Patent Publication Number: US-6655627-B2

Title: Modular spooler

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a non-provisional patent application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/202,627, entitled “SPOOL &#39;N TOOL”, filed May 9, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the invention 
     The present invention relates to stock dispensing reels or spools, and, more particularly, to devices for carrying such reels or spools. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Elongate, flexible members, such as a flexible gas line, tubing for at least one of plumbing and heating, electric cable, wiring, and communication cable, are commonly stored upon reels or spools. Various devices are now available for carrying such reels or spools and dispensing the stock therefrom. However, such devices can be difficult to transport and set up. Another problem with such devices tends to be an inability to achieve an even feed of material in any desired circumferential location with respect to the spool or reel. A yet further shortfall is that such devices are not designed to accommodate a variety of coil/spool sizes. 
     What is needed in the art is spool dispensing device which is easily transported and set up; promotes even feed of material in any desired circumferential direction with respect to the device; and readily accommodates a variety of coil sizes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a spool assembly which is both readily assembled and disassembled, is able to accommodate various inner coil diameters of coils of an elongate, flexible member and can accommodate a variety of coil sizes. 
     The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a spooler used for storing and distributing an elongate, flexible member. The spooler has a base and a rotary support rotatably and detachably mounted to the base. A plurality of load-bearing arms are detachably connected to and extend radially from the rotary support. At least one spool guide is included, each spool guide being slidably located and selectively mounted along one of the load-bearing arms. Each spool guide extends substantially vertically from one of the load-bearing arms. 
     The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a spooler for storing and distributing an elongate, flexible member. The spooler includes a base and a first rotary support rotatably and detachably mounted relative to the base. A plurality of first load-bearing arms is provided, each first load-bearing arm being detachably connected to and extending radially from the first rotary support. A central extension is detachably mounted to and extends substantially vertically upward from the first rotary support. A second rotary support is rotatably and detachably mounted on the central extension. A plurality of second load-bearing arms are provided, each second load-bearing arm being detachably connected to and extending radially from the second rotary support. Each second load-bearing arm corresponds to a first load-bearing arm, each second load-bearing arm and the corresponding first load-bearing arm forming an arm pair. At least one spool guide is provided, each spool guide extending between an arm pair. Each spool guide is slidably located and selectively mounted along each of the second load-bearing arm and the corresponding first load-bearing arm of the arm pair. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that such a spool assembly is both easily and quickly assembled and disassembled. 
     Another advantage is that the spool assembly is modular in construction, the constituent parts capable of all fitting in a duffle bag, making transport easy. 
     Yet another advantage is that multiple spool assemblies can be stacked upon one another, allowing multiple pipes, tubing, cables, wires, etc., to be unspooled simultaneously. 
     A further advantage is an eyelet or feed-through guide can be used which guides the flow of the elongate, flexible member off of the spool, preventing uncoiling thereof from off the top of the spool (which can be especially helpful in tight locations). 
     A yet another advantage is that the center handle permits easy transport of the spool assembly around the job site, can be used to adjust resistance for unspooling and acts as a site upon which another spooler can be stacked. 
     An even another advantage is that the radial position of each of the spool guides can be adjusted to accommodate various inner coil diameters of coils of the elongate, flexible member. 
     An even further advantage is a three-legged base permits stable positioning even on uneven surfaces. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular spooler of one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of a modular spooler in a stacked configuration of one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of a load-bearing arm of the present embodiment with a spool guide attached thereto; 
     FIG. 4 is a cut-away view including the attachment area between a load-bearing arm and the annular support of the present embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a spooler of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line  6 — 6  of the spooler shown in FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the spooler shown in FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate at least one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a spooler  10  which generally includes a base  12 , rotary support  14 , load-bearing arms  16  and spool guides  18 . Spooler  10  further includes a feeder mechanism  20 , a handle  22  and an annular support  24 . 
     Spooler  10  is used to store and distribute an elongate, flexible member  26 , shown in phantom in FIG.  1  and in cross-section in FIG.  2 . Elongate, flexible member  26  is stored in the form of a coil  28  on spooler  10 . Coil  28  has two free coil ends  30  and an inner coil diameter  32  associated therewith. Elongate, flexible member  26  is, for example, a flexible gas line, tubing for plumbing and/or heating, electric cable, wiring, or communication cable. 
     Base  12  includes, in the present embodiment, a base hub  34  and three legs  36  detachably connected thereto, as by screw-threading (as shown in this embodiment) or by a simple male-female slide connection (shown in another embodiment). Base hub  34  further has a vertically extending shaft  38  associated therewith. 
     Rotary support  14  is detachably and rotatably mounted on shaft  38 . Rotary support  14  is provided with a plurality of mounting locations  40 , each for receiving one load-bearing arm  16 . In this embodiment, mounting location  40  is a threaded mount hole. 
     Each load-bearing arm  16  is releasably attached to a mounting location  40  of rotary support  14 . Specifically, each load-bearing arm  16 , in this embodiment, has a threaded arm end  42  for connection to mounting location  40 . Opposite threaded arm end  42  of each load-bearing arm  16  is a receiver arm end  44 . 
     In the present embodiment, each load-bearing arm  16  has one spool guide  18  radially positioned therealong. The positions of spool guides  18  are collectively chosen so as to match inner coil diameter  32  of coil  28  in order laterally hold coil  28  in place on load-bearing arms  16 . At minimum, at least one load-bearing arm  16  has an associated spool guide  18  to help position coil  28 . Preferably, at least two such combinations exist with the pair of spool guides  18  being substantially diametrically opposed to one another relative to rotary support  14  in order to help maintain inner coil diameter  32 . Most preferably, each load-bearing arm  16  has an associated spool guide  18 , thereby offering significant lateral stability for coil  28 . 
