Abstract:
A cable reel lifter/transporter apparatus for elevating a heavy cable reel above a surface to permit free rotation of the reel, thereby allowing cable or tubing to be payed off the reel, and for manually transporting cable reels includes a pair of L-shaped planar frames each having a long straight handlebar arm and a relatively short straight leg which depends perpendicularly downwards from a lower surface of the handlebar, near a front transverse end thereof, each leg having at the lower end thereof a short tubular foot. A tubular bearing support protruding upwards from each handlebar rotatably supports opposite ends of a horizontal cable reel support shaft. A pair of arbors slidable on the shaft have inner tapered portions insertable into a separate spindle hole in each of two disk-shaped end plates of a cable reel, and subsequently secured to the shaft to hold the shaft and cable reel in a fixed position between the frames. Hand pressure exerted downwardly on the rear ends of the handlebars pivots the legs around the tubular axes of the feet, causing the cable reel support shaft and cable reel to elevate the reel end plates to a freely rotatable position above the ground. Rotating the handlebars on the cable reel support shaft in an opposite direction elevates the legs and feet above the ground, allowing the rear ends of the handlebars to be grasped to push the reel rollably along a surface, the cable reel end plates serving as wheels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to apparatus and equipment used to manipulate large, heavy reels or spools on which are wound lengths of cable and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus which facilitates manual transportation and elevation of heavy cable reels above a support surface to permit free rotation of the reel, thereby permitting cable to be payed out from or wound onto the reel. 
     B. Description of Background Art 
     Large diameter electrical cable, wire rope and flexible tubing such as that used to distribute natural gas are usually supplied on large wooden spools or reels. Reels of this type have a cylindrical barrel for winding cable or the like, and a pair of disk-shaped flanges of larger diameter than the barrel at opposite ends of the barrel, for retaining material wound onto the barrel. The combined weight of a reel and the cable, tubing or the like wound onto the reel may exceed several hundred pounds. Accordingly, moving such reels between various locations at a job site can often be a cumbersome and laborious task. Moreover, paying cable or tubing off of a reel, or winding such material back onto a reel, are laborious tasks. One type of prior art device used for handling heavy cable reels includes a pair of laterally opposed parallel rails to receive the circular end plate flanges of the reel. Rollers mounted within the channels rotatably support the rims of the cable reel flanges, allowing the cable to rotate to permit paying out or taking up cable. Such devices provide no means for transporting cable reels. 
     A variety of other types of devices intended to facilitate the handling of reels or cylindrical objects are disclosed in the following U.S. patents: 
     Pelletier, U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,679 discloses an identical pair of support stands for lifting a roll of floor covering material from a position on a supporting surface to an elevated position in which the roll is free to rotate, allowing materials to be unrolled. The axle of a carpet roll is supported by upwardly opening yokes, attached to each support stand, which has a short horizontally disposed base leg and a longer vertical standard. 
     Gebo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,289 discloses a reel stand apparatus for rollably supporting a reel or spool of cable, the apparatus consisting of a pair of stanchions each having a base frame including a pair of short perpendicularly disposed horizontal frame members and a vertical post having a rollable reel axle support. 
     Setzke, U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,078 discloses a reel lifting and support device having a pair of identical units each comprising a lower elongated support arm which is initially disposed in a generally horizontal position, a short arm disposed obliquely upwardly from a distal end of the long arm, and a plurality of sockets disposed perpendicularly to the upper portion of the short arm, for receiving support axles for reels of different heights. Each unit also includes a brace unit or beam member pivotably connected to the short arm between the sockets, the brace unit being disposed obliquely downwards towards the long arm and being pivotably attached thereto. A short hollow cylindrical tube disposed transversely across the junction of the long arm and short arm serves as a fulcrum and pivot axis for the apparatus so that when the long arms are pivoted down from an upwardly angled position to a horizontal position, a reel on an axle supported by the sockets is pivoted upwards to a freely rotatable position above the ground, because short arm and the attached sockets are thereby pivoted to a higher altitude 
     Arrington, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,601 discloses a reel lift comprising a pair of identical stands, each having a short horizontally disposed angle iron base, a short angle iron upright member depending perpendicularly upwards from the base, a handle rod fastened to and extending parallel upwards from the upright member, and a reel axle support sleeve fastened transversely to one side of the upright member, near its upper end. The front edge of each angle iron base plate serves as a fulcrum or pivot edge when the apparatus with attached cable reel is pivoted from a position in which the handle are angled downwards from an upright vertical position, to a vertical position in which the cable reeling elevated above a support surface to permit its free rotation. 
