Patent ID: 8424796

Claim:
A reel comprising: a cylindrical core composed of two complementary arcuate core segments; a pair of flanges disposed respectively at axially spaced opposite ends of the core; a pair of rings for connecting the core to the flanges, the rings being fixed respectively to facing inner sides of the flanges; cooperating slots and tongues on the rings and core segments for preventing the flanges from moving relative to the core in the direction of the axis of the cylindrical core, said tongues entering the slots when the core segments are brought together; and resiliently displaceable locking arms having portions protruding radially inward from both ends of each core segment, each locking arm portion having an end portion with a radially outward facing locking surface, said arms being resiliently displaceable to move through a limited range in a direction substantially parallel to said axis; each ring having a wall positioned for sliding engagement with said locking arm and for displacing the locking arm axially as the locking arm moves radially inward; said wall also having a radially inward facing surface for locking engagement with said radially outward facing locking surface of said locking arm, the inwardly facing surface of the wall and the outwardly facing locking surface of the locking arm being positioned for automatic snap fit engagement with each other by said resilient displacement of the arm when the core segments are fully engaged; and wherein each of said flanges has a through access aperture in register with the end portion of each locking arm, whereby axial inward pressure can be applied to said end portion of said locking arm to disengage the radially outward facing surface of the locking arm from the radially inward facing surface of the wall of said ring for enabling the reel to be dismantled.