Patent Publication Number: US-9409744-B2

Title: Apparatus for lifting and supporting an item for holding windable material

Description:
This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 13/986,407, filed Apr. 29, 2013 and entitled APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND SUPPORTING AN ITEM FOR HOLDING WINDABLE MATERIAL, which application, in turn, claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/642,220, filed May 3, 2012. The disclosure of these referenced applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to material handling apparatus and relates, more particularly, to apparatus used to lift and support an item, such as a spool about which material is wound or can be wound, as the item is rotated for the purpose of either unwinding the material from the item or winding the material about the item. 
     At a construction job site, an item, such as a relatively large spool of coiled material, such as wire or cable, is commonly desired to be supported above a floor to facilitate the unwinding of material from the spool or the winding of material about the spool. For these purposes, there exists a class of apparatus including a pair of stands which are positionable on opposite sides of the spool and are capable of lifting the opposite sides of the spool from the floor to a desired elevated position. Heretofore, however, the stands of the prior art apparatus have not possessed the capacity to support a spool having a diameter within a relatively large range of diameters thereby requiring that a number of different-sized stands be on hand if spools of different diameter are to be lifted and supported. Furthermore and inasmuch as a spool is more easily unwound if its axis of rotation is oriented substantially horizontally, stands of the prior art are commonly limited in their capacity to support a spool for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis if the underlying ground or floor is not substantially level. Still further, such prior art stands are commonly susceptible to tipping over during use. 
     It would be desirable to provide an apparatus including a pair of stands positionable on opposite sides of an item, such as a spool for holding windable material, for lifting the item from the floor to an elevated condition at which the item can be rotated during either a material unwinding process or a material winding process. Moreover, it would also be desirable to provide the pair of stands with a capability for lifting and supporting a spool within a relatively broad range of spool sizes (i.e. diameters) and which strongly resists a tendency to tip over during use. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus of the aforedescribed class for lifting and supporting an item, such as a spool for holding windable material, to facilitate the rotation of the item for the purpose of unwinding material from the item or winding material about the item. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which is well-suited for supporting an item for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, even if the underlying ground or floor is not level. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide such apparatus which can be used to lift and support a spool having a diameter within a relatively large range of spool diameters. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which is uncomplicated in structure, yet effective in operation, is relatively lightweight and easy to use, resists tipping over during use and has a relatively high load-carrying capacity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention resides in an apparatus for lifting and supporting an item from an underlying floor wherein the item includes a centrally-disposed barrel having two opposite ends and about which a windable material is either wound or can be wound. 
     The apparatus includes a pair of supports wherein each support includes a floor-engaging base and an elongated telescoping post assembly. The telescoping post assembly has two opposite ends, an inner tube section which provides one end of the two opposite ends of the post assembly and an outer tube section which provides the other of the two opposite ends of the post assembly. One of the two opposite ends of the post assembly is connectable to the floor-engaging base for support of the post assembly in a substantially vertical orientation with respect thereto, and the inner and outer tube sections are movable with respect to one another to alter the spaced distance between the two opposite ends of the telescoping post assembly. Each stand also includes a lift assembly which is connected to the other of the opposite tube sections and which is cooperable with a corresponding end of the barrel of the item so that when the stand supports the spool, at least a portion of the weight of the item rests upon the lift assembly. In addition, each stand includes means for moving the inner and outer tube sections of the telescoping post assembly relative to one another so that the two opposite ends of the post assembly are moved further apart and so that by positioning each of the supports adjacent a corresponding end of the barrel of the item, arranging the lift assemblies of the stands in cooperating relationship with the barrel of the item so that when lifted by the stands, the weight of the item rests upon the lift assemblies, and then moving the inner and outer tube sections relative to one another so that the opposite ends of the telescoping post assembly are moved further apart, the item is lifted from the floor by way of the lift assemblies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a two-stand apparatus within which features of the invention are embodied shown being used to support a spool of windable material above a floor. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one of the stands of the apparatus and the spool of  FIG. 1 , shown removed from one another. 
         FIG. 3  is an end elevational view of the stand shown in  FIG. 2  as seen generally from the right in  FIG. 2 , shown exploded. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of a fragment of the stand of  FIG. 2 , as seen from the left in  FIG. 4  but showing the telescoping tube assembly when positioned in its position for storage. 
