A spool assembly comprising: a housing structure having an interior region; a spool having a first axis of rotation, and being configured to reside in the interior region of the housing structure in a manner that is free or substantially free of any hub engagement, wherein the spool comprises: a filament-receiving shaft having a first end and a second end offset along the first axis of rotation; a first flange extending from the first end of the filament-receiving shaft, wherein the first flange comprises a first perimeter edge; and a second flange extending from the second end of the filament-receiving shaft, wherein the second flange comprises a second perimeter edge; a first bearing support mounted to the housing structure within the interior region; a second bearing support mounted to the housing structure within the interior region at an offset location from the first bearing support, wherein the first bearing support and the second bearing support are configured to support the first perimeter edge of the first flange and the second perimeter edge of the second flange while the spool is rotated around the first axis of rotation, and a sealed sheath disposed around the housing structure retaining the spool and characterized in that the sealed sheath comprises a body that defines a barrier for the encased housing structure, and a tab outside of the barrier of the body, and wherein the spool assembly further comprises a handle secured to the tab in a manner that does not penetrate the barrier of the body. a housing structure having an interior region; a spool having a first axis of rotation, and being configured to reside in the interior region of the housing structure in a manner that is free or substantially free of any hub engagement, wherein the spool comprises: a filament-receiving shaft having a first end and a second end offset along the first axis of rotation; a first flange extending from the first end of the filament-receiving shaft, wherein the first flange comprises a first perimeter edge; and a second flange extending from the second end of the filament-receiving shaft, wherein the second flange comprises a second perimeter edge; a filament-receiving shaft having a first end and a second end offset along the first axis of rotation; a first flange extending from the first end of the filament-receiving shaft, wherein the first flange comprises a first perimeter edge; and a second flange extending from the second end of the filament-receiving shaft, wherein the second flange comprises a second perimeter edge; a first bearing support mounted to the housing structure within the interior region; a second bearing support mounted to the housing structure within the interior region at an offset location from the first bearing support, wherein the first bearing support and the second bearing support are configured to support the first perimeter edge of the first flange and the second perimeter edge of the second flange while the spool is rotated around the first axis of rotation, and a sealed sheath disposed around the housing structure retaining the spool and characterized in that the sealed sheath comprises a body that defines a barrier for the encased housing structure, and a tab outside of the barrier of the body, and wherein the spool assembly further comprises a handle secured to the tab in a manner that does not penetrate the barrier of the body.