Abstract:
A razor wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus for installing razor wire along a perimeter to create a protective border and collecting the wire when the border is no longer desired. The razor wire dispensing and receiving apparatus essentially comprises a frame with a wire hanger and a wire spreader. The wire hanger and spreader function to permit efficient dispensing, retrieving, and transport of razor wire. Moreover, the frame attaches to a variety of vehicles, including military vehicles. As the vehicle travels along a perimeter, the apparatus dispenses wire from the hanger while the spreader keeps the wire aligned. The apparatus also includes a means of pivoting the frame on a horizontal axis. Pivoting the frame down from the dispensing position permits the apparatus to be used as a wire-retrieving device. In this position, the wire is loaded back onto the hanger as the spreader keeps the wire aligned. Furthermore, pivoting the frame upward from the dispensing position permits the apparatus to be used as a wire-transporting device. The upward angle of the hanger created by pivoting the frame upward secures the wire for high-speed transportation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a wire dispensing and receiving apparatus for use in connection with installing and recycling razor, or concertina, wire. The wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus has particular utility in connection with promoting safe and efficient unrolling of razor wire. The wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus has further utility in permitting safe and efficient retrieval of used razor wire. Additionally, the apparatus allows for fast transport of wire and easy setup for operation. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Fence dispensing apparatuses facilitate unrolling of fencing wire along a perimeter for creation of a barrier. In fact, the fence installing art is crowded with various apparatuses that dispense fencing wire. However, the existing fence dispensing apparatuses do not permit easy set up and efficient dispensing of razor wire. Additionally, the existing apparatuses fail to provide easy set up for efficient retrieval of used razor wire. 
   Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved fence dispensing apparatus that efficiently dispenses and retrieves razor wire. The present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the fence dispensing apparatus according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of efficiently dispensing and retrieving razor wire along a perimeter. Additionally, the apparatus was developed for the purpose of allowing fast transportation of razor wire and easy setup for operation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of fence dispensing apparatuses now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved razor wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved razor wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus which has many novel features that result in a razor wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. The invention may also include attachments to permit use with various vehicles, including military vehicles. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
   Numerous objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Therefore, it is important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved razor wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus that has all of the advantages of the prior art fence dispensing apparatuses and none of the disadvantages. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that may be easily loaded with razor wire. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that efficiently retrieves used razor wire for recycling. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved razor wire dispensing and receiving apparatus that may be attached to and transported by a variety of vehicles. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that provides for efficient transportation of razor wire. 
   Most importantly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fence dispensing apparatus that improves the overall efficiency in which wire is dispensed or received. 
   These, together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of the wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front side view of the wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus. 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the apparatus&#39; spreader. 
       FIG. 4  is a left side view of the apparatus&#39; hanger. 
       FIG. 5  is a left side view of the apparatus&#39; extension receiver attached to the frame. 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the apparatus&#39; clamp and wing nut attached to a bolt. 
   

   The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1–6 , a preferred embodiment of the razor wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . 
   In  FIG. 1 , a new and improved razor wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus  10  of the present invention for efficiently and safely dispensing razor wire along a perimeter is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the apparatus  10  has a symmetrically shaped frame  12  that functions as the apparatus&#39; main body and support. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the frame  12  comprises a top side  14 , a bottom side  16 , a left side  18 , and a right side  22 . A front face  19  and a back face  20  further define the left side  18 . Similarly, a front face  23  and a back face  24  further define the right side  22 . A center bar  26  is centrally placed between the frame&#39;s left  18  and right  22  sides and attached to the frame&#39;s top  14  and bottom  16  sides. A front face  27  and a back face  28  further define the center bar  26 . 
   A slot  30  protrudes through the frame&#39;s left side  18 , extending from the left side&#39;s front face  19  to the left side&#39;s back face  20 . Moreover, the slot  30  extends along the left side  18 , from near the frame&#39;s top side  14  to near the frame&#39;s bottom side  16 . Similarly, a slot  30  protrudes through the frame&#39;s right side  22 , extending from the right side&#39;s front face  23  to the right side&#39;s back face  24 . The right side&#39;s slot  30  extends along the right side  22 , from near the frame&#39;s top side  14  to near the frame&#39;s bottom side  16 . Finally, a slot  30  protrudes through the center bar  26 , extending from the center bar&#39;s front face  27  to the center bar&#39;s back face  28 . The center bar&#39;s slot  30  extends along the center bar  26 , from near the frame&#39;s top side  14  to near the frame&#39;s bottom side  16 . 
