I 1111111111111111 11111 1111111111 111111111111111 IIIII IIIII IIIIII IIII IIII IIII
`US008016222B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Galgano et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,016,222 B2
`Sep. 13, 2011
`
`(54) WIRE AND CABLE DISPENSING
`CONTAINER AND SYSTEMS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Richard Galgano, Naperville, IL (US);
`Mark K. Winkel, Indian Head Park, IL
`(US); Martin C. McGuire, Burr Ridge,
`IL (US); Martin J. McGuire, Downers
`Grove, IL (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Windy City Wire Cable and
`Technology Products, LLC,
`Bolingbrook, IL (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 200 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/103,790
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 16, 2008
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2008/0191436Al
`
`Aug. 14, 2008
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`B65H 16102
`(52) U.S. Cl. ..................... 242/557; 242/403; 242/594.3;
`242/594.4
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 242/614,
`242/614.1, 608, 588, 588.3, 588.6, 598.5,
`242/596, 596.7, 596.8, 615, 615.3, 128, 129,
`242/129.51, 129.53, 557, 403, 594.3, 594.4,
`242/533.8; 206/389, 395-397, 403-405,
`206/408--409, 413-416
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,412,847 A
`1111968 Wise et al.
`3,680,810 A
`8/1972 Jarmalow
`3,693,784 A
`9/1972 Holmes
`
`3,854,509 A *
`4,367,853 A
`4,406,419 A
`4,477,033 A
`4,741,495 A
`
`12/1974 Bailey ........................ 242/594.3
`1/1983 Kotzur
`9/1983 Kotzur
`10/1984 Kotzur et al.
`5/1988 Kotzur
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Wire Caddy, Cable Reel Stands-Quick Spooler, downloaded from
`http://www.guickspooler.com/ on Jul. 14, 2009.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - William A Rivera
`(7 4) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Momkus McCluskey, LLC;
`Jefferson Perkins
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A container for the dispensing of wire or cable has an external
`carton which receives a reel of cable as supported by two
`caddies. Each caddy has an inwardly extending substantially
`cylindrical bushing which is received in a central hole of a
`respective cable reel flange. The cylindrical bushings are
`disposed on an axis which is a first distance from the upper
`surface of the bottom panel of the carton. The largest radius of
`each reel flange is preselected to be smaller than this such that
`the reel may freely rotate inside of the carton on the bushings.
`Cable is pulled through a slot in the carton's front panel.
`Preferably, left and right panels of the carton each have an
`arbor hole formed therein which receives an axial rod, the rod
`also extending through the reel and caddies. The axial rod
`may be used to join two or more containers together and may
`further serve as a support for attachment of a wheel truck on
`one end of the joined-together containers and a handle at its
`other end. An alternative, four-wheeled cart has multiple axial
`rods. An alternative hand truck likewise receives multiple
`axial rods through respective container passageways. In one
`embodiment, cable may be pulled through one or more pass(cid:173)
`through slots formed in the tops and bottoms of stacked
`containers, such that cable from multiple containers is drawn
`through one slot on the top of the stack.
`
`15 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`202
`
`==•JH._22
`
`202
`
`=~'.r'--22
`
`538
`
`22
`
`552
`
`550
`
`Page 1 of 21
`
`PPC Exhibit 1011
`
`

`

`US 8,016,222 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,222,683 A
`6/ 1993 Blackshire
`5,529,186 A
`6/1996 Bass
`5,551,647 A
`9/1996 Browning
`5,704,479 A
`1/1998 Barnett et al.
`5,775,621 A
`7/1998 Sauber
`5,967,451 A
`10/ 1999 Radaios
`6,003,667 A
`12/1999 Barnett et al.
`6,234,421 Bl
`5/2001 Cox et al.
`2/2003 Gaudio
`6,523,777 B2
`4/2006 Glassey
`7,025,300 B2
`4/2007 Wilkinson et al.
`7,204,452 B2
`12/2007 Rauchs et al.
`7,311,285 B2
`3/2008 Horn
`7,347,395 B2
`9/2002 Cole
`2002/0125161 Al
`5/2003 You et al.
`2003/0080011 Al
`2005/0035240 Al
`2/2005 Weck et al.
