Abstract:
A decoiler for storing, transporting, and uncoiling spools of wire, comprising a base member having a platform and an insertion post attached perpendicularly to the top of the platform. The base member further comprising an axle, attached to the bottom of the platform extends beyond the transverse confines of the platform and a handle base that is attached perpendicular to the axle and extends beyond the rearward confines of the platform. The wheels of the apparatus are attached to the axle and the adjustable handle is connected to the free end of the handle base. A slidable clevis is preferably included for connecting the decoiler to a ground vehicle for towing.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/439,702, filed on Jan. 13, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Art  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to a wire spool decoiler and, more specifically, to a wire spool decoiler that allows for the easy loading, unloading, and handling of rolls of barbed wire. In particular the decoiler is able to pick up, support, and transport a wire spool and further holds the wire spool in an upright, transport position. This upright position allows the spool to rotate in a manner that makes it easy to uncoil the wire when the wire is being stretched during fencing.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Art  
         [0005]     Since the advent of barbed wire there has been a need for an apparatus that can effectively and easily assist a user in handling barbed wire spools. To date there have been tools created to allow a user to hold and carry wire spools by hand. Two examples include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,079,663 and 3,967,793. Both patents disclose an invention related to a hand-held tool for lifting and moving the wire spools. Neither patent discloses a device for transporting wire that carries the wire spool other than by hand.  
         [0006]     There are also devices that independently support a wire spool and may be used to move the spool from one location to another without the use of a hand-held tool. Two examples illustrating this type of device are U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,808 and Patent Application No. U.S. 2002/0038837, which disclose a tool or device in which the wire spool is situated on a horizontal support axle. In the &#39;808 patent, loading and unloading the wire spool requires removing a cotter pin and taking off a wheel in order to insert the axle horizontally through the wire spool opening. This method is time consuming and requires the use of tools or removable parts that can become damaged or lost during the process. The spool of barbed wire is sitting horizontally on the device and is typically positioned close enough to the ground that the spool intermittently contacts the ground causing problems with transport and pay-out of the spool and resulting in the spool picking up debris. Momentum of the spinning spool during pay-out may cause the wire spool to continue to spool even after transport movement has stopped, causing the wire to tangle, which again is time consuming for the user and necessitates additional handling of the wire. To keep the wire spool from over spooling, some of the devices have been made with a spring-loaded rod that touches the roll and causes friction in order to brake the spool when transport stops. The spring-loaded rod becomes an extra component that adds to the weight and complexity of the device, and may create problems for the user when loading and unloading the wire spool.  
         [0007]     In application No. 2002/0038837, the axle on which the spool is supported must be released and the spool must be lifted for loading or unloading onto the device. The disclosed invention of application &#39;837 is problematic because it is difficult to pull due to a lack of wheels and involves a great deal of lifting to correctly position the spool on the horizontal axle.  
         [0008]     The prior art also includes a type of device that is fashioned in lawnmower style in which a simple handle is used to straddle the horizontal spool, the handle is then connected to a rod that is inserted through the spool. In this manner the spool is rolled on the ground without the use of wheels. Again this simple method is very hard to pull or maneuver and is known to collect a lot of debris during use.  
         [0009]     Of the known devices, none provide a way to a easily handle or maneuver a barbed wire spool or easily load and unload the spool on and off the device without the use of tools, lifting, or other unwanted contact with the barbed wire spool. A need exists for a decoiler on which a spool may be quickly loaded and unloaded by a single person, is easy to pull and maneuver, and positions the barbed wire spool in an upright position to ensure the spool does not create extra drag by collecting debris or touching the ground during transport, while still allowing the wire spool to swivel and release wire as needed but not allowing the wire spool to over-spool during use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention relates to a decoiler for storing, transporting, and uncoiling spools of wire consisting of a base member having a platform with an insertion post attached perpendicularly to the top of the platform for inserting into a wire spool and positioning the wire spool in a generally upright position. The base member further having an axle rod, longer in length than the platform and attached to the bottom of the platform, along with a handle base attached perpendicular to the axle rod and similarly on the bottom of the platform. The wheels of the apparatus are located at each end of the axle rod and an adjustable handle is connected to the end of the handle base opposite the axle rod, the handle further having a slidable clevis for attachment to and transport by a ground vehicle, such as an all terrain vehicle (ATV).  
         [0011]     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following specification, drawings, and claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a decoiler as used to carry a wire spool.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the decoiler carrying the wire spool.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the decoiler carrying the wire spool.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the decoiler carrying the wire spool.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the decoiler depicting an adjustment angle of a handle.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the decoiler depicting a second adjustment angle of the handle.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the decoiler depicting a third adjustment angle of the handle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     There is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , generally at  10 , a wire spool decoiler of the present invention as it is used to support a wire spool  12  in a generally upright position. In particular, a base member  14  and an adjustable handle  16  are joined together to form the decoiler  10 . The base member  14  is comprised of a platform  18  that supports the wire spool  12 , an inserted post  20  that is inserted through the wire spool  12 , and wheels  22   a  and  22   b  that assist in transporting the wire spool  12 . The platform  18  of the base member  14  has a top side and a bottom side, the top side of the platform  18  is attached to the post  20  so that the post  20  stands generally perpendicular to the platform  18 . Preferably the post  20  is attached at the midpoint of the top side of the platform  18  to ensure an even distribution of support provided by the platform  18  to the wire spool  12 . The platform  18  may be of a square, rectangular, circular, or oval shape for supporting the wire spool  12 , each shape having a pair of perpendicular middle axes of either the same length or with one having a longer length than the other.  
