Patent ID: 7004318

Claim:
A payout device for controlling the payout of wire from a coil of wire in a drum having a drum axis and a drum body and a core coaxial with said axis, said coil of wire being wound about said core and having a top, said payout comprising: a first ring resting on the top of the wire coil and having a first inner edge adjacent to the core and a first outer edge spaced from said first inner edge, a second ring resting on the top of the wire coil and having a second outer edge adjacent to the drum body, and a second inner edge spaced from said second outer edge, said first outer edge being spaced from said second inner edge to define a continuous generally circular gap above the top of the wire coil such that the wire passes upwardly through said gap as it is payed out from the wire coil, and a third ring having a third inner edge and a third outer edge spaced from said third inner edge; said third ring slideable on said first and second rings and at least partially covering said gap.