GB2220639A

GB2220639A - Cable dispensing device

Info

Publication number: GB2220639A
Application number: GB8816032A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-07-06
Filing date: 1988-07-06
Publication date: 1990-01-17
Also published as: GB8816032D0

Abstract

A cable dispensing device comprises a base and a cable-drum cradle. The base comprises a non-slip cruciform arrangement 4. The cradle incorporates an openable upper bar 12 for cable-drums, and cable guiding eyelets 9, one for each drum. The cradle rotates about a vertical axis on the base so that cable may be drawn from the drums and through the eyelets without tangling by an operator remote from the dispenser. As the operator moves around the dispenser the cradle orients itself towards him as cable is drawn off a drum. <IMAGE>

Description

Cable Dispensing Device This invention relates to a device for dispensing cables.

According to the present invention a device for dispensing cables comprises a base and a cable drum cradle mounting for at least one cable drum, the cable being rotatable with respect to the base to permit the cradle to adopt an attitude wherein cable from a cable drum on the cradle leaves the drum in a direction approximately perpendicular to the drum axis.

Throughout this specification, the term "cable" is intended to cover all elongate flexible items, such as cables, wires, hoses, pipes, string, ropes, and any other product commonly stored on a drum.

The base is preferably adapted so that the device may rest firmly on an uneven floor. The base is preferably formed as a cruciform arrangement with four legs radiating from a central connection point. The base may be adapted so that it will not move unless required to do so. In such a case the base may incorporate four non-slip rubber feet, one on the end of each free leg.

The means for storing at least one cable drum preferably comprises a substantially horizontal support bar or rod. The horizontal support bar is preferably selected so that at least three conventional cable drums can be stored thereon simultaneously.

The device preferably incorporates cable control means spaced from the drum location on the cradle.

The cable control means preferably comprises at least one eyelet through which one or more cables may be drawn. Each eyelet is preferably fixed to or integral with a further substantially horizontal bar or rod. This bar or rod is preferably parallel to and at approximately the same vertical distance from the base as the cable drum support bar or rod.

The cable drum support means preferably comprises an inclined four-sided frame, the cable drums being located on a horizontal top bar of the frame.

The cable control means preferably comprises a similarly inclined four-sided frame, the dispensing means being located on a horizontal top bar thereof.

In such a preferred embodiment, the cable drum support means and the cable control means preferably form a frame the sides of which diverge upwardly and are joined at their respective bases. Such a divergent frame is preferably rotatable about a vertical axis located at its centre, the rotation axis being coaxial with the centre of the base.

The upper rotatable part of the device is preferably smoothly rotatable with respect to the base by means of a pair of slider plates one being affixed to the upper part of the device, the other being affixed to the base.

In a further preferred embodiment, the cable drum storage means is adapted so that it is possible to attach and/or remove drums therefrom readily. Such an adaptation may comprise, in the case of a rod or bar-like storage means, a hinge at one end of the rod and a closable gate at the other end. In such a case the closable gate may be lockable.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a cable dispensing device; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a cable dispensing device and a cable drum; and, Figure 3 is a plan view of a cable dispensing device and three cable drums.

In the drawings a cable dispensing device 1 comprises generally a base 2 and a cable drum cradle 3.

The base 2 comprises a cruciform arrangement 4 of square section steel pipes (the side length of which is approximately 20mm and the overall length of which is approximately 500mm). The free end of each leg of the cruciform arrangement includes a downwardly facing nonslip rubber foot 5 so that the device may rest upon but not slide over an uneven floor.

The cable drum cradle 3 comprises generally a cable control means 6 and a cable drum mounting means 7.

The cable control means 6 comprises an upper horizontal bar 8, to which are affixed three substantially equally spaced cable eyelets 9, and a lower horizontal support bar 10 the two bars being maintained in a parallel arrangement by means of a pair of inclined pipes 11 (as shown in Figure 2). Thus, in general terms, the cable control means consists of an inclined rectangular frame. To simplify manufacturing of the device it may be advantageous to select the same size of square section pipe for cable control means (and the cable mounting means) as for the base.

The cable drum mounting means 7 comprises a circular section openable upper bar 12, and a lower support bar 13, the two bars being maintained in a parallel arrangement by means of a pair of inclined pipes 14 (again, as shown in Figure 2). Similarly, in general terms, the cable drum mounting means consists of an inclined rectangular frame and virtually the same dimensions as the frame of the cable control means. The upper cable drum support bar 12 is openable by means of a hinge at one end (adjacent one inclined pipe 14) and a lockable gate at the other end (adjacent the other inclined pipe 14). In this manner, it is readily possible to remove drums from the rod 12 when the drums are empty (or otherwise) and add further or replacement drums.Ordinarily, the gate would be lockable merely to prevent the support bar 12 from accidentally opening but it may be desirable in certain circumstances to prevent drums of expensive cable being removed fraudulently. In such circumstances the gate of the rod 12 could include a padlock.

