Electrical Wire Spooling and Dispensing Device

Abstract

A wire coil holder and dispensing device that contains one or more coils of electrical or other wire of any size and dispenses wire as needed by the user. A cylinder between upper and lower side walls rotates and dispenses wire. Wire of any gauge or coil size may be loaded onto the device. The side walls of the device prevent the wire from uncoiling in an unregulated manner, while the cylinder on which the coil is mounted only turns when the user pulls the free end of the coil, thus preventing excess wire from being dispensed. Additionally, the device contains a variety of hard points on the outer side walls, which allow the device to be mounted or affixed if desired, however, the wire, may be dispensed without need of mounting.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a device for the coiling and dispensing of electrical wire. In particular, the present invention relates to a device wherein a spool of electrical wire is mounted and dispensed and may be easily transported.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The electronic and telephone industries employ fine insulated wires for interconnecting electronic and telephone components and equipment. Typical wire sizes are AWG Nos. 22-30. The operator selects a desired wire size usually from a spool of wire, cuts it to the desired length, and then strips the insulation from the wire ends preparatory to making the desired connection, usually by soldering, wire-wrapping, or mechanical insertion into component or equipment terminals. Separate hand tools are available for affecting the wire cutting and insulation stripping of the wire ends.

[0003] An efficient and convenient means for dispensing electrical wire and television or computer cable would be useful in a wide variety of applications. For example, electricians must often dispense large quantities of electrical wire at industrial or home construction sites; cable television providers must dispense large quantities of cable at cable television installation sites; and computer hardware providers must dispense large quantities of computer cables in offices or other locations where, for example, computer networks are being installed. In all of these applications, a means by which the electrical wire or television or computer cable is dispensed should have certain characteristics to provide maximum efficiency and convenience to the user.

[0004] First, the wire spools should be directly observable to check the amount of wire remaining on each spool. Second, each wire spool should be easily refilled when it becomes exhausted. Third, a means should be provided to prevent the wire spools from spinning freely as wire is dispensed therefrom. Free spinning is a problem in those wire dispensers where it occurs because it results in the unnecessary dispensing of wire before it is needed, resulting in tangles and crinks in wire. Finally, the wire dispenser should be portable, i.e., it should be capable of being carried manually to different sites as needed.

[0005] Electricians install wire in buildings by pulling different colored strands from standardized wire spools and running the collection of wires through various types of metal and plastic conduits. To make this operation more efficient, the wire spools can be mounted on racks where they are free to rotate so as to allow the wire to easily unwind from the spools. Often, as the spools spin, the centrifugal force expands the wraps of wire radially outward to where they fall off the spool and become tangled with each other or the rack. Even after the electrician stops pulling the wire, the spool may continue to spin, under stored momentum, so that the wire billows out into a tangled mess. Thus, a lot of time is wasted keeping the runs of wire clear and free.

[0006] This problem is exacerbated when the electrician moves to different parts of the job and, therefore, pulls the wire from different directions. In this situation, wire may try to spiral off the end of the spool without even turning the spool, causing the wire to wrap around the spindle supporting the spool.

[0007] Thus, it is critical that a wire dispensing device be easily mobile, yet prevent excess dispensing, and be easily reloadable. The present invention accomplishes this in a novel manner which is superior to those devices in the prior art.

[0008] Another issue addressed by the present invention is that wire is often sold in coils without a spindle. To be loaded on any of the spindles provided in the prior art the wire must be uncoiled from its packaging and coiled onto a spindle. This spindle may be larger than needed, or take up significant additional space. Since the present invention combines both the dispenser and the spindle into a single object, as well as opening to allow direct loading of the coiled wire, the present invention surpasses those devices exhibited in the prior art.

[0009] Still another problem with the prior art is complexity and cost. A wire guide should be simple and inexpensive, even though it is adjustable to work with any size wire coil and in any direction of wire pulling. Otherwise, the guide may cause the electrician more trouble than assistance. The present invention meets these requirements.

[0010] Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0011] Numerous patents have issues and applications published in the field of cable and electrical wire dispensing. While relevant to the field in general, these prior art devices and systems each have drawbacks and fail to address the needs of electricians and other cable installers addressed by the present invention. The present invention addresses each of the drawbacks to which the prior art devices are subject.

