Abstract: A reel assembly for large packages of cable and wire. The reel assembly includes a pair of separate drum segments which, when assembled, form a hollow cylindrical drum for winding wire or cable therearound. The drum segments have inwardly extending beads which lock separate end flanges on opposite sides of the drum. The end flanges are of two piece construction including a hub secured to a skirt The hub has a lip for engaging the beads of the drum segments when the reel is assembled. The reel assembly has means for automatically releasably locking the drum segments to the hub lip when the drum segments side edges are urged into engagement with one another.

Abstract: A knockdown reel comprising a two part tubular hub and having a pair of end flanges releasably attached to opposite ends of the tubular hub by latching means capable of being released in order to separate the end flanges from the hub and thereby minimize the space consumed by said components in packaging, shipping and storing reels of this type. The tubular hub parts include aligning ribs which cooperate with aligning slot in circular recessed sockets on the inner wall of each end flange. The sockets having a bottom wall with curved guide projections thereon spaced radially thereabout in order to guide the ends of the end flanges into proper circumferential engagement with the side walls of the circular sockets.

Abstract: A collapsible reel comprising a pair of similar flanges connected by a tubular hub composed of at least a pair of similar segments, similar bosses being affixed to a planar surface of each of the flanges, said bosses having arcuate grooves in the peripheral surfaces thereof and the opposite ends of the concave surfaces of the hub segments having arcuate ribs thereon complementary in shape and size to the grooves in said bosses for reception into said grooves, thereby interlocking the flanges to the hub. Bolt means extending through portions of the hub segments and into other portions engage nuts in said other portions to secure the hub segments in operative relationship with each other and interlock to said flanges. The abutting edges of the hub segments also have interfitting lugs and recesses to align the same with each other and insure a cylindrical outer surface on said hub to receive material to be wound thereupon between said flanges.