         FIG. 5  is an end elevation view of the telescoping tube assembly and base of the  FIG. 2  stand, as seen in  FIG. 3  and shown partially cut-away. 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a stand fragment taken along on line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a fragment of the stand of  FIG. 1 , shown exploded. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative pair of stands within which features of the invention are embodied and shown in position for lifting a spool from the floor. 
         FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of an alternative two-stand apparatus within which features of the present invention are embodied shown being used to support a spool of windable material above a floor. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings in greater detail and considering first  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated an embodiment of an apparatus, generally indicated  20 , including of a pair of stands  22 ,  23  within which features of the present invention are embodied and shown being used for supporting a spool  30  of wound material  39 , such as electrical wire or cable, in an elevated condition above an underlying floor  26  so that the spool  30  can be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis for the purposes of unwinding the material  39  from the spool  30  or for winding the material  32  about the spool  32 . Each stand  22  or  23  of the apparatus  20  is positionable on the opposite sides of the spool  32  and cooperates with the spool  30  in a manner enabling the spool  36  to be lifted by the stand  22  or  23  to an elevated position above the floor  26 . Together, the stands  22  and  23  support the spool  30  above the floor  26  for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. As will be apparent herein, the stands  22 ,  23  of the apparatus  20  provide a convenient means by which a relatively heavy spool  30  can be manipulated into an elevated condition above the floor  26  for the purpose of unwinding material  39  from the spool  30  or winding material  39  about the spool  30 . 
     With reference still to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated a spool  30  of a class of spools which can be lifted and supported by the stands  22 ,  23 . Briefly, the spool  30  includes a centrally-disposed, hollow elongated barrel  32  about which a length of coiled material  39 , such as electrical wire, steel cable, or rope or flexible sheet material, such as flexible flooring material, is wound and includes a pair of disc-like flanges  34 ,  36  attached to the opposite ends of the barrel  32  on the opposite sides of the spool  30 . Each flange  34  or  36  is circular in form and defines a cylindrical rim  35  along its peripheral edge. Furthermore, there is commonly provided a bore  38  which extends through the center of both flanges  34 ,  36  and the elongated barrel  32 . In addition, the bore  38  defines an elongated axis  28  about which the spool  30  is rotated as the spool  30  is supported by the apparatus  20  in an elevated condition above the floor  26  to facilitate the unwinding of the material  39  about the spool  30  or winding of the material  39  about the spool  30 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , each of the stands  22  or  23  includes a floor-engaging base  40  having a lengthy elongated member  42  and a shorter member  44  which is joined to one end of the elongated member  42  to form a T which overlies the floor  26  when placed thereon. Each member  42  or  44  of the depicted stand  22  or  23  is constructed of steel channel having a substantially square cross section, and the members  42  and  44  are joined to one another with welds. Each base  40  further includes a pair of plates  46  which are disposed on opposite sides of the elongated member  42  and positioned at a location along the length of the member  42  which is situated about one-third of the total distance of the elongated member  42  as measured from the end thereof opposite the elongated member  40  and are attached to the opposite sides of the member  42  with welds. In addition, the plates  46  include portions  48  which extend upwardly from the member  42 , as viewed in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and these portions  48  are provided with three sets of aligned through-openings  49 ,  51  and  53  wherein the sets of openings  49  and  51  are vertically disposed with respect to one another and wherein the sets of openings  49  and  53  are horizontally disposed with respect to one another. As will be apparent herein and during use of the stand  22  or  23 , the T-shaped formation of the base  40  is positioned flat upon the underlying floor  26  so that the portions  48  of the plates  46  are directed substantially upwardly. Meanwhile, the sets of openings  49 ,  51  and  53  are utilized in the attachment of the base  40  to other componentry of the stand  22  or  23 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , each stand  22  or  23  further includes an elongated telescoping post assembly  50  having two opposite ends  52  and  54  and which is joined at one end  52  to the floor-engaging base  40 . Each telescoping post assembly  50  includes a hollow inner tube section  60  (which provides the end  52  of the assembly  50 ) and a hollow outer tube section  62  (which provides the end  54  of the assembly  50 ), and at least a portion of the inner tube section  60  is accepted by the hollow interior of the outer tube section  62  through an open end thereof. The inner and outer tube sections  60  and  62  are sized to permit the tube sections  60  and  62  to telescopically move relative to one another and thereby permit the spaced distance between the ends  52 ,  54  of the tube assembly  50  to be altered. Within the depicted apparatus  20 , each inner and outer tube sections  60  and  62  are comprised of steel tubing having a substantially square cross section. 