`2006/0038053 Al*
`2/2006 Giovannoni .................. 242/557
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Welcome to Quickspooler.com ((((((How the Quickspooler was
`invented)))))), downloaded from http://www.quickspooler.com/QS.
`html on Jul. 14, 2009.
`Cable Pull Stands, Cable Caddy, Rope Stand, downloaded from
`http://cableorganizer.com/cable-pull-stands/ on Jul. 14, 2009.
`Hand Caddy, Data Cable Caddy, GL-9520, Greenlee 9520, down(cid:173)
`loaded from http://cableorganizer.com/greenlee/hand-caddy/ on Jul.
`14, 2009.
`Cable Reel Rollers, Wire Spool Caddies & Wire Reel Carts, down(cid:173)
`loaded from http://www.wctproducts.com/cable_reel_menu.htm
`on Jul. 14, 2009.
`Cable Spool Caddy, Wire Spool Caddy & Wire Spool Carts, down(cid:173)
`loaded from http://www.wctproducts.com/reel_caddy _page.htm
`on Jul. 14, 2009.
`
`Paige 1 Pac, downloaded from http://www.paigeelectric.com/
`onepac.html on Jul. 14, 2009.
`BELDEN/8800/Hook-Up Wire Dispenser Rack (Only / Newark.
`com, downloaded from http://www.newark.com/belden/8800/hook(cid:173)
`up-wire-dispenser-rack-only/dp/20M4466 on Jul. 14, 2009.
`JONARD/WD-30-Y/Wire Dispenser/Newark.com, downloaded
`from
`http://www.newark.com/jonard/wd-30/wire-dispenser/
`dpl0F7539 on Jul. 14, 2009.
`Fiber in a Box, AFL Fiber In A Box, Berktek Fiber In A Box,
`Wholesale Fiber Optic Cable in A ... , downloaded fromhttp://www.
`arnericantechsupply.corn/aflfiberinabox.htm on Jul. 14, 2009.
`HOTS Jun. 2003, downloaded from http://www.wireville.com/hots/
`hotsJune03.html on Jul. 14, 2009.
`Genesis Cat5 Cable, 1000 Foot Roll in Box-WG-4978210x(cid:173)
`SmartHomeUSA.com,
`downloaded
`from
`http://www.
`smarthomeusa.corn/ShopByManufacturer/Genesis/Itern/WG-
`4978210x/ on Jul. 14, 2009.
`Fiber Reel-in-Box Cost Savings Analysis, downloaded from http://
`www.superioressex.com/uploadedFiles/News/Case_Studies/fiber(cid:173)
`reel-in%20box.pdf.
`Carris Reels 10 Caddy, downloaded from http://www.carris.com/
`products/caddyl0.htrnl on Jul. 17, 2009.
`Carris Reels Plastic Reels, downloaded from http://www.carris.com/
`plasticreels.html on Jul. 17, 2009.
`Carris Reels Home Page, downloaded from http://www.carris.com/
`index.html on Jul. 17, 2009.
`About TLE Mfg./dba Reels-USA, downloaded from http:/ /reels-usa.
`corn/ on Jul. 17, 2009.
`Examiners Requisition issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property
`Office on Oct. 26, 2010 in Canadian Patent Application No.
