Transporter for containers of spooled wire or cable

• US 8,876,033 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Windy City Wire Cable and Technology Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Windy City Wire Cable and Technology Products LLC
• Inventors: Winkel, Mark K., McGuire, Martin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVERA, WILLIAM ARAUZ
• Application Number:
  US13/117,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20120298788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 242/403, 242/403.1, 242/557, 242/588, 242/588.3, 242/588.6, 242/598, 242/598.3, 242/598.5, 242/578, 242/578.2
• US Class Current: 242/557
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/008 having a prop or stand for maintaining position
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/20 involving parts being collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/025 Reels, e.g. for filamentary or sheet material
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2206/02 adjustable in length or width
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/067 Stowable or retractable handle bars
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/32 Stands or frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/322 Enclosing boxes with supporting means for the package or reel during unwinding
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/38 Skips, cages, racks, or containers, adapted solely for the transport or storage of bobbins, cops, or the like

Abstract

A transporter for manually transporting cartons of wire or cable has a horizontal support member having first and second pieces, first and second spaced-apart vertical support members, and first and second axial inserts attached to the vertical support members for insertion into entry holes in a reel or carton. A collapsible handle is affixed to the support structure and one or more stabilization members prevent the carton from rotating as wire is dispensed from the carton.

Claims

1. A transporter for manually transporting at least one container, each container including a carton of wire or cable, the transporter comprising:

a container support structure comprising;

a first substantially vertical support member having a lower end affixed to at least one wheel aligned in a direction of travel;

a first axial insert attached to the first vertical support member and extending from the first vertical support member in a first direction on a horizontal axis;

a second substantially vertical support member axially spaced from the first vertical support member;

a second axial insert affixed to the second vertical support member on the horizontal axis and extending in a second direction opposite the first direction toward the first axial insert;

a horizontal support member spaced from the horizontal axis, disposed between and affixed to the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member, an overall length of the horizontal support member being adjustable;

a handle affixed to the container support structure; and

at least one stabilization member affixed to the container support structure and adapted to abut at least one nonrotational surface of the at least one carton to prevent the at least one carton from rotating about the horizontal axis,

the handle being convertible between a towing configuration in which the handle is extended to be parallel to and acts as a rigid extension of the horizontal support member, and a collapsed configuration in which the handle is not extended and does not act as an extension of the horizontal support member.

2. The transporter of claim 1, further comprising a bracket affixed to the horizontal support member, an axle passing through the bracket which acts as a pivot around which the handle rotates such that a first abutting surface of the handle abuts a second abutting surface of the horizontal support member when the handle is in the towing configuration.

3. A transporter for manually transporting at least one container, each container including a carton of wire or cable, the transporter comprising:

a container support structure comprising;

a first substantially vertical support member having a lower end affixed to at least one wheel aligned in a direction of travel;

a first axial insert attached to the first vertical support member and extending from the first vertical support member in a first direction on a horizontal axis;

a second substantially vertical support member axially spaced from the first vertical support member;

a second axial insert affixed to the second vertical support member on the horizontal axis and extending in a second direction opposite the first direction toward the first axial insert;

a horizontal support member spaced from the horizontal axis, disposed between and affixed to the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member, an overall length of the horizontal support member being adjustable;

a handle affixed to the container support structure; and

at least one stabilization member affixed to the container support structure and adapted to abut at least one nonrotational surface of the at least one carton to prevent the at least one carton from rotating about the horizontal axis, the horizontal support member having a first piece that is slideable in an axial direction relative to a second piece and is affixable to the second piece at each of a plurality of positions.

4. The transporter of claim 3, further comprising a releasable latch for fixing in place the first piece of the horizontal support member relative to the second piece of the horizontal support member.

5. The transporter of claim 4, wherein the second piece telescopes inside the first piece.

6. The transporter of claim 5, wherein the first piece further comprises a hollow tube having a sidewall with a plurality of openings at a plurality of predetermined locations and the releasable latch comprises a detent upstanding from an exterior sidewall of the second piece of the horizontal support member at a predetermined position;

and

wherein the detent is sized and positioned to fit into one of the first plurality of openings when a distance between the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member equals one of a plurality of predetermined lengths, such that the predetermined locations of the openings relate to the predetermined lengths.

7. The transporter of claim 3, further comprising an axial support member extending from the first axial insert to the second axial insert.

8. A transporter for manually transporting at least one container, each container including a carton of wire or cable, the transporter comprising:

a container support structure comprising;

a first substantially vertical support member having a lower end affixed to at least one wheel aligned in a direction of travel;

a first axial insert attached to the first vertical support member and extending from the first vertical support member in a first direction on a horizontal axis;

a second substantially vertical support member axially spaced from the first vertical support member;

a second axial insert affixed to the second vertical support member on the horizontal axis and extending in a second direction opposite the first direction toward the first axial insert;

a horizontal support member spaced from the horizontal axis, disposed between and affixed to the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member, an overall length of the horizontal support member being adjustable;

a handle affixed to the container support structure; and

at least one stabilization member affixed to the container support structure and adapted to abut at least one nonrotational surface of the at least one carton to prevent the at least one carton from rotating about the horizontal axis, the stabilization member conforming to at least two nonrotational surfaces of the container.