     Other U.S. patents related generally to the field of the present invention include: 
     Brown, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,608, Oct. 30, 1979, Knock Down Cable Reel Holder, Woodruff, U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,012, May 8, 1984, Portable Reel Jack Stand, Bills et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,098, Oct. 20, 1987, Cable Wheel Handling And Transporting Trailer, Franks, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,047, Jun. 21, 1988, Cable Spool Holder, Mendoza, U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,937, Feb. 20, 1990, Cable Reel Bearer And Dolly, Jääskeläinen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,877, Oct. 1, 1991, Carriage For The Transportation Of A Cylindrical Object, Jääskeläinen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,127, Sep. 7, 1993, Reel Lifting Device With Support Arms Mounted For Flexible Movement, Drew et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,972, Oct. 19, 1993, Roll Dolly, Ferrone, U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,691, Jun. 6, 1995, Roll Transfer Device. 
     The present invention was conceived of to provide a cable reel lifter/transporter which overcomes certain limitations inherent in all prior art devices intended to be used for manipulating cable reels, and to provide an implement of more versatile utility. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for lifting and supporting a cable reel above a supporting surface, thereby permitting free rotation of the reel to allow cable to be payed out from or onto the reel, and for facilitating movement of a cable reel to various desired locations at a job site. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a cable reel lifter/transporter apparatus which enables a single individual to elevate a heavy cable reel to a freely rotatable position, with the apparatus disposed in a first orientation, and which enables a single individual to transport the cable reel, with the apparatus disposed in a second orientation. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a cable reel lifter/transporter which may readily be attached to and removed from a cable reel. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a cable reel lifter transporter which may be readily knocked down, stored and transported by a single individual. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a cable reel lifter/transporter which may accommodate cable reels having a wide range of widths as well as diameters. 
     Various other objects and advantages of the present invention, and its most novel features, will become apparent to those skilled in the art by perusing the accompanying specifications, drawing and claims. 
     It is to be understood that although the invention disclosed herein is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages described, the characteristics of the invention described herein are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, I do not intend that the scope of my exclusive rights and privileges in the invention be limited to details of the embodiments described. I do intend that equivalents, adaptations and modifications of the invention reasonably inferable from the description contained herein be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the present invention comprehends a manually operable apparatus which allows a single person to manipulate heavy reels containing cable, tubing, or the like. The apparatus according to the present invention provides means for elevating a heavy cable reel above a surface to permit free rotation of the reel, thereby allowing cable or tubing to be payed off or onto the reel. The apparatus also provides means enabling a single individual to manually transport heavy cable reels at a job site or similar location. 
     A cable reel lifter/transporter according to the present invention includes a pair of L-shaped planar frames each having a relatively long straight arm or handlebar and a relatively short leg which depends perpendicularly downwards from a distal or front end of the arm. Each leg is preferably terminated at the lower end thereof by a short tubular foot disposed perpendicularly to the plane of the frame member, the foot protruding equal distances laterally outwards and inwards of the outer and inner side walls of the leg. Each frame member is provided with a bearing protruding upwards from the upper surface of the long frame member arm, in vertical alignment with the downwardly depending leg. 
