Abstract:
A cable splicer chair is disclosed that is ergonomically sound in a wide variety of work environments. This seat includes a seat assembly having a backrest and adjustable legs that will allow the chair seat to be level regardless of the terrain upon which the chair is supported. The cable splicer chair includes convenient mechanisms for attaching tools that are used by the cable splicer and locating such tools optimally for an individual cable splicer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Serial No. 60/166,033 filed Nov. 17, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a chair for a cable splicer that is safe and more stable than the box type stools that are now used by cable splicers. This chair can also be used in fusing fiber optic cables. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Modem communications systems throughout the world depend upon systems of cables that are made up of multiple individual transmission lines. These cables must be compact to minimize their size to accommodate their extension through the tubes or pipes through which they extend. It is necessary to connect cables at numerous locations along the network of cables that make up the system of cables. When cable systems are changed, expended or repaired, the damaged cables must be spliced together which requires that each individual circuit in a cable be connected to another individual circuit. Such connections must provide a sound electrical or optical connection between the lines and must be insulated from other lines in the cable. Splicing of cables, especially multi-circuit communications cables, require that the splicer is always concentrating on his or her work and provide a precision splice one-hundred percent of the time. The work must be done at the location where the splice is needed which, at best, can be defined as unpredictable and varied. Large commercial buildings may have a special room or cable chamber into which all external cables ingress and egress and are spliced to the internal cables for the tenants of the building. However, cable splicing often must be accomplished within the narrow confines of a manhole. When there is an emergency as a result of a cable being accidentally severed or destroyed, the cable splicers are often required to work long hours, often in harsh circumstances. The conventional seat currently used by cable splicers is shown in FIG.  4 . This prior art seat is referred to in the industry as a “butt box” and is provided in both wood and plastic. It provides no back rest whatsoever and is not adjustable to accommodate uneven surfaces. As a result, a cable splicer using the prior art seat is often very uncomfortable, experiences considerable strain and can become fatigued after a relatively short work period. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a cable splicer seat that is ergonomically sound in the wide variety of work environments that cable splicing must be accomplished. 
     It is important that the work environment for a cable splicer be optimized to enable the splicer to concentrate on the work in comfort and safety without suffering physical or mental fatigue. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a single efficient, effective, economic, strong, stable, portable, collapsible and compact chair for a cable splicer. 
     Another objective of this invention is to provide a cable splicer chair that has adjustable legs that will allow the chair seat to be level regardless of the level of the terrain upon which the chair is supported. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a cable splicer chair in which the overall dimensions of the footprint of the chair can be adjusted to permit a less than optimum minimum footprint to accommodate working in confined quarters, such as manholes, when required and to be adjustable to an optimum sized footprint for use in larger quarters. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a cable splicer chair that includes convenient mechanisms for attaching tools that are used by the cable splicer and locating such tools optimally for an individual cable splicer. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are provided in a splicing chair, comprising: 
     a seat assembly including a backrest portion pivotally joined to a seat portion so as to be movable between an expanded seating position and a retracted storage position; 
     a laterally extending frame assembly including a plurality of support frame members connected together; 
     at least one of said frame members being extendable so as to take on a longer length; 
     legs extending from ends of the frame members, the legs configurable so as to take on an extended longer length and a retracted shorter length; and 
     a seat assembly mount releasably mounting the seat portion above the frame assembly in an operating position and below the frame assembly in a storage position. 
