Patent Publication Number: US-2009224498-A1

Title: Wire and Cable Assembly Device and Associated Methods

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The technology described herein relates generally to a wire and cable assembly device and associated methods for holding multiple spools of wound material, such as electrical, telephone, fiber optic cables, or the like, for selective dispensing. More specifically, the technology described herein relates to a portable, foldable, and adaptable wire and cable assembly device to facilitate the installation of wire and cable products in a building, parking lot, or the like, wherein the device is transportable both manually and by a means of towing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the construction and wiring industries it is often necessary to selective dispense wires or cables, such as electrical, telephone, fire alarm, controls, fiber optic cables, or the like, as a bundle or group of differing wire types, or to have available a multiplicity of various wire types on a regular basis for use at an installation site. By way of example, such a device can assist significantly in the wire-pulling process inside a building or in a parking lot. 
     These and other problems exist. Previous attempts to solve these and other problems include the following. U.S. Pat. No. 2,705,114, issued to Worsham on Mar. 29, 1955, discloses a reel carrying rack. U.S. Pat. No. 3,072,357, issued to Sprague et al. on Jan. 8, 1963, discloses a multiple wire cable support. U.S. Pat. No. 3,134,555, issued to Baker on May 26, 1964, discloses a carrying and dispensing device for spool mounted wire. U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,526, issued to Payne et al. on Sep. 7, 1971, discloses a portable wire holder rack. U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,509, issued to Bailey on Dec. 17, 1974, discloses a mobile reel support unit. U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,230, issued to Zimmer on Dec. 24, 1974, discloses a wire dispensing cart. U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,422, issued to McDonald on Jul. 5, 1983, discloses a weight balanced spool carrier. U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,152, issued to Herriage on Jan. 14, 1986, discloses an apparatus for storing and transporting wire on reels and for dispensing wire from reels. U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,349, issued to Tussing on Jan. 4, 1994, discloses a cart for spools of wire. U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,012, issued to Fuller on May 3, 1994, discloses a folding wirecart convertible into float and handtruck. U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,232, issued to Lambert, Jr. on May 31, 1994, discloses an omnidirectional wire dispenser. U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,671, issued to Campbell on Apr. 23, 1996, discloses a cart for carrying spools of wire. U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,928, issued to Lassiter on Nov. 18, 1997, discloses a rack for wire dispensing spools. U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,646, issued to Campbell on Jun. 29, 1999, discloses a cart for carrying spools of wire and utility trays. U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,094, issued to Campbell on Aug. 7, 2001, discloses a multi-purpose wire dispensing cart. U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,504, issued to Elder on Jul. 23, 2002, discloses a wire spool cart. U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,776, issued to Elder on Feb. 25, 2003, discloses a wire dispensing device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,682, issued to Roderick on Mar. 2, 2004, discloses a mobile wire dispensing apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,753, issued to Anderson et al. on Apr. 12, 2005, discloses a reel support and dispensing cart. U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,316, issued to Heidelberger on Oct. 4, 2005, discloses a towable dispenser system. U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,459, issued to Anderson et al. on Dec. 19, 2006, discloses a reel support and dispensing cart. U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,876, issued to Robison on Jul. 17, 2007, discloses a method and apparatus for handling wire spools. U.S. Pat. No. D182,483, issued to Skinner on Apr. 8, 1959, discloses the ornamental design for a truck for the storage and transport of folding chairs and other articles. U.S. Pat. No. D269,388, issued to Smith et al. on Jun. 14, 1983, discloses the ornamental design for a wire handling cart. 
     The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the art of which the inventor is aware and are tendered with a view toward discharging the inventor&#39;s acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent to the patentability of the technology described herein. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that the foregoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, the inventor&#39;s claimed invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the technology described herein provides a wire and cable assembly device and associated methods for holding multiple spools of wound material, such as electrical, telephone, fiber optic cables, or the like, for selective dispensing. The technology described also provides a portable, foldable, and adaptable wire and cable assembly device to facilitate the installation of wire and cable products in a building, parking lot, or the like. The device is transportable both manually and by a means of towing. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the technology described herein provides a wire and cable assembly device for selectively dispensing a multiplicity of wire and cable products. The device includes a frame comprising a c-frame section being vertical and an h-frame section being horizontal and upon which the c-frame section perpendicularly is disposed and slidably adjustable, the c-frame section and the h-frame section being separable from one another for portability and storage and a plurality of spool support rods disposed throughout the c-frame section for holding spools of wire and cable products for dispensing. 
