WO2000035797A1

WO2000035797A1 - Device in connection with cable unreeling

Info

Publication number: WO2000035797A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/001925
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dan Lundberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-10-29
Filing date: 1999-10-26
Publication date: 2000-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2001-06-01
Also published as: SE9803705D0; AU1589500A; SE516078C2; SE9803705L

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device in connection with cable unreeling, said device may be transferred between a transporting position and an active position, or vice versa, said device comprising at least a spindle (15) for supporting at least a cable reel (30), and means (3, 5, 14) for supporting, in active position of the device, said spindle (15). There is a need for a facility in connection with cable unreeling, said facility on one hand functioning in an active position and on the other hand being easy to transfer to a transporting position where it can be carried manually. Significant for the device according to the present invention is that the spindle (15), in the area of its ends, is provided with stabilisation means (22; 22') that are intended to cooperate with the supporting means (3, 5, 14) in active position of the device.

Description

DEVICE IN CONNECTION WITH CABLE UNREELING

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention refers to a device in connection with cable unreeling, said device may be transferred between a transporting position and an active position, or vice versa, said device comprising at least a spindle for supporting at least a cable reel and means for supporting said spindle.

Prior Art

From US-A-3, 876, 045 a type of cable unreeling device is previously known, where a shaft is mounted in a housing, said shaft supporting cable reels. It is significant for said cable unreeling device that it has a mechanism for distributing the cable evenly on the adherent cable reel when the cable is wound on the reel. The device according to US-A- 3,876,045 is comparable to a cable winder.

From DE 44 37 329 a device of the type cable winder is previously known, said device having a cord that is adapted to be mounted in a socket and a number of extension cords. It is significant for the device according to DE 44 37 329 that the cable reels for the different cords are rotatably journalled independently of each other.

It is also previously known a device for cable unreeling that principally has a type of cart as supporting stand for the cable reels, said cart having spindles for supporting the cable reels. The cart is also provided with means to assume an upright position on a ground when the cart is in active position.

Objects and Features of the Invention

A primary object of the present invention is to present a device of the type defined above, said device may easily be transferred between a folded transporting position and an erected active position.

A further object of the invention is that the device is rigid in its active position. Still an object of the device according to the invention is that cable reels of different diameter may be used in active position of the device.

A further object of the device according to the present invention is that it should be easily carried manually in its folded position.

At least the primary object of the present invention is realised by means of a device that has been given the features of the appending independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Below an embodiment of the invention will be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the present invention, said device being in erected active position and supporting a number of cable reels; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device according to the present invention in folded transporting position; Figure 3 shows a perspective view from below of the device according to the present invention in active position, the upper part of the device has been left out;

Figure 4 shows a detail of how the spindles are mounted in the device according to the present invention; Figure 5 shows a detail of one end of a spindle that is part of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a detail of one end of an alternative embodiment of a spindle that is part of the present invention; and Figure 7 shows a detail of how the end of the spindle shown in figure 6 is mounted in connection with the device according to the present invention. Detailed Description of the Embodiment According to Figures 1-5

The device according to the present invention, shown in figure 1-3, comprises a bottom plate 1 and two side elements 3, 5, which are hingedly connected to the bottom plate 1, e.g. by means of hinges 7. A number of wheels 9 are also incorporated in the device according to the present invention, said wheels 9 being mounted on the lower side of the bottom plate 1, see figure 3. In the shown embodiment the side elements 3, 5 have a first edge portion 10 and 11 respectively that are inclined relative to an adjoining second edge portion 12 and 13 respectively, which has a substantially vertical extension in the active position of the device, see figure 1, this being under the assumption that the device rests upon a horizontal ground. Alternatively, one can say that the second edge portion 12, 13 has an extension that is essentially perpendicular to the bottom plate 1.

In the inclined first edge portions 10 and 11 a number of first notches are provided, in the disclosed embodiment three notches 14, said first notches 14 being adapted to receive a number of spindles 15, in the disclosed embodiment three spindles 15. As is most evident from figure 4 the notches 14 have a generally vertical extension, this under the assumption that the device according to the invention is resting on a horizontal ground. Alternatively, one can say that the notches 14 have an extension essentially perpendicular to the bottom plate 1. The notches 14 are open upwards in order to allow mounting of a spindle 15 in each notch 14.

