Device for use in dispensing wire

• US 5,881,967 A
• Filed: 01/24/1997
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barry Alexander Huff, Dennis Dawson
• Original Assignee: Barry Alexander Huff, Dennis Dawson
• Inventors: Dawson, Dennis, Huff, Barry Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Jillions, John M.
• Application Number:
  US08/788,176
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 242/593, 242/594.5, 242/594.6, 242/597.7, 242/129, 242/129.5, 242/137.1, 242/146, 242/132
• US Class Current: 242/593
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/28 Turntables , i.e. package resting on a table having also means for clamping the package B65H49/30
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/30 Swifts or skein holders
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/32 Stands or frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/328 Arrangements or adaptations for stacking

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device for dispensing a straightened length of coiled wire through an "O" ring portion of the frame of the dispenser. The dispenser includes coupling mechanisms which permits multiple dispensers to be joined and used together.

Claims

1. A coiled wire dispenser comprising:

a basket structure including an annularly shaped basket having an inner diameter and outer diameter, a centering member connected to said basket extending upwardly and inwardly from said inner diameter to a top plate, said centering member cooperating with said annularly shaped basket to form an interior area of said basket, and a base plate supporting said basket, said base plate including a rotatable bearing that permits the basket to rotate around a substantially vertical axis;

an "H"-shaped support having a pair of upstanding frame members connected by a center support for carrying said basket structure, each upstanding frame member including a pair of spaced apart upright legs each having an upper and lower end, said upright legs including a coupling member disposed on one of either of said upper ends, said coupling member having a receiving area complementary to said upright legs and configured to receive one of either the lower ends or upper ends of said upstanding legs from a similarly configured dispenser; and

an "O"-ring formed in at least one of said upstanding frame members.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said centering member is formed integrally with said basket.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said dispenser is formed from tubular steel.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said upright legs of each upstanding frame member are joined at their upper and lower ends by cross members.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said coupling member is a cylindrical tube having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the upright legs.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said basket includes a circular rim and a plurality of circumferentially spaced frame supports extending downwardly and gradually inwardly from said circular rim.

7. A first coiled wire dispenser as recited in claim 1 and a second coiled wire dispenser as recited in claim 1 disposed on top of said first coiled wire dispenser wherein the lower ends of said upright legs of said second coiled wire dispenser are received in and engaged to said coupling members of said first coiled wire dispenser.

8. A plurality of coiled wire dispensers comprising a first coiled wire dispenser including an annularly shaped basket having an inner diameter and outer diameter, a centering member connected to said basket extending upwardly and inwardly from said inner diameter to a top plate, said centering member cooperating with said annularly shaped basket to form an interior area of said basket and a base plate supporting said basket, said base plate including a rotatable bearing that permits the basket to rotate around a substantially vertical axis;

an "H"-shaped support having a pair of upstanding frame members connected by a center support for carrying said basket, each upstanding frame member including a pair of spaced apart upright legs each having an upper and lower end, said upright legs including a coupling member disposed on each of said upper ends, said coupling member having a receiving area complimentary to the lower ends of said upright legs; and

an "O" ring formed in one of said upstanding frame members;

a second coil wire dispenser supporting said first coiled wire dispenser, said second coiled wire dispenser including;

an annularly shaped basket having an inner diameter and outer diameter, a centering member connected to said basket extending upwardly and inwardly from said inner diameter to a top plate, said centering member cooperating with said annularly shaped basket to form an interior area of said basket, a base plate supporting said basket, said base plate including a rotatable bearing that permits the basket to rotate around a substantially vertical axis;

an "H"-shaped support having a pair of upstanding frame members connected by a center support for carrying said basket, each upstanding frame member including a pair of spaced apart upright legs having upper and lower ends, and at least one of said upstanding legs having an "O"-ring formed therein, said upright legs including a coupling member disposed on each of said upper ends, said coupling member having a receiving area said lower ends of said first coiled wire dispenser wherein lower ends of said first coiled wire dispenser are disposed in and engaged with said coupling members of said second coiled wire dispenser.

9. A method of straightening a desired length of coiled wire as it is dispensed comprising:

providing a coiled wire dispenser including a basket structure including an annularly shaped basket having an inner diameter and outer diameter, a centering member connected to said basket extending upwardly and inwardly from said inner diameter to a top plate, said centering member cooperating with said annularly shaped basket to form an interior area of said basket, and a base plate supporting said basket, said base plate including a rotatable bearing that permits the basket to rotate around a substantially vertical axis z, an "H"-shaped support having a pair of upstanding frame members connected by a center support for carrying said basket structure, each upstanding frame member including a pair of spaced apart upright legs each having an upper and lower end, said upright legs including a coupling member disposed on one of either of said upper ends, said coupling member having a receiving area complementary to said upright legs and configured to receive one of either the lower ends or upper ends of said upstanding legs from a similarly configured dispenser, and an "O"-ring formed in at least one of said upstanding frame members;

inserting a coil of wire having a free end into said wire receiving area;

threading the free end of said coil wire through said "O" ring

pulling a desired length of wire through said "O" ring.

10. A wire dispenser comprising:

a basket having a wire receiving and support area;

a base carrying said basket and including a rotatable bearing for permitting said basket to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;

a frame for supporting said basket and base, said frame including at least one "O"ring disposed thereon and a plurality of support legs of predetermined cross-sectional dimensions having an upper end and a lower end, a coupling mechanism disposed on one of either said upper or lower end of said legs and having a predetermined cross-sectional dimension complementary to the cross-sectional dimensions of said legs, whereby one of either said upper or lower ends of said legs of a similarly configured wire dispenser will engage said couplers.