be generally stationary with the cable spool assembly  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″. In certain embodiments, the terminal may be fixed with the base  120 ,  120 ′,  120 ″,  120 ″′,  120 ″″ of the cable spool assembly  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″. The terminal may be attached to the base  120 ,  120 ′,  120 ″,  120 ″′,  120 ″″′ by a terminal portion (i.e., the segments  84   i  and/or  84   e ) of the telecommunications cable  80 . The terminal can be connectorized by a fiber optic connector and/or a fiber optic adaptor. The terminal can be permanently or semi-permanently connected to a fiber optic component, a fiber optic network, etc. If it is desired to change the position of the first end  82 , the terminal can remain connected to the fiber optic component, the fiber optic network, etc. 
         [0086]    To accommodate the first end  82  changing position, particularly when the change in position results in a difference in length between the terminal and the first end  82 , the wraps  86  can be unwrapped and transfered to the paid-out portion  82   e  of the telecommunications cable  80 . A number of the wraps  86  changes as the telecommunications cable  80  is paid-out. In the depicted embodiment, the telecommunications cable  80  extends continuously between the first end  82  and the second end  84 . In preferred embodiments, pulling the first end  82  actuates the cable spool assembly  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″. When the cable spool assembly  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ″′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″ actuates, the base  120 ,  120 ′,  120 ″,  120 ″′,  120 ″″ typically remains stationary. 
         [0087]    Two of the cable spool assemblies  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″,  100 ′,  100 ″″,  100 ″″′,  100 ″″″ may be combined. For example, the mounting side of a first of the cable spool assemblies  100 ″ may be placed adjacent to the mounting side of a second of the cable spool assemblies  100 ″. The second ends  84  of the first and the second of the cable spool assemblies  100 ″ may be merged (e.g., continuous with each other) thereby creating a cable spool assembly that can pay-out extended lengths of the telecommunications cable  80  from either of two ends. 
         [0088]    Various modifications and alterations of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure, and it should be understood that the scope of this disclosure is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.