In each third edge portion 16 and 17 respectively, of the side elements 3, 5 a second notch 18 is provided, said notch 18 being adapted to serve as a parking position for a spindle 15. Said notch 18 has an extension that forms a certain angle with the edge portions 16, 17, i.e. the notches 18 are inclined relative to the vertical plane, this under assumption that the device is located on a horizontal ground. Alternatively, one can say that the second notch 18 has an extension that forms a certain angle with the bottom plate 1. The notches 18 will be described more in detail below in connection with description of the function of the device. The third edge portions 16, 17 have an extension essentially parallel to the second edge portions 12, 13. The spindles 15, forming parts of the present invention, comprise a rod portion 19 and mounting means 20 attached to the opposite ends of the rod portion 19, see especially figures 4 and 5. Said mounting means 20 comprise a handle portion 21, a stabilisation means 22 and an attachment portion 23 that is intended to be connected to one end of the rod portion 19.

The stabilisation means 22 comprises to circular discs 24 at a certain mutual axial distance from each other, and a connecting portion 31, see figure 5, that extends between the discs 24 and is of cylindrical shape. The distance between the discs 24 is adapted in such a way that it only slightly exceeds the thickness of the side elements 3, 5 in the area of the notches 14 and 18. Regarding the diameter of the circular discs, in relation to the diameter of the connecting portion 31, it can be stated in exemplifying and non-restricting purpose that the diameter of the discs 24 is at least twice as large as the diameter of the connecting portion 31, preferably the diameter of the discs 24 is three times the diameter of the connecting portion 31. In this connection it should be pointed out that the diameter of the connecting portion 31 is adapted to the width extension of the notches 14 and 18 in the plane of the side elements 3, 5, and more precisely said extension is somewhat larger than the diameter of the connecting portion 31. On the, in active position of the device, outwardly facing sides of each side element 3 and 5 storage means 25 for the spindles 15 are provided, said storage means 25 being used when the device according to the invention is in folded transporting position, see figure 2. The storage means 25 comprise a stationary portion 26 that is rigidly connected to the side elements 3 and 5 respectively, said stationery portion 26 having a number of semi-cylindrical recesses, in the shown embodiment three recesses. Further, the storage means 25 comprise a movable portion 27 that is hingedly connected to the stationary portion 26, preferably by means of hinges. Said movable portion 27 has also three semi- cylindrical recesses that are located opposite the corresponding semi -cylindrical recesses in the stationary portion 26. This means that when the movable portion 27 has been brought to abutment against the stationary portion 26, see for instance figure 1, said portions 26, 27 will between themselves define three cylindrical recesses 28, that has been given such a diameter that they are adapted to receive the rod portion 19 of the spindles 15, see figure 3. The portions 26, 27 may be fixed in the position where they abut each other by means of a trunk lock 29, see figure 3.

The material of the bottom plate 1 and the side elements 2, 3 may for instance constitute wooden material, preferably plywood of birch that has turned out to function well .

The Function of the Embodiment According to Figures 1-5

In order to describe the function of the device according to figures 1-5, reference is first made to figure 1 that shows the device in erected, active position, the spindles 15 being mounted in the notches 14. In this connection it should be pointed out that when the spindles 15 are to be mounted in the notches 14 the operator preferably grabs the handles 21 of the spindles 15 and applies the mounting means 20 in the notches 14. When the spindles 15 are mounted in the notches 14 the discs 24 of the stabilisation means 22 abut the opposite sides of the side elements 3, 5, the distance between the discs 24 being adapted to the thickness of the side elements 3, 5, in the area of the notches 14, in such away that a relatively tight fitting is achieved between the discs 24 and the side elements 3, 5. However, said fitting must also take into consideration that it should be able to mount the spindles 15 in a quick and simple way in the notches 14, i.e. the fitting must not be so tight that it to an essential degree makes the mounting of the spindles 15 difficult but on the other hand not so loose that sufficient stability for the device is not achieved. Surprisingly, it has turned out that if three spindles 15 are mounted in their respective notches 14, in the way that is shown in figure 1, the device is given a stability, due to the co-operation between the discs 24 and the side elements 3, 5, that is sufficient for the intended use of the device in active position. As is evident from figure 1 a number of cable reels are mounted on the spindles 15, said cable reels 30 being rotatable relative to the spindles 15. If the cable reels 30 have sufficient large diameter it may for instance occur that the cable reels 30 that are mounted on the upper spindle 15 interfere with the adjacent spindle 15. In such a case said spindle 15 may be moved to the notches 18 that are located at the rear of the device according to the invention in figure 1, said spindle 15 being positioned in a parking position. Nevertheless, said spindle 15 contributes to the stability of the device in a complete way. The reasoning above regarding the mutual fitting between the discs 24 and the thickness of the side elements 3 , 5 in the area of the notches 14 is valid also for the notches 18.

