Patent Application
20250122047
The present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus for transporting and suspending electrical cables, and more particularly, to a device for easing the installation process of electrical cables, telecommunication cables, and other similar products.
Cable installation, including electrical and optical cables, involves safely routing and connecting the cables for power and telecommunications services, such as telephone, internet, and television. During cable installation indoors, a variety of cables may be required to complete the installation. Thus, depending on the project, installation may require different cables with different characteristics such as size, shape, and function. Typically, electrical cables are presented in reels or spools. However, depending upon the characteristics of the particular electrical cable, the reels may have varying sizes including various diameters, lengths, widths, weight, etc.
The installation process requires a technician to unwind the cable from the particular spool. However, if the spool or reel is placed on a flat support surface, the technician may have difficulty unwinding the cable from the spool. In addition, when the spool is new, the spool may be too heavy or unwieldy to easily move from one location to the next during the installation. These factors, in turn, may cause the installation process to take longer than expected and may drive up installation costs.
Additionally, most projects require more than one type of cable to complete the installation process. However, constantly moving or organizing the spools of cable so that they are located near each other can also be time consuming and costly.
Thus, a need exists for a device that has the ability to hold several types of spools together and allow each of them to rotate independently, while also maintaining their location within the job site. A need also exists for a device that can be easily transported to various locations at the jobsite and between job sites, including the need for a device that can be easily collapsed, folded, or disassembled for transporting or storing the device.
This summary is provided to briefly introduce concepts that are further described in the following detailed descriptions. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In example embodiments, a cable installation apparatus is disclosed having a first pair of legs, a second pair of legs, and an axle. The first pair of legs includes a first leg and a second leg. The second pair of legs includes a third leg and a fourth leg. The first leg is configured for releasably coupling to the second leg to form a first triangular arch with respect to a support surface. Similarly, the third leg is configured for releasably coupling to the fourth leg to form a second triangular arch with respect to the support surface. The axle may then be releasably coupled to the first triangular arch and the second triangular arch by inserting the axle through upper ends of the first pair of legs and the second pair of legs, respectively. When the axle is coupled to the first triangular arch and the second triangular arch, the axle is parallel to the support surface.
According to example embodiments, a cable installation apparatus is disclosed having a first leg assembly, a second leg assembly, and an axle. The first leg assembly includes an upper end and a lower end, where the first leg assembly upper end is ring-shaped and the first leg assembly lower end is flat. The second leg assembly also includes an upper end and a lower end, where the second leg assembly upper end is also ring-shaped while the second leg assembly lower end includes a wheel axle that is configured for releasably coupling to one or more wheels. The axle is a rounded tube configured for receiving an electrical cable spool. When the axle is inserted into the first leg assembly upper end and the second leg assembly upper end, the first leg assembly forms a first triangular arch, the second leg assembly forms a second triangular arch, and the axle is substantially horizontal with a generally flat support surface.
Various example embodiments disclosed include a method of using a cable installation device by providing a cable installation device and assembling the device. The cable installation device includes a first leg assembly having an upper end and a lower end, where the first leg assembly upper end is ring-shaped and the first leg assembly lower end is flat. The device further includes a second leg assembly having an upper end and a lower end, where the upper end is ring-shaped and the lower end has at least one wheel axle. The device further includes an axle and one or more fastening mechanisms, where the axle is tube-shaped. The method includes (1) inserting the axle into the first leg assembly upper end; (2) inserting the axle into the second leg assembly upper end; (3) coupling a first fastening mechanism of the one or more fastening mechanisms to the first leg assembly upper end; (4) coupling a second fastening mechanism of the one or more fastening mechanisms to the second leg assembly upper end; (5) tightening the first fastening mechanism to prevent rotation of the axle within the first leg assembly ring-shaped upper end; and (6) tightening the second fastening mechanism to prevent rotation of the axle within the second leg assembly ring-shaped upper end.
The above summary is to be understood as cumulative and inclusive. The above described embodiments and features are combined in various combinations in whole or in part in one or more other embodiments.
