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`United States Patent 15
`5,551,647
`(11] Patent Number:
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`[45] Date of Patent:
`Sep. 3, 1996
`Browning
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`[54] CABLE STORAGE AND FEEDING DEVICE
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`(76]
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`Inventor. Thomas D. Browning, 1222 VA Ave.,
`Norton, Va. 24273
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`[21] Appl. No.: 258,656
`[22]
`Jun. 10, 1994
`Filed:
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`Related U.S. Application Data
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`[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 553,612, Jul. 18, 1990,
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`abandoned, Ser. No. 650,284, Feb. 4, 1991, abandoned, and
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`Ser. No. 10,490, Jan. 28, 1993, abandoned.
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`(ST Ute (ne onccccccsssssssssececcccesaseeecennssnsenes B65H 75/24
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`[52] U.S. CL.
`ssssesavocnssensesees 242/578.2; 242/588.2;
`.......
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`242/608; 242/118.5
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`[58] Field of Search ..........ccccseeesens 242/578.2, 580,
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`242/587, 588, 588.2, 608, 608.3, 118.5,
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`129.5, 129.6
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`[56]
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`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`‘eae isso00 Gandy.
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`sagas ooo Buchanan .
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`242/118.5
`2,188,086
`1/1940 Mossberg ......-
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`.. 242/587
`4/1945 LeTournean....
`2,374,111
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`2/1950 McVeigh et al.cscs 242/118.5
`2,496,402
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`11/1954 Fons etal. .
`2,695,142
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`6/1957 Becker .
`2,795,385
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`
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`...cccsscccsssseseerseeeee 242/118.5
`9/1959 Frate et al.
`2,905,408
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`
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`
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`.- 242/137
`3,134,558
`5/1964 McDufiie....
`3,837,597
`9/1974 Bourhenne .........ccs 242/129
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`10/1974 Carpentier .
`3,840,713
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`3,876,045
`4/1975 Knarreborg .
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`3,879,659
`4/1975 Lawson, Jr..
`3,880,378
`4/1975 Ballenger.
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`4,015,795
`4/1977 Chong .
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`4,072,278
`2/1978 Peterson .
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`4,721,833
`1/1988 Dubay .
`4,913,369
`4/1990 Lia et ab. ee teeceessteseeeeee 242/129
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`4,993,449
`2/1991 Strutzman .
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`5,060,882 10/1991 Rousculp etal. 1...sess 242/129.6
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3/1973 Canada.
`922296
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`2714339 10/1978 Germany seeesesntseaneseosneeseneeer 242/118.5
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`Switzerland .
`330079
`5/1958
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`292322
`6/1928 United Kingdom................ 242/118.5
`Primary Examiner—Jobn P. Darling
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`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A portable, cable feeding or dispensing device having a base
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`adapted to to be placed on andrest firmly on a floor, the
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`ground or other support, stanchionsaffixed to the base and
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`extending generally normally therefrom, shoulders on the
`stanchions formed by notches in an edge of each, a spool
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`assembly having a hub, opposed first and second rims
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`thereon, and an axle therethrough,the first rim being sta-
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`having a bearingfor slidably mounting the same on the hub,
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`4 lock mechanism on the second rim or rims and hub for
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`removably locking the sameto the hubat a desiredposition
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`therealong with respect to the first rim for confining ther-
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`ebetween coiled cable or cables mounted on the hub, the
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`notches adapted to receive end portions of the axle lying
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`outboard of the rims and support the spool for rotational
`motion for uncoiling and dispensing the cable.
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`17 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`Page 1 of 11
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`PPC Exhibit 1042
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`PPC Exhibit 1042
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`Sheet 1 of 5
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`US. Patent
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`Sheet 2 of 5
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 3, 1996
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`5,551,647
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 5 of 5
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`Page 6 of 11
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`5,551,647
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`1
`CABLE STORAGE AND FEEDING DEVICE
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`FIELD OF INVENTION
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`This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant’s
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`Ser. No. 07/553,612,filed Jul. 18, 1990, now abandoned, a
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`continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/650,284, filed Feb. 4,
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`1991, now abandoned,and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.