     Other objects are attained in a splicing chair, comprising: 
     a seat assembly including a backrest portion pivotally joined to a seat portion so as to be movable between an expanded seating position and a retracted storage position; 
     a frame assembly including a plurality of support frame members of selectable length connected together in a Y-shape; 
     legs of selectable length extending from ends of the frame members, 
     a pivotal mount selectably mounting the seat portion above the frame assembly in an operating position and below the frame assembly in a storage position; and 
     a pivotal mount pivotally mounting said seat assembly to said frame assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of applicant&#39;s splicing chair in its upright position; 
     FIG. 2 perspective view of applicant&#39;s splicing chair lying on its back to expose its underside; 
     FIGS. 3A,  3 B and  3 C are isolated front views of the front, back and spare long legs, respectively; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a prior art device; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the frame for applicant&#39;s splicing chair with the legs in place and the spare leg stored; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the seat mounting plate with the top surface exposed; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the parts tray that is aligned to be mounted in the mounting tubes on the lower surface of the mounting plate of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the seat mounting plate with the bottom surface exposed; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a splicing chair according to principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view thereof shown in an alternative configuration; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the base portion thereof; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the splicing chair disposed in a storage position; and 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the splicing chair made ready for transport. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the figures, and initially to FIGS. 1-8, a first embodiment of a splicing chair is indicated at  10 . Splicer chair  10  includes a frame  20  upon which is mounted a seat assembly  14 . The seat assembly  14  includes a horizontal seat portion  15  and a backrest portion  16 . The backrest portion  16  can be pivoted to the horizontal seat portion  15  about aligned pivots  17  which will allow the backrest to be stowed parallel to the horizontal seat portion  15  in a compact storage arrangement. 
     Also shown in FIG. 1 is a conventional presser tool  18  that is used by cable splicers in performing their work. When using the prior art seating device of FIG. 4, this tool is connected or clamped to the box. However, the presser tool cannot always be located optimally for the cable splicer. In applicant&#39;s splicer chair, the presser tool can be clamped to the longitudinal section  22  of the frame  20  at a location immediately in front of the cable splicer, and its position and attitude can be readily adjusted to accommodate virtually any position required by the individual cable splicer. 
     The frame  20 , as best seen in FIG. 5, includes an upper horizontal T-shaped portion that is constructed mainly from square tubes, which are preferably of metallic composition. A longitudinal section  22  is secured, for example, by welding to the center of a lateral section  24 . In the preferred embodiment, both the longitudinal and lateral sections are constructed of 1½ inch square metal tubing. Gussets  26  are provided at the connection of the longitudinal section  22  to the lateral section  24  for additional stiffness. An aperture  25  extends through two sides of the lateral section  24  as will be discussed herein. At each free end of the lateral section  24  there is secured a back leg receiving tube  28 . The back leg receiving tubes  28  are, in the preferred embodiment, constructed of 1½ inch square tubing and are flared outwardly such that their lower ends are spaced further apart than their upper ends. An aperture  29  extends through two sides of each of the back leg receiving tubes  28 . Gussets.  30  are provided at the connection of the lateral section  24  to the back leg receiving tubes  28  for additional stiffness. 
     A front leg receiving tube  32  includes a horizontal portion  34  and a downwardly extending portion  36  that are secured to each other, for example, by welding. An aperture  33  extends through two sides of the downwardly extending portion  36 . In the preferred embodiment, the downwardly extending portion  36  is perpendicular to the horizontal portion  34 . A gusset  38  is provided at the connection of the horizontal portion  34  to the downwardly extending portion  26  for additional stiffness. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the horizontal portion  34  and the downwardly extending portion  36  are constructed of 1½ inch square metal tubing. A smaller square tubing  40  (in the preferred embodiment a 1¼ square metallic tube) is inserted and secured in the open free end of the horizontal portion  34 . In the preferred embodiment, a ⅜ inch hole is drilled in three sides of the horizontal portion  34  and plug welds were applied to secure the telescoped tubes together. 
     The free end of the smaller square tubing  40  is slid into the open free end of the longitudinal section  22  to thus provide an adjustable telescoping portion for extending the width of the longitudinal section  22 . A plurality of horizontal apertures  42  are formed in the smaller square tubing  40  that can be aligned with horizontal apertures  44  formed in the longitudinal section  22 . A locking pin, see FIG. 2, is inserted through aligned horizontal apertures  42  and  44  to secure the horizontal section  22  to the front leg receiving tube  32  in a selected adjustable position. As a result of this arrangement, the longitudinal extent of frame  20  is adjustable from a minimum length to permit the splicing chair  10  to be used in crowded work areas, such as at the bottom of a manhole, to a maximum for working in large chambers. 