`2,646,964.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 2 of 21
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 13, 2011
`Sep.13,2011
`
`Sheet 1 of 12
`Sheet 1 of 12
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`Page 3 of 21
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 13, 2011
`Sep.13,2011
`
`Sheet 2 of 12
`Sheet 2 of 12
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`Page 5 of 21
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`Page 5 of 21
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`

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`Sep. 13, 2011
`Sep.13,2011
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`Sheet 4 of 12
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`Page 6 of 21
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`Page 6 of 21
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`

`

`US. Patent
`V.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 13, 2011
`Sep.13,2011
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`Page 7 of 21
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.13,2011
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`Sheet 6 of 12
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.13,2011
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`Sheet 7 of 12
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 13, 2011
`Sep.13,2011
`
`Sheet 8 of 12
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.13,2011
`Sep. 13, 2011
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`Sheet 9 of 12
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`Page 11 of 21
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`Page 11 of 21
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 13, 2011
`Sep.13,2011
`
`US 8,016,222 B2
`US 8,016,222 B2
`
`Sheet 10 of 12
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`Page 12 of 21
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`Page 12 of 21
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.13,2011
`Sep. 13, 2011
`
`Sheet 11 of 12
`Sheet 11 of 12
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`US 8,016,222 B2
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`Page 13 of 21
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`Page 13 of 21
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.13,2011
`
`Sheet 12 of 12
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`US 8,016,222 B2
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`
`Page 14 of 21
`
`

`

`US 8,016,222 B2
`
`1
`WIRE AND CABLE DISPENSING
`CONTAINER AND SYSTEMS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Wire and cable for installation in residences and buildings
`typically comes on cable reels. The types of wire and cable so
`provided are numerous, and include 11 OV three-conductor
`wire, "Romex", and many different kinds of low-voltage,
`multiconductor insulated communications cable, such as that
`used for setting up Ethernet networks, intercom systems,
`entertainment systems and the connection of security sensors
`and devices. A new building under construction will need
`many kinds of these cables, and several reels of cable will be
`used by an installer on-site.
`One known technique is to provide coils of such cable in
`boxes, and to create a hole in a front or top panel of the
`(typically cardboard) box for pulling out a desired length of
`cable. This conventional method has a drawback in that the
`cable may kink inside of the box or otherwise resist being
`pulled out of the box to such an extent that a cable installer or
`technician finds that he or she is pulling the box across the
`floor. Oftentimes the installer has to install several different
`lengths of cable on a single run. To do this, the installer has
`had to identify which kinds of cable he or she needs, indi(cid:173)
`vidually pull cable out of separate boxes and estimate as best
`as he or she can the amount of cable so pulled.
`These boxes of cable are heavy and it takes some effort to
`move them around. In complex jobs it is easy for one needed
`box of cable to become physically dissociated from one or
`more other boxes of cable that will supply lengths of different
`cable for the same run. A need therefore persists for more
`efficient methods and apparatus for dispensing cable.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`One aspect of the invention provides a container for the
`dispensing of cable wound on a cable reel. The container
`includes a carton having a bottom, left and right panels. A left
`caddy is disposed in the carton adjacent an interior surface of 40
`the left carton panel. A right caddy is disposed in the carton
`adjacent an interior surface of the right panel. Each of the
`caddies has a substantially cylindrical bushing surface which
`extends inwardly along an axis. The axis is parallel to the
`bottom panel and is disposed at a predetermined first distance 45
`therefrom.
`The caddies support there between a cable reel having a left
`flange, a right flange and central holes in each. The central
`flange holes of the cable reel are sized to receive the bushing
`surfaces of the caddies. The reel flanges have radii which are 50
`less than the first distance, permitting the reel of cable to
`freely rotate inside the carton. Preferably, the front panel of
`the carton has an elongated slot formed therein to be parallel
`to the axis, so as to permit the dispensing or drawing out of a
`length of cable from the reel.
`Containers according to the invention may be assembled
`together to form mobile multiple cable dispensing units or
`vehicles, from which lengths of several different cables may
`be withdrawn at the same time. In aid of this each carton
`preferably has arbor holes in its left and right panels formed 60
`on the axis. The left and right caddies of each container
`likewise have central holes, and a central passageway of the
`cable reel communicates its central flange holes. Together
`these holes and reel passageway form an axial passage sized
`to receive therethrough an axial support rod. Two, three or 65
`more cable reel containers are abutted together side by side
`such that their arbor holes are in axial alignment. An axial
`
`2
`support rod, preselected to have a length a little longer than
`combined lengths of the containers, is inserted through all of
`them. A wheel truck is affixed to one end of the support rod
`and a handle is affixed to the other, thereby forming a single
`5 unit which may be conveniently wheeled from place to place
`by a cable installer.
`The present invention further provides, as an alternative to
`the foregoing mobile unit, a cart in which at least two rows of
`reel containers can be placed, wherein each row of containers
`10 is supported and joined together by means of a respective
`axial support rod. The cart has front and rear ends each having
`a rod holder that receives ends of the support rods. When not
`in use, the cart may be broken down into a storage configu-
`15 ration by removing the support rods, vertical support rod
`holders and preferably an upstanding handle, and installing
`these in storage locations in the frame bottom, all without
`using tools.
