Patent ID: 7588207

Claim:
A handling assembly [ 10 ] for lifting from the floor [ 11 ], and facilitating rotation of a circular cable reel [ 12 ], said assembly comprising: a receiving frame member [ 20 ] having a structural plane [ 22 ], positionable generally parallel to said floor [ 11 ], and having a cable reel stop member [ 24 ] substantially parallel to said structural plane for engaging the outer periphery [ 13 ] of said cable reel [ 12 ]; a knuckle mechanism [ 60 ] having a first link member [ 62 ], and a second link member [ 64 ] pivotally coupled to said first link member at a first pivot axis [ 69 ], said second link member further being pivotally coupled at a second pivot axis [ 68 ] to said receiving frame member [ 20 ] proximate said cable reel stop member [ 24 ]; a capturing trolley member [ 40 ] having a capturing channel [ 44 ], a pair of outer leg portions [ 42 ] defining said capturing channel between them, a pivot end [ 46 ] and a closed end [ 48 ], and having a capturing trolley stop member [ 50 ] proximate said closed end [ 48 ], said capturing trolley member [ 40 ] being pivotally coupled to said first link member at a third pivot axis [ 70 ] and being slidably displaceable relative to said receiving frame member [ 20 ] along said outer leg portions substantially parallel to said structural plane; said knuckle mechanism having a lever handle [ 72 ] for actuating said knuckle mechanism to slidably displace said capturing trolley between a first position [ 52 ] and a second position [ 54 ]; said capturing trolley member [ 40 ] in said first position being pivotable relative to said receiving frame member [ 20 ] between a first captured-position [ 56 ] substantially parallel to said structural plane of said receiving frame member, and a ready-to-receive position [ 58 ] disposed at an angle to said captured position, wherein said cable reel [ 12 ] is rollable along said floor into engagement against said cable reel stop member [ 24 ], and said capturing trolley member [ 40 ] is pivotable over said cable reel [ 12 ] from said ready-to-receive position [ 58 ] to said first captured-position [ 56 ] with said cable reel [ 12 ] within said capturing channel; said capturing trolley member [ 40 ] in said ready-to-receive position [ 58 ] being slidably displaceable relative to said receiving frame member [ 20 ] from said first position, wherein said capturing trolley stop member [ 50 ] is remote from said cable reel stop member [ 24 ], to said second position wherein said capturing trolley stop member [ 50 ] stop member is sufficiently close to said cable reel stop member [ 24 ] to compress the periphery of said cable reel against said cable reel stop member and elevate said cable reel above said floor.