US Patent 11872838 Jam resistant chalk reel

A chalk reel includes a housing defining a chalk chamber and an opening from the chalk chamber; a spool positioned within the chalk chamber; and a line wound on the spool and extending through the opening, the line having a width of dimension X. The spool comprises an axial hub and a sidewall. The sidewall comprises a plurality of apertures extending through the sidewall from a first face distal from the axial hub to a second face proximal to the axial hub. Each of the plurality of apertures having a maximum width of dimension Y. The dimension Y is less than or approximately equal to twice the dimension X.