`In yet a further embodiment, there is provided a vehicle,
`20 such as a dolly or hand truck, which permits cable from
`several vertically stacked cartons to be pulled upward from a
`single carton orifice. A carton is provided in this embodiment
`which includes bottom and top cutouts pass-through slots
`such that cable from one carton can be passed completely
`25 through at least one carton on top of it.
`The present invention permits the easy withdrawal of a
`length of cable from the cable payout slot formed in the front
`panel of the carton. When the containers are assembled
`together in at least one row, an installer may withdraw lengths
`30 of cable from each of several containers at once. The heavier
`reaction mass of the assembled containers permits the
`installer to pull the cable( s) with more tension, as there will be
`less of a tendency of the assembled unit (or cart) to move in
`35 the direction of pull. When different kinds of cable are to be
`installed in a run in which the cables will all be of the same
`length, the present invention permits the installer to withdraw
`the same length of these different kinds of cable from differ(cid:173)
`ent containers in the unit or cart, all at the same time.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Further aspects of the invention and their advantages can be
`discerned in the following detailed description, in which like
`characters denote like parts and in which:
`FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a single container or carton
`according to the invention, in which an outer carton wall is
`shown in phantom to reveal internal components;
`FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a cable reel and support
`caddies used in the container shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 2A is a detail of FIG. 2 showing a preferred caddy
`bushing;
`FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of a first mobile cable
`dispensing system according to the invention, made up in part
`55 of cartons similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
`FIGS. 4A-4D are variations on the system shown in FIG. 3,
`in which the size and number of joined cartons is varied;
`FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a second mobile cable
`dispensing system according to the invention, as including a
`cart;
`FIG. 6 is a rear end view of the cart shown in FIG. 5;
`FIG. 7 is a detail of the front of the cart shown in FIG. 5;
`FIG. 7 A is a detail sectional view taken substantially along
`line 7A-7A of FIG. 7;
`FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the cart shown in FIG. 5, in
`a folded or "broken down" condition in which it can be easily
`transported or stored;
`
`Page 15 of 21
`
`

`

`US 8,016,222 B2
`
`5
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`3
`FIG. 9 is an isometric view of two stacked cartons accord(cid:173)
`ing to an further embodiment of the invention, showing the
`function of vertical cable pass-through;
`FIG. 10 is an isometric view of two-wheeled hand truck or
`dolly for use with the cartons shown in FIG. 9;
`FIG. 11 is an exploded isometric view of the hand truck
`shown in FIG. 10, showing the loading of a single stack of
`cartons;and
`FIG.12 is an isometric view from another angle of the hand
`truck shown in FIG. 10, as shown with two stacks of cartons.
`
`4
`As best seen in FIG. 2A, each caddy 200, 204 has a sub(cid:173)
`stantially cylindrical bushing 206 which extends axially from
`a general plane in which the remainder of caddy 200, 204 is
`formed toward the other caddy. The bushing 206 could be
`formed from a surface of rotation other than a straight cylin(cid:173)
`der; it could, for example, have a terminal lip of increased
`radius that would run in an annular groove (not shown) in the
`reel flange central hole 208. Such a departure from a straight
`cylinder could allow the caddies 200, 204 to be snapped to the
`10 cable reel 202. In the illustrated embodiment the bushing
`surface 206 is slightly tapered toward its free end and has a
`terminal curved or rounded surface. For the purpose of defin(cid:173)
`ing the surface of bushing 206 as "substantially cylindrical",
`these departures from a perfect mathematical cylinder are to
`FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cable reel carton indicated generally
`15 be included in the definition. The taper and terminal curved or
`at 10, which in turn forms the exterior components of a cable
`rounded surface aid in registering the bushing 206 within the
`reel container 11. Carton 10 is preferably formed of a single
`reel flange central holes 208.