     For attachment of the telescoping post assembly  50  to the floor-engaging base  40 , the inner tube sections  60  defines a set of aligned openings  64  disposed adjacent the end  52  of the assembly  50 , and the inner tube sections  60  is positioned between the plates  46  of the base  40  so that its openings  64  are aligned with the set of openings  49  of the plates  46 . The tube assembly  50  is connected to the base  40  with a bolt  56  whose shank extends through the aligned sets of openings  49  and  64  and which is secured therethrough with a nut  57 . 
     The telescoping tube assembly  50  is pivotally movable relative to the base  40  about the bolt  56  between a position of use as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and in phantom in  FIG. 4  at which the tube assembly  50  extends substantially vertically upwardly from the base  40  and a position for storage as seen in solid lines in  FIG. 4  at which the tube assembly  50  overlies and is arranged substantially parallel to the elongated member  42  of the base  40 . For purposes of securing the tube assembly  50  in either of the aforedescribed position for use or the position for storage, the inner tube section  60  further defines a set of aligned openings  66  ( FIG. 3 ) which are spaced from the openings  64  and which are aligned with the sets of openings  51  or  53  of the plates when the tube assembly  50  is positioned in a corresponding one of its position of use and its position for storage. 
     More specifically, when the tube assembly  50  is disposed about the bolt  56  in its  FIG. 4  phantom-line position (of use) at which the tube assembly  50  extends vertically upwardly from the base  40 , the set of openings  56  are aligned with the set of plate openings  51 ; and when the tube assembly  50  is disposed about the bolt  56  in its  FIG. 4  solid-line position (for storage) at which the tube assembly  50  is arranged substantially parallel to the elongated member  42  of the base  40 , the set of openings  66  are aligned with the sets of plate openings  53 . A pin  58  (with a key  59 ) is used to secure the tube assembly  50  in its position of use or in its position for storage by directing the pin  58  endwise through the aligned sets of openings  51 ,  66  or the aligned sets of openings  53 ,  66 . In addition, the outer tube portion  62  defines a series of indentations  79  along one side member thereof for a reason which will become apparent herein. 
     It is a feature of the invention that the stands  22  and  23  include means, generally indicated  80  in  FIG. 5 , for telescopically moving the outer and inner tube sections  60  and  62  relative to one another to thereby alter the distance between the post assembly ends  52  and  54 . Within the depicted apparatus  20  and as best shown in  FIG. 5 , the moving means  80  includes a screw jack assembly  70  associated with each of the telescoping post assemblies  50  enabling a user to mechanically move the opposite ends  52  and  54  of a corresponding post assembly  50  toward and away from one another. As best shown in  FIG. 5 , each screw jack assembly  70  includes a rotatable screw  72  which is rotatably mounted within the interior of the outer tube section  62  by way of a bearing member  73  mounted adjacent the upper end, as viewed in  FIG. 5 , of the outer tube section  62  and an internally-threaded nut, or collar member  74 , which is fixedly secured within the interior of the inner tube section  60  adjacent the upper end thereof. With the screw  72  threadably accepted by the collar member  74 , rotation of the screw  72  in one rotational direction along the length of the outer tube section  62  forcibly moves the opposite ends  52  and  54  of the post assembly  50  away from one another, and rotation of the screw  72  in the opposite rotational direction along the length of the outer tube section  62  forcibly moves the opposite ends  52  and  54  of the post assembly  50  toward one another. 
