Abstract:
The subject method and apparatus for unspooling cable provides a spool cradle with a substantially rectangular shape formed by parallel spaced side walls and parallel spaced end walls. Roller assemblies are mounted on opposite end walls of the cradle and, preferably, one roller assembly is adjustable with respect to relative spacing between roller assemblies to accommodate spools of different sizes. A support frame assembly receives a plurality of spool cradles when the job requires multiple cables.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. The Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for unspooling cable and, in particular, to a wire spool cradle having a plurality of rollers for supporting a wire spool  
           [0003]    2. The Prior Art  
           [0004]    There has been a problem on job sites in dealing with pulling cable from spools to the desired locations. Typically a spool has been mounted on a rod clamped between adjacent studs. This is not always convenient. It also is difficult to move the rod to other locations and/or to change out the spool in order to access different cable.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,902,611 to Blackman et al discloses a carrier for wire reels, wherein the reel B is rotatably supported by a pair of contact rollers  1 , and centered by castors  10 . See FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 .  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,205 to Misrach discloses a cable reel support having a plurality of rollers for supporting the cable reel. See the Abstract and FIGS. 1 and 2.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,801 to Douglas discloses a support for cable drums having a set of rollers which are rotatably engaged with the drum&#39;s flanged ends. See the Abstract and FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 .  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,106 to Rider discloses a stand for holding and dispensing filamentary material from reels, wherein the reels are supported on rollers. See the Abstract and FIG. 1  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,928 to Lassiter discloses a portable rack for holding and dispensing wire stored on spools. The spools are supported by the rack through the use of contact rollers. See the Abstract and FIGS. 1 and 8.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,220 to Lassiter discloses a portable rack for supporting a number of wire spools to be dispensed. The spools  18 ,  20  are rotatably supported by pair of rollers  14 ,  80  which contact the end flanges of the respective spools. End rollers  46  serve to keep the spools centered. See the Abstract and FIGS. 1, 2, and  8 .  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The subject method and apparatus are specifically for dispensing and installation of “spooled” electrical/data/wire/cable. This includes, but is not limited to, Romex nonmetallic cable, Cat 5 Catv, and Thhn cables. The invention has a spool cradle with a substantially rectangular shape and at least four equally spaced feet. Pairs of roller assemblies are mounted at opposite ends of the cradle and at least one roller assembly is adjustable to accommodate spools of different sizes. A multiple spool embodiment supports a plurality of spool cradles in a support frame. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the spool holder of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 3;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the subject invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a front elevation of an alternate embodiment of the subject invention in a multi cable handling tower; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a vertical section through the multicable tower of FIG. 4, taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Referring now to the drawings, the subject invention has a substantially rectangular cradle  10  having spaced side walls  12 ,  14 , and inclined end walls  16 ,  18  and supported by integral legs  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26  depending from the respective corners thereof. Roller assemblies  28 ,  30  are mounted at each end of the cradle  10 . Each roller assembly, referring only the assembly  28  shown in section in FIG. 2, has, in this embodiment, an elongated bolt  32  which passes through holes  34 ,  36  in the side walls  12 ,  14  of the cradle  10  and through an intermediate support  38  and is secured in position by a nut  40 . The support area  38  is larger on one end of the cradle than on the other end for reasons that are explained below. A pair of rollers  42 ,  44  are mounted on the bolt  32  in the spaces  46 ,  48  between the side walls  12 ,  14  and the intermediate support  38 . Each roller is preferably molded from urethane with a cylindrical outer surface  50 ,  52  having a flange  54 ,  56  on the outer end thereof An axial bore  58 ,  60  receives permanently sealed bearings  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  at opposite ends thereof  
         [0019]    As an alternative to the elongated bolt  32  illustrated, it would, of course, be possible to use shorter bolts (not shown) which pass through the respective side walls and are received in the support area  38  in any known fashion. Further, it may be more economically feasible to make the cradle  10  in various sizes rather than make one size with adjustment holes  74 ,  76 , thereby eliminating the need for making on site changes.  
         [0020]    A spool  70  is placed in the subject cradle  10  and the cable  72  pulled therefrom with the spool freely rotating on the pairs of rollers  42 ,  44 .  
         [0021]    The subject invention can be adjusted for spool size by relocating the roller assembly  28  at one end of the cradle  10  by placing the respective bolt  32  in one of the adjustment holes  74 ,  76  provided in sidewalls  12 ,  14 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternate embodiment of the subject invention as it could be used to handle multiple cable spools. The stand  78  has a base  80  supporting spaced side arms  82 ,  84  which extend vertically from the base  80 . Parallel spaced transverse supports  86 ,  88 ,  90  span the space between the side arms  82 ,  84 . The cable cradles  10  are modified to accept suspension arms  92 ,  94  fixed to respective side walls  12 ,  14  of each cradle  10 . Each arm  92 ,  94  has an upper end  96 ,  98  profiled to engage a respective transverse support  86 ,  88 ,  90  to suspend the cable cradle  10  therefrom. The lower end  100 ,  102  of each suspension arm  92 ,  94  is profiled to be attached to the cable cradle by any known means (not shown), such as bolts, screws, interdigitaing engagement, etc. The subject cable cradles can optionally be further modified to remove the legs  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 . The stand  78  can further be provided with auxiliary support arms (not shown) to prevent the stand  78  from accidently being pulled over. This also could be accomplished by stabilizing arms (also not shown) which would extend from the base and be locked in position. Since the stand  78 , particularly if loaded with spools of cable, would be quite heavy, it could further be provided with wheels (not shown) and/or a carriage (also not shown) for easy transport of the assembly.  
         [0023]    This embodiment of the present invention would be used by simply suspending a plurality of modified cable cradles  10 , each holding a specific cable for the job site, from the stand  78 . The cables would then be pulled as needed without the craftsman having to be concerned about dragging great lengths of cable or the cables snagging.  
         [0024]    The subject invention relates specifically to the dispensing and installation of spooled electrical/data wire/cable. This would include, but is not limited to, Romex Nonmetallic Cable, Cat 5, Catv, Thhn. The subject invention is able to accommodate a wide variety of cable/wire spools.  
         [0025]    The unique cradle design of the subject invention keeps the spooled Cable/wire from hanging-up or tangling. This allows the user to pull cable without worrying about the cable hanging up or requiring the use of a helper to monitor the cable coming off the spool.  
         [0026]    The open design of the subject invention allows for simple, quick, and easy spool changes, either when the cable runs out or there is a requirement for a different type of cable.  
         [0027]    The use of pre-existing “skatewheels and bearings” for the roller assemblies  28 ,  30  allows frictionless dispensing of various size spooled Cable/wire. This makes installation easier and allows the user to utilize multiple spools with little to no resistance.  
         [0028]    The subject invention is totally portable, thereby eliminating the need to park a truck or van close to the job site or rig-up a pull station in one area.  
         [0029]    The use of pre-existing components allows for easier manufacturing, warranty replacement, reduces tooling costs, and reduces consumer cost which helps in the marketability of the tool.  
         [0030]    The present invention may be subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof The present embodiment should therefor be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive of the scope of the subject invention as defined by the appended claims.