Improvements in and connected with Holders for Twine, Cord, Tape. or the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Holders for Twine, Cord,
Tape. or the like.
ALEXANDER COLE 58 Booterstown Avenue County Dublin Commercial
Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved holder for twine, cord tape, paper or
other such like material and has for its objects, increased convenience in use &
saving of waste, being so arranged that it will carry any ordinary ball or cylinder
of twine or such like material, allowing any required length to be easily pulled off,
but stopping running off of material directly strain is removed.
I attain these ends by means of a new or improved reel or bobbin made of wood
brass or other metal working in a new or improved wire hanger or new or improved
metal or other material frame or bracket, working in either case being controlled
by means of a coiled, curved spiral or other shape steel spring or springs pressing
on a spindle or attachment at one end of aforesaid reel or bobbin, said spring with
spindle or attachment may be either attached to or sunk in said reel, or attached to
or form part of said holder or bracket.
New or improved reel consists of a square or round spindle carrying on its
outside a flat or other shaped steel spring running almost its whole length coiled in
such a way as to grip & securely hold hall of string or other such material so as
to prevent its turning about on said spindle. On each end of said spindle I affix a
flange, either or both of which may be removeable, one of these flanges will have
affixed on its outer side a round smooth projection or nipple to act as a pivot or
axle which will work freely in a suitable hole or socket in supporting frame
or bracket as hereafter described. The seccond or other flange has affixed on
its outer side or countersunk into it or continued into spindle a chamber or recess
of suitable depth, shape & size, said chamber to have its inside wall either smooth
or corrugated and to form a receptacle & working place for a coiled curved
or spiral steel spring or springs. The outer end of said spring may be left plain or
slightly turned over or may be thickened in such a way as to press against inside
smooth or corrugated wall of chamber before described. The inside end of said
spring to clutch or work against a small metal spindle or attachment which passes
through said chamber, its inner end acting as a pivot or axle for seccond end of reel
or bobbin, the outer end of said spindle. being square, oval or oblong in shape &
passing into a suitable hole or socket in support in which it is firmly held so that
turning of reel on its pivot is completely controlled by pressure of said spring
against afore described inner wall of chamber. When afore described chamber is
affixed to or carried in bracket or holder, the said seccond flange has in centre of its
outer face only a hole or socket in which afore described square or oval end
of spindle or attachment is held.
When a short coiled spring is used working in chamber it simply checks &
controls revolution of reel, but when a longer coiled spring with turned or thickened
end working against corrugated inside wall of chamber is used, it not only controlles
revolution of reel but also causes a recoil action in reel so that banging end
of string or material is rewound on reel or bobbin.
I control this rewind by means of one or more small metal checks or clutches
attached in such a way to flange as to drop into a notch cut or sunk in aforesaid
small spindle or attachment.

page_text: Hanger or bracket to be made from wire or cast or otherwise wrought in iron
brass or other such like metal or material. One side or arm to have a round
or oval hole or socket in which pivot or axle in first described flange freely
revolves. Other side or arm to have a square, oval or oblong hole or socket
to grip end of afore described spindle or attachment in seccond described flange, or
to carry afore described chamber with spindle or attachment. Said hanger or
bracket to be provided with or left without an appliance for cutting string or other
such material.
Dated this 10th day of November 1894.
Improvements in and connected with Holders for Twine, Cord,
Tape, or the like.
I, ALEXANDER COLE of 58 Booterstown Avenue in the County of Dublin,
Ireland, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :--
My invention relates to a new or improved holder for twine, cord, tape, paper or
other such like material and has for its objects increased convenience in use and
saving of waste, being so arranged that it will carry any ordinary ball or cylinder
of twine or such like material, allowing any required length to be easily pulled off,
but stopping the running off of the material directly the pull or strain is relaxed or
ceased. I attain these ends by means of a new or improved reel or bobbin made
from wood, metal or other suitable material working in a new or improved hanger,
bracket or other support. The working of the reel or bobbin in its support
is controlled by means of a coiled, curved, spiral or other shaped spring or spring;
pressing on a spindle or attachment at one end of said reel or bobbin, the said
spring with spindle or attachment being either attached to or sunk into said reel or
attached to or formed as part of said support.
The invention will now he described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which―
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the improved holder;
Figure 2 a section on the line Figure 1;
Figure 3 an end elevation showing the slotted bracket;
Figure 4 an end elevation partly in section showing the controlling spring;
Figure 5 an elevation of the improved reel mounted in a wire hanger.
Figures 6 and 7 show in sectional elevation and partial end view, respectively, a
modification of the improved reel.