As will be appreciated from Figures 2 and 3 the lowermost rod 10 of the control means and the lowermost rod 13 of the cable drum mounting means 7 may, in fact, be one and the same bar. Alternatively, the two rods could be held together in intimate contact along their length by means of welds, rivets, bolts or otherwise.

The cradle 3 is rotatable with respect to the base 2 about a central vertical axis.

In order that such rotation be relatively smooth a pair of square friction or slider plates 15 are provided, one affixed to a base portion of the cradle, the other affixed to an upper portion of the base. Since such plates are relatively smooth and have a relatively small separation it is readily possible for the cradle to turn through 360 degrees or more with respect to the base and, importantly, the location and size of the plates is selected so that any tendency of the cradle to rock about a horizontal axis is much reduced.

The cradle is held in association with the base by means of a bolt arrangement (as shown in Figure 1).

The advantage of the present invention is that it is now possible for, for example, an on-site electrician, to carry three or more types of household wiring with him and for the drums thereof to be located in a safe place where they will not be lost. Furthermore, the device itself can be located in the centre of a room and as the electrician works his way around the room drawing cable from the drum all the time, the action of drawing the cable from the drum through the cable control means that the eyelets of the device are always facing him. Clearly, as cable is drawn through a smooth eyelet without imparting any kinks or twists to the cable it is much easier for an electrician to fit cables into a room.

As will be appreciated from Figure 3 the cable is drawn from the drum approximately at a right angle to the drum axis. However, as the cable is drawn off in the direction shown in the drawing the cradle will tend to notate clockwise until the cradle axis is at ninety degrees to the axis of the cable. In other words, in the example of Figure 3 the cradle will be turned clockwise through approximately 15 degrees before coming to rest.

This invention is not limited in its scope in respect of domestic household electrical cables but includes also other composite cables and other flexible elongate devices.

This invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing embodiment. The invention extends to any novel one or any novel combination of the features disclosed herein. The invention also extends to any novel one or any novel combination of the steps of any method or process disclosed herein.

Claims

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1. A device for dispensing cables comprises a base and a cable-drum cradle mounting for at least one cabledrum, the cradle being rotatable with respect to the base to permit the cradle to adopt an attitude wherein cable from a cable-drum on the cradle leaves the drum in a direction approximately perpendicular to the drum axis.

2. A cable dispensing device according to Claim 1 wherein the base is adapted to rest firmly on an uneven floor.

3. A cable dispensing device according to Claim 2 wherein the base is formed as a cruciform arrangement.

4. A cable dispensing device according to Claim 3 wherein the cruciform arrangement comprises four legs radiating from a central connection point.

5. A cable dispensing device according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the base is adapted so that it will not move unless required to do so.

6. A cable dispensing device according to Claims 4 and 5 wherein the base incorporates four non-slip rubber feet, one on the lowermost portion of each leg of the base.

7. A cable dispensing device according to any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the means for storing at least one cable-drum comprises a substantially horizontal support bar or rod.

8. A cable dispensing device according to Claim 7 wherein the support bar is selected so that at least three conventional cable-drums can be stored thereon simultaneously.

9. A cable dispensing device according to any of Claims 1 to 8 wherein a cable control means is incorporated onto the device, the control being spaced from the drum location on the cradle.

10. A cable dispensing device according to Claim 9 wherein the cable control means comprises at least one eyelet through which one or more cables may be drawn.

11. A cable dispensing device according to Claim 10 wherein the or each eyelet is fixed to or integral with a further substantially horizontal bar or rod.

12. A cable dispensing device according to Claim 11 wherein the said further bar is substantially parallel to and at approximately the same vertical distance from the base as the cable drum support bar.

13. A cable dispensing device according to any of Claims 1 to 12 wherein the cable-drum support means comprises an inclined four-sided frame, the cable-drums being located on a horizontal top bar of the frame.

14. A cable dispensing device according to Claim 9 wherein the cable control means comprises an inclined four-sided frame, the dispensing means being located on a horizontal top bar of the frame.

15. A cable dispensing device according to Claim 14 wherein the cable-drum support means and the cable control means forms a frame, the sides of which diverge upwardly and are joined at their respective bases.

16. A cable dispensing device according to Claim 15 wherein the divergent frame is rotatable about a vertical axis located at the centre of the lower edge of the frame

17. A cable dispensing device according to any of Claims 1 to 16 wherein the upper rotatable part of the device is smoothly rotatable with respect to the base by means of a pair of slider plates one being affixed to the upper part of the device, the other being affixed to the base so as to move one over the other.

18. A device for dispensing cables substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.