         [0020]     The base member  14  is further comprised of an axle rod  24  that is secured horizontally across the bottom side of the platform  18 . The axle rod  24  is longer than the length of the platform  18  and protrudes from the sides of the platform  18  when the two are secured together. The wheels  22   a  and  22   b  are attached to each end of the axle rod  24  to allow for easy transporting of the wire spool  12  when supported on the decoiler  10 . In order to ensure even distribution of the weight of the wire spool  12 , and thus greater stability of the decoiler  10 , it is preferred that the axle rod  24  be positioned across the longer of the two middle axis of the platform  18 . It is also preferred that the wheels  22   a  and  22   b  used be a high wheel design, meaning larger in diameter, to help keep the wire spool  12  off of the ground in order to minimize entanglement of grass and weeds in the wire.  
         [0021]     Attached to the bottom of the platform  18  is a handle base  26  ( FIGS. 4-7 ). The handle base  26  is positioned perpendicular to the axle rod  24 , forming a T-shape with the axle rod  24  preferably near the midpoint on the bottom side of the platform  18  and preferably positioned along the second axis of the platform  18 . The free end of the handle base  26  extends past the edge of platform  18  to permit pivotal attachment to the handle  16 , thereby allowing the handle  16  to pivot around the transverse axis  27  at the point of connection. A set bar  28  is attached to the handle base  26  and positioned adjacent to the handle  16  with one end of the set bar  28  pivotally attached to the handle base  26  with a bolt  40  to allow movement of the set bar  28  to occur when positioning the handle  16  for use. The opposite end of the set bar  28  splits to form two parallel arms  32  that allow the position of the handle  16  to be adjusted by inserting a pin  30  through a hole (not shown) drilled through the end of each arm  32 , the pin  30  is further inserted through one of a series of holes  42  located on a plate  34  that is welded to the handle  16 . By moving the arms  32  of the set bar  28  along the plate  34  of the handle  16  and inserting the pin  30  through the corresponding hole  42  at the desired position, the handle  16  may be adjusted to different angles and heights for use. The inserted pin  30  secures the handle  16  in the adjusted position.  
         [0022]     The end of the handle  16  opposite the handle base  26  has a T-shaped grip  36  for easy grasping by a user of the handle  16  and maneuvering of the decoiler  10  during use. The grip  36  may be coated with a plastic or rubber material for added comfort during use. The handle  16  further has a sliding clevis  38  which allows the decoiler  10  to be hooked to a ground vehicle, such as an all terrain vehicle (ATV) (not shown) for towing. The sliding clevis  38  slides along the shank of the handle  16  and rests on the set bar  28  when not in use. When the decoiler  10  is to be hooked to the ground vehicle, the sliding clevis  38  slides to the top of the handle  16  and over the grip  36  in a manner that allows the sliding clevis  38  to form a tongue which can be attached to the vehicle for towing.  
         [0023]     In operation, the decoiler  10  may be used conveniently to mount and transport a wore spool  12  from a ground-supported position. The wire spool  12  is set on the ground and tipped on its side so that the hollow middle of the wire spool  12  is horizontal. The decoiler  10  is positioned so that the post  20  is substantially horizontal by raising the handle  16 . A user then maneuvers the decoiler  10  to insert the post  20  into the middle of the wire spool  12  to the transport position by lowering the handle  16 . If needed, the user may steady the decoiler  10  by putting a foot on the axle rod  24 , thus allowing the wire spool  12  to be transported in an upright position on the decoiler  10 . The transport of the wire spool  12  in an upright position allows the wire spool  12  to rotate and release wire as necessary during the construction of fencing or the like. Rotating of the wire spool  12  occurs easily during movement of the decoiler  10  and, due to its self-created friction between the spool  12  and the plate  18 , stops when the movement of the decoiler  10  stops, therefore preventing over spooling.  
         [0024]     The slidable clevis  38  is mounted for sliding movement along the shank of the handle  16  and is moved adjacent the handle  16  for use in connecting the decoiler  10  to a vehicle. Therefore, the present invention easily loads and unloads a wire spool  12  in an upright position, includes an adjustable handle  16  for user comfort, and provides for easy handling and maneuvering during transport and use. The decoiler  10  is preferably lightweight to facilitate easy handling and is preferably constructed of powder coated steel for long lasting durability. The decoiler  10  is also preferably constructed using a high wheel  22  design in order to provide better maneuverability and minimize the entanglement of grass and weeds that would otherwise get caught in the barbed wire.  
         [0025]     The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability, experience, and preference of those skilled in the art. Merely listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method. The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.