The new or improved reel as shown in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a spindle A
which may be of any suitable section such as square or round carrying a broad,
flat or other shaped steel or the like spring B, which is coiled around and extends
almost the whole length of said spindle in such a way as to grip and securely hold
the ball of string or other such material when placed thereon and thus prevent
said ball turning round on said spindle. On the ends of the spindle A, I affix
flanges or cheeks C C either or both of which may be removable, being preferably
screwed on the spindle. One of these flanges or cheeks C has formed on its outer
side a round smooth projection or nipple D to act as a pivot or axle which will
work freely in a suitable hole or socket E in the bracket or other support Fas
hereinafter described. On the drawing, this projection D is shown formed in one
piece with the spindle A. The other flange C has affixed on or countersunk
into its outer side or continued into the spindle, a chamber or recess G of suitable
depth, shape and size, said chamber having its inside wall either smooth or

page_text: corrugated and having a coiled, curved or spiral spring or springs H arranged
therein. The outer end of the spring H may be left plain or be slightly turned
over or thickened in such a way as to press against the inside smooth or corrugated
wall of the chamber G, the inner end of said spring being bent to a hook form
adapted to clutch or bear against a small metal spindle or attachment I which
passes through the chamber G. The inner end of the spring H, may, if desired,
be firmly secured to the spindle I, but I prefer to bend its end to the form of a
hook as before stated and provide broad ratchet teeth or other projections or
recesses i on the periphery of the spindle I for the said inner hooked end of the
spring to clutch or engage as shown in Figure 4.
The inner end of the spindle I acts as a pivot or axle for the end C¹ of the reel
or bobbin, whilst the outer end of the said spindle I is formed square, oval or
oblong in section and passes into a suitable slot or socket J in the support or
bracket F (Figure 3) in which it is thus firmly held against rotation. Any
undesired turning of the reel on its pivots is completely checked by the pressure of
the spring H against the inner wall of the chamber G. A ring or washer j
driven into the chamber serves to keep the spring therein, but any other form of
cover may be used.
In order to use the holder, the cheek C is removed, and the ball or cylinder of
twine or other material is placed over the broad spring B on the spindle A. The
cheek C is then replaced and the reel inserted in its bracket or other support.
The spring B expanding in the interior of the ball, firmly grips the latter and
compels it to rotate with the spindle A. By pulling the hanging outer end of the
twine, cord or other material, the reel will be rotated, and any desired quantity of
twine or the like will thus be delivered from the holder. The rotation of the
reel carries partly round with it the outer end of the spring H owing to the latter
frictionally gripping the inner walls of the chamber G, and as the inner hooked
end of said spring is caught and held in one of the projections or recesses i on the
small spindle I which cannot itself rotate, the spring H will be further coiled upon
the said small spindle, thus reducing the pressure of its outer end against the walls
of the chamber, and the chamber G will continue to rotate (if the twine or the
like is still being pulled) without carrying with it the loose or outer end of said
spring. Upon the pull on the twine being relaxed or ceased, the outer end of the
spring resumes its original pressure against the walls of the chamber G and thus
effectually checks the reel against further rotation and prevents any undesired
delivery of the material. If the ball of material has been placed the opposite way
on the reel, so that the latter rotates in a backward direction when the string is
pulled, the inner end of the spring H will slip over the teeth projections or
recesses of the spindle I without clutching the same, whilst still bearing with
sufficient pressure to check any undesired rotation when the pull of the string is
relaxed or ceased, so that a similar action results, and it will be seen therefore that
the reel may be rotated in either direction.
When a short coiled spring is used to work in the chamber G it simply checks
and controls the rotation of the reel as above described, but when a longer coiled
spring with turned or thickened end working against the inside wall of the
chamber G is used, it not only controls the rotation or working of the reel but
also causes a recoil action in the reel, so that the hanging end of the string or
other material is automatically re-wound on the reel or bobbin the moment the
It will be observed however that this
pull on the material is relaxed or ceased.
automatic re-winding of the hanging end will only take place when the ball of
material has been placed on the reel in such a way that the latter runs forward and
not backward when the end is pulled.
In order to control the automatic re-winding of the hanging end of material, in
some cases I may employ one or more metal clicks as will be now described, and
5 this arrangement will be found particularly desirable where a large coiled spring
affording a considerable extent of re-winding is employed.
This modification of the holder is shown in Figures 6 and 7 in which the

page_text: '
spindle A of the previous arrangement is replaced by two end pieces or short hollow
plugs A A driven into each end of a chamber or hollow core L formed directly
by bending the inner end of the broad spring B. The plug A is formed with a
smooth round projection or nipple D to act as a pivot or axle and is recessed at M
to form a bearing for the inner end of the spindle I, which latter in this case is
lengthened and lies within the chamber L, its outer end projecting through a
perforation in the plug A' and the cheek C', in which it finds a bearing. The
spring H which in this case is also lengthened and which has a larger number of
coils, is placed over the spindle I with one end h rigidly attached thereto whilst its
other end (or end coils) h¹ is loose and bears frictionally against the inner walls of
the interior of the plug A, the said inner walls being preferably corrugated. The
spindle has a collar K to retain it within the chamber L whilst not interfering
with the free rotation of the latter, and has its outer end formed square, oval or
oblong in section for the purpose of preventing its rotation in the bracket Fas
before described. The outer end of the spindle I is provided with one or more
notches or recesses on its periphery in which engage one or more clicks N
turning on pins n secured to the cheek C' within a recess or box O formed thereon
which may be provided with a cover if desired. The mode of action is similar to
that of the form of construction previously described, except that a larger extent
of automatic re-winding is afforded, and that such re-winding may be checked at
any moment by a slight pull on the hanging end of the material which stops the
backward rotation of the reel for the moment and allows the clicks N time to fall
into the recesses i¹, thus preventing further re-winding. If it be desired to allow
the holder to re-wind to its full extent after cutting off the desired length of
material, all that is necessary is to give a slight pull and quickly release the end
of the material, so that the clicks N are for the moment dislodged from engagement
with the recesses and the recoil action of the reel comes into play before the
clicks have time to fall again into the recesses i¹. It is obvious however that in
this form of construction the ball of material must be so placed on the reel that a
pull on its hanging end will cause the reel to rotate in the direction necessary for
a coiling up of the spring H.
