Patent Abstract:
A reel carrier system for vertical transportation of a reel includes a base having an inner portion rotatable with respect to an outer portion. The inner portion is attached to a perpendicular post such that rotation of the post rotates the inner portion. Coupled to the post is a handle such that rotation of the handle rotates the post. At least one of the handle and the attachment section detaches from the post for disposing the reel on the inner portion.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This case is related to the subject matter as set forth in Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/634,208 filed Dec. 8, 2004 and titled “Vertical Oriented Cable Reel Carrier.” 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to cable reels, and, more particularly, to a device for carrying and dispensing a reel of cable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     With the ever-increasing demand for cable service (analog, digital, digital video recorder, high definition T.V., voice over internet provider (VOIP), and high speed and broadband internet services); the demand for technicians and installers of cable continues to grow. Currently, cables are wound on reels in a coiled configuration. To remove a length of cable from a reel, an installer typically mounts the reel on some type of holder such that it can rotate, and then proceeds to pull the cable from one end. Because the reel is often rotatably mounted, as the installer pulls on the end of the wire or cable, the reel rotates causing the cable to unwind from the reel in a relatively straight (i.e. non-spiraled) configuration.  
         [0004]     A problem associated with current systems is that it is often difficult or inefficient to transport the cable as the installers must bend down to pick up a reel, carry it to its desired installation location, and again bend down to deposit the reel on a floor. It is desirable to limit the bending of the cable installers and thereby limiting potential back injuries resulting from lifting the cable.  
         [0005]     It is therefore desirable to provide a carrier for cable that may be easily transported from one location, e.g. a truck, to a place of installation while requiring a minimum amount of bending over on the part of an installer. It would further be desirable for an installer to carry larger reels or spools of cable and thereby increase the efficiency of installation of the cable. It would also be desirable for an installer to be able to accommodate more than one spool or reel (e.g. a cable wire reel and a ground wire reel).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a cable carrier that facilitates loading and unloading of cable from a vehicle. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an ergonomically correct cable-carrying device such that bending over by a cable installer or cable carrier is limited and maneuvering of cables in tight spaces is simplified. It is a further object of the present invention to limit damage to walls, floors, and entry door glass created by current reel carrying systems. Further objects of the present invention include minimizing the amount of space occupied by cable reels and ultimately increasing a cable installer&#39;s or a technician&#39;s productivity.  
         [0007]     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a reel carrier system for vertical transportation of a reel includes a base having an inner portion rotatable with respect to an outer portion. The inner portion is attached to a perpendicular post such that rotation of the post rotates the inner portion. Coupled to the post is a handle such that rotation of the handle rotates the post. At least one of the handle or the attachment section detaches from the post for disposing the reel on the inner portion.  
         [0008]     Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent under the description that follows and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations, particularly pointed out in the pending claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     In order that the invention may be well understood, they will now be described some embodiments thereof, given by way of example, referencing made to the accompanying drawings in which.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable reel carrier system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a carrier for the cable reel carrier system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a carrier for the cable reel carrier system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a carrier for the cable reel carrier system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a carrier for the cable reel carrier system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a carrier for the cable reel carrier system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     While the present invention is described primarily with respect to a vertical cable reel carrier, the present invention may be adapted to various application requiring carrying of wound materials, as will be understood by the one skilled in the art.  
         [0017]     In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for a number of constructed embodiments. These specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vertical cable reel carrier system  8  including a vertical cable reel carrier  10  carrying a cable reel  11  is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The reel carrier  10  includes a base  12  and a post  14  extending generally upwardly therefrom onto which the spool or reel  16  is installed. Attached to the posts  14  is a handle  18  for turning the spool or reel  16 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the system  8  is further illustrated. As mentioned, the system  8  includes a handle  18  attached to the post  14 . The handle  18  is embodied as coupled at a 90° angle relative to the post  14 , however various other angles may be used in accordance with the present invention. Further, the handle  18  is embodied as being a straight single piece of pipe, however, once skilled in the art will realize that various other handle designs are also included in the present invention, including such ergonomically correct grips as a loop handle, a chain handle, a hook handle, or an orthopedic grip handle. The handle  18  includes a cap  30  at a first end thereof and an elbowjoint  32  at a second end thereof, whereby the elbow joint  32  couples to the post  14 . The post  14  couples to the base  12 , and more specifically, to the pipe base attachment section  48  on an inner portion  20  of the base  12 .  