     The cable reel lifter/transporter according to the present invention includes an elongated straight reel support shaft, which has a long central portion that is externally threaded and short unthreaded opposite end portions of reduced diameter that are rotatably supported by the bearings on the frame members. The apparatus also includes a pair of arbors having a cruciform cross section and a frusto-pyramidal outer surface adapted to be insertably received in opposite ends of various sized spindle holes of cable reel end flanges. The arbors are slidably mounted on the threaded reel support shaft, and each of the two arbors forcibly inserted into a separate spindle hole in each of two disk-shaped end plates of a cable reel. The two arbors are secured to the cable reel by a pair of opposed cross bar nuts threadingly advanced inwards on the reel support shaft. After the threaded reel support shaft has been secured to a cable reel, the bores of the bearings on opposed L-shaped members are slipped over opposite unthreaded end portions of the reel support shaft, and the shaft is secured to the frame members by a collar fastened to the smaller diameter shaft end protruding outwardly through each bearing. 
     To elevate a cable reel attached to the apparatus according to the present invention, the frame members are rotated around the axis of the reel support shaft until the tubular fee contact the ground. Then, downward pressure is exerted on the rear or proximal ends of the elongated arms of the L-shaped frame members, causing the short legs at the distal or front ends of the members to pivot around the tubular axes of the feet, thereby raising the upper ends of the legs, and the attached bearing and reel support shaft, to a higher elevation. At this height, the flange ends of the cable reel are elevated above the ground, allowing free rotation of the reel. To use the apparatus to transport a cable reel, the frame arms are rotated in an opposite direction, lifting the tubular feet to a position above the ground. With the frame members thus disposed, the outer ends of the arms may be grasped to push the reel rollably along the surface in the manner of a wheelbarrow, the two longitudinally spaced apart circular end plates of the cable reel serving as wheels. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cable reel lifter/transporter apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a partly fragmentary exploded upper perspective view of the apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an arbor and cross bar nut comprising part of the apparatus of FIG. 2, on a somewhat enlarged scale. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary inner side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary upper right perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing an arbor and cross bar nut thereof installed. 
     FIG. 6 is a right side perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the apparatus installed on a cable reel. 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6, but showing the apparatus in the process of elevating the cable reel to a freely rotatable position. 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, but showing the apparatus in a stable equilibrium position in which the cable reel is freely rotatable. 
     FIG. 9 is a right side perspective view showing arms or handle bars thereof rotated to a position clockwise from that shown in FIG. 6, thereby allowing the handle bars to be used to roll the reel to a desired location. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a modified side frame comprising part of a modification of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-9. 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of the article of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is an end elevation view of the article of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 11, on an enlarged scale. 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary end elevation view of the structure of FIG. 11, on an enlarged scale. 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of a modified arbor for the apparatus of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary upper plan view showing components of a modified cable reel lifter/transporter and the manner of attaching the modified apparatus of FIG. 11 to a cable reel. 
     FIG. 17 is a front elevation view showing the modified cable reel lifter/transporter of FIG. 16 attached to a cable reel. 
     FIG. 18 is a side elevation view showing the apparatus of FIG. 17 preparatory to pivoting the cable reel thereof to a freely rotatable position. 
     FIG. 19 is a view similar to that of FIG. 18, but showing the apparatus thereof in a stable equilibrium position in which the cable reel is freely rotatable. 
     FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of a modification of the side frame of FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a basic embodiment of a cable reel lifter/transporter according to the present invention. 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, a cable reel lifter/transporter  20  according to the present invention may be seen to include a pair of parallel laterally opposed, L-shaped planar frames  21 . Each frame  21  includes a relatively long straight beam member  22  comprising an arm or handlebar having a front distal transverse end  23  and a rear transverse end  24 . Handlebar  22  is made of strong, rigid material such as square steel tubing having an I.D. of ¾″ and an O.D. of 1″. 