   The wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus  10  further comprises a spreader  32 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the spreader  32  has a base plate  34 , a first rod  36 , a second rod  38 , a v-shaped rod  40 , and a bolt  42 . The first rod  36  extends perpendicularly from the spreader&#39;s base plate  34 . Similarly, the second rod  38  extends perpendicularly from the spreader&#39;s base plate  34 . The second rod  38  runs parallel to the first rod  36 . A v-shape rod  40  is attached to the first rod  36  opposite the base plate  34 . Furthermore, the v-shaped rod  40  is attached to the second rod  38  opposite the base plate  34 . The spreader&#39;s bolt  42  extends perpendicularly from the base plate  34  opposite the first  36  and second  38  rods. A set of threads  44  further defines the spreader&#39;s bolt  42 . 
   The razor wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus  10  further comprises a hanger  44 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the apparatus&#39; hanger  44 . The hanger  44  has a base plate  46 , a boom  48 , a support bar  50 , and a bolt  52 . The boom  46  extends perpendicularly from the base plate  46 . The support bar  50  extends at an angle from the base plate  46  and attaches to the boom  48  opposite the base plate  46 . The hanger&#39;s bolt  52  extends perpendicularly from the base plate  46  opposite the boom  48  and support bar  50 . A set of threads  54  further defines the hanger&#39;s bolt  52 . 
   A set of clamps  56  and wing nuts  60  are used to attach the spreader  32  and hanger  44  to the apparatus&#39; frame  12 .  FIG. 6  illustrates the apparatus&#39; clamps  56  and wing nuts  60 . A bolt receptacle  58  extends through the center of the clamp  56 . Similarly, a bolt receptacle  62  extends through the center of the wing nut  60 . Moreover, the clamp&#39;s bolt receptacle  58  and the wing nut&#39;s bolt receptacle  62  are sized and shaped to receive both the spreader&#39;s bolt  42  and the hanger&#39;s bolt  52 . The wing nut&#39;s bolt receptacle  62  is threaded to receive the spreader bolt&#39;s threads  44  and the hanger bolt&#39;s threads  54 . Similarly, the slots  30  in the frames&#39; left side  18 , right side  22 , and center bar  26  are sized and shaped to receive both the spreader&#39;s bolt  42  and the hanger&#39;s bolt  52 . 
   The apparatus  10  further comprises an extension receiver  64  that has a base plate  66 , a left side  68 , and a right side  70 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the apparatus&#39; extension receiver  64 . Moreover, the extension receiver  64  defines a pin receptacle  72  that extends from its left side  68  through to its right side  70 . The extension receiver  64  is attached near the bottom of the frame  12  opposite the spreader  32  and hanger  44 . 
   In addition to the extension receiver  64 , the apparatus  10  has an extension bar  74 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the apparatus&#39; extension bar. The extension bar has a first end  76  and a second end  78 . The extension bar&#39;s first end  76  has a pin receptacle  80  extending horizontally there through. The extension bar&#39;s pin receptacle  80  is shaped and sized to receive a rod-shaped pin  84 . Similarly, the extension receiver&#39;s pin receptacle  72  is shaped and sized to receive the pin  84 . Furthermore, the extension bar&#39;s second end  78  has a bolt receptacle  82  extending horizontally there through. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the razor wire dispensing and receiving apparatus  10  further comprises a winch frame  86 . Moreover, the winch frame  86  has a first end  88  and a second end  90 . The winch frame&#39;s first end  88  is removably attached to the extension bar  74 . More specifically, the winch frame  86  extends vertically from the extension bar  74 . A winch  92  is attached to the winch frame&#39;s second end  90 . Additionally, the apparatus  10  has a cord  94  with a first end  96  and a second end  98 . The cord&#39;s first end  96  is attached to the winch  92  in a manner permitting the cord  94  to be wound and unwound from the winch  92 . The cord&#39;s second end is attached to the frame&#39;s top side  14 . 