         [0020]     The base  12  includes an inner portion  20  and an outer portion  22  that can rotate with respect to one another. This provides a turntable or lazy Susan effect and allows the base  12  and the post  14  to rotate, which in turns allows the attached spool  11  to rotate such that the cable  34  can be rotated and unwound for use. The reel  16  rests on the base  12  in a vertical orientation such that it can be unwound and transported in the same vertical orientation. The base  12  also includes a plurality of feet or stabilizers  36  such that the outer portion  22  may be prevented from contacting the floor directly. Important to note is that there is alternate embodiments of support structure for the outer portion  22  may be included in accordance with alternate embodiments of the present invention, such as a single rim or other combinations or designs of feet or no feet. The base  12  may also include a cover portion  40  positioned between the inner portion  20  and the outer portion  22  for providing smooth rotation of the portions  20 ,  22 . The outer portion  22  includes an upper rim  42  for holding the inner portion  22  in place and allowing the system  10  to be lifted without detaching the inner portion  20  from the outer portion  22 . The outer portion  22  also includes a lower rim  44 , which may include ball bearings, which may be sealed for keeping out water or debris, or a track for rotating the inner portion  20 . The base  12  may include a composite or fiber material for robustness of the base  12  in all weather conditions.  
         [0021]     The inner portion  20  is embodied as partially visible when the system  10  is fully assembled, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . However, the inner portion  20  may be minimally visible as the upper rim  42  or the section  40  may conceal an increased amount of the inner portion  20 . The inner portion  20  is embodied including an attachment section  48  for attaching the post  14 . The attachment section  48  is embodied as a pipe attachment section but may be alternately embodied as any type of locking mechanism for holding a pipe or other handle component fixedly attached thereto and may include a quick release mechanism such as a track or set of mating connectors coupled to the post  14  and the attachment section  48 .  
         [0022]     The post  14  may be detachable to either the elbow  32  or the attachment section  48  such that the reel  11  may be removed, another reel may be put in its place, and the system  10  reassembled. The elbow  32  or the attachment section  48  may include any sort of attachment, detachment or coupling device known in the art, such as including threaded ends or a locking mechanism.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , alternate embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. In  FIG. 4 , the handle  18  is embodied with an orthopedic (ergonomically correct) grip  60 . The handle  18  also includes a lock  62 , illustrated as a button that, when depressed, engages locking portions  64  (illustrated in phantom lines) for preventing rotation of the inner portion  20  of the base  12 . The lock  62  may be a push-push mechanism or other known mechanism for engaging and disengaging locking portions  64 . The handle  18  is also adjacent or coupled to a clutch-brake  66  (activating a brake portion  67 ) for limiting or halting rotation of the inner portion  20  of the base  12 . Important to note is that a stopping mechanism may be included for the present invention for limiting movement of the inner portion  20  and this mechanisms may be embodied as the lock  62  or the clutch-brake  66 . The base  12  of  FIG. 4  includes slots  68  such that the base  12  may be lifted and carried through the installer grabbing onto the base  12  at the slots  68 .  
         [0024]     In  FIG. 5 , the cable reel carrier  10  is embodied including a side mount  70 , which may include legs  72  (portion of side mount  70 ), such that the reel carrier  10  may be positioned horizontally and said legs may act as a support. The side mount  70  is embodied as coupled to the outer potion  22  of the base  12  at a first end  74  and to a step  76  through support structures  77  at a second end  78 . The step  76  is included for support of the side mount  70  and for use by an installer as a load-bearing step. Alternate embodiments include the step  76  detachably coupled to the base  12  at a first end  80  and having legs at a second end  82  for support. Important to note is that the handle  18  may be elongated for this embodiment such that the post  14  may be turned while the step  76  is attached to the base  12 .  
         [0025]     In  FIG. 6 , the cable reel carrier  10  is embodied including a side mount  70  surrounding the outer portion  22  of the base  12  and having a flat edge  90 , which may have wheels  91  coupled thereto (the flat edge or the wheels may also be a portion of side mount  70  for the purposes of this invention) and an elongated handle  18  having a support  92  or stopper (e.g. rubber stopper) attached to an end  94  thereof. This configuration also allows that reel carrier  10  may be positioned horizontally whereby the edge  90  or the wheels  91  may be used as supports. The support  92  is generally flat such that it is stable when used as a leg for a reel carrier  10 . Therefore, the flat edge  90  and the handle  18  act as legs when the reel carrier is horizontal. In accordance with this embodiment, a step may be coupled to the base  12  as in  FIG. 5  or, alternately, the post  14  may be used as a step.  
         [0026]     While the invention has been described in connection with one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific mechanisms and techniques, which have been described are merely illustrative of the examples of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made to the methods and apparatus described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the pending claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1