     As may be seen best by referring to FIG. 4, each frame  21  has a relatively short straight leg  25  which depends perpendicularly downwards from lower longitudinal wall surface  26  of handlebar  22 , near the front or distal end of the handlebar. As shown in FIG. 4, leg  25  preferably is of a telescopic construction permitting adjustment of its length. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, leg  25  consists of an upper, inner tubular section  27  which is welded to lower wall surface  26  of handlebar  22 , a short distance inward from front transverse end  23  of the handlebar. Desirably, two triangularly shaped gusset plates  28  are positioned between and welded to bottom wall surface  26  of handlebar  22 , and front and rear wall surfaces  29  and  30 , respectively, of upper leg section  27 . 
     As may be seen best by referring to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 4, telescoping leg  25  includes an outer, lower tubular section  31  which longitudinally slidably receives upper leg section  27 . As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart holes  32  are provided through inner and outer side walls  33  and  34  of upper leg section  27 . As is also shown in FIG. 4, a pair of transversely aligned holes  35  is also provided through inner and outer wall surfaces  36  and  37  of lower, outer tubular leg section  31 . A pin  38  inserted through holes  35  in outer, lower leg section  31  and a selected pair of holes  32  through upper, inner leg section  25  secures the lower leg section to the upper leg section at a desired extension length. 
     As may be seen best by referring to FIG. 1, the lower end of each lower, outer telescopic leg section  31  is terminated at the lower transverse end thereof by a transversely disposed pivot cylinder or foot  39 . Foot  39  is preferably of tubular construction and preferably extends laterally outwards equal distances from inner and outer side walls  36  and  37  of lower leg sections  31 . Preferably, the opposite transverse ends of each foot  39  are each capped with a protective polymer end cup  40 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4 in addition to FIG. 1, cable reel lifter/transporter  20  may be seen to include a pair of bearing assemblies  41 , one each of which protrudes upwards from upper wall surface  42  of each handlebar  22 , in approximate vertical alignment with leg  25  protruding downwards from lower surface  26  of the handlebar. Bearing assembly  41  includes a housing  43  of generally uniform thickness and having parallel side walls generally aligned with inner and outer side walls  44  and  45  of handlebar  22 . Housing  43  is generally disk-shaped, modified by lower longitudinally outwardly protruding mounting lugs  46 , which are used to secure the bearing housing to handlebar  22  by means of bolts  47  passing through holes  48  in upper wall  49  of handlebar  22 , and through vertically aligned holes  50  through the mounting lugs, the bolts being capped by nuts  51 . 
     As may be seen best by referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, each bearing assembly  41  includes a central annular sleeve  52  rotatably supported within bearing housing  43  by ball bearings, rollers or other friction reducing elements, not shown. Sleeve  52  has through its thickness dimension a transversely disposed circular bore  53 . Bearing assemblies  41  on frame  21  are used to rotatably support a cable reel support shaft  54 , as will now be described. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  5 , cable reel lifter/transporter  20  may be seen in include a cable reel support shaft  54 . As may be seen best by referring to FIG. 2, cable reel support shaft is of elongated cylindrical shape and has a relatively long central portion  55  provided with external helically disposed threads  56 . Cable reel support shaft  54  also has at each longitudinal end thereof a relatively short, reduced diameter outer end portion  57 , joined to threaded central portion  55  by a transversely disposed annular shoulder flange  58 . Although the exact dimensions of cable reel support shaft  54  are not critical, in an example embodiment, the cable support shaft was fabricated from a steel cylinder having a diameter of about 1 inch, an overall length of about 3 feet, a central threaded portion having a length of 2 feet, 4 inches, and reduced diameter end portions  57  each having a length of about 4 inches and a diameter of ⅝ inch. 
