Dispensing device

Abstract

A dispensing device 1 for flexible elongate material, such as electrical sleeving. The device has spools 12 each including a spool member 1211, onto which the flexible member is wound, housed in a spool case 1212. A main body 11 houses the spools such that each of the spools is replaceable without removing the others. The spool cases and main body define respective slots 1212e, 117, for the dispensing of the elongate flexible material. The main body may have a lid 112 and base 111 hinged together 113 and the device may have an attachment clip or magnet. The spools may be of the same diameter but may be of different widths to accommodate live, neutral and earth sleeving.

Description

FIELD Aspects of the present technology relate to a dispensing device for a flexible elongate material, such as a tubular wire sleeve material. Some aspects include a dispensing device for a plurality of different flexible elongate materials. Some aspects include components of such devices including, for example, a spool for such a device. BACKGROUND Flexible elongate materials need to be dispensed for a wide range of different activities. Such flexible elongate materials include tapes, strings, cords, wires, tubular sleeves, and the like. These materials need to be safely stored, and carried, then easily dispensed for use. Secure storage during movement often conflicts with the need for the materials to be easily dispensed - as the arrangements used for secure storage often make dispensing of the material more difficult. There are some activities in which relatively small amounts of such flexible elongate materials are needed, such that a user can easily carry the amounts needed for a given period of work, and the user is relatively active during the activities (e.g. moving from one location to another performing small tasks which may require the use of the material). One such activity is in the work of an electrician carrying out electrical work in relation to, for example, a property. This work may include connecting a large number of light fittings, sockets, switches, junction boxes, and the like to electrical wires. These wires may be in the form of, for example, “twin and earth cable” - i.e. a cable comprising two individually insulated conductors (the line and neutral conductors) and one uninsulated (i.e. bare) conductor (the earth conductor) all provided within an outer insulated sheath. The conductors may be solid conductors or stranded conductors, for example. Naturally, where twin and earth cable is connected to a fitting, the outer insulated sheath is stripped back to provide access to the conductors. The insulation on the insulated conductors is also stripped back to the extent required to secure the bare ends of those conductors to the fitting - normally with very little if any of the bare conductor then being exposed. It is a requirement in many countries for the bare conductor (i.e. the earth conductor) to be sleeved where it leaves the outer insulated sheath to where it enters the fitting. This is primarily for identification purposes but also to provide some electrical insulation to reduce the risk of inadvertent electrical shorting of either of the other conductors to earth. This sleeving is a flexible elongate material which is in the form of a tubular sleeve which can be fitted over the bare conductor. The electrician will normally cut a section of this sleeving from a supply of the material for use in a particular fitting - the length being suitable for the particular length of bare conductor for connection of that particular fitting. Often the lengths used for each fitting are less than 3cm and may be less than 2cm. Accordingly, a relatively small amount of the material is used for each fitting but the electrician may be quickly moving from one fitting to another - so repeatedly cutting short lengths of the material. In this example, the sleeving is normally coloured yellow and green to designate the conductor as an earth conductor. However, there are instances in which the electrician also has to use other colours of sleeving when connecting a fitting. This may include the use of sleeving which is blue or brown or red or black, for example. This sleeving may be slid over one of the insulated conductors of the twin and earth cable in order to indicate how that conductor is being used in a particular circuit. The conductors in a twin and earth cable may have different diameters from one cable to another -e.g. due to different expected electrical loads on the cable. As such, sleeving of different sizes (i.e. with a different internal diameter) may be needed by an electrician. In summary, therefore, an electrician may need fast and reliable access to several different types of sleeving when working on a particular electrical installation. Moreover, the electrician may be moving from one location to another relatively quickly and would want, therefore, to carry the sleeving material with them in a secure manner (but one in which easy access is still possible). Earth sleeving can be purchased on large open spools. These are difficult to carry around and, without some other structure (such as an axle) to enable their free rotation, can be difficult to access the sleeving from. It is also possible to purchase small coils of earth sleeving, without any spool. These tend to be smaller, and so more easily carried, but pose an even greater difficulty when it comes to access (whatever is used to hold the coil together - e.g. a cable tie or strap - tends to inhibit the unwinding of the sleeve material). These are similar to the problems faced in other fields but, as will be appreciated, the combination of issues faced by electricians (and other users carrying out electrical work) are relatively unique -in both their severity and multiplicity. As such there is a need for a dispensing device for flexible elongate materials, and versions of the present technology seek to alleviate one or more problems associated with the prior art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An aspect provides a dispensing device for dispensing flexible elongate material, the device including: a plurality of spools each including a spool member and a spool case, the spool case being configured to house the spool member, and the spool member being configured to have flexible elongate material wound therearound; and a main body configured to house the plurality of spools removably, such that one of the plurality of spools is replaceable without removing another of the plurality of spools, the spool cases and main body defining respective slots for the dispensing of the elongate flexible material therethrough with the spools housed in the main body. Each spool member may be rotatable with respect to the spool case which may be configured to house that spool member, during dispensing of the flexible elongate material. The main body may be in the form of a box. The main body may have a lid portion and a base portion, and the lid portion may be moveable between open and closed positions with respect to the base portion to allow selective access to the plurality of spools. A first of the plurality of spools may be larger than a second of the plurality of spools, the first and second spools may have the same external diameter. The second of the plurality of spools may have a length which is half the