     The device also includes a plurality of support bridges disposed upon the h-frame section configured to receive the c-frame section through the plurality of support bridges and a plurality of hand knobs, one of the plurality of hand knobs being disposed upon each of the plurality of support bridges. The h-frame section is further comprised of a front, center, and back section, integrally formed, the plurality of support bridges being disposed upon the h-frame center section. The c-frame section is further comprised of a top, center, and bottom section and a gusset, integrally formed, and a plurality of holes disposed through the c-frame top and c-frame center sections and within which to receive the plurality support rods. The c-frame bottom section is disposed upon the h-frame center section and held in place by the plurality of support bridges and tightened by the plurality of hand knobs. 
     The device further includes a c-frame bottom section with a towing hitch end for connectivity of the wire and cable assembly device to a motor vehicle, or the like, and a towing hitch end pin hole configured to receive a hitch pin. The device further includes a plurality of wheels, the wheels being disposed on an underside of the h-frame section and secured with a plurality of retaining rings and configured to spin 360 degrees on a swiveled wheel frame and to be selectively locked in place with a brake to prevent overall movement of the wire and cable assembly device. 
     The device also includes a plurality of snap rings, one snap ring being disposed at each end of each of the plurality of spool support rods, the snap rings configured to hold in place a spool such that the spool freely rotates as a wire or cable product is dispensed but that the spool does not come off the support rod. The plurality of spool support rods is comprised of rods of varying diameters such that those rods of a smaller diameter are configured for storage within those rods of a larger diameter, and wherein the snap ring being disposed at each end of each of the plurality of spool support rods prevents a rod of smaller diameter stored within from falling out of the rod of larger diameter. 
     The device further includes a plurality of hex bolts utilized to secure the support rods of a larger diameter, wherein one of the plurality of hex bolts is tightened once one the support rods of a larger diameter is threaded through the c-frame section. The device also includes a plurality of support rod hand knobs disposed on the c-frame section and utilized to secure the support rods of a smaller diameter, wherein one of the plurality of support rod hand knobs is tightened once one of the support rods of a smaller diameter is threaded through the c-frame section, thus providing for ease and rapid removal of the support rods of a smaller diameter when not in use to store them within the support rods of a larger diameter. 
     In various embodiments, the plurality of spool support rods is zinc-coated to prevent rust and to provide durability. A width of the h-frame section and a width of each of the plurality of support rods is configured and limited such that the wire and cable assembly device freely passes through doorways of standard industry size. The c-frame section and the h-frame section are comprised of square tubing members that are integrally formed. The plurality of spool support rods is comprised of hollow cylindrical metal tubes configured to hold a plurality of spools containing various wire and cable products, each spool placed securely on one of the plurality of support rods. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the technology described herein provides a method for assembling a wire and cable assembly device for selectively dispensing a multiplicity of wire and cable products. The method includes providing an h-frame section comprising a front, center, and back section, integrally formed, a plurality of support bridges disposed upon the h-frame center section configured to receive the c-frame section through the plurality of support bridges, and a plurality of hand knobs, one of the plurality of hand knobs being disposed upon each of the plurality of support bridges, providing a c-frame section comprising a top, center, and bottom section and a gusset, integrally formed, and comprising a plurality of holes, providing a plurality of wheels, each of the plurality of wheels configured to spin 360 degrees and to be selectively locked in place to prevent movement of the wire and cable assembly device, providing a plurality of spool support rods disposed throughout the holes of the c-frame section for holding spools of wire and cable products for dispensing, interconnecting and retaining the plurality of wheels to the underside of the h-frame section, interconnecting the c-frame section to the h-frame section, threading the c-frame bottom section through the plurality of support bridges and tightening the plurality of hand knobs, securing the c-frame section to the h-frame section, and threading the plurality of spool support rods through a plurality of holes on the c-frame section. 