   As described, the apparatus  10  may be set up to simultaneously dispense, retrieve, or transport up to three rolls of razor wire, or concertina wire. A spreader  32  is attached to the frame  12  by sliding the spreader&#39;s bolt  42  through the slot  30  in either the left side  18 , right side  22 , or center bar  26 . Additionally, the spreader&#39;s  32  height may be adjusted by sliding it up or down in the slot  30 . The spreader  32  is secured to the frame  12  by sliding the clamp&#39;s bolt receptacle  58  over the spreader&#39;s bolt  42  and fixing the mouth of the clamp  56  onto the frame  12 . Next, the wing nut  60  is threaded onto the spreader bolt&#39;s threads  44 . The hanger  44  is attached to the frame  12  in a similar fashion. Thus, the apparatus&#39; frame  12  will support three sets of spreaders  32  and hangers  44 . By adjusting the spreader  32  and hanger  44  positions in the slots, the apparatus  10  can be set up to work with different sizes of razor wire rolls. 
   In addition to the apparatus&#39; flexibility to be set up for different numbers and sizes of razor wire rolls, the apparatus&#39;s extension receiver  64  permits it to be transported by a variety of vehicles. The apparatus&#39; extension bar  74  attaches to the extension receiver  64  by aligning extension receiver&#39;s pin receptacle  72  and the extension bar&#39;s pin receptacle  80  then securing the parts with a pin  84 . In turn, the bolt receptacle  82  in the opposite end of the extension bar  74  may be attached to a variety of clamps, bolts, and other fastening devices. These fastening devices permit the extension bar&#39;s second end  78  to be attached to a vehicle&#39;s bumper, frame, or body. In addition, the extension receiver  64  may be directly attached to a variety of clamps, bolts, and other fastening devices. This permits the extension receiver  64  to be directly attached to a vehicles bumper, frame, or body. By using the extension bar  74  or the directly attaching the extension receiver  64  to a vehicle, the apparatus  10  has the flexibility to work with an endless number of vehicles, including tractors, backhoes, and military humvees. 
   In use, rolls of razor wire, or concertina wire, are hung on the boom  48 . As rolls are hung on the boom  48 , the spreader&#39;s v-rod  40  guides the insides of the rolls onto the spreader&#39;s first and second extension rods  36 ,  38 . Once the wire is loaded on the boom  48 , one end of the wire is attached to a fixture in the ground to create a starting point for the wire perimeter. Next, a vehicle is used to move the apparatus  10  as wire dispenses off the boom  48 . As the wire is pulled off the boom  48 , the first and second extension rod&#39;s  36 ,  38  maintain the roll&#39;s shape so the wire does not tangle. In the wire dispensing position, the spreader  32  and hanger  44  are positioned parallel to the ground. 
   In addition to dispensing wire, the apparatus  10  is designed to efficiently retrieve used wire. To place the apparatus  10  in the wire retrieving position, the winch  92  and cord  94  are manipulated to tilt the frame  12  so that the spreader  32  and hanger  44  angle toward the ground. As the winch  92  manipulates the frame  12 . The pin  84  securing the extension receiver  64  to the extension bar  74  permits the frame  12  to pivot in relation to the fixed extension bar  74 . This position permits the wire to slide up the boom  48  as a vehicle moves the apparatus  10 . The angled position is preferred because the wire does not have to be lifted onto the boom  48 . As the wire slides up the boom  48 , the spreader&#39;s v-rod  40  guides the insides of the rolls onto the spreader&#39;s first and second extension rods  36 ,  38 . In turn, the first and second extension rod&#39;s  36 ,  38  maintain the wire&#39;s shape as it is collected. 
   Once wire is loaded or collected on the hanger  44 , the apparatus  10  can be placed in the wire transport position to efficiently move the wire from one location to another. To place the apparatus  10  in the wire transport position, the winch  92  and cord  94  are manipulated to tilt the frame  12  so that the spreader  32  and hanger  44  angle toward the sky. This position permits the boom  48  to hold the wire as a vehicle moves the apparatus  10 . The angled position is preferred because the wire will not slide over the end of the boom  48 . During transport, the first and second extension rod&#39;s  36 ,  38  maintain the wire&#39;s shape and aid the boom  48  in securing the wire. 
   While a preferred embodiment of the fence dispensing apparatus has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, different combinations of spreaders and hangers may be used to simultaneously deploy multiple rolls of razor wire. Optionally, the winch may be replaced with a hydraulic or mechanical means of pivoting the apparatus&#39; frame. In addition, different attachments may be connected to the apparatus&#39; frame to permit use with a variety of vehicles. More specifically, the extension bar may be attached to a hitch, clamp, bolt, or similar attaching device. In turn, the apparatus may be hitched, clamped, bolted, or otherwise attached to the hitch receptacle, bumper, or another part of any vehicle. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.