corresponding length of the first of the plurality of spools. Each of the plurality of spools may have a rotational axis associated therewith and the rotational axes may be parallel and aligned when the plurality of spools are housed within the main body. The device may include a first attachment arrangement for securing the device to a first object and a second attachment arrangement for securing the device to a second object, the second attachment arrangement may include a magnet. The device may further include the flexible elongate material, wherein the flexible elongate material includes electrical sleeve material. Another aspect provides a dispensing device for dispensing flexible elongate material, the device including: a spool including a spool member and a spool case, the spool case being configured to house the spool member, the spool member being configured to have flexible elongate material wound therearound, the spool case defining a spool case slot for the passage of flexible elongate material therethrough from the spool member, and the spool case retaining the flexible elongate material from unwinding from the spool member except through passage of the flexible elongate material through the spool case slot; and a main body configured to house the spool and defining a main body slot through which flexible elongate material from the spool is passable for dispensing. The spool member may be rotatable with respect to the spool case about an axis of rotation. The main body slot may be parallel to the axis of rotation. The spool case slot and the main body slot may remain in the same position with respect to each other during dispensing of the flexible elongate material from the spool member. The spool case may surround the spool member. The spool case may be cylindrical. An edge of a wall which defines the spool case slot may include a rim which extends inwardly. A device may further include the flexible elongate material, wherein the flexible elongate material may include electrical sleeve material. Another aspect provides a spool for a dispensing device for dispensing flexile elongate material, the spool including: a spool member having a tubular core member about which the flexible elongate material is windable, the tubular core member defining an aperture configured to receive and retain an end of the flexible elongate material; and a spool case configured to house the spool member, wherein the spool case includes a shaft member, an end of the shaft member being receivable by the tubular core member such that the spool member is rotatable about the shaft member, wherein the end of the shaft member is axially offset from the aperture defined by the tubular core member when the end of the shaft member is received by the tubular core member, such that flexible elongate material retained therein does not inhibit rotation of the spool member with respect to the spool case about the shaft member. The spool case may include a perimeter wall which substantially surrounds the spool case. The spool case may include a base from which the shaft member extends. The spool case may define a slot through which the flexible elongate material is accessible. An edge of a wall which defines the slot may include a rim which extends inwardly. A spool may further include the flexible elongate material, wherein the flexible elongate material includes electrical sleeve material. Another aspect provides a dispensing device for dispensing flexible elongate material, the device including: a main body; and a spool as above, the main body being configured to house the spool. Another aspect provides a stack of spools, wherein each spool is a spool as above and one of the stack of spools includes a first type of electrical sleeve material and a second of the stack of spools includes a second type of electrical sleeve material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In order that the present disclosure may be more readily understood, preferable embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a main body of some versions in a closed configuration; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a main body of some versions in an open configuration; FIGURE 3 is a side view of a main body of some versions in an open configuration; FIGURE 4 is a view of the base of a main body of some versions in a closed configuration; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a main body of some versions in a closed configuration, in another in use orientation; FIGURE 6 is an end view of a main body of some versions in a closed configuration; FIGURE 7 is an end view of a main body of some versions in a closed configuration; FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a main body of some versions in an open configuration housing three spools; FIGURE 9 is an end view of a main body of some versions in an open configuration containing a spool; FIGURE 10 is a side view of a main body of some versions in an open configuration containing three spools; FIGURE 11 is a top view of a main body of some versions in an open configuration containing three spools; FIGURE 12 is an exploded view of a first spool of some versions; FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a first spool of some versions, with various parts depicted transparently; FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a first part of a spool case of some versions; FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of a spool member of some versions; FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of a first part of a spool case and a spool member of some versions; FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of a spool case and a spool member of some versions; FIGURE 18 is a side view of a spool case and a spool member of some versions; FIGURE 19 is a side view of a first part of a spool case and a spool member of some versions; FIGURE 20 is an exploded view of a second spool of some versions; FIGURE 21 is a perspective view of a second spool of some versions, with various parts depicted transparently; FIGURE 22 is a perspective view of a spool case and a spool member of some versions; and FIGURE 23 is a view of an example flexible elongate material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE Aspects may include a dispensing device 1 - see figure 1, for example. The dispensing device 1 may include a main body 11 in the form of a box (as depicted) or a frame - see figures 1-11. The main body 11 defines a space which is configured to receive one or more spools 12 of the dispensing device 1 - each spool 12 being configured to carry a flexible elongate material 14 (such as sleeve material for electrical wires - see figure 23). This space is shown in figure 2, for example, which depicts the main body 11 in an open configuration. In the depicted and some other examples, the main body 11 is in the form of a box. The main body 11 has a first portion 111 (which may be a lower portion in a first orientation) and a second portion 112 (which may be an upper portion in the first orientation) - see figures 1-3 and 5-11. The two portions 111,112 may be configured to couple to each other to form the box and the space defined by the two portions 111,112 within the box may be the space configured to receive the one or more spools 12 - compare figures 2 and 8, for example. In the depicted and some other examples, the