The previous summary and the following detailed descriptions are to be read in view of the drawings, which illustrate some, but not all, embodiments and features as briefly described below. The summary and detailed descriptions, however, are not limited to only those embodiments and features explicitly illustrated.
These descriptions are presented with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. These descriptions expound upon and exemplify particular features of those particular embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matters. Although steps may be expressly described or implied relating to features of processes or methods, no implication is made of any particular order or sequence among such expressed or implied steps unless an order or sequence is explicitly stated.
Any dimensions expressed or implied in the drawings and these descriptions are provided for exemplary purposes. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to such exemplary dimensions. The drawings are not made necessarily to scale. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to the apparent scale of the drawings with regard to relative dimensions in the drawings. However, for each drawing, at least one embodiment is made according to the apparent relative scale of the drawing.
Like reference numbers used throughout the drawings depict like or similar elements. Unless described or implied as exclusive alternatives, features throughout the drawings and descriptions should be taken as cumulative, such that features expressly associated with some particular embodiments can be combined with other embodiments.
Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification, including the claims. Unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the instant specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained within the scope of these descriptions. As used herein, the term “about,” when referring to a value or to an amount of mass, weight, time, volume, concentration, and/or percentage can encompass variations of, in some embodiments +/−20%, in some embodiments +/−10%, in some embodiments +/−5%, in some embodiments +/−1%, in some embodiments +/−0.5%, and in some embodiments +/−0.1%, from the specified amount, as such variations are within the scope of these descriptions.
Referring to
In example embodiments, the cable spool apparatus 100 generally includes an axle 110, a first set of stationary legs 120, and a second set of wheeled legs 130. The axle 110 is generally rod-like in shape and may be any suitable length. For example, the axle 110 may be between about 5″ and 35″, more preferably about 10″ to about 30″, for example about 20″ to about 28″. In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may include one or more axles having varying outer diameters and/or lengths that allow the device 100 to be appropriate for use at a variety of different work sites with spools of various sizes. In various embodiments, the axle 110 may include one or more telescoping components that enable the axle to be lengthened or shortened for use, storage, and/or transport. In particular embodiments, the axle 110 includes a generally round cross-section. In alternate embodiments, any suitably shaped cross-section may be used to receive, retain, and allow a spool of cable or other material to rotate when installed on the axle. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the axle 110 is a round tube because cable spools generally have a round arbor. However, in some embodiments, the axle may be customized to fit a cable spool having a square-shaped arbor, where the entire axle rotates with respect to the device rather than the spool rotating around the axle as the cable is pulled from the spool. In various embodiments, any tube having sufficient rigidity may be used as an axle. Thus, the axle may be formed of any suitable material including, but not limited, wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic polymer, etc.
According to example embodiments, the stationary legs 120 generally include a first leg 120A and a second leg 120B, the second leg being generally identical to the first leg. Thus, for purposes of clarity and ease of understanding, the description will be directed to both stationary legs 120, with the understanding that the stationary legs are interchangeable and generally identically formed. The stationary legs 120 are generally rod-like in shape and may be any suitable length. For example, the stationary legs 120 may be between about 5″ and 35″, more preferably about 10″ to about 30″, for example about 20″ to about 28″. In example embodiments, one stationary leg is positioned in front of the other for coupling the legs 120 together. This arrangement also allows for additional stability for the device 100. In alternate embodiments, the stationary legs 120 may be aligned such that the legs align with each other, one leg may be longer than the other such that the legs are stacked, etc. However, in the interest of modularity and simplicity, the legs are preferably identical and interchangeable. In example embodiments, when the legs 120 are coupled to one another, they create a triangular shaped arch above the support surface.
In alternate embodiments, although shown with two stationary legs, any number of legs may be used. For example, the device 100 may include only one stationary leg. In this example embodiment, it is understood that the base of the singular stationary leg would need to be configured (e.g., sized and shaped) to sufficiently support the weight of the one or more spools placed on the device as well as to prevent the device from moving as the cables are pulled from the one or more spools installed on the device 100. For instance, a base or larger foot may be coupled to the second end of the 120B to support the device on a support surface.