     The front leg  50 , shown in FIG. 3A, includes a length of tubing  52  which in the preferred embodiment, comprises 1¼ inch square metallic tubing coupled to a ground engaging pad  54 , either directly or through a swivel coupling. It should be noted that the pad  54  is arranged normal to the longitudinal axis of the length of tubing  52 . A plurality of apertures  56  extend through two sides of the tubing  52 . The front leg  50  is telescoped within the open free end of the downwardly extending portion  36  of the front leg receiving tube  32 . The aperture  33 , formed in downwardly extending portion  36 , is aligned with one of the apertures  56  formed in the tube  52  of the front leg  50  and a locking pin (not shown) is inserted through the aligned openings to secure the leg  50  in a selected position. 
     The back legs  60 , see FIG. 3B each include a length of tubing  62  (which, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a joinder of a 1¼ inch square metallic tubing) and a ground engaging pad  64 . It should be noted that the pad  64  is at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the length of tubing  62 . A plurality of apertures  66  extend through two sides of the tubing  62 . The back legs  50  are telescoped within the open free end of the back leg receiving tubes  28  to provide an adjustable height. The apertures  29 , formed in back leg receiving tubes  28 , are aligned with one of the apertures  66  formed in the tube  52  of the back leg  50 , and a locking pin (not shown) is inserted through the aligned openings to secure the legs  62  in a selected position It should be noted that the pads  64  are horizontal when secured in the selected position. 
     A spare long leg  70 , see FIG. 3C, includes a length of tubing  72  (which, in the preferred embodiment, is 1¼ inch square metal tubing) formed to a ground engaging pad  74 . This leg is similar to front leg  50 , only longer. Spare long leg  70  includes a ground engaging pad  74  and apertures  76 . It should be noted that the pad  74  is arranged normal to the longitudinal axis of the length of tubing  72 . A plurality of apertures  76  extend through the sides of the tubing  72 . The spare long leg  70  is normally stored by telescoping it within an open free end of the lateral section  24  to provide an adjustable height. When in this stored position, the aperture  25  formed in lateral section  24  is aligned with one of the apertures  76  formed in lateral tube  72  of the spare long leg  70  and a locking pin (not shown) is inserted through the aligned openings to secure the leg  70  in its storage position. If the floor in the area where a splicing job must be performed is extremely uneven and the seat assembly  14  cannot be leveled by the full height adjustment range of the front and back legs  50  and  60 , respectively, then the spare long leg  70  is removed from its storage location and telescoped into and secured to one of the back leg receiving tubes  28  or the front leg receiving tube  32  in an effort to level the seat assembly  14 . 
     A seat mounting plate  80  is shown detached from the frame  20  in FIGS. 6 and 7 and attached to the frame  20  in FIG.  2 . As best seen in FIG. 8, a pair of channel bar members  86  are secured, for example, by welding to the lower surface  84  of the seat mountings plate  80 . The channel bar members  86  are dimensioned and located with respect to each other to form a longitudinal groove  88  that is dimensioned to snugly receive the longitudinal section  22  of the frame  20 . An aligned aperture  87  is formed in the vertical flanges of the channel bar members  86  and is aligned with the horizontal aperture  44  formed in the longitudinal section  22  of the frame  20 . A locking pin, see FIG. 2, can be inserted in the aligned apertures  87  and  44  to thus releasably secure the seat mountings plate  80  to the frame  20 . When secured to the frame, the upper surface  82  of the seat mounting plate  80  faces up and the seat assembly  14  is secured thereto by, for example, bolts and nuts (not shown). 