     The method also includes providing a c-frame bottom section further comprising a towing hitch end for connectivity of the wire and cable assembly device to a motor vehicle, or the like and a towing hitch end pin hole configured to receive a hitch pin, and interconnecting the towing hitch end to the motor vehicle. 
     The method also includes providing a plurality of snap rings configured to hold in place a spool such that the spool freely rotates as a wire or cable product is dispensed but that the spool does not come off the support rod and placing one snap ring at each end of each of the plurality of spool support rods to secure a spool. The plurality of spool support rods is comprised of rods of varying diameters such that those rods of a smaller diameter are configured for storage within those rods of a larger diameter, and wherein the snap ring being disposed at each end of each of the plurality of spool support rods prevents a rod of smaller diameter stored within from falling out of the rod of larger diameter. 
     The method also includes providing a plurality of hex bolts and securing the support rods of a larger diameter with the plurality of hex bolts, wherein one of the plurality of hex bolts is tightened once one the support rods of a larger diameter is threaded through the c-frame section. The method also includes providing a plurality of support rod hand knobs and securing the support rods of a smaller diameter with the plurality of support rod hand knobs, wherein one of the plurality of support rod hand knobs is tightened once one of the support rods of a smaller diameter is threaded through the c-frame section, thus providing for ease and rapid removal of the support rods of a smaller diameter when not in use to store them within the support rods of a larger diameter. 
     The method further includes removing any spools located on the plurality of spool support rods, removing the plurality of spool support rods from the c-frame section, disconnecting the c-frame section from the h-frame section, and storing and/or transporting the wire and cable assembly device 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the technology in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the technology that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the technology 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 technology described herein 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 description 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. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technology described herein. 
     Further objects and advantages of the technology described herein will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The technology described herein is illustrated with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like device components and/or method steps, respectively, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a back perspective view of the wire and cable assembly device according to an embodiment of the technology, illustrating, in particular, the placement of a spool on one of the spool supports; 
         FIG. 2  is the back perspective view of the wire and cable assembly device depicted in  FIG. 1 , illustrated without a spool; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the wire and cable assembly device depicted in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are expanded rear perspective views of the wire and cable assembly device depicted in  FIG. 2 , illustrating, in particular, the h-frame assembly, the c-frame assembly, and their associated interconnectedness and placement of spool supports in the c-frame, according to an embodiment of the technology; and 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are expanded front perspective views of the wire and cable assembly device depicted in  FIG. 2 , illustrating, in particular, the h-frame assembly, the c-frame assembly, and their associated interconnectedness and placement of spool supports in the c-frame, according to an embodiment of the technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Before describing the disclosed embodiments of this technology in detail, it is to be understood that the technology is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown here since the technology described is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the technology described herein provides a wire and cable assembly device and associated methods for holding multiple spools of wound material, such as electrical, telephone, fiber optic cables, or the like, for selective dispensing. The technology described also provides a portable, foldable, and adaptable wire and cable assembly device to facilitate the installation of wire and cable products in a building, parking lot, or the like. The device is transportable both manually and by a means of towing. Additionally, the device is capable of being completely disassembled to be placed in a gang box or the trunk of a vehicle for storage or transportation. The device is capable of supporting spools of wire or cable product such as, for example, small spools of 500 feet (cable length) to 1000 feet or large spools of up to 2500 feet. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-7 , a wire and cable assembly device  100  for selectively dispensing a wire or cable product is shown. The wire and cable assembly device  100  includes an h-frame section  110  and a c-frame section  120 . The h-frame section  110  includes front  112 , center  114 , and back  116  sections. The front  112  and back  116  sections are parallel one to another and are both perpendicular to the center  114  of the h-frame section  110 . By way of example, the various sections  112 ,  114 ,  116  of the h-frame section  110  can be manufactured with 2″×2″ square tubing with a ⅛ inch wall thickness. However, alternative materials can be utilized. The front  112 , center  114 , and back  116  sections are integrally formed. By way of example, these components can be welded one to another. 
     The h-frame section  110  also includes multiple holes  466  for wheels  160  located within the front  112  and back  116  sections. These holes  466  can be one inch in diameter to accommodate a standard caster. By way of example, the h-frame section  110  can be equipped with four wheels  160 , two at the front section  112  and two at the back section  116 , thus providing for one wheel  160  on each corner wire and cable assembly device  100 . This provides easy transportability and moveability of the device through buildings, parking lots, and the like. 
