1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to methods, systems and apparatus providing markers, guards, and the like on guy wires. More particularly, this application is directed to guy marker devices, bulk guy wire marker articles of manufacture, a method of dispensing guy markers, a manual tool for installing guy markers, and further to a dispenser for storing the bulk marker and enabling payout of the bulk marker for cutting into selected lengths for installation onto associated guy wires.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, guy markers are used for visually identifying down guys or other wire and cable installations where anchoring devices in the ground are exposed to pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic. Guy markers are usually manufactured from plastic and sold as individual rigid elongate tubes, typically having a longitudinal slit or opening. In practice, bundles of these devices are carried to the job site in large boxes and selectively applied onto down guys or other wires and/or cables as necessary. Difficulties exist related to the handling and storage requirements owing to the awkwardness of these devices and to the bulky volume occupied by bundled markers. Simply, they do not stack or transport well. Also, typically, all of the bundled guy markers are of like size. This limits the range of applications and often forces modifications in the field when the length of the standard guy marker does not match the application need.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,336 to Bogese, III describes a method for manufacturing and installing a rigid plastic guy wire guard on a guy wire. In particular, that patent describes a plastic guy wire guard having an enlarged first end shaped to surround and protect anchor assemblies, and a narrow second end adapted to encompass the relatively small diameter guy wire therein. The guy wire guard is formed of plastic and is manufactured using extrusion, casting or molding techniques to first form tubes having a diameter sufficient to accommodate guy wire cables. The plastic is heated to a melt temperature, agitated and extruded through a suitably shaped die to form round, uniform cross-section tubing. The tubing is immediately quenched in a cooling liquid, such as water, and is cut to desired lengths to form a plurality of tubular members. The tube is then cut longitudinally so as to form a slit comprised of a pair of opposed and adjacent edges. The basic function of the slit is to create an opening for later installation of the tube about a guy wire.
The above-described initial forming step imparts an inherent memory characteristic in the tube. That is, after the plastic has been melted and cooled to room temperature, the tube has the ability to maintain or “remember” its basic shape as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the '336 patent, and will tend to return to that basic shape even if subsequently deformed.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the '336 patent, upon installation, the larger diameter portion contracts owing to the shape memory characteristic to secure the guard to an anchor. According to the patent, however, the desired contraction requires the application of heat, either via the sun or a portable source.
Further, the markers/guards described in the '336 patent are cut to a single common length during manufacture and prior to transport to the application site. They are thus handled in bundles by the relevant technicians.
There remains a need, therefore, for providing plastic wire guy markers and a dispenser system therefor which alleviates the problems related to handling and storage requirements owing to the volume occupied by bundles of manufactured guy wires prior to their installation onto associated guy wire cables.
There is also a need for a plastic guy marker which is easy to manufacture, transport, and install.
A need also exists for an installation tool for manually applying the marker onto the associated guy wire.
Further, there remains a need to provide a dispenser system for storing multiple plastic guy wire markers in bulk on a spool prior to installation onto associated guy wire cables.
The present application provides novel and unique guy markers, tools for installing the guy markers, a dispenser therefor, and methods for manufacture and use of the guy markers, which overcome all of the deficiencies noted above and others with respect to the prior art devices.
In accordance with one aspect of the present application, a guy marker apparatus is provided for use on an associated guy wire. The guy marker apparatus includes a substantially rectangular main body member having opposite parallel first and second edges extending along a longitudinal axis of the main body member, with a first connection portion on the first edge and a second connection portion on the second edge. The first and second connection portions are selectively interlockable to hold the main body member in a folded or curled tubular conformation surrounding the associated guy wire.
In accordance with a further aspect of the guy marker apparatus, the first and second connection portions are selectively interlockable and slidable to hold the main body member in the folded conformation with the first and second edges extending along the longitudinal axis of the main body member and, thereafter, for holding the main body member in a spiraled conformation wherein the first and second connection portions intermate at a three-dimensional curve that turns around an axis defined by the associated guy wire at a substantially constant distance while moving parallel to the axis defined by the guy wire. Essentially, a helix is defined thereby.