`sheet of corrugated cardboard and includes a front panel 12
`Since caddies 200, 204 are preferably molded of a hard
`having a bottom side 14, a left side 16, a top side 18 and aright
`plastic, the surfaces of bushings 206 tend to have a low
`side 20. The front panel 12 preferably has, in a lower portion
`20 amount of friction and can be used without augmentation. In
`thereof, an elongate die-cut cable dispensing or payout slot 22
`alternative embodiments, the bushings 206 can be either
`through which cable or wire may be pulled. The slot 22 is
`coated or sleeved to present surfaces which have an even
`elongate in a direction parallel to a cable reel axis X and is
`lower coefficient of friction relative to the cable reel which is
`rotatably mounted between them. On the other hand, some
`longenoughtopermitcabletocomeoffthereelatrightangles
`to the reel axis and through the slot 22, no matter where on the 25 resistance to rotation of the reel 202 around axis X is desir(cid:173)
`able, as this mitigates against the spinning of the reel 202 in
`reel the cable is presently being unspooled. Preferably the
`length of the slot 22 is selected to be at least roughly the same
`the absence of tension on the cable being withdrawn. Were
`reel 202 to continue to spin a long time without such tension,
`as the distance between the internal surfaces of the two cable
`the cable 220 could spool off of the reel 202 inside of the
`reel flanges (described below).
`Carton 10 also includes a left panel 24 which extends 30
`carton 10.
`rearwardly from side 16 and at right angles to the front panel
`The caddies or cable reel support members 200, 204 have
`12, and a top panel 26 which extends rearwardly from top side
`bodies which generally conform in two dimensions to the
`18 and at right angles to the front panel 12 and left panel 24.
`interior of the carton 10 into which they are designed to be
`The carton 10 is completed by a bottom panel 27, a rear panel
`placed, and in general will be of slightly smaller dimension
`29 and a right panel 31, the last of which is a mirror image of 35
`than, but will conform to the shape of, left box panel 24 and
`the left panel 24. An arbor hole 28 is formed in left panel 24
`right box panel 31. To save weight it is preferred that the
`caddies 200, 204 be spoked instead of be solid plates. The
`around the horizontal axis X, axis X being a predetermined
`caddies 200, 204 suspend between them a reel 202 of cable
`distance h from an upper surface of the carton bottom panel
`27. The cable payout slot 22 is preferably positioned well
`that can weigh many dozens of pounds. Accordingly it is
`preferred that each caddy 200, 204 have a horizontal base
`below the axis X in order to better approximate the point of 40
`member 210 which is meant to rest on an upper surface of
`departure of the cable from the reel, which will be at some
`bottom carton panel 27. A central, vertically oriented spoke
`nonzero radius from the axis X. Alternatively the cable payout
`or dispensing slot 22 could be positioned above axis X. Pay(cid:173)
`212 can be formed to extend from the base member 210 to a
`out slot 22 may be defined by a closed line of perforations in
`central portion 214, from which in tum bushing 206 extends.
`corrugated cardboard front panel 12. In this instance, con- 45
`The spokes 212 will bear most of the weight of the reel 202.
`tainer 11 would be shipped with the payout slot 22 closed. At
`Preferably each caddy has a top rail or horizontal member 215
`the installation site, the installer would open slot 22 by punch(cid:173)
`which in use is disposed adjacent an internal surface of top
`panel 26 of the carton 10. The top rail 215 can in turn be
`ing out the perforation.
`Conveniently, handholes 34 may be die-cut into the card(cid:173)
`supported by side rails 217 and angled spokes 219. The top
`board panels 12, 26, 29 for ease in handling. In alternative 50
`rail 215 is useful in accepting a colunmar load imposed by
`embodiments the cable payout slot 22 can be repeated in top
`other reel containers 11 placed on top of the particular reel
`panel 26 and/or rear panel 29, so as to give the user some
`container 11 of which the caddies 200, 204 are a part. Such
`flexibility in arranging the cartons in the mobile unit or on the
`container stacking occurs in the use of the cart illustrated in
`FIGS. 5 and 6 and described below, and also in the embodi(cid:173)
`cart (later described) and some ability to select how the cable
`will exit the carton 10. An embodiment in which the carton 55
`ment discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 9-12. In one
`embodiment (not shown) the spoke 212 is duplicated in a
`has elongate pass-through slots in both the top and bottom
`panels is described in conjunction with FIG. 9.
`vertical spoke collinear with it which extends from axis X to
`The interior components of container 11 are shown in
`the top rail 215.
