Abstract:
A device that has as simple frame that pivots at the center instead of the top. The axels are stored in the device when not needed. They are simply slipped through holes in the frame for use. Reels are placed on the outside of the frame, which makes changing reels simple and efficient. When stored, it forms a small package that be placed anywhere. When stored. The axels are held in holders formed on the frame. In this way, the axels are always kept with the device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/074,614, filed Mar. 8, 2005 now abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the invention 
   This invention relates wire reel carriers and particularly to folding wire reel carriers. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The installation of electrical system sin buildings and some residences typically involves pulling large quantities of wire through. conduits and other raceways. In such a job, groups of different colored wires are pulled simultaneously through the various conduits. For example, a typical circuit for power receptacles involves pulling black, white, green and sometimes red wires through conduits between junction boxes. Many other wire and coloring schemes can be used as well. 
   Professional electricians keep these wires on reels. These reels can vary in size, but are typically less than one foot in diameter. The reels have a center hole that allows the reels to be placed on some type of axel so that as wires are pulled off the reel, the reel is free to turn. Many electricians build stands for these reels out of scrap lumber. Lengths of scrap conduit are used for the axels and the reels are strung on these conduits, which are then held by the lumber frames. 
   Although these simple reels can work, they tend to be built shabbily and do not hold up. Inventors have produced commercial type designs for such stands. Some examples of these are found in the following U.S. Patents. U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,920, which discloses a device mounted on wheels that can hold many reels. This device is large and does not fold for storage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,645 teaches another device that can hold several reels. This device has a long front arm that can fold back for storage. A wheel is mounted on the arm so that the carrier can be wheeled about from job to job. U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,745 disclosed a modified hand truck. This device has a frame attached that can fold out to carry reels of wire. The frame can be folded back to move the reels from job to job. U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,280 teaches a basket type carrier that can hold a number of reels. The basket has a top handle that is used to carry to the basket around. 
   Several smaller carriers have been designed. These often take an “A” frame style Design that can fold for storage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,608 teaches a carrier that has a flat rectangular frame. Two vertical arms are foldably attached to the frame. The arms are raised into a vertical position for use. An axel with wire reels can then be secured in the arms and the wire can be pulled. When folded, a handle allows the frame to be carried. The frame has a storage compartment that holds the axel when it is not in use. U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,013 teaches an “A” frame device that has two frame that are pivotably attached at the top. The unit has clips that hold the axels, which are locked using pins. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,787 teaches an “A” frame device that has one axel mounted in the top using brackets and pins. Additional axels are held using bushings that has rotating heads. The axels, which have spaced holes in them, are slipped over the bushings. The heads are then turned and the axels are locked in place. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,047 teaches a small frame that is designed to hold one line of reels. The axel is held in place by spring clips mounted on the top brackets. 
   All of the small, portable patents have the reels placed on an axel that sits between the sides of the frame. Moreover, although they can fold, they are still rather large frames. Some do not store the axels on the device when folded. Finally, they all have complex locking systems that require tools and or many steps to assemble the frame for use. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The instant invention overcomes all of these problems. It is a device that has as simple frame that pivots at the center instead of the top. The axels are stored in the device when not needed. They are simply slipped through holes in the frame for use. Reels are placed on the outside of the frame, which makes changing reels simple and efficient. When stored, it forms a small package that be placed anywhere. When stored. The axels are held in holders formed on the frame. In this way, the axels are always kept with the device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the stored position. 
       FIG. 2  is a left side perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the stored position. 
       FIG. 3  is a right side perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the stored position. 
       FIG. 4  is a left side perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the operating position. 
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the operating position. 
       FIG. 6  is a left side view of the second embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the operating position. 
       FIG. 7  is a left side view of the second embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the stored position. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the first embodiment shown in the folded position for storage. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention  1 , with the axels in the stored position is shown. The invention  1  has a stand made of two members  3  and  4  that are connected at a pivot point  5  by a fastener  6 . The fastener  6  can be a nut and bolt combination or a rivet or similar fastener. The rear member  3  has a foot member  7  that supports the unit on a flat surface. Extending up from the foot is the vertical support  8 , which is a tubular member that is angled at the top. Thus, the vertical member has a riser portion  8   a  and a top angled portion  8   b . 
   The front member  10  has a foot member  11  that helps to further support the unit on a flat surface. Extending up from the foot  11  is the vertical support  12 , which is a tubular member that is angled at the top like the rear member. The front vertical member  12  has a riser portion  12   a  and a top angled portion  12   b . 
   Three axels  15  are provided to support cable reels ( FIGS. 4 and 5  show the axels deployed).  FIG. 1  shows the axels  15  in the stored position. Holes  16  (see  FIG. 4 ), provided in the top angled portion  12   b , allow the axels  15  to be held between the top angled portion  12   b  and the foot  11  as shown. Once the axels are stored, the unit can be easily folded for storage (see  FIG. 8 ) or moving from one location to another. 
     FIG. 1  also shows a locking system that consists of two pivot arms  41  and  42  that are attached to the front and rear members by fasteners that allow the arms to pivot. A locking bar  43  is secured to the pivoting arms. The locking bar is used to lock the pivot arms in position for use. This locking system is similar to those found on stepladders and is well known in the art. 