The wheels 9 that are attached to the lower side of the bottom plate 1 bring about that the device according to the invention is mobile in a simple and flexible way. As is evident from figure 3 the wheels 9 that are located closest to the third edge portions 16 and 17 are equipped with a break 8, which brings about that the device according to the invention may be locked in a desired position.

When the device according to the present invention has been used and is transferred to transporting position, see figure 2, the spindles 15 are removed from their adherent notches 14 and whenever applicable the cable reels 30 are removed from the spindles 15. Then the side elements 3 and 5 are folded down, from the position according to figure 1 to the position according to figure 2, the side element 5 coming into contact with the bottom plate 1 while the side element 3 will come in to contact with the side element 5. In connection therewith the storage devices 25 will be in the position shown in figure 2 and, i.e. on the upper side of the device. By opening said storage devices 25, i.e. the trunk locks 29 are opened and the movable portion 27 is swung sidewards in order to make the recesses in the stationary portion 26 accessible, the spindles 15 may be located in said recesses of the stationary portion 26. Then the movable portion 27 is swung backwards to the position according to figure 2 and is locked in said position by activation of the trunk locks 29. By adapting the exposed length of the rod portion 19 to the external distance between the storage devices 25 the attachment portions 23 will serve as stoppers when the spindles 15 are received in the storage devices 25, i.e. the attachment portions 23 will prevent the spindles 15 from being displaced axially when they are received in the storage devices 25. When the device according to the present invention has been transferred to the transporting position according to figure 2 said device may be carried manually by using for instance the most forward located spindle in figure 2 as a handle.

When transferring the device according to the present invention from transporting position to active position, this is carried out in the reversed way compared to what has been described above.

Detailed Description of the Embodiment According to Figures 6-7

The embodiment of the present invention, shown in figures 6 and 7, differs in principle from the embodiment according to figures 1-5 in that the stabilisation means 22' are adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the spindles 15. As is evident from figure 6 the stabilisation means 22' shown in said figure comprises a first stationary portion 32 ' , in the shape of an abutment, that preferably is designed as an annular plastic detail. The abutment 32' is fixed on a rod portion 19 of the spindle 15 by means of a first fixing screw 33 ' that extends radially through the abutment 32 ' in order to engage the rod portion 19. The stabilisation means 22' also comprises a second stationary portion 34 ' that is fixed on the rod portion 19 by means of a second fixing screw 35' that also is brought to engagement with said rod portion 19. Said second stationary portion 34 ' is provided at a certain distance from the first stationary portion/abutment 32 ' and has an external thread 36'. The stabilisation means 22' comprises also a movable portion 37' that has an internal thread 38' that in its turn is intended to cooperate with the external thread 36' of the first stationary portion/abutment 32 ' . If needed the rod portion 19 is provided with an end protection 39', preferably of plastic.

As is shown in figure 7 the movable portion 37' is threaded on the second stationary portion 34 ' , said threads 36' and 38' being in engagement with each other. In figure 7 the spindle 15, equipped with the stabilisation means 22', is provided in a notch 14 in the side element 3 that is located between the first stationary portion 32 ' and the movable portion 37' . As is indicated by the two-way arrow 40' in figure 7 the movable portion 37' may be rotated (normally manually) relative to the first stationary portion 34 ' , said movable portion 37', due to the cooperating threads 36' and 38', being displayed axially relative to the first stationery portion/abutment 32'. When rotating the movable portion 37' in a certain direction it will be pressed against the side element 3 and an extremely rigid clamping is effected of the stabilisation means 22' in the notch 14. Said clamping also brings about a generally increased stabilisation of the side elements 3 and 5 of the device according to the present invention.

The rotation of the movable portion 37' in opposite direction brings about that said movable portion 37' is displaced away from the side element 3, this being used when the spindle 15 is removed from the notch 14.