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`08/010,490,filed Jan. 28, 1993, now abandoned, and con-
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`cerns feeding meansfor coiled type cable items,i.e., items
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`suchaselectrical wire and cable, heavy twine, metal cable,
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`rope, metal wire and the like, and particularly concerns such
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`a device whichis capable of handling a variety of such items
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`of different compositions, flexibilities, and cable and coil
`sizes.
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`DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART
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`Heretofore, the most widely used and convenient device
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`for dispensingelectrical wire or cable has been the open top,
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`cardboard box or carton from which the cable is pulled
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`upwardly, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. This type of
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`device is unsatisfactory for several reasons hereinafter
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`given, not the least of which is that the wire comesoutof the
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`carton twisted. Other types of cable or wire reeling or
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`dispensing devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 483,830;
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`2,695,142; 2,905,408; 3,837,597; and 4,721,833. The struc-
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`tural and/or operational complexities of these devices are
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`readily apparentto one skilled in the art, as is their inappli-
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`cability to the workplace for which Applicant’s invention is
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`especially adapted.
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`Objects therefore, of the present invention, are: to provide
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`a low cost, easy to use, storage and feeding device which can
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`readily accommodate cable coils of a widevariety of sizes,
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`materials, and flexibilities, and to provide such a device
`which can be loaded or unloaded with such coil in an
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`exceptionally rapid manner; and to provide such device
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`having concurrent, multiple coil capacity.
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`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
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`These and other objects hereinafter appearing have been
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`attained in accordance with the present invention which is
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`defined as a portable feeding or dispensing device for coiled
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`cable items, comprising base means adaptedto be placed on
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`and rest firmly on floor means, stanchion meansaffixed to
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`said base means and extending generally normally there-
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`from, spool means having hub meansand at least one pair
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`of opposedfirst and second rim means, axle meansrotably,
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`slidably mounted through bore means provided, preferably,
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`substantially axially through said spool means, shoulder
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`means on said stanchion means adapted to support said axle
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`means,said first rim means beingstationarily affixed on said
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`hub means, said second rim means having bearing means for
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`slidably mounting the same on said hub means, cooperating
`lock means on said second rim means and hub meansfor
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`removably locking said second rim meansto said hub means
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`at a desired position therealong with respectto said first rim
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`means for confining therebetweena coiled cable item axially
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`mounted on said hub means, said shoulder means adapted to
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`receive at least one portion of said axle means extending
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`axially outwardlly of at least one of said rim means and
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`support said spool means for rotational motion during
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`uncoiling and dispensing of said cable.
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`In certain preferred embodiments:
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`(a) said stanchion means comprises a pair of upright wall
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`means spaced apart on said base means to provide cradle
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`means for opposite end portions of said axle means;
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`(b) each said rim means comprises a plate substantially
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`axially mounted on said hub means;
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`(c) said spool means has twopairs offirst and second rim
`means;
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`(d) said lock means comprises cooperating, disengageable
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`stop means on said second rim means and hub means; and
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`(c) said stop means comprises cooperating pin and socket
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`The invention and additional objectives thereof will be
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`further understood from the following description and draw-
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`ings, notto scale, of preferred embodimentsofthe invention,
`wherein:
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`FIG. 1 is perspective view a typical carton of coiled
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`electrical cable from which the cable is drawn by the
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`electrician;
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`FIG.2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodimentof
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`the present device in use, with portions partly broken away
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`or dotted lined for clarity;
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`FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the
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`spool of FIG. 2 taken along line FIG.2 in the direction of the
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`arrows and showing a rectangular variation of the round
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`cross-section of the spool hub of FIG.2;
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`FIG. 4 is a view of the spool of FIG. 3 rotated 90 degrees
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`in the plane of the drawing;
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`FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the latch meansof FIG.4;
`FIG.6 is an isometric view of the stanchion/base assem-
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`bly;
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`FIG.7 is an outer side view of the removable, adjustable
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`tim means with the latch meansaffixed thereto;
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`FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a mounted, multi-
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`capacity spool means provided with two adjustable rims and
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`a double sided and double functional first, fixed first rim
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`means and an alternative clamp rim locking or latch means;
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`FIG.9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9—9 of
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`FIG. 8 with portions of the locking means broken away for
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`clarity;
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`FIG.10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10—-10
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`of FIG. 11 of the adjustable-hub-diameter variation of the
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`present device;
`FIG, 11 is a side view of the device of FIG. 10 with
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`portions of a panel broken awayforclarity;
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`FIG. 12 is a top view of the expandable panel variation of
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`FIGS. 10 and 11;
`FIG.13 is an end schematic view of the device of FIG. 1
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`depicting spatial and clearance parameters; and
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`FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the stop arm mechanism
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`for the expandable panels of FIGS. 10-12.