first and second portions 111,112 are coupled by a hinge arrangement 113 (see figures 2 and 4, for example) which may couple adjacent edges of the first and second portions 111,112. In some examples, the main body 11 has a generally rectangular cross-section and therefore, the first and second portions 111,112 may also have a generally rectangular cross-section. The hinge mechanism 113 (if provided) may be located along two adjacent longer edges of the first and second portions 111,112 where those portions 111,112 have a generally rectangular cross-section. The hinge arrangement 113 could take a number of different forms. For example, one of the first and second portions 111,112 may have a pin extending parallel to an edge of that portion 111,112 and the other of the first and second portions 111,112 may have a clip extending parallel to an adjacent edge of the other portion 111,112, wherein the clip is configured to receive at least part of the pin such that the clip can rotate about the pin (the rest of the two portions 111,112 being configured for rotation with the pin or clip as the case may be). In other hinge arrangements 113, one of the first and second portions 111,112 may have a tube extending parallel to an edge of the first or second portion 111,112 and the other of the first and second portions 111,112 may have two protrusions extending towards each other parallel to an adjacent edge of the other portion 111,112, wherein the tube is configured to receive at least part of the protrusions in the ends of the tube such that the tube can rotate about the protrusions (the rest of the two portions 111,112 being configured for rotation with the protrusions or tube as the case may be). In some versions, such as depicted, there may be two such hinge arrangements 113 which may be spaced apart long adjacent edges of the first and second portions 111,112- see figures 2 and 4, for example. A latch 114 (see figures 2 and 5, for example) may be provided on an edge of one of the portions 111,112 which opposes the hinge arrangement 113, wherein the latch 114 is configured to be selectively engaged with the other of the two portions 111,112 to hold the first and second portions 111,112 in a closed configuration (e.g. to prevent or substantially inhibit rotation of the first portion 111 with respect to the second portion 112 about the hinge arrangement 113). In some versions, the latch 114 includes a rotatable member 114a which may be mounted to the second portion 112 of the main body 11 and rotatable with respect to the second portion 112. This rotation may be enabled by, for example, the rotatable member 114a including a clip portion which is configured to clip around a pin portion or an opposing pair of protrusions such that the clip portion is rotatable about the pin portion or pair of protrusions. The rotatable member 114a may have a body extending away from the clip portion and carrying a latch portion in the form of a protrusion extending from a surface of the body. The latch portion in the depicted and some other versions may be an elongate protrusion extending across a width of the body of the rotatable member 114a. The elongate protrusion forming the latch portion may have a longitudinal axis which is generally parallel to a rotational axis of the rotatable member 114a (and so may be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pin portion or pair of opposing protrusions and / or the clip). In the depicted and some other versions, the pin portion or pair of opposing protrusions are provided between two mounting parts of the main body 11 which may extend from a surface thereof and may serve to support the pin portion or pair of opposing protrusions. The rotatable member 114a may be configured to have a width generally equal to or less than the distance between the two mounting parts. The latch 114 may also include a latch lip 114b (see figure 2). The latch lip 114b may be provided on the other of the first and second portions 111,112 of the main body 11. In the depicted and some other examples, the latch lip 114b is provided on the first portion 111. The lip portion 114b may be configured such that with the first and second portions 111,112 in a closed configuration, the rotatable member 114a may be rotated from an unlatched position (in which the latch 114 does not inhibit movement of the first and second portions 111,112 to an open configuration) to a latched position in which the rotatable member 114a (e.g. the latch portion thereof) engages the latch lip 114b and this engagement may inhibit movement of the first and second portions 111,112 with respect to each other from the closed configuration to the open configuration. In other words, the latch 114 has a latched position and an unlatched position. The latched position holds the main body 11 in its closed configuration and the unlatched position allows the main body 11 to move to its open configuration. The latch lip 114b may be mounted between and may be at least partially supported by a pair of mounting parts such that the latch lip 114b may extend therebetween. With the main body 11 in its closed configuration, the mounting parts associated with the rotatable member 114a and the mounting parts associated with the latch lip 114b may be adjacent each other. This, as will be understood, may allow rotation of the rotatable member 114a from the unlatched position to the latched position between the mounting parts associated with the latch lip 114b. The rotatable member 114a may flex slightly when moving from the unlatched to the latched positions (by interference of the rotatable member 114a and, in particular, the latch portion and the latch lip 114b). This may help to retain the latch 114 (and so the rotatable member 114a) in its latched position. Manual pressure on an edge of the rotatable member 114a remote from the clip may also cause slight flex of the rotatable member 114a to enable the latch 114 (and so the latch member 114a) to move to the unlatched position. One or more guide extensions 115 (see figures 2 and 3, for example) may be provided on one or both of the first and second portions 111,112 of the main body 11 to help ensure the correct position of the first and second portions 111,112 with respect to each other when in the closed configuration. The or each guide extension 115 may extend from one or more edges of the first or second portion 111,112 and may be configured to abut an inner (or outer) surface of the other of the first or second portion 111,112 when in the closed configuration. In the depicted and some other versions there are four such guide extensions 115, with two provided on each of the shorter edges of the first portion 111 (i.e. the ends thereof). This is, of course, just one example implementation. As already mentioned, the main body 11 may be in the form of a frame or box. The depicted examples are in the form of a box but a frame version may include multiple frame members enclosing the space for receiving the one or more spools 12. Returning to the depicted and other versions which may implement the main body 11 as a box, the first portion 111 may form the lower portion of the box and this lower portion may have a substantially flat lower external surface such that the device 1 may be rested on a flat surface (like a table top) without the device rolling off the flat surface. This may be referred to as a first