     The assembly of each wheel  160  also includes a swiveled frame  462  and a retaining ring cap  464  to be attached to the upper part of the swiveled frame as each wheel is assembled into the h-frame section  110  through each hole  466 . Alternative wheel assemblies can be utilized with the wire and cable assembly device  100  so long as the wheel assemblies are quickly and easily attachable and removable from the h-frame section  120 . The wheels  160  are configured to spin 360 degrees on the swiveled frames  462  and to be selectively locked in place with a brake by a user to prevent overall movement of the wire and cable assembly device  100 . Brakes can be utilized on all four wheels  160  or, for example, only on the two back wheels. 
     The h-frame section  110  also includes two support bridges  150  disposed upon the h-frame center section  114 . Each support bridge  150  is equipped with a hand knob  152  threaded through a hole in each top of each support bridge  150 . As another component of the wire and cable assembly device  100  is placed through the support bridges  150 , the hand knobs  152  are turned and thus tightened to hold that component in place. The hand knobs  152  are easily turned by a user to loosen or tighten the component contained in the support bridges  150 . The component contained in the two support bridges  150  is a portion of the c-frame section  120 . 
     The c-frame section  120  includes top  122 , center  124 , and bottom  126  sections. The top  122 , center  124 , and bottom  126  sections are integrally formed in the general form of a c-shape. By way of example, these components can be welded one to another. The c-frame section  120  also includes a gusset  140  to provide angled support between the center  124  and bottom  126  sections. By way of example, the center  124  can be disposed in the c-frame section  120  at an 80-degree angle relative to the bottom  126  section. The gusset  140  can be integrally formed with the c-frame section  120 . Similarly, a gusset  140  can be utilized at the angle between the top  122  and center  124  sections to provide additional support. By way of example, the various sections  122 ,  124 ,  126  of the c-frame section  120  can be manufactured with 2″×2″ square tubing with a ⅛ inch wall thickness. However, alternative materials and dimensions can be utilized. The gusset  140  is a generally triangular-shaped piece provided for support to the c-frame section  120 . 
     The c-frame bottom  126  section is disposed directly upon the h-frame center  114  section and held in place by the plurality of support bridges  150  and tightened by the plurality of hand knobs  152 . By way of example, two support bridges  150  disposed upon the h-frame center section  114 , can be manufactured with square tubing slightly larger in dimension than the c-frame bottom  126  section to provide space, slidability, and adjustability to the c-frame bottom  126  section as it slides within the two support bridges  150 . 
     The c-frame section  120  also includes a plurality of holes  428  disposed through the c-frame top  122  and c-frame center  124  sections. The plurality of holes  428  are cut all the way through the c-frame top  122  and c-frame center  124  sections and are configured to receive a plurality of support rods  170 ,  172  of varying diameters. For example, the holes  428  can be approximately ¾ inches in diameter to accommodate a support rod of smaller diameter  172  and can be approximately 1¼ inches in diameter to accommodate a support rod of larger diameter  170 . The holes  428  are designed to allow the support rods  170 ,  172  to fit snuggly and securely with the c-frame section  120 . The support rods  170 ,  172  can be zinc-coated to prevent rust and provide greater durability than non-coated rods. 
     The c-frame top  122  and center  124  sections also include a multiplicity of threaded inserts, each insert being adjacent to one of the holes  428 . The threaded inserts are configured to accommodate either a support rod hex nut  478  or a support rod hand knob  176 . A support rod hex nut  478  is generally utilized to secure a support rod of larger diameter  170 . The hex nut  478  can be loosened and tightened with a hex tool to add or remove any of the support rods of larger diameter  170  from the c-frame section  120 . A support rod hand knob  176  is generally utilized to secure a support rod of smaller diameter  172 . 