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`Referring tothe drawings and with reference to the claims
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`hereof,
`the present device comprises base means 10 of
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`wood, metal, polypropylene, celluose ester, or the like,
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`adapted to be placed on andrest firmly on floor means such
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`as the floor of a house,
`the ground or any supporting
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`structure, stanchion means 12 and 14 affixed to the base
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`meansby screws, welding,glue, or other means, and extend-
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`ing generally normally therefrom, shoulder means 16 on the
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`stanchion means preferably formed by notch means 18
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`therein and providing cradle means, spool means generally
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`designated 20 having hub means 22 and opposedfirst and
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`second rim means, 24 and 26 respectively, the first rim
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`through the bore means 35 such that its removal from the
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`assembly is not required. Rim 26 is then removed from the
`second rim means having bearing means 28 for slidably
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`hub by disengaging the two spring held latches 44 and
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`pulling the rim upwardly. The coiled cable or wire, removed
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`from the box, is then simply placed over the hub means and
`hub means for removably locking the second rim meansto
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`down againstthe first rim means 24. The second rim means
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`the hub meansat a desired position therealong with respect
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`is then replaced over the hub means,lightly down onto the
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`to the first rim means for confining therebetween a coiled
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`wire, and then locked into position on the hub means by
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`cable 32 mounted axially on the hub means, axle means 33
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`inserting the two spring held latch pins 42 of latches 44,
`rotatably, slidably mounted through bore means 35 provided
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`which are secured to the second rim means,into the appro-
`substantially axially through the spool means, the notch or
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`priate sockets 40. A tension spring such as 46 is secured at
`cradle means adapted to receive opposite end portions 37
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`one end to each latch pin and at its other end to the second
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`and 39 of the axle means lying axially outboard of the rim
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`rim means as shown in FIG. 5 to prevent inopportune
`means and support the spool means for rotational motion
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`disengagementof the locking means by maintaining spring
`during uncoiling and dispensing of the cable.
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`pressure on latch pin handle 43 forcing it against latch
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`The present cable feeding device is designed primarily for
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`housing 45,
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`use in the electrical field and is especially useful for dis-
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`The cable loaded spool assembly is then turned in a
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`pensing sheathed electrical cable of types NM, NMC,UF,
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`substantially, horizontal axial position and the axle means
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`and the like, commonly sold underthe trade made ROMEX.
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`slid back through the hub meansso that end portions 37 and
`This type of wiring cable 34 is commonly used in building
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`39 of the axle extends axially outward from both ends of the
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`construction where approved by the National Electrical
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`spool assembly. The assembly is then placed on the cradle
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`Code and is usually sold in a coiled length of 250 feet,
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`with the axle end portions positioned in the two notches 18
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`packaged in a cardboard box or carton 36. The most com-
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`provided in the stanchion means. Handle 48 is provided to
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`mon wire gauges used in building construction that are sold
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`allow the electrician to easily pick up the cable dispenser and
`in 250 foot lengths are 14 gauge through 10 gauge, all of
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`which have about the same inside coil diameter and thus can
`carry it to any location for starting the wiring job.