working orientation of the device 1, for example. In some versions, a height of the first portion 111 is generally equal to a diameter of the one or more spools 12. This height may be the distance from the flat lower external surface to an opposing edge (e.g. an upper edge in a normal orientation). The first portion 111 may have an internal height (i.e. from an internal surface at the bottom of the first portion 111) to an opposing edge which is generally equal to the diameter of the one or more spools 12. The first portion 111 may have an internal width (defined from an internal surface adjacent the latch 114 to the opposing hinge arrangement 113) which is generally equal to the diameter of the one or more spools 12. The first portion 111 may be formed from two generally rectangular end walls, and / or two generally rectangular side walls (one of which forms a front wall adjacent the latch 114 and the other of which forms a back wall adjacent the hinge arrangement 113), and / or a generally rectangular base wall. This may give the first portion 111a generally rectangular appearance. As will be described in more detail, with a spool 12 received within the space defined by the main body 11 (see figures 8-11), there may be a volume defined between the spool 12, a portion of the base wall, and a portion of one of the side walls (e.g. the front wall). This volume may aid the operation of the dispensing device 1. The first portion 111 of the main body 11 may, therefore, be referred to as a base or bottom portion. The second portion 112 may likewise be referred to as a top or upper portion. These relative terms being understood with the device 1 in a normal orientation - e.g. with the flat lower external surface on a table or other flat surface (i.e. the first working orientation). The second portion 112 may be generally similar in shape and size to the first portion. However, in the depicted and some other embodiments, where the first portion 111 is rectangular in appearance, the second portion 112 may have the appearance of half of a barrel (e.g. with a semicircular cross-section). Accordingly, end walls of the second portion may be generally semi-circular end walls. Rather than side walls and a top wall, however, the second portion 112 may have a curved wall joining the curved edges of the two end walls. The diameter of the semi-circular end walls may correspond to the diameter of the or each spool 12. When in the closed configuration the first and second portions 111,112 of the main body 11 may partially overlap such that a circumferential lip or edge of the first portion 111 may be located within the second portion 112 of the main body 11, or vice versa. In some versions, the main body 11 may include an attachment loop or hook 116 (see figures 2, 4, 5, 6 and 11, for example) extending therefrom - e.g. from the first portion 111 and / or from one of the end walls thereof, outwardly. The loop or hook 116 may be configured to be coupled to a carabiner or the like to enable the device 1 to be coupled to a bag, belt, belt loop, or other object -e.g. for carrying the device 1. In some versions, the main body 11 may include a recess configured to receive a magnet 13 (see figure 4) of the device 1. The magnet 13 may be circular (or rectangular) and may be adhered to the main body 11, e.g. in the recess if one is provided or elsewhere if not). In the depicted and some other versions, there is a recess in the base wall and a magnet 13 is adhered to the first portion 111 in the recess. The magnet 13 may enable the device 1 to be removably attached to other objects to which the magnet 13 is attracted - such as pipes, nails, screws, metal conduit, part of a ladder, part of a scaffold, and the like. Thus, in some versions, the device 1 may include a first attachment arrangement (such as the loop or hook 116) to enable the device 1 to be attached to a first object (which may be an item of clothing or something else carried by the user). In some versions, the device 1 may include a second attachment arrangement (such as the magnet 13) to enable the device 1 to be attached to a second object (which may be a generally fixed or stationary object, such as part of a building, scaffolding, a ladder, or the like). In some versions, the first and second attachment arrangements may take different forms, for example, the second attachment arrangement may include an adhesive pad. Likewise, in some versions, the first attachment arrangement may include a belt hook or clip. As will be understood, therefore, the device 1 may have other working orientations (some of which may be upside-down when compared to the first working orientation). For example, figure 5 depicts the device 1 in a second working orientation (with the attachment loop or hook 116 at the top, which may be because the device 1 is hanging by that attachment loop or hook 116). The main body 11 may define one or more slots 117 (i.e. one or more main body slots 117)- see figures 1 and 5, for example. In some versions, the one or more slots 117 are each defined through a wall of the main body 11 and this may be through a wall of the first portion 111 of the main body 11. In some versions, the wall is one of the side walls and may be the front wall of the first portion 111 of the main body 11. In some versions, the or each slot 117 is an elongate opening with a longitudinal axis which is generally parallel to a rotational axis of the one or more spools 12 - as described herein. In some versions, the longitudinal axis of the or each slot is parallel to an edge of the first portion 111 of the main body 11 adjacent the latch 114. The or each slot 117 may be rectangular in shape. The or each slot 117 may be a rounded rectangular shape (e.g. stadium shaped). The or each slot 117 may provide an opening into the volume defined between the spool 12, a portion of the base wall, and a portion of one of the side walls (e.g. the front wall) - see above. Accordingly, as will be understood, some versions may provide a main body 11 in the form of a box (i.e. a container) with a lower portion 111 and an upper portion 112 which can be opened and closed, and which are configured to contain one or more spools 12. The one or more slots 117 may provide a passageway for flexible elongate material 14 from the or each spool 12 to pass out of the main body 11 (even when the main body 11 is in its closed configuration). Whilst a hinge arrangement 113 has been described for some versions, it will be understood that other hinge arrangements 113 are possible and, indeed, latches 114 may be provided on more than one edge of the first and second portions 111,112. In some versions, there may be no hinge arrangement 113 but, instead, latches 114 (as described above) may be provided on opposing sides or ends of the first and second portions 111,112. The first and second portions 111,112 may be held in their closed configuration, therefore, by the latching of both such opposing latches 114 — the unlatching of those latches allowing, for example, the complete removal of the second portion 112 from the first portion 111. The main body 11 may be formed from a plastics material, such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). As will be understood, parts which are described as being elements of the first or second portions 111,112 of the main body 11 may more generally be described as parts of the