Patent ID: 6299100
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for manipulating reels of the type used to contain cable and flexible tubing and having an elongated central cylindrical barrel and a pair of longitudinally opposed parallel circular end plates disposed transversely at opposite longitudinal ends of said barrel, each of said end plates having therethrough a central coaxial spindle hole, said apparatus comprising;a. first and second L-shaped uni-planar side frames disposed in adjustably spaced apart, parallel vertical planes, each of said side frames including a longitudinally elongated handlebar having a rear longitudinal hand grip portion and a relatively shorter leg which depends downwardly from a first, lower side of said handlebar proximate a distal or front end portion of said handlebar,b. first and second tubular bearing supports protruding upwardly from a second, upper side of each of said first and second handlebars, respectively, in axial alignment with a said shorter leg,c. an elongated cable reel support shaft rotatably supportable at opposite longitudinal ends thereof in said first and second tubular bearing supports,d. means for securing said cable reel support shaft in a fixed longitudinal position within said spindle holes, ande. means for securing said opposite longitudinal ends of said cable reel support shaft in a fixed longitudinal position within said tubular bearing supports of said side frames, whereby contacting the lower ends of said legs against a supporting surface and applying downwardly directed force on said rear hand grip portions of said handlebars causes said legs, tubular bearing supports, and attached cable reel shaft to pivot upwardly about said lower ends of said legs, thereby raising said cable reel end plates above said supporting surface sufficiently to permit free rotation of said cable reel.