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`Asaforesaid, as the wire is pulled off the spool assembly,
`readily slide over the common hub means.
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`it will be dispensed withoutrolls, twists or kinks. The weight
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`In the wiring of a building or other structure, the card-
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`of the spool assembly, the friction of the rotating hub onthe
`board box containing the 250 feet of cable is broughtto the
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`axle, and the rigidity of the cable itself will aid in preventing
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`building, the box laid downflat, and a hole then cut in the
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`over-pulling or over-dispensing of the wire. Whenthe wiring
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`top surface thereof. One end of the wire is then pulled out
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`job is complete, the wire can be restrained from unwinding
`through the hole and is ready to be pulled through drilled
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`by threading an end 50 thereof through one of the holes 52
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`holes or conduitin the building or other structure. The wire
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`in either rim means, as shown in FIG.8.
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`is normally left in the box so it will not become uncoiled
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`Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein structure whichis the
`when not in use. The problem with dispensing the wire
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`straight out of the box is that when a length of wire is pulled,
`same or equivalent to that of FIGS. 1-7 is numbered the
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`the normal tendency ofthe wire is to roll, twist and kink. To
`same, this embodimentis the multi-capacity version of the
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`avoid this, a second person is needed to turn the box as the
`spool meansof FIGS. 1-7.It is seen that the first rim means
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`wire is pulled therefrom so the wire will come outstraight
`24 is fixed to the hub means 22 at any desired position
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`thereon, and the two second rim means 26 are located on
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`and uncoiled such that it can pass through the drilled holes
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`or conduit freely and smoothly. The present device permits
`either side thereof to provide two reeling stations 54 and 56
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`the electrician to pull cable from the spool means with no
`for the same or different cable types or sizes, e.g., one 14
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`rolls, twists or kinks and without the assistance of a helper.
`gauge and the other 12 gauge.
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`The portable dispenser is designed so that it may easily be
`The locking means of FIGS. 8 and 9 may, of course, be
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`the same as in FIGS. 1-7, however, a variation thereofis
`moved to any location throughout the building or structure
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`for ready access to the work area. This portability allows the
`shownasa split, resilient metal collar 58, secured to the rim
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`electrician to have the dispenser as close to his work as
`means, e.g., by screws 60, and provided with tightening
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`needed, thus saving time and effort. Also, where the multi-
`screw 62 slidably passing through bearing 64 and threaded
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`capacity embodiment of the present device is used, consid-
`into bore 66, in known manner. Tightening of screw 62 will
`erable additional time is saved in that the electrician does not
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`squeeze the collar tightly onto hub means 22 andfirmly hold
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`have to find a roll of cable of the right size and reload the
`the rim meansin reeling position. It is noted that the split
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`dispenser.
`collar and hub may have anyof the cross-sectional configu-
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`rations mentioned above, and many variations of locking
`the hub means 22
`Referring further to the drawing,
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`means will immediately become apparentto thoseskilled in
`preferably is rectangular in cross-section, and is provided
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`the art, such variations are being within the scope of the
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`with sockets 40 into which pinsor bolts such as 42 mounted
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`present invention.
`on rim means26 are inserted for locking rim 26 in a desired
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`position on the hub means. In this embodiment, the bearing
`With respect to the claims which include concerning a
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`means 28 in or on rim 26 takes the form of a rectangular
`laterally expandible hub,reference to FIGS. 10-13 will give
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`opening through which the hub means 22 can slide. The hub
`a better understanding of these claims, as follows:
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`and bearing means may, however, have any cross-sectional
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`A portable storage and feeding device for coiled cable
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`configuration, including round, oblong, square, orthelike.