main body 11 and the description is to be construed accordingly. As discussed, the main body 11 is configured to receive one or more spools 12 - see figures 8-11. The receipt of the one or more spools 12 may be such that, with the main body 11 in its closed configuration, the or each spool 12 is retained in the space defined by the main body 11. In other words, the main body 11 may carry the one or more spools 12. The or each spool 12 could take a number of different forms and more than one type of spool 12 may be received within the same main body 11. Versions will be described with reference to two different sizes of spool 12 but it will be understood that other sizes of spool 12 are also envisaged. Moreover, whilst the depicted and some other examples may include a device 1 with three spools 12 (two small and one large) other numbers and combinations of spools 12 may be provided and retained within the main body 1. A first spool 121 - see figures 12-19 - of the or each spools 12 may include a spool member 1211 and a spool case 1212. The spool member 1211 (see figure 15) includes core member 1211a about which the flexible elongate material 14 may be wrapped. The core member 1211a may be elongate, may be a cylindrical member, and may be a tubular member (i.e. the core member 1211a may be hollow). The core member 1211a has a central longitudinal axis about which, as described herein, the spool member 1211 is configured to rotate with respect to the spool case 1212. This longitudinal axis may be the rotational axis of the first spool 121. The spool member 1211 may include one or more flange members 1211b. In the depicted and some other versions, there are two flange members 1211b which are provided at opposing ends of the core member 1211a. Each flange member 1211b may extend from a perimeter of the core member 1211a generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis thereof. In some versions, therefore, each flange member 1211b may extend radially from the core member 1211a and may extend from an entire circumference of the core member 1211a. The flexible elongate material 14 may be wrapped around the core member 1211a between the flange members 1211b, for example. The flexible elongate material 14, so wrapped around the core member 1211a may not extend beyond the edges of the flange members 1211b (except for, in some instances, a free end of the flexible elongate material 14). The or each flange member 1211b may be generally circular or annular (e.g. with a hole defined generally centrally and aligned with a passage through the core member 1211a). The spool member 1211 is, therefore, configured to enable the wrapping of the flexible elongate material 14 around it in the aforementioned manner. The spool member 1211 and, in particular, the core member 1211a may define an aperture 1211c. The aperture 1211c may be through an entire depth of a wall of the core member 1211a (from the space defined between the flange members 1211b and core member 1211a to the passage defined by the core member 1211a). In some versions, therefore, the aperture 1211c extends radially through an entire depth of a wall of the core member 1211a. The aperture 1211c may be located towards a first end of the core member 1211a - the core member 1211a having two opposing ends across a length thereof. The aperture 1211c may be located adjacent one of the flange members 1211b. The aperture 1211c is configured (and so sized) to receive an end of the flexible elongate material 14. Accordingly, an end of the flexible elongate material 14 may be inserted through the aperture 1211c and then the flexible elongate material 14 wrapped around the core member 1211a. There may be more than one such aperture 1211c with the apertures 1211c located around a circumference or perimeter of the core member 1211a at different positions (more than one of the apertures 1211c may be located at the same distance from one of the one or more flange members 1211b)- see figure 13, for example. The spool case 1212 (see figures 12, 14 and 16-19) may be configured to receive the spool member 1211 to form the first spool 121. The spool case 1212 may, therefore, form a housing and that housing may be cylindrical. The spool case 1212 may include a first part 1212a and a second part 1212b. The first part 1212a may be a container configured to receive the spool member 1211 and the second part 1212b may be a lid configured to be secured to the first part 1212a to retain the spool member 1211 within the spool case 1212. Accordingly, the spool case 1212 may be a two part 1212a,1212b case 1212 which may have an open configuration to enable insertion of a spool member 1211 and a closed configuration in order to retain the spool member 1211 within the spool case 1212. The first part 1212a of the spool case 1212 may include a base 1212c, which may be circular. The first part 1212a may include a perimeter wall 1212d which extends from the base 1212c and which may be generally perpendicular thereto. The perimeter wall 1212d may extend from substantially all of the perimeter of the base 1212c. Accordingly, the first part 1212a may form an open topped cylindrical container. The perimeter wall 1212d may define a slot 1212e (i.e. a spool case slot 1212e) which may extend through part of the perimeter wall 1212d. In some versions the slot 1212e in the perimeter wall 1212d does not extend through an entire height of the perimeter wall 1212d. Thus, the slot 1212e may be said to extend through part of the height of the perimeter wall 1212d. This slot 1212e may be elongate and a longitudinal axis of the slot 1212e may be generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the spool case 1212 - which may be parallel to and aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the spool member 1211. An edge of the perimeter wall 1212d which defines the slot 1212e may include a rim which extends inwardly, to reinforce the perimeter wall 1212d in the location of the slot 1212e. The slot 1212e may have an open end (which may be remote from the base 1212c) and a closed end (which may be closer to the base 1212c (compared to the open end)). The closed end may be curved, e.g. so that the part of the slot 1212e closest to the base 1212c has an arcuate edge. A depth of the slot 1212e may be defined as the distance from the open end to the closed end. The perimeter wall 1212d may define a recess 1212f (see figure 14, for example). The recess 1212f may be similar to the slot 1212e but may be shallower (i.e. may extend through less of a length of the perimeter wall, and so may have less depth than the slot 1212e). In some versions, the recess 1212f is located opposite the slot 1212e. The slot 1212e provides an opening through which the flexible elongate material 14 from the spool member 1211 may pass through the spool case 1212. The recess 1212f may provide an opening used to aid in removal of the second part 1212b from the first part 1212a of the spool case 1212. An internal surface of the perimeter wall 1212d may carry one or more inward circumferential protrusions 1212g, which may be configured to engage one or more corresponding outward circumferential protrusions 1212h of the second part 1212b. The first part 1212a may include a shaft member 1212i. The shaft member 1212i may be located within the container formed by the first part 1212a. The shaft member 1212i may extend from a