     Cable reel lifter/transporter  20  includes components which function cooperatively with cable reel support shaft  54  to rotatably support a cable reel, as will now be described. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, cable reel lifter/transporter  20  may be seen to include a pair of tapered arbors  59  that slide coaxially over cable reel support shaft  54 . As shown in FIG. 6, arbors  59  are inserted and tightened into spindle holes C through the disk-shaped end flanges or plates B of a cable reel A, in a manner which will be described below in more detail. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each arbor  59  has a central hollow tubular portion  60 , and four triangularly-shaped fins  61  which protrude radially outwards from the outer wall surface of the central tubular portion. As may be seen best by referring to FIG. 3, fins  61  have a cruciform configuration, and extend longitudinally forward along the outer cylindrical wall surface  62  of central tubular portion  60  of the arbor, from the rear transverse end wall  63  thereof. 
     As may be seen best by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer longitudinal edge walls  64  of fins  61  taper radially inwardly and intersect outer cylindrical wall surface  62  of central tubular portion  60  of the arbor rearward from the front transverse edge wall  65  of the central tubular end portion. With this construction, arbor  59  has a rear longitudinal portion provided with cruciform fins having a frusto-pyramidal outer envelope protruding radially outwards from a central tubular portion  60 , and a front longitudinal portion  66  having a cylindrical shape. Front cylindrical end portion  66  of arbor  59  has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the smallest diameter reel spindle hole that apparatus  20  is intended to be used with. For larger diameter reel spindle holes, tapered outer longitudinal end walls  64  of fins  61  abut the spindle hole bore when tubular portion  66  of arbor  59  is inserted sufficiently far into the bore. The manner of attaching cable reel support shaft  54  and arbors  59  to a cable reel may be best understood by referring to FIG. 6 in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, cable reel lifter/transporter  20  includes a pair of cross bar or capstan nuts  67  which are threaded onto opposite ends of cable reel support shaft  54 , after an arbor  59  and washer  68  are slid onto one end of the reel support shaft. The opposite end of reel support shaft  54  is then inserted into spindle hole bore C of a cable reel A, protruding outwards from opposite end plate B of the cable reel, whereupon a washer  68  and capstan nut  67  are threaded onto that end of the reel support shaft. Opposing cross bar nuts  67  are then tightened down to secure arbors  59  within spindle holes C of cable reel A, thus securing said cable reel support shaft in a fixed longitudinal position within the spindle holes. After cable reel support shaft  54  has been thus secured to a cable reel  54 , frames  21  are attached to the cable reel shaft, in the following manner. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, the reduced diameter ends  57  of cable reel support shaft  45  are shown to be insertably received in sleeves  52  of bearing assemblies  41  of frame members  22 , which have been positioned adjacent opposite ends of the reel support shaft after the latter has been secured to a cable reel (not shown) in the manner described above. Sleeve  52  of bearing assembly  41  is slid onto cable reel support shaft  54  sufficiently far for the inner annular face of the sleeve to abut shoulder flange  58  of the shaft. A collar  69  is then slipped over cable reel shaft end  57 , and secured to the shaft by means of set screws  70  disposed radially through the collar. By this means, a pair of frame members  22  is secured to cable reel support shaft  54  on opposite sides of cable reel A, as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     The manner in which cable reel lifter/transporter  20  may be utilized to lift and transport a cable reel may be best understood by referring to FIGS. 6-9 in conjunction with the following description. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, cable reel lifter/transporter  20  has been attached to a cable reel A with rims E of cable reel end flanges B supported by a ground surface F. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, rear end portions  71  of handlebars  22  are grasped and pushed downwards. This action causes cable reel lifter/transporter apparatus  20  to pivot counterclockwise about the common transversely disposed longitudinal axes of pivot cylinder/feet  39 , raising cable reel rims E above ground surface F. Ends  71  of handlebars  22  are brought down into contact with ground support surface F, thus supporting cable reel A in an equilibrium position with rims E above the ground surface, as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     The manner of using cable reel lifter/transporter  20  to transport cable reels may be best understood by referring to FIGS. 6 and 9. As shown in FIG. 9, handlebars  22  of apparatus  20  are rotated in a clockwise sense from the position shown in FIG.  6 . With the handlebars thus positioned, feet  39  of apparatus  20  are elevated above ground surface F. Thus positioned, handlebars  22  may be grasped and pushed forward, or to the left in FIG. 9, thereby causing reel A to roll counterclockwise on rims E of the cable reel, in the manner of a wheel barrow. 