`exploded view in FIG. 2. A preferably spoked left caddy 200
`Preferably the panels of carton 10, the caddies 200, 204, the
`cable reel 202 and the bushings 206 are so sized that the carton
`is, in use, disposed interiorly adjacent an inner surface of the 60
`left carton panel 24. Caddy 200 may be injection-molded
`interior prevents the reel 202 from coming off of the bushings
`206. The carton 10 will have an internal length Lin between
`from a tough plastic that at the least is capable of suspending
`half of the weight of a full cable reel 202 without buckling. A
`the internal surfaces of side panels 24 and 31. Most of the
`right caddy 204 can be formed from the same mold as the one
`distance L will be occupied by the reel 202, which has a
`which makes left caddy 200. In use, the right caddy or reel 65
`predetermined length R between external surfaces of the reel
`support member 204 is positioned interiorly adjacent an inner
`flanges 222, 224. Each caddy 200, 204 will have a general
`surface of the right carton panel 31.
`body thickness T. The bushings 206 extend inwardly from the
`
`Page 16 of 21
`
`

`

`US 8,016,222 B2
`
`5
`general interior surfaces of the caddies 200, 204 by a distance
`D. Preferably, the dimensions of these components are
`selected such that 2T + R is slightly less than L. On the other
`hand, 2T + R +2D should be somewhat greater than L, such that
`the cable reel 202 is forced to ride on the bushings 206 while 5
`the caddies 200, 204 and the reel 202 are inside of the carton
`10. This dimensioning would not be necessary in those
`embodiments in which the caddies are snapped or otherwise
`affixed to the reel 202 prior to the insertion of all three com(cid:173)
`ponents into a carton or box 10. Further, there will be varia- 10
`tions in reel lengths according to the amount and kind of cable
`wound thereon. In at least many cases, the caddies 200, 204
`will be used in many different carton sizes, so that dimension
`L of the carton 10 should closely follow cable reel length R.
`The cable reel 202 is preselected to have a flange radius r 15
`which is smaller than axis height h. This will ensure that the
`reel 202 can rotate freely inside of carton 10 on bushings 206.
`Each caddy 200,204 has a central hole 216 sized to receive
`an axial support rod (later described) therethrough. Each reel
`202 has an axial passageway 221 that joins together reel 20
`flange central holes 208. Conveniently this axial passageway
`221 can be formed by an interior volume of a tube which also
`bears the wound cable 220 on its exterior surface. As
`assembled and in the condition shown in FIG. 1, each carton
`10 therefore has a free passageway all the way along axis X 25
`from one side of the box 10 to the other, including a left arbor
`hole 28, central hole 216 in caddy 200, central hole 208 in left
`cable reel flange 222, a central passageway between left cable
`reel flange 222 and right cable reel flange 224, a central hole
`216 in right caddy 204, and an arbor hole 28 in the right carton 30
`panel 31.
`In many instances a user or installer will wish to pull the
`same length of different kinds of cable at the same time,
`usually to be installed along the same run. FIG. 3 illustrates a
`first cart or vehicle 300 which makes this very convenient to 35
`do. The center or backbone of the cart 300 is made up by a
`rigid support rod or pipe 302 that can be formed of tubular
`steel and in any event is strong enough to withstand buckling
`when supporting a hundred pounds or more of weight. The
`support rod 302 is threaded through the arbor holes 28, central 40
`caddy holes 216 and reels 202 of each of a plurality of cartons
`10,304 and 306 (three shown in FIG. 3). The unit 300 can be
`formed of containers having different lengths in an axial
`direction. The length of the axial rod 302 used is preselected
`to be a little longer than the combined exterior axial length of 45
`cartons 10, 304 and 306, which are arranged along rod 302 to
`abut each other and preferably to present front faces or panels
`12 in the same direction (although one or more could be
`reversed). After the user or cable supplier selects cartons 10,
`304,306 which are to be combined, they can be taped together 50
`with tape 305 or the like to better unify them such that they
`will not rotate around axis X independently of each other.
