Patent ID: 7437863

Claim:
A wrapping material dispensing apparatus for wrapping an article, the apparatus comprising: a base having wheels for omni-directional movement along a horizontal surface; a hub assembly; a threaded spindle rotatably mounted between the base and the hub assembly and capable of supporting a roll of the wrapping material so as to allow rotation of the roll of the wrapping material thereabout; a steering arm attached to the base and to the hub assembly, the steering arm spaced from the threaded spindle, the steering arm comprising an upper portion mounted to the hub assembly and a lower portion formed by a pair of leg members respectively attached to opposite ends of the base member; and a brake assembly mounted on the base to control rotatable movement of the threaded spindle; the brake assembly comprising: a brake interconnecting with an upper bearing and a lower bearing, the upper bearing and the lower bearing each having a respective bearing plate for mounting to the base; a sheave attached to a sheave plate mounted to the base; a belt simultaneously coupled to the brake and the sheave; and a spring having one end coupled to the sheave plate and another end coupled to the base; wherein the threaded spindle has a lower end engagedly coupled to the upper bearing, the brake and the lower bearing so that rotational movement of the threaded spindle is controlled by the movement of the upper bearing.