[0012] Kober, U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,268 is directed toward an electrical wire dispenser with built-in wire cutter and insulation stripper comprises a housing for a spool of wire, and an outlet on the housing through which the free wire end can be drawn. A groove is provided on a surface of the housing, and the wire cutter and stripper are mounted in spaced relationship along the groove to perform their respective functions on the wire when positioned within the groove. The Kober patent is designed for smaller gauges of wire, more specifically AWG #22, 24, 26, 28 or 30. The present intervention is designed to be suitable for any gauge of electrical wire or cable and scaled as needed for larger or smaller sized spools of wire. The present invention does not suffer the limitations of Kober, and is thus a novel and more useful device.

[0013] Walsh, U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,610 is directed toward a portable wire dispenser for holding and dispensing one or more spools of electrical wire or television or computer cable. The wire dispenser of the invention allows for replacement of exhausted wire spools without disturbing remaining non-exhausted wire spools, and prevents free spinning of wire spools as wire is dispensed. The wire dispenser of the invention is particularly suitable for use at construction sites, including industrial locations and home building sites, and for cable television and computer network installation. The Walsh device differs from the present invention in that it requires a spool on which the wire is mounted. Wire is most frequently sold without a spool, thus a necessity for one would require an additional component that is not demanded of users of the present invention. With the present invention, any size coil of electrical wire may be loaded, without the need for a spool or other holding the device. The present invention effectively serves as both the spool and the dispenser.

[0014] Arnold, U.S. Design Pat. No. D436,021 is directed toward an ornamental design for an electrical wire spool with integrated tension control bushing. The design shown in Arnold does not open in a manner that allows the insertion of any size coil of electrical wire. To load the device shown in Arnold, the user would be required to uncoil their own wire and re-coil it onto the device. The represents a distinct disadvantage over the present invention, onto which any coil of electrical wire may be easily loaded.

[0015] Gudgeon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,059 is directed toward a wire guide to control and contain electrical wire as it is pulled off a standard spool that is rotating about a spindle. The guide has side plates that rest alongside the spool and rotate about the same spindle upon which the spool turns. An adjustable spacer extends between the side plates to insure a good fit for any width spool. Adjustable length guide bars also extend between the side plates with the wire passing between the guide bars so that wire is prevented from expanding radially outward and becoming entangled. The device described in Gudgeon has additional requirements that the present invention innovates beyond. The device in Gudgeon requires a spool, which means the wire will have to be re-coiled onto the spool rather than simply loaded as with the present invention. Additionally, the device in Gudgeon requires mounting, which severely hampers the usability and versatility of the device in comparison to the present invention.

[0016] The present invention has numerous distinct advantages over those devices described in the prior art. Prior devices have been generally designed for much smaller wire, and arguably limited to to: AWG #22, 24,26, 28 or 30. Further, prior art devices often require multiple components, such as a spool and a mount, as well as complicated dispensing mechanisms. Additionally, prior art device often require difficult steps to be taken to load the wire onto the device, involving uncoiling the wire from within its packaging and securing it onto a spindle. The present invention is a single component, onto which any coiled wire can be loaded (or uncoiled wire can be coiled) that is easily loadable and dispenses in a desirable manner. The present invention satisfies a hole in the current art, and represents a novel and more efficient way of dispensing and loading wire as needed for electrical and other installation work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention is primarily designed to hold and dispense a variety of coiled wires for use in electrical and other fields. The present invention is designed to serve as a receptacle for coiled wire and guide dispensing during use.

[0018] A second aspect of the present invention is the prevention of over dispensing. The device is designed to rotate and dispense wire while the user is pulling the wire. Upon the user ceasing pulling of the wire, the device will cease rotating, thus, preventing over dispensing of the wire, which can result in tangles and crinks in the wire.

[0019] A third aspect of the present invention is the ability for one or both of the side walls to be quickly and easily removed and replaced to allow loading of coiled wire.