central location on the base 1212c and may extend in a direction parallel to the perimeter wall 1212d. The shaft member 1212i may be cylindrical and may be tubular. A height of the shaft member 1212i (e.g. from the base 1212c to a free end of the shaft member 1212i) may be less than a height (e.g. a length) of the core member 1211a of the spool member 1211. A width (e.g. a diameter) of the shaft member 1212i may be less than an internal width (e.g. diameter) of the core member 1211a (i.e. of the passage defined by the core member 1211a). Accordingly, the spool member 1211 may befitted to the spool case 1212 with the spool member 1211 positioned on the shaft member 1212i and an end of the shaft member 1212i received by the passage define by the core member 1211a. The shaft member 1212i may not extend through an entire length of the core member 1211a. In some versions, the or each aperture 1211c through the core member 1211a may be adjacent a part of the passage which does not receive the shaft member 1212i. In this manner, any flexible elongate material 14 extending through the core member 1211 a will not substantially impede rotational movement of the spool member 1211 with respect to the spool case 1212. In other words, the shaft member 1212i of the first part 1212a may be spaced apart from the or each aperture 1211c through the core member 1211a. This spacing may be an offset along a longitudinal axis of both the shaft member 1212i and the core member 1211a. As such, it may be said that the end of the shaft member 1212i is axially offset, when received within the core member 1211a, from the or each aperture 1211c through the core member 1211a. The second part 1212b may form a lid for the first part 1212a (see figures 12, 13, and 17, for example). The second part 1212b may include a top 1212j which may be of a corresponding shape and size to the base 1212c of the first part 1212a. The top 1212b may be a circular top member 1212b, for example. In some versions, the top 1212b defines a central hole therethrough which is aligned with the shaft member 1212i when the second part 1212b is fitted to the first part 1212a. A protrusion may extend from the top 1212j, for example, around the central hole, and may be configured to be received by the core member 1211a to help reduce wobbling of the spool member 1211 as it rotates with respect to the spool case 1212. This protrusion may be axially offset from the aperture(s) 1211c. The second part 1212b may include a perimeter wall 1212k which may extend around all or part of a perimeter (e.g. circumference) of the second part 1212b. The perimeter wall 1212k may carry the one or more outward circumferential protrusions 1212h of the second part 1212b. The perimeter wall 1212k may include a recess aligned with the slot 1212e and / or may include a recess aligned with the recess 1212f in the perimeter wall 1212d of the first part 1212a. As will be understood, parts which are described as being elements of the first or second parts 1212a,1212b of the spool case 1212 may more generally be described as parts of the spool case 1212 and the description is to be construed accordingly. As such, a spool member 1211 (around which is wrapped flexible elongate material 14) may be received by the first part 1212a of the spool case 1212 with the shaft member 1212i received by the core member 1211a. The second part 1212b may then be used to close the spool case 1212 to retain the spool member 1211 therein. This may be achieved by pressing the two parts 1212a,b together such that the inward circumferential protrusions 1212g move past the outward circumferential protrusions 1212h (e.g. by resilient flexing) and inhibit the reverse. Re-opening of the spool case 1212 may be achieved, for example, manually or using a tool to push the two parts 1212a,b apart at the recess 1212f. A second spool 122 may be provided which is the same, in construction, as the first spool 121 but for which the shaft member 1212i, core member 1211a, and perimeter wall 1212d of the first part 1212a may be shorter than the first spool 122. Accordingly, the second spool 122 may be configured to hold a smaller maximum amount of flexible elongate material 14 than the first spool 122 (assuming the same flexible elongate material 14 is being used). Figures 20-22 depict an example of the second spool 122 and like reference numerals have been used. The description above in relation to the first spool 121 applies equally to the second spool 122. One or more of the spools 12 may be loaded into the main body 11 of the device 1. This may be such that the rotational axis of the or each spool 12 (defined as the rotational axis of the spool member 1211 with respect to its spool case 1212) is aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the main body 11. If there are a plurality of spools 12 then the rotational axes associated with each spool 12 may be parallel and aligned with each other. This can be seen with reference to figure 8, for example. Rotation of the one or more spools 12, as a whole, with respect to the main body 11 may be permitted with the one or more spool 12 contained with the main body 11 but this need not be the case. In particular, the spool member or members 1211 may rotate with respect to the spool case or cases 1212, but the spool cases 1212 do not necessarily rotate during dispensing with respect to the main body 11. The one or more spools 12 are located in a rotational orientation with respect to the main body 11 such that the slot 1212e of each spool 12 is generally aligned with the one or more slots 117 of the main body 11 (e.g. of the first portion 111 of the main body 11). As such, flexible elongate material 14 may be unwound from the spool 12 with a free end thereof passing through the slot 1212e of that spool case 1212 and then out of the main body 11 through one of the slots 117. Loading of a spool 12 into the main body 11 may include ensuring that the free end of the flexible elongate material 14 extends through the slot 1212e of the spool 12, and passing that free end through the slot 117 in the main body 11 (e.g. in the first portion 111) as the spool 12 is moved into the main body 11. A user can grasp the free end of the flexible elongate material 14 and manually pull that material to draw out a required length of material which can then be cut for use. If different spools 12 are provided, then different flexible elongate materials 14 may be dispensed - e.g. one from each spool 12. During dispensing, the spool member 1211 may rotate with respect to the spool case 1212 and main body 11, and the main body slot 117 and spool case slot 1212e may not move with respect to each other (i.e. aside from minor alignment alterations, the spool case 1212 does not need to rotate with respect to the main body 11 during dispensing in some versions). The relative length of the core member 1211a and shaft member 1212i may allow free rotation of the spool member 1211 with respect to the spool case 1212 even with an end of the flexible elongate material 14 retained in the aperture(s) 1211c defined in the core member 1211a - such retention aiding in the winding of the flexible elongate material 14 on the spool member 1211. The spool case 1212 for each spool 12 may reduce the risk of the flexible elongate material 14 becoming unwound from the spool member 1211 (e.g. other than during intentional dispensing