     To facilitate the manual manipulation, or rotation, of the screw  72  by a user, there is provided a handle  76  which is joined at one end of the screw  72  (i.e. adjacent the end  54  of the elongated post assembly  50 ). By grasping the grip, indicated  78 , of the handle  76  and then rotating the handle  76  about the bearing member  73 , the screw  72  is forced to rotate about its longitudinal axis. The handle  76  is pivotally connected to the screw  72  to facilitate the folding of the stand  22  into a relatively compact unit for storage. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , it is also a feature of the invention that each stand  22  or  23  includes a lift assembly  90  which is connected to the outer tube section  62  and which is cooperable with a corresponding side of the spool  30  so that when the stands  22  and  23  support the spool  30 , the weight of the stand  30  rests upon the lift assemblies  90 . Although the lift assemblies  90  can take any of a number of forms, each lift assembly  90  of the depicted stands  22  and  23  include a rotatable arbor, or elongated cylindrical tubular member  92 , which can be accepted by the open ends of the barrel  32  of the spool  30  for purposes of lifting the spool  30  from the sides thereof. The tubular member  92  of each stand  22  or  23  is relatively short in length (e.g. no more than about one foot in length), has two opposite ends  94  and  96  and which is joined at one end  94  to the telescoping tube assembly  50  so that the other end  96  of the tubular member  92  extends horizontally to one side of the telescoping tube assembly  50 . 
     For purposes of joining the tubular member end  94  to the telescoping tube assembly  50 , there is provided a collar member  98  (within which the tubular member end  94  is positioned) and a bracket  100  which is joined to the collar member  98 . The bracket  100  is U-shaped in cross section, and the legs of the bracket  100  are secured, as with welds, to the collar member  98  along one side thereof. Meanwhile, there is interposed between the collar member  98  and the tubular member  92  a bearing assembly  102  which permits the tubular member  92  to rotate about its horizontal axis with relative ease. 
     The bracket  100  has a central opening  108  which is sized to be closely accepted about the outer tube section  62  when positioned thereover yet permit the bracket  100  to be slidably moved along the length of the outer tube section  62  to alter the position therealong. Furthermore, there is associated with the lift assembly  90  a means, generally indicated  110 , for releasably securing the bracket  100  in a fixed position along the length of the outer tube section  62 . Within the depicted stands  22  and  23 , the means  110  for releasably securing includes an elongated pin  112  which is supported on one side of the bracket  100  for movement into and out of a selected indentation  79  of the series of indentations  79  defined along one side member of the outer tube section  62  (and thus between a position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 6  and a position shown in phantom in  FIG. 6 ). In this connection, there is provided pin-supporting hardware  114  which is joined to one side member, indicated  116 , of the four side members of the bracket  100 , and the side member  116  defines an opening  118  through which an end, indicated  124 , of the pin  112  extends. Furthermore, the hardware  114  includes a sleeve member  120  within which the pin  112  is slidably positioned, and a compression spring  122  is disposed about the pin  112  for acting between one end of the sleeve member  120  and the pin  112  so that the pin end  124  is biased toward the outer tube section  62  or, more specifically, into an indentation  79  defined along the outer tube section  62 . The pin  112  is provided with a handle  125  which facilitates the manual withdrawal of the pin end  124  from an indentation  98 . 
     To alter the position of the lift assembly  90  along the length of the outer tube section  62 , the handle  125  of the pin  112  is pulled (against the biasing force of the compression spring  122 ) to withdraw the pin end  124  from the indentation  79  within which the pin end  124  is positioned, and then the bracket  100  is slidably moved along the length of the outer tube section  62  to a selected location therealong. At that point, the handle  125  of the pin  112  is released so that the spring  122  is permitted to urge the pin end  124  into an alternative indentation  79  defined along the length of the outer tube section  62  or, more specifically, the indentation  98  situated closest to the location along the length of the outer tube section  62  at which the lift assembly  90  is desired to be secured. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , each lift assembly  90  is also provided with an elongated grip member  162  which is joined to the underside of the collar member  98  so as to extend generally parallel to the telescoping post assembly  50 . The grip member  162  is advantageous in that when the post assembly  50  is secured adjacent the base  40  in its  FIG. 4 , position for storage, the grip member  162  provides a handle with which the stand  22  or  23  can be carried by a user between sites. 
     With reference again to  FIG. 1  and to use the apparatus  20  for the purpose of lifting and supporting the spool  30  in a stationary position above the underlying floor  26 , the spool  30  is oriented upon the floor  26  so that its rims  35  rest upon the floor  26  and the barrel  32  is arranged substantially horizontally. At that point, the stands  22  and  23  (with the telescoping post assemblies  50  securely arranged in the upright, or vertical, position for use) are positioned on opposite sides of the spool  30 , and the tubular member  92  of the lift assemblies  90  of each stand  22  or  23  is thereafter directed endwise into a corresponding open end, or bore  38 , of the spool barrel  32 . It will be understood that in order to position the tubular members  92  of the stands  22  and  23  into horizontal registry with the central bore  38  of the spool  30 , the lift assemblies  90  of the stands  22  and  23  may have to be raised or lowered from an initial position along the length of the outer tube section  62  by shifting the bracket  100 , as necessary, along the length of the section  62  and re-securing the bracket  100  to the section  62  with the pin  112 . 