     FIGS. 10-19 illustrate a modification  80  of cable reel lifter/transporter  20  shown in FIGS. 1-9 and described above. 
     Referring first to FIGS. 10-12,  17  and  18 , it may be seen that modified cable reel lifter/transporter  80  includes a pair of L-shaped frames  81 , each of which has a long handlebar  82  and a short perpendicularly disposed leg  85  which are welded to adjacent vertices  106  and  107  of a. bearing housing  103  consisting of a short length of square cross section tubing. Cable reel lifter/transporter  80  includes a bearing journal assembly  101  comprising a collar  112  welded to an upper vertex  108  of bearing housing  103 , located above lower vertex  107  welded to leg  85 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, collar  112  has through its thickness dimension a transversely disposed circular bore  113 . As will be described in detail below, bore  113  of each collar  112  is provided to receive an opposite longitudinal end of a modified cable reel support shaft  114  which is also described below. 
     Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14 in addition to FIGS. 10 and 12, it may be seen that collar  112  includes a threaded, vertically disposed bore  132  which extends vertically downwardly from outer circumferential wall surface  133  of the collar through inner circumferential wall surface  134  of the collar, thus communicating with transverse bore  113  of the collar. Threaded bore  132  is provided to threadingly receive the threaded lower shaft  135  of a fastening rod  136  having at the upper end thereof a hand grip ball  137 . 
     FIG. 15 illustrates an arbor  119  which comprises part of modified cable reel lifter/transporter  80 . As shown in FIG. 15, arbor  119  has four longitudinally, tapered, triangularly-shaped fins  121  which are arrayed in a cruciform transverse cross sectional disposition, similar to fins  61  of the basic embodiment of arbor  59  shown in FIG.  3  and discussed above. However, central tubular portion  120  of arbor  119  includes a rear tubular extension  139  which protrudes longitudinally rearwardly beyond the rear transverse edge walls  140  of fins  121  rather than being coplanar with the edge walls as in arbor  59 . A washer  141  fits coaxially over rear tubular arbor extension  139 , and is preferably welded to outer transverse walls  140  of fins  121 . 
     Referring still to FIG. 15, it may be seen that arbor  119  includes a bronze bearing bushing  142  which fits coaxially and rotatably over tubular arbor extension  139 . Bearing bushing  142  is secured longitudinally in position on tubular arbor extension  139  by a sleeve  143  which fits coaxially over the bushing, the sleeve being secured to the outer transverse end wall  145  of the extension by a cup-shaped flange  144  secured to the extension by a C-clip. 
     Referring now to FIG. 16 in conjunction with FIG. 15, it may be seen that modified cable reel lifter/transporter  80  includes a first arbor  119  in which the central tubular portion  120  thereof has a smooth inner cylindrical wall surface  145  defining therewithin a smooth bore  146 . As shown in FIG. 16, cable reel lifter/transporter  80  also includes a second arbor  119 A substantially similar in construction and function to first arbor  119 . However, central tubular portion  120  of arbor  119 A has an inner cylindrical wall surface  147  provided with helical threads  148  which define a threaded bore  149  which is disposed longitudinally through the tubular portion of the arbor. 