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`items, comprising a base 10 adapted to be placed onafloor,
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`In using the present cable feeding or dispensing device,
`a pair of spaced apart stanchion members 12, 14 each being
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`the spool assembly consisting of hub means, rim means and
`affixed to said base and extending generally normally
`axle means is removed from the stanchion or cradle means
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`upwardly therefrom and formed to have a lowersection 11
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`and laid down in an axial direction with the removable rim
`adjacent said base, an upper section 13 spaced above said
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`disc 26 facing up as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Asthis
`base, and an intermediate section 15 lying between said
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`assembly is laid down, the axle means 33 will slide up
`lower and upper sections, said intermediate section of each
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`40
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`35
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`45
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`Page 8 of 11
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`Page 8 of 11
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`of said stanchion members having a lateral dimension LD,
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`a vertical dimension VD and a thickness dimension TD, and
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`having a front edge 17.through which a slot or notch means
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`18 is formed having a lateral component LC and vertical
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`component VC, said lateral component being directed
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`inwardly from said edge and said vertical component being
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`directed downwardly toward said base to give a designed
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`slant angle SA to said slot with respect to the base, prefer-
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`ably of from about 20° to about 60°, the portions generally
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`designated 19 of each of said stanchion members which
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`form and provide the shoulder meansor terminus 16 of each
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`said slot lie substantially in a common plane CP passing
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`through both said stanchion membersat said terminus, spool
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`means 20 having elongated hub means 22 of substantially
`uniform lateral cross-section or section LCS which can be
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`round, rectangular, or other geometric shapes and having a
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`longitudinal axis LA,first rim means24,at least one second
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`rim means 26 having aperture means 27 formed generally
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`axially therethrough, said first and second rim means being
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`mounted in spaced arrangement on said hub meanswith said
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`hub means 27 being inserted through said aperture means of
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`said second rim means, said first and second rim means
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`axially positioning and retaining cable items 34 in coiled
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`configuration around said hub means, said aperture means
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`being and defined by bearing surface means 28 on said
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`stanchions for longitudinally, axially slidably mounting said
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`second rim means on said hub means, said upper section 13
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`of each said stanch:ion members being spaced above said
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`base a distance greater than the largest diameterof said first
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`and second rim means, said base and stanchion members
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`providing a supporting structure for said spool means, axle
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`means 33 slidably mounted through bore means 35 provided
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`substantially longitudinally axially through said spool
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`means for rotatably supporting said spool means on said
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`stanchion means, said first rim means being stationarily
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`affixed on said hub means, cooperating latch means 30 on
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`said second rim means and hub means for removably
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`locking said second rim means to said hub means at a
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`desired longitudinal axial position therealong with respect to
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`said first rim means for confining therebetween a coiled
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`cable item 34 axially mounted on said hub means, said
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`shoulder means 16 of said slot contacting said opposite end
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`portions 37, 39 of said axle means which extend axially
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`outwardly of both said rim means and support said spool
`means on said stanchion meansfor rotational motion thereof
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`for uncoiling and dispensing said coiled cable item, handle
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`means 48 affixed to said upper section of each of said
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`stanchion members and spanning the same and being posi-
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`tioned above said first and second rim means to provide a
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`clearance space 49 for allowing rotation of said spool means
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`and movement of said second rim means along said hub
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`means, said handle means providing manual lifting means
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`for said device, and wherein said slant angles of said slots
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`are substantially the same and have a sufficient
`lateral
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`component LC to allow said axle means and said spool
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`means to be operably positioned on said stanchion members
`or removed therefrom within the limits of said clearance
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`space 49 and without interference with said handle means,
`said lateral dimension of said intermediate section of each
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`said stanchion memberbeing sufficient to accommodate the
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`slot formed therein while providing sufficient strength to
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`said stanchion members for allowing said device with a
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`loaded spool mounted thereon to be picked upby said handle
`means.