     It will also be understood that in order to manipulate the tubular member  92  into a corresponding open end of the spool barrel  38 , the stand  22  or  23  must be bodily shifted across the floor  26  as the tubular member  92  is directed endways into an end of the barrel  38 . However, neither of the stands  22  or  23  of the depicted apparatus  20  is very heavy (and in fact, weighs no more than about thirty-five pounds) so that the bodily shifting of either stand  22  or  23  across the floor  26  can be effected with relative ease. It also follows that since the tubular member  92  is to be directed into a corresponding open end of the spool barrel  32  when used, the outer diameter of the tubular member  92  is smaller than the inner diameter of the open ends, or bore  38 , of the spool barrel  32 . 
     With the tubular members  92  of the stands  22  and  23  positioned within the opposite open ends of the spool barrel  32 , the handles  76  of the screw jack assemblies  70  are appropriately rotated to lengthen the telescoping tube assemblies  50 , and thus raise the tubular members  92  from the floor  26 . It follows that as the tubular members  92  are raised, the spool  30  is raised from the floor  26  as the tubular members  92  press upwardly against the upper surface of the interior of the spool barrel  32 . The raising of the tubular members  92  can be halted when the cylindrical rims  35  edges of the spool  30  are lifted from the floor a distance sufficient to accommodate the rotation of the spool  30  about the longitudinal axis of the tubular members  92  without interference with the underlying floor  26 . 
     It will also be understood that because the horizontal level, or height, of the tubular member  92  of each stand  22  or  23  relative to the underlying floor or ground can be set independently of the other stand  23  or  22 , the stands  22  and  23  can be adjusted, as necessary, to position the tubular members  92  of the stands  22  and  23  into horizontal registry with one another—no matter how unlevel the underlying floor or ground upon which the stands  22  and  23  are positioned, so that the barrel  32  of the spool  30  can be maintained in a relatively horizontal orientation during a material winding or unwinding process. Thus, the capacity to independently alter the horizontal level of the tubular members  92  of the stands  22  and  23  and position the tubular members  92  of the stands  22  and  23  into horizontal registry with one another and is advantageous in this respect. 
     It follows from the foregoing that a relatively compact and lightweight device  20  has been described which can be used to lift a spool  30  from the floor  26  and thereafter support the spool  30  while the spool  30  is rotated as material (e.g. a wire or cable) is either unwound from the barrel  32  of the spool  30  or wound about the barrel  32  of the spool  30 . Since a spool  30  need only be raised from the underlying floor  26  a distance to permit clearance of the cylindrical rim  35  of the spool  30  as the spool  30  is rotated about the longitudinal axis of its barrel  32 , the spool  30  need not be raised very high (e.g. about 0.5 inches) from the floor  26  by the stands  22  and  23 . 
     By way of example, the following dimensions of the depicted apparatus  20  (i.e. its stands  22  and  23 ) are provided here as follows: The length of the elongated member  42  of the floor-engaging base  40  of each stand  22  or  23  (which provides the length-dimension of the stand  22  or  23 ) is at least about thirty-six inches long, and is preferably about thirty-seven inches in length; the length of the elongated member  44  of the floor-engaging base  40  of each stand  22  or  23  (which provides the width-dimension of the stand  22  or  23 ) is about ten inches long; the inner and outer tube sections  60  and  62  of the telescoping post assembly  50  of each stand  22  or  23  have been sized (in length) to be capable of lifting a spool  30  having a diameter within the range of about twenty-two inches and seventy-two inches. That is to say, when the lift assembly  90  is secured at its lowest possible position along the length of the outer tube section  62  (as viewed in  FIG. 3 ) and the telescoping post assembly  50  is retracted to its shortest possible length, the tubular member  92  can be accepted by an open end of the barrel  32  of a spool  30  having a diameter of about twenty-two inches. Conversely, when the lift assembly  90  is secured at its highest possible position along the length of the outer tube section  62  and the telescoping post assembly  50  is lengthened to its longest possible length, the tubular member  92  can be accepted by an open end of the barrel  32  of a spool  30  having a diameter of about seventy-two inches. 