Referring to
A threaded coupling 126 extends from an opening in the axle ring 124. The threaded coupling 126 is configured for receiving a fastening device 140, such as, but not limited to, a spade bolt, as shown in
Turning specifically to
Referring again to
As shown in
In example embodiments, the wheeled legs 130 are generally rod-like in shape and may be any suitable length, but preferably are shorter in length than the stationary legs 120 so that when the device 100 is in a resting position on a generally flat support surface (as shown in
Each wheeled leg 130A, 130B includes a first or upper end 132A and a second or lower end 132B. The wheeled legs upper end 132A is generally identical to the upper end 122A of the stationary legs 120. Thus, for purposes of clarity and ease of understanding, only the differences between the wheeled legs 130 and the stationary legs 120 will be discussed. However, it should be understood that the wheeled legs 130 generally include an axle ring or holder 134, a threaded coupling 136, a first and second rod receiver 137A, 137B, a rod 138, a fastening device 140, and hairpin or cotter pin 142—where each part is the same as, comparable, and/or interchangeable with the corresponding elements discussed with reference to the stationary legs 120.
Referring specifically to
As can be seen in
The device 100 is configured such that it may be easily assembled, as shown in
In example embodiments, the device 100 is configured to have a substantially minimal volumetric or spatial containment envelope or cube size (length (L)×width (W)×height (H)) when disassembled and packaged as compared to other spool holders, which is to accommodate transporting or relocating the device within a work site such as a home or office that may include narrow doorways or passageways, or for storing or transporting the device when not in use. In one example, the device 100 packaging or box size comprises a volumetric envelope of no more than about 89.25 ft3 (2.333 ft (L)×0.708 ft (W)×0.375 ft (H)). In alternate embodiments the volumetric envelope is no more than about 65.625 ft3, in another embodiment no more than about 45 ft3, in yet another embodiment no more than about 37.5 ft3 or in another embodiment no more than about 33.75 ft3.
Furthermore, the volumetric envelope of the device 100 itself can alternatively be calculated by overall floor area ratio of the device as calculated by surrounding or circumscribing the outer contour of the assembled legs 120, 130 of the device along with the height of the assembled legs. Thus, in another form, the device 100 comprises a volumetric envelope (π(pi)×radius2 ((D/2)2)×height (H)).
Optionally, the volumetric envelop can be calculated using other shapes, for example, a triangular prism or other geometrical envelope generally surrounding the device 100. Preferably, the volumetric envelope is calculated in such a manner that any cable spool 200 coupled to the device 100 and extending outside the envelope is not considered an outer dimension of the device for calculation purposes. Preferably, as described above, since the device 100 is configured for rolling along a substantially vertical motion path due to being guided by axle 110, the lateral motion of the device is substantially minimal and thus allows for a reduction to the area (length×width) of the overall device. For example, the projected square footage occupied by the device or unit 100 may be between about 29″ (L)×27″ (W).
To assemble the device 100, the wheels 135 are coupled to the wheel axles 139. The stationary legs 120 are coupled to one another by inserting the respective rods 128 into the corresponding rod receivers 127B and attaching a cotter pin 142 to the end of each rod. Similarly, the wheeled legs 130 are coupled to one another by inserting the respective rods 138 into the corresponding rod receivers 137B and attaching a cotter pin 142 to the end of each rod. Next, the axle 110 is threaded through the stationary leg axle rings 124 and the wheeled leg axle rings 134 and secured in place with one or more fastening devices 140 coupled to the one or more threaded couplings 126, 136. In particular embodiments, to assist with stability, the fastening device 140 is coupled to the outer legs of the assembly 100.
Disassembling the device 110 entails the opposite actions occurring. Because of the interchangeability of the parts, the device may be assembled or disassembled in any suitable order. Additionally, when assembling the device 100, because any suitable axle may be used, the legs 120, 130 may be positioned at varying positions along the axle.
Particular embodiments and features have been described with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that these descriptions are not limited to any single embodiment or any particular set of features, and that similar embodiments and features may arise or modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope of these descriptions and the spirit of the appended claims.