9. The transporter of claim 8, wherein the at least one stabilization member comprises a horizontal plate for supporting a container, the horizontal plate being affixed to the first vertical support member and the at least one wheel.

10. The transporter of claim 8, wherein the stabilization member is affixed to the horizontal support member.

11. The transporter of claim 8, wherein the stabilization member has a first surface conforming to a horizontal top surface of the container, a second surface conforming to a first vertical surface of the container, and a third surface conforming to a second vertical surface of the container spaced from the first vertical surface of the container.

12. A transporter for manually transporting a container including at least a first carton of wire or cable, comprising:

a container support structure comprising;

a first substantially vertical support member having a lower end affixed to at least one wheel aligned in a direction of travel;

a second substantially vertical support member axially spaced from the first vertical support member;

a horizontal support member disposed between and affixed to the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member, an overall length of the horizontal support member being adjustable;

an axial support member insertable into a first hole in the first vertical support member and into a second hole in the second vertical support member, the inserted axial support member being on a horizontal axis, spaced from the-horizontal support member, and parallel to the-horizontal support member;

a handle affixed to the container support structure; and

at least one stabilization member affixed to the container support structure and adapted to abut at least one nonrotational surface of the carton to prevent the carton from rotating around the horizontal axis.

13. The transporter of claim 12, the axial support member further comprising a second plurality of holes disposed along a length of the support member.

14. A system for manually transporting wire or cable, comprising:

at least a first container, each container comprising a carton and a reel housed in the carton and rotatable about a horizontal axis, the carton including

a plurality of panels including a front panel having top, bottom, left and right sides, a top panel extending from the top side of the front panel, a bottom panel extending from the bottom side of the front panel, a left panel extending from the left side of the front panel so as to be orthogonal to the bottom panel, and a right panel extending from the right side of the front panel so as to be parallel and spaced from the left panel;

a left entry hole formed in the left panel;

a right entry hole formed in the right panel;

a continuous axial passageway through each container, the continuous axial passageway including the left and right entry holes;

a container support structure comprising;

a first substantially vertical support member having a lower end affixed to at least one wheel aligned in a direction of travel;

a first axial insert for insertion through an entry hole, the first axial insert attached to the first vertical support member and extending from the first vertical support member in a first direction on a horizontal axis;

a second substantially vertical support member;

a second axial insert for insertion through another entry hole, the second axial insert attached to the second vertical support member on the horizontal axis and extending in a second direction opposite the first direction and toward the first axial insert;

a horizontal support member spaced from the horizontal axis, disposed between and affixed to the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member, an overall length of the horizontal support member being adjustable;

a handle affixed to the container support structure; and

at least one stabilization member affixed to the container support structure and adapted to abut at least one panel of the carton to prevent the carton from rotating about the horizontal axis.

15. The system of claim 14, the horizontal support member having a first piece that is slideable in the first direction relative to a second piece and is affixable to the second piece at a plurality of positions.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a releasable latch for fixing in place the first piece of the horizontal support member relative to the second piece of the horizontal support member.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second piece telescopes inside the first piece.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first piece further comprises a hollow tube having a sidewall with a plurality of openings at a plurality of predetermined locations and the releasable latch comprising a detent upstanding from an exterior sidewall of the second piece of the horizontal support member at a predetermined position;

and

wherein the detent is sized and positioned to fit into one of the first plurality of openings when a distance between the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member equals one of a plurality of predetermined lengths, such that the predetermined locations of the openings relate to the predetermined lengths.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising an axial support member for attachment to the first axial insert and the second axial insert and insertion through the continuous axial passageway of each container.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a second container, the entry holes of the first and second containers disposed on the axis such that the axial support member is insertable through the continuous axial passageways of the first and second containers.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the stabilization member has a first surface conforming to a horizontal first surface of the carton, a second surface conforming to a first vertical surface of the carton, and a third surface conforming to a second vertical surface of the carton spaced from the first vertical surface of the carton.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising a pass-through opening in at least one of the front, top, and bottom panels for removal of wire or cable from the carton.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the handle is convertible between a towing configuration in which the handle is extended and the handle acts as a lever to support a portion of the weight of the container, and a collapsed configuration in which the handle is not extended and does not act as a lever to support a portion of the weight of the container.

24. The system of claim 23, the handle further comprising a bracket affixed to the horizontal support member, the bracket having an axle passing through the bracket which acts as a pivot around which the handle rotates such that a first abutting surface of the handle abuts a second abutting surface of the horizontal support member when the handle is in the towing configuration.