I make the bracket banger or support F in which the reel or bobbin is to be
mounted of wire, as shown in Figure 5, or of cast metal (as shown in Figure 1),
but any other suitable material may be employed, and I provide one of its arms or
sides with a round or oval hole, socket loop or bearing E, in which the pivot D
may freely rotate, and its other side or arm with a square, oval or oblong hole,
loop or socket J to receive the outer end of the spindle I, so as to hold the latter
against rotation.
In some cases I may make the support F F', as shown in Figures 1 and 3, with
two holes or sockets E E', in one arm or side F¹ arranged respectively opposite
to the upper and lower ends of the vertical slot or socket J in the other arm F, by
which means the support may be used either as a hanger or as a bracket as the
reel may be mounted with its rotatable pivot D in either E or E¹ according to
whether the holder is to stand upright (as on a counter or the like) or to hang
downward (as from a ceiling or the like). The bole or socket J is provided with
a groove or slot J1 meeting it centrally at right angles, to allow of the outer
end of the spindle 1 being slipped therein after the pivot D has been inserted
in the other arm.
It will be readily understood that in some cases 1 may provide my improved
holder with any suitable device or appliance for cutting off the twine or other
material; also that the cheek C¹ may be stationary and the spindle I rotate
instead of vice versa.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
+
1. The improvement in holders for twine, cord. tane, naner
or other such

page_text: like material, consisting in the rotation of the reel or bobbin, on which the
material in the form of a ball cylinder or the like is placed, being controlled by
means of a spring or springs, whereby, whilst any desired amount of material
may be drawn off by pulling the loose or hanging end of the material, the
moment the pull is relaxed or ceased the rotation of the reel or bobbin is checked
by said spring or springs and any undesirable running off of material is prevented,
substantially as described.
2. The improvement in holders for twine, cord, tape, paper, or other such like
material, consisting in the rotation of the reel or bobbin being checked or
controlled by means of a spring or springs, whereby any undesirable running off
of material is prevented and a recoil or rewinding action produced substantially
as described.
3. An improved holder for twine, cord, tape, paper, or other such like material,
comprising a reel or bobbin having a chamber or recess (G) formed at one end,
a spring (H) arranged within said chamber having its inner end hook-shaped and
its outer end pressing against the inside wall of the chamber, and a small
spindle (I) passing through said chamber and having recesses or projections (i) on
its periphery, on or with which the inner end of the aforesaid spring bears or
engages, the outer end of said spindle being held in one arm (F) of a support in
such a manner that the spindle cannot itself rotate whilst its inner end serves
as a pivot on which the reel or bobbin, which has its other end freely supported
in another arm (F') of said support, may rotate, substantially as described and
illustrated.
4. A modification of the device described in the preceding claim consisting in
forming the reel or bobbin with a hollow core (L) closed by hollow plugs (A A¹)
or the like, and in lengthening and extending the spindle (I) and spring (H) into
said hollow core, one end of said spring being rigidly attached to the spindle
whilst its other end (or end coils) is loose and bears frictionally against the inner
walls of the hollow core (L,) or of one of the hollow plugs (A) which close said
core, and in arranging within a recess or box (O) on one cheek (C) of the reel
or bobbiu, clicks (N) turning on pins (n) and adapted to engage with notches or
recesses (¹) on the outer end of the spindle (1) whereby a recoil or re-winding
action of the reel or bobbin which may be checked or controlled is produced
substantially as described and illustrated.
5. In a holder for twine, cord, tape, paper or other such like material, a
reel or bobbin having its spindle (A) or hollow core (L) provided with or formed
of a broad flat coiled spring (B), whereby the ball, cylinder or other roll of
material when placed thereon is compelled to rotate with the reel or bobbin
substantially as described.
6. In a holder for twine, cord, tape, paper or other such like material, a
support having one arm or side (F) provided with a vertical slot or socket (J) and
its other arm or side (F¹) provided with two holes or sockets (E E') respectively
opposite to the upper and lower ends of the said vertical slot or socket, the latter
having a groove or slot (J) meeting it at right angles whereby the support may
be used either as a hanger or as a bracket, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 31st day of May 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.