     Referring again to FIG. 8, a pair of mounting tubes  88  are secured to both sides on the lower surface  84  of the seat mounting plate. The mounting tubes  88  are dimensioned and located such that they can slidably receive a pair of rods  92  that are secured to the lower surface of a parts tray  90 . The parts tray  90  can thus be located on either the right- or left-hand side of the seat assembly  14 . The parts tray is disclosed as an open ended rectangular member having a bottom  94  and four upstanding sides  96 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9-13, a second embodiment of a splicing chair according to principles of the present invention is generally indicated at  100 . Splicing chair  100  includes a seat assembly  102 , a frame assembly  104  and a parts tray  106 . Seat assembly  102  includes a backrest portion  110  and a seat portion  112 . The backrest and seat portion are pivotally connected at  114  to allow the backrest portion  110  to pivot in the direction of arrow  116 . Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these and other features of the splicing chair according to principles of the present invention provide heretofore unattainable ergonomic advantages. Those skilled in the art of construction and repair splicing who employ the splicing chair will enjoy enhanced productivity, especially when the working on prolonged job operations. 
     FIG. 11 shows frame assembly  104  in a perspective view. Frame assembly  104  includes a plurality of laterally extending frame members  120 - 124 , coupled together to provide an integral support frame. Preferably, legs  120 - 124  are connected together to form a Y-shape with a common central frame portion  126 . Preferably, the central frame portion is drilled to receive a bushing member  130  which is joined to the frame member by a conventional means, such as welding or brazing. Referring to FIG. 10, a mounting post  134  extends from seat portion  112 , passing through bushing  130 . A spring loaded button  136  prevents inadvertent withdrawal of post  134 . If desired, button  136  can be omitted or substituted with other conventional retaining arrangements, such as a cotter pin, hitch pin or bolt. 
     An extendable frame member  142  is telescopically inserted within frame member  120  so as to be movable between the extended position illustrated in FIG.  10  and the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 11, as well as a number of operating positions between the fully extended and fully retracted positions. Leg member  120  is provided with a series of holes  146  to receive a spring loaded button  148  carried on extendable frame member  142 . When button  148  is received in the desired hole  146 , the position of extendable frame member  142  and hence the width of frame assembly  104  is fixed as desired. In this manner, a presser tool or other device can be mounted at a desired distance from a user positioned in the seat assembly. Ergonomic advantages are attained since cutter/presser tools and other tools employed in the cable splicing art can be spaced an optimum distance from the seat portion. As will be seen below, further advantages are made possible by the swivel seat, which allows an operator to make fine adjustments as work in the cable splice progresses. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 10 and 11, a plurality of vertically extending leg mounts  154 , each having a plurality of holes  156 . As shown, leg mounts are secured at the free ends of frame members  122 ,  124  and a third leg mount is secured at the free end of adjustable frame member  142 . Preferably, leg mounts  154  comprise rectangular metallic tubing of the same general type used to construct frame assembly  104 . Referring to FIG. 10, leg mounts  154  telescopically receive legs  160  carrying spring-loaded buttons  162  received in one of the several holes  156  provided in the leg mounts. By manipulating the spring-loaded buttons  162 , each leg of the splicing chair can be independently adjusted, to adjust the height of each outside corner of frame member  104 . Thus, the splicing chair can be made level despite uneven terrain. 
     Ground-engaging feet  166  are provided at the bottom free end of each leg  160 . Feet  166  shown in the illustrated embodiment comprise a disk or pad mounted to the legs  160 . If desired, feet  166  can be substituted for any of a number of conventional foot arrangements, such as swivel feet, ball feet or casters, for example. Although the feet can be mounted with threaded fasteners to legs  160  to provide a further height adjustment, the height adjustment provided by holes  156  in leg mounts  154  has been found to provide an ample range of height adjustment. 
     Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, splicing chair  100  is shown in an inverted position for storage or transport. By depressing the spring-loaded button  136  of FIG. 10, seat assembly mounting post  134  is allowed to pass through mounting bushing  130 . The seat assembly  102  is then inverted in the manner indicated in FIG. 12, and mounting post  134  is re-inserted in bushing  130 , this time with the mounting post  134  traveling in an upward direction such that locking button  136  is made to appear atop frame assembly  104 , thereby locking the seat assembly  102  to the frame assembly  104 . As indicated in FIGS. 12 and 13, frame member  104  is proportioned so as to form a cavity large enough to receive the seating assembly  102 . Further, the leg mounts  154  and/or the legs  160  are dimensioned so as to be configured in the manner shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, slightly longer than the collapsed height of seating portion  102 . In this manner, splicing chair  100  shown in FIG. 12 is supported by feet  166  with the seating portion  102  suspended above the ground. 
     As shown in FIG. 12, the desired storage of seat portion  102  is provided with legs  160  fully recessed within leg mounts  154 . If shortening of the leg mounts is required, the desired storage of seat portion  102  can be attained by extending the legs to an amount required to suspend seat portion  102  above the plane defined by feet  166 . Thus, as will now be appreciated, frame assembly  104  continues a load-bearing function, allowing equipment to be stored on top of splicing chair, as may be required from time to time. 
     Referring to FIG. 13, splicing chair  100 , configured in the storage position, is tipped on end with frame members  122 ,  124  (and, optionally, leg mounts  154  attached thereto) supporting the weight of the splicing chair, in a stable configuration. As illustrated in FIG. 13, mounting leg  154  secured to the free end of extendable frame member  142  serves as a convenient handle, allowing the splicing chair to be carried from place o place, when not in use. 
     As indicated in FIGS. 12 and 13, it is preferred that seat assembly  102  be provided with a rotating or turntable mount  170  to allow a user to swivel in a horizontal plane in order to attain maximum ergonomic efficiency during prolonged hours of operation, such as those associated with splicing of multi-circuit communications cables. As is appreciated by those skilled in the cable splicing art, multi-circuit cables carrying a large number of circuits require splices which are staggered along the length of the cable. With the swivel mount  170 , a user can rotate the chair assembly in a horizontal plane to provide the alignment and ergonomic positioning necessary for fine hand movements without undue fatigue. As mentioned above, other ergonomic positioning features are provided by the independent height adjustment of the outside corners of frame assembly  104  and by selective lengthening of extendable frame member  142  which mounts the cable splicing or other tool employed by the user. 
     Additional advantages of the splicing chair according to principles of the present invention are also possible. For example, while a presser tool is often-times the focus of interest for cable splicing operations, work in certain environments may require additional equipment. For example, in an outdoor, sunny environment it may be desirable to suspend an umbrella over the work area. With the frame assembly of the present invention, additional points of attachment for auxiliary equipment is provided by frame members  122 ,  124 . An umbrella required for sunny locations or an inspection light required for dark locations can be conveniently mounted on frame members  122 ,  124 , without disturbing a tool mounted adjacent frame member  120 . As mentioned above with reference to FIG. 9, a parts tray  106  can be conveniently mounted to either side of seating assembly  102  by support brackets  180 . Although less preferred, the parts tray or other auxiliary devices can be mounted from leg mount  120  or the other leg mounts  122 ,  124 . 
     With simultaneous adjustment of all three legs  160 , the seat assembly  102  can be raised or lowered without changing the angle of the seating plane (e.g., the seat assembly can be oriented in a horizontal plane, despite raising and lowering). It will be observed that, despite numerous adjustments which can be made to the splicing chair, a stable three-point support is provided for the user&#39;s weight as well as the weight of equipment supported by the splicing chair. 
     As mentioned, the frame assembly, leg mounts and legs are preferably constructed of rectangular metallic tubing. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other types of cost effective materials, such as pipe or channels of varying cross-section, as well as plastic or other di-electric materials, can also be used. As a further option, portions of the frame assembly leg mounts and legs can be made of di-electric material so as to provide a “gap”, interrupting a path to ground. 
     The drawings and the foregoing descriptions are not intended to represent the only forms of the invention in regard to the details of its construction and manner of operation. Changes in form and in the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient; and although specific terms have been employed, they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being delineated by the following claims.