   The axels  15  are held in the frame by passing them through holes  17  and  18  that are drilled in the frame. Each of the holes  17  and  18  has a bushing  19  that extends out from the frame as shown. Each of the bushings  19  has holes drilled in them to receive pins  19   a . The axels  15  have holes  19   b  that coordinate with the holes in the bushings so that when the axels are in place, the pins  19   a  pass through both the bushings and the axels, thereby securing the axels in place for use. 
   The axels also have holes  19   c  for pins  19   a  that hold the wire reels on the axels in use. See  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG. 2  is a left side perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention, showing the axels  15  in the stored position. In this view, the sides of the vertical portions  8   a  and  12   a  are shown. The pivot point nut  6  is shown. Holes  17  and  18  are shown in the vertical members  8   a  and  12   a  these holes are provided to hold the axels  15  when in the deployed position (as discussed below). One bushing  19  is shown on member  8   a  (the bushings for member  12   a  are on the opposite side—of course, these placements can be rotated, if desired). Pins  19   a  are shown in the axels  15 . 
     FIG. 3  is a right side perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the stored position from the opposite side of the unit. Hole  17  is shown in the vertical member  8   a.    
     FIG. 4  is a left side perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the operating position. Here, the axels  15  are shown in position in for use. The axels pass through the holes  17  and  18 . The storage holes  16  are clearly shown in the figure. Here, the pins  19   a  are shown in the bushing  19  and in hole  19   c  of one of the axels. A pin  19   a  is shown in alignment with a hole  19   c  in one of the axels. Of course, in operation, all axels are secured to the frame with pins. In addition, the pins  19   a  are not placed in the holes  19   c  until after the wire reels (not shown) are in place on the axels. 
     FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the operating position. This embodiment  20  has a stand made of two members  21  and  22  that are connected at a pivot point  23  by a fastener  24 . The fastener  24  can be a nut and bolt combination or a rivet or similar fastener. The rear member  21  has a foot member  25  that supports the unit on a flat surface. Extending up from the foot is the vertical support  26 , which is a tubular member that is angled at the top. Thus, the vertical member has a riser portion  26   a  and a top angled portion  26   b . 
   The front member  30  has a foot member  31  that helps to further support the unit on a flat surface. Extending up from the foot  31  is the vertical support  32 , which is a tubular member that is angled at the top like the rear member. The front vertical member  32  has a riser portion  32   a  and a top angled portion  32   b.    
   Unlike the first embodiment the feet  25  and  31  of this embodiment are made up of a tubular portion  25   a  and  31   a  and an angled portion  25   b  and  31   b . The tubular portions are aligned opposite the angled portions. Thus, portion  25   a  is opposite the angled portion  31   b  and vice versa. This is done so that when the unit is folded, the tubular member lies within the angled member, thereby making a more compact unit when the unit is folded. 
     FIG. 5  also shows the axels  35  in place. This embodiment shown only two axels, however, more can be added by changing the size of the device. As before, the axels  35  are secured in the frame with the bushings  19  and pins  19   a  through holes  19   b  in the axels (see  FIG. 1 ). In addition, the holes  19   c  are shown in the axels for pins  19   a  to secure the wire reels when they are in place. 
     FIG. 6  is a left side view of the second embodiment of the invention, showing the axels  35  in the operating position. Here, the structure of the device is similar to that of the first embodiment. Note the bushings  19 , the pins  19   a  and the holes  19   c  as before. 
   Here, a locking system  40  is shown. The locking system (which can be used on the first embodiment as well) consists of two pivot arms  41  and  42  that are attached to the front and rear members by fasteners that allow the arms to pivot. A locking bar  43 . is secured to the pivoting arms. The locking bar is used to lock the pivot arms in position for use. This locking system is similar to those found on stepladders and is well known in the art.  FIG. 6  also shows two storage cylinders  46  in which the axels are held when stored. See also,  FIG. 7 . 
     FIG. 7  is a left side view of the second embodiment of the invention, showing the axels in the stored position. In this figure, the axels  35  are positioned in the two storage cylinders  46 . Bushings  19  are shown on the front and rear members. These holes hold the axels when they are deployed for use. 
     FIG. 8  shows the first embodiment  1  in the folded position. Note that the second embodiment folds in a similar manner. Here, the base of the rear member  8  is pivoted forward until in meets the base  4  of the front member. In this position, the two vertical members are in alignment ant the top members for a “tee”. In this configuration, the device forms a compact unit easily storable in a variety of locations or easily movable to a jobsite location. 
   In the preferred embodiment the device is made of a lightweight steel or similar material. It also can be made of high strength plastic. 
   The device is designed to remain small enough to be carried by workers. However, it can be made considerably larger if desired. 
   In use, the device (either of the two embodiments) is carried to the desired location. The front and rear members are opened and locked into place. The axels are then removed from their holders and are positioned in the holes in the frame. Wire reels are then positioned on the axels as desired. Reels should be placed on both sides of the unit to maintain balance. Wire can then be pulled from one or more of the reels as needed for the task. The unit may be transported to another area with the reels still in place or the reels can be removed the unit folded for transport or for storage. 
   The present disclosure should not be construed in any limited sense other than that limited by the scope of the claims having regard to the teachings herein and the prior art being apparent with the preferred form of the invention disclosed herein and which reveals details of structure of a preferred form necessary for a better understanding of the invention and may be subject to change by skilled persons within the scope of the invention without departing from the concept thereof.