The exterior of the movable portion 37' may be designed in several ways. However, it is important that said exterior gives a good grip when the movable portion 37' is rotated, this normally being carried out manually, as pointed out above .

Feasible Modifications of the Invention In connection with the description of the embodiment according to figures 1-5 it has been stated that the base plate, the side elements and the storage devices of the device according to the invention may be manufactured from a wooden based material. Within the scope of the invention it is also feasible that the base plates, the side elements and the storage devices are manufactured from aluminium that may be perforated in order to further reduce the weight of the device according to the present invention. Also other materials or combinations of materials are feasible within the scope of the invention.

The number of spindles and adherent number of notches may of course vary within the scope of the invention since said numbers constitute on one hand an adaption to a certain type of cable reels and on the other hand to a certain area of use. In this connection it should be pointed out that if the number of spindles are few it might be necessary to increase the ratio between the diameter of the discs and the diameter of the connecting portion in order not to risk the stability of the device.

In the embodiment described above the notches 14 have an extension in principle perpendicular to the base plate 1 while the notch 18 has an extension that forms an angle with the base plate 1. Within the scope of the invention it is feasible that all notches are provided in edge portions that in active position of the device form in principle right angle with the bottom plate 1, e.g. the edge portions 12, 13, 16, 17. In such a case all notches have an extension that forms an angle with the bottom plate 1. In the above described embodiment according to figures

1-5 the discs 24 are circular and the connecting portion 31 is cylindrical. Within the scope of the invention it is feasible that the discs for instance may be square or oval and that the connecting portion 31 for instance may have a square cross section, said cross section in such a case may cooperate with the adherent notch in order to prevent rotation of the spindle 15. For this reason the expression cross dimension is used in the claims while in the description the expression diameter is used. Also as regards the embodiment according to figures 6 and 7 the exterior of the abutment 32 ' must not be cylindrical and as already has been pointed out above the exterior of the movable portion 37' may be designed in several ways. As regards the embodiment according to figures 6 and 7 it is also feasible that two movable portions, on both sides of the side element 3, cooperate.

Claims

1. Device in connection with cable unreeling, said device may be transferred between a transporting position and an active position, or vice versa, said device comprising at least a spindle (15) for supporting at least a cable reel (30) , and means (3, 5, 14) for supporting, in active position of the device, said spindle (15) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spindle (15), in the area of its ends, is provided with stabilisation means (22; 22') that are intended to cooperate with the supporting means (3, 5, 14) in active position of the device .

2. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the supporting means comprise two side elements (3, 5) that are hingedly connected to a bottom plate (1) , and that notches (14) are provided in the side elements (3, 5) .

3. Device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the stabilisation means comprise discs (24) provided at a distance from each other, said discs (24) having an extension in planes that are essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spindle (15) , and that the discs (24) , for stabilisation purposes, are intended to receive between themselves a portion of a side element (3, 5) in the area of a notch (14) .

4. Device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a connecting portion (31) extends between the discs (24) , and that the cross dimension of the discs (24) is at least twice as large as the cross dimension of the connecting portion (31) .

5. Device according to claim 1 or 2 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the stabilisation means (22') comprise a portion (37') that is movable in the axial direction of the spindle (15), said movable portion (37') may be brought to abutment against a side element (3) when the spindle (15) is mounted in a notch (14) .

6. Device according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the movable portion (37') is equipped with a thread (38') that cooperates with a thread (36') on a portion (34') that is stationary relative to the spindle (15) , and that the stabilisation means (22') also comprise an abutment (32') that is intended to cooperate with the movable portion (37') .

7. Device according to any of claims 2-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the notches (14) are provided in or in the area of an edge portion (10, 11) of each side element (3, 5), said edge portion (10, 11) having an extension that forms of angle with the bottom plate (1) .

8. Device according to any of the claims 2-4 and 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a further notch (18) is provided in a further edge portion (16, 17) of each side element (3,5), said further edge portion (16, 17) having an extension in principle perpendicular to the bottom plate (1) .

9. Device according to any of the claims 2-4, 7 and 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that on the external side of each side element (3,5) storage devices (25) are provided, said storage devices (25) having means (28) for receiving the spindles (15) when the device is in transporting position.

10. Device according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the storage devices (25) comprise a stationary portion (26) and a movable portion (27) , said portions between themselves receiving the spindles (15) in cylindrical recesses (28) .