as described). In other words, the wound flexible elongate material 14 is restrained from unwinding by the spool case 1212, which may occur by coils of the flexible elongate material 14 expanding in diameter from being tightly wound to being more loosely wound. This makes for easier loading, unloading, and / or storage. As such, one or more spools 12 may be prepared and sold, pre-wound with flexible elongate material 14 and this may be achieved without excessive packaging and / or without the risk of the material accidentally unwinding to any great extent during the loading of the spool 12 into the main body 11. In some versions, the second spool 122 is smaller in length than the first spool 121 (as described herein). The second spool 122 may be half the length of the first spool 121 such that two second spools 122 may take as much space as one first spool 121. In some versions, the main body 11 may be configured to receive one first spool 121 and two second spools 122. In some versions, that same main body 11 may alternatively receive four second spools 122 or two first spools 121. In some versions, a third spool (not shown) may be provided which may be bigger than the first spool 121 such that the same main body 11 may be able to receive only one third spool. When multiple spools 12 are received, they may be received such that any one spool 12 is touchingly adjacent at least one other spool 12 and this may not inhibit the independent operation of each spool - as the spool cases 1212 need not rotate substantive with respect to each other during dispensing. As will also be understood, embodiments, do not include any common axle or shaft which passes through more than one spool 12. The or each spool 12 is retained in the main body 11 by the closing of the main body 11, in some versions, without any part of the main body 11 penetrating the or each spool 12 for retention purposes. The main body 11 may be said, therefore, to house the or each spool 12 and / or to enclose the or each spool 12. In some versions, combinations of different spools 12 with different elongate flexible materials may be packaged together. As will be understood, the reloading of one spool 12 of several within the main body 11 is straightforward due to the spool case 1212 retaining the flexible elongate material 14. The or each spool 12 may be formed from a plastics material, such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). Versions are particularly useful for electricians and the dispensing device 1 may specifically be an electrical sleeve dispensing device 1. The flexible elongate material 14 may, therefore, include sleeving (which may be electrical sleeve, i.e. sleeving used in electrical installations). This sleeving may include sleeving of different colours and / or sizes and is tubular wire sleeve material. In some versions, each spool 12 of a plurality of such spools 12 may hold different sleeving material. The electrician can carry the dispensing device 1 (which may be clipped to their clothing using the first attachment arrangement) and dispense material with the device 1 still carried by them (e.g. still clipped to their clothing). Alternatively, the electrician may secure the device 1 to another object using the second attachment arrangement (or, indeed the first attachment arrangement) and dispense material from that position. The electrician can then quickly move from location to location as needed with the device 1. In some versions, the main body 11 and / or each spool case 1212 may be colour coded to indicate the content (i.e. the type of flexible elongate material 14 contained). Each spool 12, being readily interchanged within the main body 1, may therefore be referred to as a cartridge for example. The device 1 may, in some versions, be less than 30cm in length. In some versions, the device may be less than 20 cm in length. In some versions, a height of the device 1 may be less than 15 cm and may be less than 10 cm. As used herein terms such as “sleeve” and “sleeving” are used synonymously. Versions may help to reduce waste flexible elongate material 14 by, for example, reducing the accidental dropping and losing of this material. The spools 12 are also replaceable within the main body 1 in some versions, meaning that the main body 1 can be retained and so not disposed of after every use like some other packaging products. The spools 12 may also, themselves, in some versions, be rewound. When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. The invention may also broadly consist in the parts, elements, steps, examples and / or features referred to or indicated in the specification individually or collectively in any and all combinations of two or more said parts, elements, steps, examples and / or features. In particular, one or more features in any of the embodiments described herein may be combined with one or more features from any other embodiment(s) described herein. Protection may be sought for any features disclosed in any one or more published documents referenced herein in combination with the present disclosure. Although certain example embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to these embodiments. The claims are to be construed literally, purposively, and / or to encompass equivalents.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for dispensing flexible elongate material, the device including:a plurality of spools each including a spool member and a spool case, the spool case being configured to house the spool member, and the spool member being configured to have flexible elongate material wound therearound; anda main body configured to house the plurality of spools removably,such that one of the plurality of spools is replaceable without removing another of the plurality of spools, the spool cases and main body defining respective slots for the dispensing of the elongate flexible material therethrough with the spools housed in the main body.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein each spool member is rotatable with respect to the spool case which is configured to house that spool member, during dispensing of the flexible elongate material.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body is in the form of a box.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the main body has a lid portion and a base portion,and the lid portion is moveable between open and closed positions with respect to the base portion to allow selective access to the plurality of spools.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein a first of the plurality of spools is larger than a second of the plurality of spools, the first and second spools having the same external diameter.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the second of the plurality of spools has a length which is half the corresponding length of the first of the plurality of spools.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the plurality of spools has a rotational axis associated therewith and the rotational axes are parallel and aligned when the plurality of spools are housed within the main body.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device includes a first attachment arrangement for securing the device to a first object and a second attachment arrangement for securing the device to a second object, the second attachment arrangement including a magnet.