[0020] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, and manner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the present invention opened to allow loading of a coil of wire.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the present invention closed, as if loaded with wire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the present invention open in a manner to allow the loading of a coil of electrical or other wire. The upper side wall (101) and lower side wall (102) of the present invention are shown, with the upper side wall (101) lifted and removed from the cylinder body (103) of the device. Within the cylinder body (103) of the device, an outer cylinder (104) encircles an inner cylinder (105). The inner cylinder (105) is stationary and contains several hard points (106), which allow the attachment and immobilization of the upper side wall (101) and lower side wall (102). The outer cylinder (104) rotates freely around the inner cylinder (105), allowing wire that is loaded into the device to spin freely and dispense as needed. Screws, bolts or another suitable fastener will be used to affix the upper (101) and lower (102) side walls of the device to the stationary inner cylinder (105). The inner cylinder (105), as well as the upper (101) and lower (102) side walls may contain a variety of mounting points to allow the device to be mounted if desired. Further, one or both the upper and lower side walls may be equipped with feet to allow the device to remain portable and function without mounting if desired.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of the present invention closed, as it would be when a coil of wire has been loaded or the device is empty. Within the cylinder body of the device (103), an outer cylinder (104) encircles an inner cylinder (105). The inner cylinder (105) is stationary and contains several hard points (106), which allow the attachment and immobilization of the upper side wall and lower side wall. The outer cylinder rotates freely around the inner cylinder, allowing wire that is loaded into the device to spin freely and dispense as needed. Screws, bolts or another suitable fastener will be used to affix the upper and lower side walls of the device to the stationary inner cylinder (105). The inner cylinder (105), as well as the upper (101) and lower (102) side walls may contain a variety of mounting points to allow the device to be mounted if desired. Further, one or both the upper (101) and lower (102) side walls may be equipped with feet to allow the device to remain portable and function without mounting if desired.

[0026] According to a primarily aspect of the present disclosure, the outer cylinder (104) will be of an appropriate size to receive traditional coils of electrical wire. This size may be varied in other incarnations of the present device, should it be desirable to tailor the device to smaller or larger coils.

[0027] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure the upper (101) and lower (102) side walls of the device should be easily removeable and replaceable to allow loading of coiled wire onto the device without the need to uncoil and recoil the wire. Further, the upper side wall (101) and lower side wall (102) of the device will be close enough together to prevent inadvertent uncoiling of the loaded wire.

[0028] According to one aspect of the present invention, a variety of hard points shall be located on the upper and lower side walls of the device that allow mounting in a variety of situations if desired. Alternatively, the device may remain unmounted, allowing the user flexibility in both usage and transport of the device.

[0029] According to another aspect of the present invention, the outer cylinder (104) of the device will provide resistance while the wire is being dispensed to prevent inadvertent uncoiling following the ceasing of pulling by the user. This resistance could be provided by the use of a bearing or other device in between the stationary internal cylinder (105) and outer cylinder (104).

Example 1

Electrical Wire Dispensing

[0030] The present invention may, in a preferred embodiment, be deployed to be loaded with and dispense electrical wire, such as is used for construction and other purposes.

[0031] In such uses, electrical wire commonly sold in small coils may be easily loaded onto the device by removing either the upper or lower side wall. Once the coil is placed around the device cylinder, the packaging of the coil may be removed if desired. The previously removed side wall of the device may then be replaced. The user may then pull the end of the coiled wire slowly to dispense as needed.

[0032] The presently described device is small enough to be carried as needed by the electrician or other user around the job site. Further, the device is capable of being loaded with smaller coils of wire, allowing the user to select the appropriate size coil for the job at hand. This prevents the user from having to carry wire in great excess of what is needed for a particular job, resulting in additional and unnecessary fatigue.

[0033] Further, hard points located on both the upper and lower side walls of the device allow mounting of the device if desired. The device could be mounted to a variety of other things including a wheeled cart (for easy transport) or one or more additional instances of the present device, allowing for the user to have multiple varieties of wire within easy reach.

Claims

1. A wire guide for controlling and containing the unwinding of electrical or other wire from a coil or spool of comprising: an upper and lower side wall plates removeably attached to an internal cylinder, an outside cylinder rotateably encircling said internal cylinder and a one or more hard points allowing the mounting or attachment of the device if desired.

2. The wire guide of claim 1 in which said internal cylinder is sizable and may be sized to reflect the requirements of alternated coils of wire.

3. The wire guide of claim 1 further comprising a bearing or other resistance creating device or substance in between said fixed internal cylinder and said outer cylinder.

4. The wire guide of claim 1 further comprising telescoping upper and lower side walls, which may be enlarged or reduced to accommodate coils of different sizes.

5. The wire guide of claim 1 further comprising additional instances of the wire guide of claim 1 affixed to said upper or lower sidewalls, each instance being loaded with an individual coil of wire.

Images