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`Referring further to FIGS. 10-13, the side wall portions
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`67, 68 of hub means 22 are respectively provided with
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`expandable panels 69, 70, each of which is hingedly con-
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`30
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`65
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`5,551,647
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`10
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`nected to the wall portion by hinge means such as screws 71
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`loosely mounted through holes 72 in the panels. Any con-
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`ventional type of hinge may be usedin place of these screws.
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`Each panel is provided with a stop arm or lever means 73
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`extending through a generously sized aperture 81 in the
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`panel, which arm is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 74 to
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`a tab 75 struck up from the panel. Recesses 76, 77 in
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`opposite sides of the hub receive the arms when the armsare
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`rotated about their pivot pins 74 such asto clear the teeth 78
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`from the edges of the recesses which allows each panelto be
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`rotated inwardly along line 79. These arms are urged by
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`tension springs 80 in a direction to engagetheir teeth 78 with
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`the edges of the recesses 76, 77. To disengage these teeth,
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`simple finger pressure on the outer endsor retraction means
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`82 of the arms in the direction, e.g., of the arrow 83 shown
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`in FIG. 10 will pivot the arm and allow it to be moved
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`inwardly in its recess to diminish the diameter of the hub to
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`accommodate, e.g., smaller diameter cable reels. Simply
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`pulling out of the free ends 84 of the panels will automati-
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`cally lock them in their expanded positions by the action of
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`springs 80. A suitably sized opening 101 thru second rim
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`means 26 accommodates the panels in all positions thereof.
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`Further with reference to FIGS. 10-12 and 14,
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`preferable that the panel means 69 and 70 are at least about
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`the length L of the adjustment of said second rim means on
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`said hub means as provided by notch means 86 in order to
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`maximize the reel carrying capacity of the device. Alsoit is
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`preferred that each panel means has a thickness of from
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`about 0.025 in., to about 0.2 in., and is substantially rect-
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`angular in shape having inner 94 and outer 95 sides, inner 96
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`and outer 97 longitudinal edges, and front 98 and rear 99 end
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`edges, said inner longitudinal edge 96 having one element
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`72 of a pivot means and said hub means having the other
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`clement 71 of said pivot means whereby said pane] meansis
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`pivotally mounted along its inner longitudinal edge on said
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`hub means such that said outer longitudinal edge 97 can
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`swing outwardly or inwardly along an arc 79.
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`With reference to the operation of the stop arm or lever
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`means 73, the engagement axis, EA, the teeth means 78
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`make an obtuse angle of contact, OAOC,with the axis of
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`force, AOF, of said lever means, and wherein said obtuse
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`angle of contact is less than the obtuse face angle, OFA,
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`which the face axis, FA, of shoulder means 100 makes with
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`said axis of force, whereby a large force applied along said
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`shoulder means.
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`As shown in FIG. 11, the unique latch means generally
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`designated 85 comprises a plurality of laterally directed
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`notch means86in laterally opposite, exterior, longitudinally
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`extending surfaces 87, 88 of said hub means, and lever or
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`leaf spring means 90 on said second rim meanshaving stop
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`shoulder means 91 spring urged into engagement with said
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`notch means for preventing longitudinal movementof said
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`second rim means on said hub means, said lever means
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`further having a compression segment 92 adapted to be
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`contacted with portions of a users hand in the direction of
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`arrow 93 for deflection of said stop shoulder means from
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`said notch means for allowing longitudinal movement of
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`said second rim meansalong said hub means. The deflected
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`position of said lever means is shown by the dottedline in
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`FIG. 11 wherein the stop shoulder means has been retracted
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`from the notch means.It is particularly noted that the second
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`rim means 26 can be gripped on its inner surface 25 by the
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`fingers while the thumb is pressing inwardly against seg-
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`ment 92 such that with both hands so operating, the posi-
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`tioning adjustment of 26 along the hubis easily and quickly
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`accomplished,e.g., in less than one or two seconds.
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`Page 9 of 11
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`Page 9 of 11
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`This invention has been described