`A base end 308 of the rod 302 is preferably threaded and is
`received into a hole 310 in a wheel truck or base 312. An
`upstanding panel 314 of the wheel truck 312 is affixed 55
`between a left panel 24 of an end carton 10 and a cap 316,
`which screws onto the base end 308 of the rod 302. In an
`alternative embodiment (not shown), rod 312 may have
`opposed holes drilled through the sidewall of rod 302, at right
`angles to and intersecting rod 302's axis, near base end 308.
`These holes would receive a cotter pin or clevis of the kind
`described elsewhere herein. The wheel truck 312, which con(cid:173)
`veniently can be fabricated of a single piece of sheet steel,
`further has at least one horizontal panel 317 (in the illustrated
`embodiment, there are two such panels 317 and 318) which
`receive a lower left corner 323 of the leftmost carton 10.
`Separate casters 320, 322 may be affixed by welding or riv-
`
`6
`eting to lower surfaces of the horizontal panels 317 and 318.
`Once carton 10 has been received by horizontal panels 317
`and 318, the three cartons 10, 304 and 306 will be prevented
`from rotating around axis X.
`A front end 324 of the axial rod 302 is fitted with or formed
`to have an ell 326 which may be internally threaded. The ell
`326 threadably accepts a vertical member 328 of a handle 330
`which may have a horizontal member 332 at its top end. After
`assembly, an installer can move unit 300 from place to place
`by pulling up on handle 330. Halfoftheweight oftheunit300
`will be borne by wheel truck 312. The installer may set down
`the unit 300 such that axial rod 302 is at about right angles to
`the direction of cable pull. Casters 320, which preferably are
`of the nonturning type (that is, they stay in alignment with
`axis X), and the forward corner 334 of carton 306 will exhibit
`enough friction with the floor surface that the unit 300 will
`resist being drawn in the direction of the cable pull.
`FIGS. 4A-4D show variations on how integrated mobile
`multicontainer units 400, 402, 404 and 406 may be
`assembled. Unit 400 is composed of just two containers 408,
`410. The containers 408 and 410 may be of different lengths,
`as would be the case where cable of smaller length or thick(cid:173)
`ness was being stored in container 410 than in container 408.
`A relatively short axial support rod 412 is selected for assem(cid:173)
`bling the unit 400. In contrast, unit 402 (FIG. 4B) is
`assembled from four reel containers 414-420 and a longer
`axial support rod 422. A five-container unit 404 is shown in
`FIG. 4C, as composed of containers 424-432 and an even
`longer axial support rod 434. FIG. 4D shows a unit 406 in
`which containers 436-440 are assembled together as sup(cid:173)
`ported by axial support rod 446, while additional containers
`442, 444 are mounted on top of containers 436-440.
`FIGS. 5-8 show a four-wheeled cart 500 to which contain(cid:173)
`ers 502-520 can be mounted in up to three parallel rows, one
`each for respective axial support rods 522, 524 and 526. The
`support rods 522-526 are preferably parallel to but vertically
`spaced apart from each other so as to each be coaxial with a
`respective row of containers through which they are inserted.
`FIG. 5 shows cart 500 in a use configuration; when not in use
`it may be collapsed to a storage configuration, as explained in
`conjunction with FIG. 8. The cart 500 is built on an elongate
`rectangular frame 528 which has a bottom plate 530, left and
`right side panels or plates 532 and 534 which extend
`upwardly from the longitudinal edges of bottom panel 530
`and which are preferably orthogonal to panel 530, and front
`and rear panels 536 and 538 which extend upwardly from the
`transverse edges of bottom panel 530 and preferably are
`orthogonal to plates 530-534 and parallel to each other. Pan(cid:173)
`els 530-538 can be formed from a single blank of sheet steel
`and together form a shallow box sized to receive the first row
`of reel containers 502-508. The height ofleft side panel 532 is
`chosen to be somewhat less than the height of cable payout
`slots 22 above the bottom panels of the containers 502-508,
`such that the cables being withdrawn from slots 22 will not be
`occluded or abraded by the side panel 532. The height ofright
`side panel 534 can be preselected to be taller than this, or can
`be the same height, in case that the installer chooses to face
`the slots 22 (or even just some of them) the opposite way.
`A vertical, elongate, preferably flat front support rod
`60 holder 540 can have its lower end 542 affi