WIRE AND CABLE DISPENSING CONTAINER AND SYSTEMS

• US 20120160952A1
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Windy City Wire Cable and Technology Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Windy City Wire Cable and Technology Products LLC
• Inventors: GALGANO, Richard, WINKEL, Mark K., MCGUIRE, Martin C., MCGUIRE, Martin J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,387,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/594.3
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/14 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/025 Reels, e.g. for filamentary or sheet material
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/003 Non-transparent side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/04 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0083 Wheeled supports connected to the transported object
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/04 for coils of wire, rope or hose
• 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 49/325 Arrangements or adaptations for supporting the shafts, e.g. saddle type shaft bearings

Abstract

A system for dispensing electrical communications cable includes first and second containers of wire or cable wound on reels placed inside respective first and second cartons. The first and second cartons are disposed to be adjacent one another and a clear passageway extends completely through the cartons, the reels, and any internal support structures in the cartons that support the reels. An elongate rod is disposed in the clear passageway and extends at least from the left panel of the first carton to the right panel of the second carton.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing electrical or communications cable comprising:

a first container including

a first carton having a first bottom panel with left and right sides, an upstanding first left panel of the first carton joined to the left side of the first bottom panel, an upstanding first right panel joined to the right side of the first bottom panel;

a first cable reel including an elongate first spindle on which electrical or communications cable is wound, the first spindle having opposed left and right ends, the first spindle adapted to rotate around a horizontal axis spaced from and parallel to the first bottom panel of the first carton;

a first left support disposed above the first bottom panel for rotatably supporting the left end of the first cable spindle off of the first bottom panel of the first carton, a first right support disposed above the first bottom panel for rotatably supporting the right end of the first cable spindle;

a second container including

a second carton having a second bottom panel with left and right sides, an upstanding second left panel of the second carton joined to the left side of the second bottom panel, an upstanding second right panel joined to the right side of the second bottom panel;

a second cable reel including an elongate second spindle on which electrical or communications cable is wound, the second spindle having opposed left and right ends, the second spindle adapted to rotate around the horizontal axis;

a second left support disposed above the second bottom panel for rotatably supporting the left end of the second cable spindle off of the second bottom panel of the second carton, a second right support disposed above the second bottom panel for rotatably supporting the right end of the second cable spindle;

the right panel of the first container disposed to be proximate to the left panel of the second container, a clear passageway formed around the horizontal axis and through the first left panel of the first carton, the first left support, the first spindle, the first right support, the first right panel of the first carton, the second left panel of the second carton, the second left support, the second spindle, the second right support, and the second right panel of the second carton; and

an elongate rod disposed through the clear passageway and extending at least from the first left panel of the first carton to the second right panel of the second carton.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an arbor hole formed around the horizontal axis in each of the first left panel, the first right panel, the second left panel, and the second right panel, the clear passageway extending through each of the arbor holes.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each arbor hole further comprises an edge, at least a portion of the edge being perforated.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each left support includes a left bushing, each right support includes a right bushing, each cable reel includes a left flange with a left central hole on the axis and a right flange with a right central hole on the axis, the left and right central holes being sized such that the left and right bushings are insertable into its respective central hole.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each left bushing is affixed to a left caddy disposed in the carton to be adjacent to its respective left panel and to extend upwardly from an upper surface of the respective bottom panel and each right bushing is affixed to a right caddy disposed in the carton to be adjacent to its respective right panel and to extend upwardly from the upper surface of the respective bottom panel.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first end of the elongate rod, a second end of the elongate rod, a first hole for receiving the first end of the elongate rod, and a second hole for receiving the second end of the elongate rod.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third container disposed to be above and supported by the first container, the third container including

a third carton having a third bottom panel with left and right sides, an upstanding third left panel of the third carton joined to the left side of the third bottom panel, an upstanding third right panel joined to the right side of the third bottom panel;

a third cable reel including an elongate third spindle on which electrical or communications cable is wound, the third spindle having opposed left and right ends, the third spindle adapted to rotate around a second horizontal axis spaced from and parallel to the third bottom panel of the third carton;

a third left support disposed above the third bottom panel for rotatably supporting the left end of the third cable spindle off of the third bottom panel of the third carton, a third right support disposed above the third bottom panel for rotatably supporting the right end of the third cable spindle;

a fourth container disposed to be above and supported by the second container, the fourth container including

a fourth carton having a fourth bottom panel with left and right sides, an upstanding fourth left panel of the fourth carton joined to the left side of the fourth bottom panel, an upstanding fourth right panel joined to the right side of the fourth bottom panel;

a fourth cable reel including an elongate fourth spindle on which electrical or communications cable is wound, the fourth spindle having opposed left and right ends, the fourth spindle adapted to rotate around the second horizontal axis;

a fourth left support disposed above the fourth bottom panel for rotatably supporting the left end of the fourth cable spindle off of the fourth bottom panel of the fourth carton, a fourth right support disposed above the fourth bottom panel for rotatably supporting the right end of the fourth cable spindle;

the right panel of the third container disposed to be proximate to the left panel of the fourth container, a second clear passageway formed around the second horizontal axis and through the third left panel of the third carton, the third left support, the third spindle, the third right support, the third right panel of the third carton, the fourth left panel of the fourth carton, the fourth left support, the fourth spindle, the fourth right support, and the fourth right panel of the fourth carton; and

a second elongate rod disposed through the second clear passageway and extending at least from the third left panel of the third carton to the fourth right panel of the fourth carton.