25. A system for manually transporting wire or cable, comprising:

at least a first container, each container comprising a carton and a reel housed in the carton and rotatable about a horizontal axis, each carton including

a plurality of panels including a front panel having top, bottom, left and right sides, a top panel extending from the top side of the front panel, a bottom panel extending from the bottom side of the front panel, a left panel extending from the left side of the front panel so as to be orthogonal to the bottom panel, and a right panel extending from the right side of the front panel so as to be parallel and spaced from the left panel;

a left entry hole formed in the left panel;

a right entry hole formed in the right panel;

a continuous axial passageway through the left entry hole, the reel, and the right entry hole;

a container support structure including

a first substantially vertical support member having a lower end affixed to at least one wheel aligned in a direction of travel;

a second substantially vertical support member axially spaced from the first vertical support member;

an axial support member insertable through the continuous axial passageway, into a first hole in the first vertical support member, and into a second hole in the second vertical support member, the inserted axial support member being on a horizontal axis;

a horizontal support member spaced from and parallel to the horizontal axis, disposed between and affixed to the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member, an overall length of the horizontal support member being adjustable;

a handle affixed to the container support structure; and

at least one stabilization member affixed to the container support structure and adapted to abut at least one panel of the carton to prevent the carton from rotating about the horizontal axis.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein a length of the axial support member is adjustable.

27. The system of claim 26, the axial support member further comprising a first axial section, a second axial section, and a second releasable latch for fixing in place the first axial support member section relative to the second axial section.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising a second container, the entry holes of the first and second containers disposed on the axis such that the axial support member is insertable through the continuous axial passageways of the first and second containers.

29. A method of transporting at least one container, each container having a carton of wire or cable comprising the steps of:

adjusting a length of an axial support member having a first axial section, a second axial section, and a releasable latch for fixing in place the first axial support member section relative to the second axial section;

inserting a first end of the axial support member through a continuous axial passageway of the at least one container, the continuous axial passageway extending through a first entry hole in a first panel of each carton, through a reel housed in each container, and through a second entry hole formed in a second panel of each carton, the second panel being opposite and spaced from the first panel;

inserting the first end of the axial support member into a first axial insert attached to a first substantially vertical support member of a container support structure;

adjusting an overall length of a horizontal support member disposed between and affixed to the first and second substantially vertical support members such that a distance between the first substantially vertical support member and the second substantially vertical support member equals a predetermined length;

inserting a second end of the axial support member into a second axial insert attached to a second substantially vertical support member of the container support structure; and

extending a handle affixed to the container support structure.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of extending the handle comprises the substep of rotating the handle about a pivot affixed to the container support structure such that a first abutting surface of the handle abuts a second abutting surface of the container support structure such that the extended handle acts as an extension of the container support structure.

31. The method of claim 29, further including the step of affixing a first piece of the horizontal support member to a second piece of the horizontal support member at one of a plurality of predetermined positions with a second releasable latch.

32. The method of claim 31, said step of affixing the first piece to the second piece comprising the substeps of

depressing a detent of the releasable latch to a nonengaged position, the detent upstanding from an exterior sidewall of the second piece of the horizontal support member;

and

moving the second piece of the horizontal support member relative to the first piece of the horizontal support member to a predetermined location;

while the second piece is at the predetermined location, returning the detent to an engaged position such that the detent fits into one of a plurality of openings in a sidewall of the first piece, such that predetermined location relates to the predetermined length and the detent prevents movement of the first piece relative to the second piece.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of dispensing the wire or cable through a slot in a third panel of the carton.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of dispensing further comprises the substep of stabilizing the carton with a stabilization member adapted to abut at least one nonrotational surface of the carton.

35. A method of transporting at least a first container, each container including a carton of wire or cable, the method comprising the steps of:

affixing the first container to a transporter including

a first substantially vertical support member having a lower end affixed to at least one wheel;

a second substantially vertical support member;

a horizontal support member disposed between and affixed to the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member, an overall length of the horizontal support member being adjustable;

a handle;

at least one stabilization member adapted to abut at least one panel of the carton to prevent the carton from rotating about a horizontal axis; and

transporting the at least first container by extending the handle and rolling the transporter forward;

resting the second substantially vertical support member on a support surface; and

dispensing cable or wire from a slot in a panel of the carton.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of adjusting the overall length of the horizontal support member such that a distance between the first and second substantially vertical support members equals a predetermined length.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of affixing includes the substeps of

inserting a first end of an axial support member through a continuous axial passageway of the first container, the continuous axial passageway extending from the first entry hole to a second entry hole formed in a second panel of the carton, the second panel being opposite the first panel;

affixing the first end of the axial support member to the first substantially vertical support member; and

affixing a second end of the axial support member to the second substantially vertical support member.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of adjusting a length of the axial support member having a first axial section, a second axial section, and a second releasable latch for fixing in place the first axial support member section relative to the second axial section.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of inserting the first end of the axial support member through a continuous axial passageway of a second container.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of inserting the first end of the axial support member through a continuous axial passageway of a third container.