     Referring still to FIG. 16, it may be seen that modified cable reel lifter/transporter  80  includes an elongated cable reel support shaft  114  having a relatively long longitudinal portion  115  thereof provided within external helically disposed threads  116 . Shaft  114  has at one longitudinal end thereof an enlarged diameter boss  117  having a transversely disposed inner annular shoulder  118 . Cable reel support shaft boss  117  has formed inward from the outer longitudinal surface  150  thereof a pair of diametrically opposed, transversely inwardly disposed and aligned, internally threaded bores  151 . Each bore  151  is provided to receive threaded lower shaft  135  of a separate one of a pair of fastening rods  136  of the type described above. 
     Modified cable reel lifter/transporter  80  is used to transport and/or lift a cable reel A in the same manner as the basic embodiment  20  described above. However, modified lifter/transporter  80  is attached to a cable reel A and modified L-shaped frames  81  in a somewhat different manner, as will now be described. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 10, threaded end  115  of shaft  114  of cable reel lifter/transporter  80  is first inserted inwardly through bore  113  of a collar  112  surmounting a first side frame  81 . The front tubular portion of internally threaded arbor  119 A is then inserted into the spindle hole C 1  of a circular cable reel end plate B 1 , located on a side of a cable reel A opposite to that of the first side frame. Next, a smooth-bore arbor  119  is inserted into the spindle hole C 2  of circular cable reel end plate B 2  located adjacent first side frame  81 . Threaded end  115  of shaft  114  is then inserted through smooth bore  146  of arbor  119 , through cable reel A, and threaded into threaded bore  149  of arbor  119 A. To facilitate threading end  114  of shaft  115  into threaded bore  149  of arbor  119 A, one or preferably a pair of fastening rods  136  are first threaded into transverse bores  151  in cable reel support shaft end boss  117 , hand grip balls  137  of the fastening rods then being grasped and orbited in the manner of the bars of a capstan. 
     As shown in FIG. 17, cable reel shaft  114  is threadingly tightened in threaded bore  149  of arbor  119 A sufficiently for shoulder  118  of shaft end boss  117  to bear against the outer annular wall surface  150  of collar  112  and force inner annular wall surface  151  of the collar against outer annular wall surface  152  of C-cup  144  of near arbor  119 , thereby tightening arbor  119  and arbor  119 A into cable reel end plate holes C 2  and C 1 , respectively. Threaded end  115  of shaft  114  protruding outwards from arbor  119  may then be inserted outwardly through bore  113  of collar  112  surmounting a second side frame  81  located on a longitudinal side of cable reel A opposite and adjacent to first side frame  81 . Fastening rods  136  may then be unscrewed from shaft boss  117 , and screwed into threaded bores  132  of opposite side frame collars  112 , sufficiently far to tighten against sleeve  143  of arbors  119  and  119 A, thereby holding shaft  114  rotatably within the collars. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19 are views showing modified cable reel lifter/transporter  80  in use, corresponding to FIGS. 6 and 8 showing the basic embodiment of the apparatus in use, and described above. 
     FIG. 20 illustrates a modification of the modified cable reel lifter/transporter  80  shown in FIGS. 10-18 and described above. 
     As shown in FIG. 20, modified cable reel lifter/transporter  160  includes a pair of L-shaped frames  161 , each of which has a long handlebar  162  and a short leg  165  which depends perpendicularly downwards from a front end of the handlebar. Handlebar  162  and leg  165  are made of lengths of steel tubing which are secured together by welds to a triangular-shaped gusset plate  166  Gusset plate  166  is received in a pair of slots  167  located in front and rear walls  168  and  169  of leg  165  and disposed vertically downwards from upper transverse end wall  170  of the leg. Gusset plate  166  is also received in a longitudinally disposed slot  171  located in the lower wall  172  of handlebar  162 . 
     Referring still to FIG. 20, it may be seen that modified cable reel lifter/transporter  160  includes a bearing journal assembly  201  comprising a collar  212 , a lower circumferential portion  213  of which protrudes a slight distance perpendicularly downwardly into a longitudinally disposed rectangular aperture  214  provided in the upper wall  215  of handlebar  162 , to which the collar is welded.