A cable dispensing system for unwinding a spool of cable not having a central core, the system comprising a tub having a base and a side wall with a side wall opening partially forming an inner space sized to fit the spool, the system further including an inner assembly having a base plate and a bearing assembly between the plate and the tub base, the bearing assembly supporting both the axial load and providing free rotation of the plate relative to the tub base about an inner space axis and unrestricted rotation of the associated spool about the system axis, the opening in the side wall allowing passage of the associated cable out of the inner space wherein pulling the cable out of the inner space rotates the associated spool about the inner space axis and unwinds the cable from the spool with low resistance and without kinking.

A modular reel drive assembly comprises two reel drive tower modules (12, 14), a reel hub adapter (54) and a reel hub adapter support module (22, 24). The hub adapter support module (22, 24) comprises at least one support pin which is configured to be movable between a storage position in which the at least one support pin is not aligned with at least one aperture (38, 39, 40, 41) on the hub adapter support module (22, 24) and an operational position in which the support pin is aligned with at least one aperture (38, 39, 40, 41) on the hub adapter support module (22, 24).

A modular reel drive assembly comprises two reel drive tower modules (12, 14), a reel hub adapter (54) and a reel hub adapter support module (22, 24). The hub adapter support module (22, 24) comprises at least one support pin which is configured to be movable between a storage position in which the at least one support pin is not aligned with at least one aperture (38, 39, 40, 41) on the hub adapter support module (22, 24) and an operational position in which the support pin is aligned with at least one aperture (38, 39, 40, 41) on the hub adapter support module (22, 24).

Systems include a creel assembly supporting a plurality of spools containing at least one cord having an indeterminate length such that a plurality of cords are supported on the creel assembly. A tensioner assembly operative to tension approximately equal predetermined lengths of the plurality of cords received from the creel assembly. A building mandrel supported for rotation and translation. A head assembly supported in fixed relation to the building mandrel. The head assembly is positioned co-axially such that the building mandrel can pass through an opening in the head assembly during translation. Methods of manufacture are included, as are flexible spring members and gas spring assemblies.

Systems include a creel assembly supporting a plurality of spools containing at least one cord having an indeterminate length such that a plurality of cords are supported on the creel assembly. A tensioner assembly operative to tension approximately equal predetermined lengths of the plurality of cords received from the creel assembly. A building mandrel supported for rotation and translation. A head assembly supported in fixed relation to the building mandrel. The head assembly is positioned co-axially such that the building mandrel can pass through an opening in the head assembly during translation. Methods of manufacture are included, as are flexible spring members and gas spring assemblies.

The spool for storing and distributing linear product has a drum and inner flanges defining the ends of the drum. The drum is configured to receive a linear product wound about the drum. The inner flanges have locking gears on the outside faces of the inner flanges. The spool has an axle supporting the inner flanges and a pair of outer flanges. The outer flanges each have an outer flange gear positioned in their inner face and corresponding to the inner flange gear. The inner and outer flange gears cooperate to allow the drum to rotate in a first direction but not a second direction when the spool is supported by the outer flanges. The outer flanges are slightly taller than the inner flanges such that the spool may be positioned on a flat surface (e.g., truck bed or ground) and unwound without any equipment.

A wheel-balancing weight application apparatus comprising a supplying module including a first strip of wheel-balancing weights and a second strip of wheel-balancing weights, the first and the second strips of wheel-balancing weights including a different characteristic, and an application module for securing a portion of one of the first strip of wheel-balancing weights and the second strip of wheel-balancing weights to a wheel, wherein a selection of wheel-balancing weights from the first strip of wheel-balancing weights and the second strip of wheel-balancing weights is selected on a basis of a characteristic of the wheel to match the wheel-balancing weights characteristic with an identified characteristic of the wheel. A method of using the balancing weight application apparatus is also provided.

A reel apparatus and method comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and a bearing assembly coupled to the inner and outer flange assemblies. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is spooled from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly.

A reel apparatus and method comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and a bearing assembly coupled to the inner and outer flange assemblies. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is spooled from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly.

A fishing line dispenser, the fishing line being wound about a spool having circular walls, and a bore, the dispenser including a base; a “” bracket including a column having front and rear ends, a cylindrical arm having a proximal end rigidly attached to the column's rear end, and having a spindle arm having a proximal end rigidly attached to the column's front end, the spindle arm being fitted for extension into the spool's bore; a pivot joint interconnecting the “” bracket and the base, the pivot joint having first and second halves, first half being positioned at the base's rear end, and the second half including the “” bracket's cylindrical arm; and a concavity positioned within the base for, upon the spindle arm's oppositely lateral extension into the spool's bore and upon downward pivoting of the “” bracket, receiving and frictionally engaging the spool's circular walls.