     The diameter of the tubular member  92  of the depicted stands  22  and  23  is about 2.0 inches, but a tubular member  92  having a diameter of about 1.5 inches has been found to be satisfactory. Furthermore, the bearing assembly  102  which supports the tubular member  92  is rated for 20,000 pounds, thus enabling the tubular member  92  (and any spool supported thereby) to be rotated relatively smoothly and easily, even for relatively heavy loads (e.g. up to about 6,000 pounds). 
     Further still and because the floor-engaging base  40  possesses such large length and width dimensions (i.e. at least thirty-six inches by ten inches), the stands  22  and  23  resist tipping over when used to lift a spool  30 . 
     It has been found that a device  20  embodying the aforediscussed features is capable of lifting from the floor  26  a spool  30  weighing up to six thousand pounds and does not have to be anchored in place when used to lift a spool  30 . 
     It will be understood that numerous modifications and substitutions can be had to the aforedescribed embodiment  20  without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although the screw jack assembly  70  has been shown and described as being mounted at one end (i.e. the top) of the telescoping post assembly  50 , stands which embody features of the invention can employ a screw jack assembly which has been mounted upon a side of the post assembly  50 . 
     Furthermore and although each spool-engaging (e.g. tubular) member  92  of the lift assembly  90  of the depicted stands  22  and  23  has been shown and described as being cylindrical in form, such spool-engaging members can take alternative forms. For example, there is illustrated in  FIG. 8  a spool  130  having a centrally-disposed barrel  132  having ends  133  which protrude axially outwardly of the spool barrel  132 . For purposes of lifting and supporting such protruding barrel ends  133 , there is also shown in  FIG. 8  a pair of stands  140 ,  141  which each employ a telescoping post assembly  50  and a lift assembly  142  having a substantially U-shaped bracket  144  which is supportedly attached to the telescoping post assembly  50  in a manner comparable to the manner in which the lift assembly  90  is supportedly attached to the post assembly  50  of the stands  22  and  23  of  FIGS. 1-6 . Within each of the depicted stands  140  or  141  of  FIG. 8 , the U shape of the U-shaped bracket  144  opens substantially upwardly and can be positioned beneath a protruding end  133  of the spool barrel  132  so that when raised by way of a screw jack assembly  70  of the stand  140  or  141 , the U of the U-shaped form of the bracket  144  acts as a cradle which nestingly accepts the protruding barrel end  133 . A continued raising of the bracket  144  by the jack screw  70  lifts the spool  130  from the underlying floor  26  as the weight of the spool  130  rests upon the U-shaped brackets  144 . 
     Further still, although the aforedescribed stands  22  and  23  have been shown and described as including a lift assembly  90  whose tubular member  92  is supported by a bearing assembly  102  to facilitate the manual rotation of a spool  30  supported upon the lift assembly  90 , a motor (e.g. an electric motor) can be associated with the lift assembly  90  for forcibly rotating the tubular member  92  so that the spool  30  supported upon the lift assembly  90  is rotated thereby. For example, there is depicted in  FIG. 9 , a stand  150  having a telescoping post assembly  50 , a lift assembly  152  supported upon the post assembly  50  and an electric motor  154  which is supported (e.g. by way of a bracket  148 ) upon the post assembly  50  adjacent the lift assembly  152 . The lift assembly  152  has a cylindrical tubular member  156  which is mounted for rotation (within the remainder of the lift assembly  152 ) about its longitudinal axis, and the motor  154  has a drive shaft  158  which is connected in drivingly relationship with the tubular member  156  (by way of, for example, a gear member  160 ) so that actuation of the motor  154  forcibly rotates the tubular member  156  about its longitudinal axis. Therefore and when a spool  30  is supported at one end by the tubular member  156  and the tubular member  156  is rotated by the motor  154 , the spool  30 , in turn, is rotated about the longitudinal axis of its barrel  32 . 
     Accordingly, the aforedescribed embodiment  20  is intended for the purpose of illustration and not as limitation.