     In this embodiment, each spool guide  18  has a guide member  46  (best seen in FIGS.  2  and  3 ), a guide holder  48  and a guide bolt  50 . Guide member  46  is slidably and removably mounted onto guide post  52  (shown in phantom in FIG. 3) of guide holder  48 . Guide bolt  50  is selectively actuatable for stabilizing the position of guide holder  48  relative to respective load-bearing arm  16 . 
     Annular support  24  is fed through and thereby held by each of receiver arm ends  44  (best seen in FIGS.  1  and  4 ). Further, annular support  24  is made of a piece of tubing  54  that has a first tubing end  56  and a second tubing end  58 . First tubing end  56  and a second tubing end  58  are slidably and releasably connected to one another via tubing end connector  60  (shown part in phantom in FIG.  4 ). Tubing  54  is made of one of plastic, metal, and a composite thereof, and preferably is made of a composite of aluminum and plastic. Tubing  54 , when made of the preferred composite, can be bent into shapes in addition to having good corrosion resistance and mechanical durability. Annular support  24  helps to keep free coil ends  30  from dragging on the ground. Also, annular support  24  helps minimize the potential radial outward movement and lateral movement of each receiver arm end  44 , thereby helping to stabilize the positioning of load-bearing arms  16 . 
     Feeder mechanism  20  is freely rotatably and detachably mounted on first feeder end  62  thereof, as seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, making feeder mechanism  20  freely mounted relative to both base  12  and rotary support  14 . Feeder mechanism  20  has a second feeder end  64  with second feeder end  64  carrying a feed-through guide  66 . Feed-through guide  66  is mounted proximate second feeder end  64  and extends substantially vertically therefrom. Feed-through guide  66 , as shown in FIG. 1 in a phantom view of repositioned feeder mechanism  20  and also in FIG. 2, is configured for receiving free coil end  30  (shown in phantom in FIGS. 1 and 2) therethrough and for thereby aiding in the guiding and positioning of elongate, flexible member  26 . 
     Handle  22  is detachably mounted upon rotary support  14 , such as by screw-threading, as shown. Handle  22  is used in transporting spooler  10  around a job site and to help control the resistance for unspooling. The resistance can be adjusted by turning handle  22  clockwise or counterclockwise, as desired. 
     A second spooler  68  can be mounted atop spooler  10  via handle  22 . Specifically, a spool connector  70  is detachably connected (e.g., by screw threading) to both handle  22  and second base hub  72 . Second base hub  72  can be made to be interchangeable with base hub  34  by being configured for having legs attached thereto or may not be configured as such. In any event, beyond the issue of leg attachment, base hub  34  and second base hub  72  are structured and function in a similar manner. 
     Second spooler  68  also includes a second rotary support  74 , a plurality of second load-bearing arms  76 , a plurality of second spool guides  78 , second feeder mechanism  80 , second annular support  82  and second handle  84 . Other than a possible difference in base hub  34  and second base hub  72 , spooler  10  and second spooler  68  are structured and function in a similar manner, with like parts used in each being interchangeable therebetween. It is contemplated that further spoolers could also be attached upon second spooler  68 . 
     In an alternate embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-7, spooler  90  includes a base  92 , a first rotary support  94 , a plurality of first load-bearing arms  96 , a central extension  98 , a second rotary support  100 , a plurality of second load-bearing arms  102  and a plurality of annular supports  106 . Except for the differences set forth in the discussion of this embodiment, spooler  90  and the parts thereof are otherwise structurally and functionally similar to spooler  10  and second spooler  68 . 
     A primary structural difference of this alternate embodiment is the provision of second rotary support  100  and second load-bearing arms  102  and the connection thereof to the remainder of spooler  90 . Specifically, second rotary support is slidably mounted upon central extension  98 , which also acts as a handle. Central extension  98 , in turn, is slidably mounted upon shaft  106  (best seen in exploded view FIG.  7 ), shaft  10  extending through first rotary support  94  and into base  92 . Additionally, spool guides  104  each are rigid and have a first guide end  103  and a second guide end  105 . First guide end  103  and a second guide end  105  are selectively radially mounted along a corresponding first load-bearing arm  96  and second load-bearing arm  102 , respectively. Due to such construction, spooler  90  is able to hold coil  108  in position extremely well, while still being easily assembled and disassembled. 
     Another structural difference associated with the alternate embodiment is the reliance upon male connector extensions  110  (a portion of which are labeled) to ease the slide connection of parts, some of which are provided with a friction button  112  to help aid the retention thereof In other locations, a connector pin  114  may be used in addition to or instead of friction button  112  to retain a particular male connector extension  110  within a given male/female connection. 
     A further feature of the alternate embodiment is the provision of a tension spring  116 , with corresponding washers  118  and tightening nut  120 , on shaft  106 . By turning of central extension  98  using the handle feature thereof, tightening nut  120  is either tightened upon or loosened away from tension spring  116 . Consequently, tension spring  116  can be used to preload first rotary support  94  against base  92 , thereby reducing unwanted feed-out from coil  108  after stopping of pulling thereon. 
     A yet additional feature of the alternate embodiment is that one base leg  122 , at least, has a connector plate  124  attached thereto (e.g., metallurgically and/or mechanically). Connector plate  124  is configured for receiving a stake, nail, screw or other fastener therethrough in order to better hold base  92  to the floor or ground (neither shown). 
     Upon providing of spooler  10 , coil  28  of elongate, flexible member  26  is placed around each spool guide  18  on spooler  10 . Coil  28  is supported on load-bearing arms  16 , and coil inner diameter  32  is supported by each spool guide  18 . Free coil end  30  is pulled upon to thereby feed out a length of elongate, flexible member  26 . 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.