     The plurality of support rods  170 ,  172  each include a snap ring  174  disposed at each end of each support rod  170 ,  172 . The support rods  170 ,  172  have a pin hole located at each end to receive a pin of the snap ring  174 . By way of example, the hole is cut through the support rod  170 ,  172  at a diameter of approximately 3/16 inches and located approximately in ½ inch from the end of the support rod  170 ,  172 . Once a pin of the snap ring  174  has been placed, the ring portion of the snap ring  174  is flipped over to secure the snap ring in place, and thus hold a spool  180  in place such that the spool  180  freely rotates as a wire or cable product is dispensed but that the spool  180  does not come off the support rod  170 ,  172 . 
     The support rod of smaller diameter  172  is designed such that it will fit into the inside of a support rod of larger diameter  170 . In operation, a user can loosen support rod hand knob  176  and remove the support rod of smaller diameter  172  and place it into the support rod of larger diameter  170 . Once a support rod of smaller diameter  172  is placed into a support rod of larger diameter  170 , a snap ring  174  secures the support rod of smaller diameter  172  in place. This functionality provides for added compactability in storage and in transportation. 
     The c-frame section  120  also includes a towing hitch end  130  and a towing hitch end pin hole  132 . Use of the towing hitch end  130  provides the wire and cable assembly device  100  with a means for being towed. By way of example, the wire and cable assembly device  100  can be hitched to a motorized vehicle in order to pull a wire or cable product throughout a parking lot installation. The towing hitch end pin hole  132  is, for example, cut at a 9/16 inch diameter to accommodate a standard hitch size. The towing hitch end  130  of the wire and cable assembly device  100  is designed for motorized vehicles that can accommodate a pull load of 500 pounds or greater. 
     In operation the wire and cable assembly device  100  can be utilized essentially as a kit, wherein a user can assemble and disassemble the device  100  at will for both portability and storage. Assembly of the wire and cable assembly device  100  includes interconnecting and retaining the plurality of wheels  160  to the underside of the h-frame section  110 . Assembly of the wire and cable assembly device  100  also includes interconnecting the c-frame section  120  to the h-frame section  110 , threading the c-frame bottom  126  section through the plurality of support bridges  150  and tightening the plurality of bridge support hand knobs  152 , securing the c-frame section  120  to the h-frame section  110 . Assembly of the wire and cable assembly device  100  further includes threading the plurality of spool support rods  170 ,  172  through a plurality of holes  428  on the c-frame section  120 , tightening the larger diameter support rods  170  with a hex nut  478  for each support rod  170 , and tightening the smaller diameter support rods  172  with a support rod hand knob  176 . 
     Assembly of the wire and cable assembly device  100  can also include securing the support rods of a larger diameter  170  with the plurality of hex bolts  478 , wherein one of the plurality of hex bolts  478  is tightened once one the support rods of a larger diameter  170  is threaded through the c-frame section  120 . Assembly of the wire and cable assembly device  100  can also include securing the support rods of a smaller diameter  172  with the plurality of support rod hand knobs  176 , wherein one of the plurality of support rod hand knobs  176  is tightened once one of the support rods of a smaller diameter  172  is threaded through the c-frame section  120 , thus providing for ease and rapid removal of the support rods of a smaller diameter  172  when not in use to store them within the support rods of a larger diameter  170 . 
     Assembly of the wire and cable assembly device  100  can also include providing a plurality of snap rings  174  configured to hold in place a spool  180  such that the spool  180  freely rotates as a wire or cable product is dispensed but that the spool  180  does not come off the support rod  170 ,  172  and placing one snap ring  174  at each end of each of the plurality of spool support rods  170 ,  172  to secure a spool  180 . 
     Disassembly of the wire and cable assembly device  100  is generally achieved by reversing the above process. First, any spools  180  are removed. For storage and transportation purposes, the support rod of smaller diameter  172  is designed such that it will fit into the inside of a support rod of larger diameter  170 . In operation, a user can loosen support rod hand knob  176  and remove the support rod of smaller diameter  172  and place it into the support rod of larger diameter  170 . Once a support rod of smaller diameter  172  is placed into a support rod of larger diameter  170 , a snap ring  174  secures the support rod of smaller diameter  172  in place. 
     In operation a width of the h-frame section  110  and a width of each of the plurality of support rods  170 ,  172  is configured and limited such that the wire and cable assembly device  100  freely passes through doorways of standard industry size. 
     Although this technology has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples can perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.