9. A device according to any preceding claim further including the flexible elongate material, wherein the flexible elongate material includes electrical sleeve material.

10. A dispensing device for dispensing flexible elongate material, the device including: a spool including a spool member and a spool case, the spool case being configured to house the spool member, the spool member being configured to have flexible elongate material wound therearound, the spool case defining a spool case slot for the passage of flexible elongate material therethrough from the spool member, and the spool case retaining the flexible elongate material from unwinding from the spool member except through passage of the flexible elongate material through the spool case slot; and a main body configured to house the spool and defining a main body slot through which flexible elongate material from the spool is passable for dispensing.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the spool member is rotatable with respect to the spool case about an axis of rotation.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the main body slot is parallel to the axis of rotation.

13. A device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the spool case slot and the main body slot remain in the same position with respect to each other during dispensing of the flexible elongate material from the spool member.

14. A device according to any of claims 10-13, wherein the spool case surrounds the spool member.

15. A device according to any of claims 10-14, wherein the spool case is cylindrical.

16. A device according to any of claim 10-15, wherein an edge of a wall which defines thespool case slot includes a rim which extends inwardly.

17. A device according to any of claims 10-16, further including the flexible elongate material, wherein the flexible elongate material includes electrical sleeve material.

18. A spool for a dispensing device for dispensing flexile elongate material, the spool including: a spool member having a tubular core member about which the flexible elongate material is windable, the tubular core member defining an aperture configured to receive and retain an end of the flexible elongate material; anda spool case configured to house the spool member, wherein the spool case includes a shaft member, an end of the shaft member being receivable by the tubular core member such that the spool member is rotatable about the shaft member, wherein the end of the shaft member is axially offset from the aperture defined by the tubular core member when the end of the shaft member is received by the tubular core member, such that flexible elongate material retained therein does not inhibit rotation of the spool member with respect to the spool case about the shaft member.

19. A spool according to claim 18, wherein the spool case includes a perimeter wall which substantially surrounds the spool case.

20. A spool according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the spool case includes a base from which the shaft member extends.

21. A spool according to any of claims 18-20, wherein the spool case defines a slot through which the flexible elongate material is accessible.

22. A spool according to claim 21, wherein an edge of a wall which defines the slot includes a rim which extends inwardly.

23. A spool according to any of claims 18-22, further including the flexible elongate material, wherein the flexible elongate material includes electrical sleeve material.

24. A dispensing device for dispensing flexible elongate material, the device including:a main body; anda spool according to any of claims 18-23, the main body being configured to house the spool.

25. A stack of spools, wherein each spool is a spool according to any of claims 18-23 and one of the stack of spools includes a first type of electrical sleeve material and a second of the stack of spools includes a second type of electrical sleeve material.

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