in fig1 and 2 , numeral 1 indicates the cylindrical spindle . this may have a variety of sizes and proportions , but to accommodate a standard paper tape reel , for instance , it is one half inch ( 1 . 27 cm ) in diameter by 2 . 16 inches ( 5 . 5 cm ) long , from flange 2 to the end . flange 2 provides a needed surface against which one side of the inner portion of the reel , shown fragmentarily and dotted at 3 , can be butressed . the flange also carries plural , typically three , rectangular keys 4 , which fully occupy corresponding slots in the reel . an axial bore 13 is typically provided within the flange end of spindle 1 to allow a shaft ( not shown ) to enter the spindle in the usual manner . slot 6 extends from the end of the spindle opposite to that occupied by the flange along a diameter and to approximately the center of the spindle , longitudinally . it has a width only slightly greater than the thickness of latch 7 , to therefore provide a nesting support for the latch . in addition , there is a wider part 8 to the slot . this part extends from the free end of the spindle along only a small fraction of the length of the spindle . it provides a space for spring 9 , which spring is held in place by axle 15 . the spring may conveniently be a coiled spring of approximately three turns , having both ends extending tangentially away from the coil . the lower end in fig1 enters small hole 10 in the body of the spindle beyond the longitudinal extent of slot 8 . the upper end lies against the under side of latch 7 and provides the force for maintaining it in the upper , or radially outward , position , which is as shown in fig1 . a leaf spring equivalent to spring 9 to urge the latch upward may alternately be used . a bore coaxial with the spindle may alternately provide space for spring 9 , being equivalent to slot 8 . latch 7 has a stepped configuration at its end toward flange 2 . this is to provide an additional radial key at 11 , to fit in an additional slot in the right - hand face of reel 3 . with the known &# 34 ; two - piece &# 34 ; reel this aids in maintaining the reel unitary under the extreme start and stop stresses by providing driving to both sides of the reel . the opposite end of the latch is relatively narrow and has a pivot - accepting notch 12 . typically , two turns of a spring wire wrap 14 engages this notch and is otherwise nested in a circumferential slot all the way around the spindle at the location of wrap 14 . washer 16 is positioned on axle 15 to prevent latch 7 from being depressed in such a way as to disengage notch 12 from retaining ring 14 . the completed structure is used as follows . a reel 3 is merely pushed upon spindle 1 from the free end ; at the right in fig1 . this action forces latch 7 fully into slot 6 of the spindle , after which the latch moves upward . a slight rotation of the reel upon the spindle may be required to cause the keyways in the hub of the reel mate with keys 4 and 11 . latch 7 then extends fully upward , as shown in fig1 . the simplicity and convenience of merely pushing the reel upon the spindle is an important feature of this invention over the more complicated manipulation of catches and / or other elements required in the prior art . for removing the reel , latch 7 is merely pushed down sufficiently far with a finger so that the latch lies within slot 6 , radially , and the reel is pulled off of the spindle . this can all be accomplished with one hand . it is to be noted that the pivot point for latch 7 is near the surface of cylindrical spindle 1 and near the free end thereof . the alternate embodiment of fig3 and 4 is principally characterized in having the latch fulcrumed at approximately the center of the axial length of the spindle , rather than at the end , as before . axial bore 28 serves not only to fasten the spindle to a shaft having a smaller diameter , but also to provide suitable housing for spring 29 . this spring is similar to spring 9 , but is a double - wound torsion spring with right and left handed coils equally disposed about a center portion suitable for actuating latch 27 . spindle 21 has flange 2 , keys 4 , and a slot 26 diametrically disposed , as before . latch 27 is roughly a mirror image of previous latch 7 . a modified pivot point is provided relatively central of spindle 21 , both longitudinally and radially . a diametrically disposed pin 31 passes through the whole of the spindle and the spring and a hole at substantially the inner end of latch 27 receives the pin also . in operation the functioning is the same as before . latch 27 is automatically depressed by a reel being pushed upon spindle 21 . thereafter the latch springs up into reel - securing position , at 32 . the arc of the motion of the latch is merely opposite to the previous arc . a suitable material for fabricating the spindle and associated parts having sufficient strength for the intended use is 303 stainless steel or equivalent . a hard aluminum alloy or a hard polyester plastic are possible alternate materials .