In accordance with another aspect of the present application, a dispensing system is provided for use with a bulk coil of guy marker material having either the preferred foldable tube construction or the shape memory characteristic as desired. The dispensing system includes a housing defining a cavity adapted to hold the guy marker material in a tight coiled configuration. An outlet opening is provided at a suitable location on the housing so that the bulk guy marker material can be payed out as desired and cut into selected lengths. The guy marker material includes coiled flattened layers within the cavity. The guy marker material is a flat sheet rolled into the coil and, selectively, may be imparted with a memory characteristic. The memory characteristic includes a tubular shape.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present application, a hand tool is provided for manipulating an associated self-locking article such as a guy marker between unlocked and self-locked states. The tool is particularly useful with articles foldable from a substantially flat state to a rolled or curled state. In that regard, the tool includes a main body member, an alignment portion adapted to guide the associated article in its unlocked state relative to the main body member, a production portion adapted to guide the associated article in a self-locked state relative to the main body member, and a forming wall formed between the alignment portion and the production portion. The forming wall is shaped with a contour adapted to move the associated article between its unlocked state and its self-locked state based on relative movement between the associated article and the main body member.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present application, a method of forming a guy wire guard from a roll of bulk guy marker material is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a guy marker material, rolling flattened layers of the guy marker material and, placing the coiled guy marker material into a dispenser. The preferred dispenser includes a resilient outer housing defining a cavity adapted to surround the coil. The method further includes the step of drawing the guy marker material from the housing and cutting the material to desired lengths. In one embodiment, opposite edges of the bulk marker material are connected together to form the guy marker around the associated guy wire. In another embodiment, a shape memory characteristic is imparted to the marker material prior to the coiling or rolling step causing the cut guy material to curl into a tubular shape onto the associated guy wire making use of the tool somewhat easier. Additionally, the method further includes the step of wrapping the guy material around a guy wire to form the guy wire guard.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present application, an article of manufacture is provided including a holder member and a bulk guy marker material held in a coil by the holder. The bulk guy marker material is selectively unrolled from the coil and selectively cut into sections of desired length for placement onto an associated guy wire. In its preferred form, the bulk guy marker material is plastic and includes mutually lockable outer edges having connection portions disposed therealong. Preferably, the mutually lockable outer edges are slidably lockable to permit relative movement between the edges along a line defined at the connection portions. In another embodiment, the bulk guy marker material has a shape memory is adapted to self curl after removal from the holder member.
The foregoing advantages, and others, will in part be obvious and in part pointed out more fully hereinafter in conjunction with the description of the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
a is a perspective view of the guy marker apparatus of
a is an enlarged view of area A illustrating a connection area of the guy marker apparatus of
b is an enlarged view of areas B of
c is an enlarged view of area C of a second connection area of the guy marker apparatus of
a is a first perspective view of a tool for manipulating the guy marker apparatus of
b is a second perspective view of the tool of
c is an end view of the tool of
d is a perspective view of another preferred form of a tool for manipulating the guy marker apparatus of
a-5d are schematic illustrations of alternative preferred embodiments of connecting opposite edges of the flat guy marker material of
Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting same,
a shows the guy marker apparatus 10 in a condition completely installed onto the associated guy wire 1 using the tool 100 described above. However, in accordance with one aspect of the present application, the guy marker apparatus 10 is adapted to be shaped onto the associated guy wire 1 in a helical pattern 11 by twisting opposite ends of the guy marker in opposite directions. As shown in
With continued reference to
In addition to the above, it is to be further appreciated that the orientation of the first and second connection portions 30, 40 disposed along the first and second edges 22, 24, respectively, can take on any form but, preferably, are oriented as illustrated in
As shown in
In addition to orientation of the first and second connection portions 30, 40 described above, other arrangements of the connection portions on respective first and second edges of the sheet are possible as well. To that end,
With reference once again to
With continued reference to
Turning now to
Overall, the tool body member includes a substantially cylindrical housing 110 defining a longitudinal passageway 112 therethrough. The longitudinal passageway 112 is adapted to receive the guy marker body member therethrough and permit relative movement between the tool 100 and the marker body member 20. As illustrated, the preferred form of the forming wall 106 includes a taper to urge the opposite edges of the guy marker body member into mutual abutment based on relative movement between the housing 110 and the guy marker body member 120 received in the tool. The alignment portion 104 has a D-shaped entranceway or opening adapted to receive the guy marker body member in an opened condition prior to an interlocked state between the first and second connection portions 30, 40.
Further, the housing 110 includes a longitudinal slot 120 opening into the passageway 112. An inwardly extending longitudinal wall 122 is formed substantially along the slot and is provided to engage a first edge 22 of the guy marker body member 20 during relative movement of the tool during installation of the guy marker onto the associated guy wire. The taper provided in the tool essentially compresses the top sheet 50 into the closed condition shown schematically in
Turning next to
Overall, the tool body member 102′ includes a substantially cylindrical housing 110′ defining a longitudinal passageway 112′ therethrough. The longitudinal passageway 112′ is adapted to receive the guy marker body therethrough and permit relative movement between the tool 100′ and the marker body member 20′. As shown, the alignment portion 104′ has an overall “D-shaped” entranceway or opening with a superimposed “D-shaped” lip portion 101 defined therein. In that, the entranceway is adapted to receive the guy maker body member in an opened but nearly folded condition prior to an interlocked state between the first and second connection portions 30, 40.
Lastly with regard to the embodiment shown in
The dispenser 310 as shown in its preferred form is generally shaped in a circular configuration with a flat section 330 defined along a portion of the outside wall 332 of the dispenser 310. The flattened section 330 is preferably arranged distal relative to the handle 320 as shown in
A cavity 340 is formed within the first and second halves 314, 316 of the housing 312 and comprises a ring-like configuration, to be more fully described hereinafter. An opening 342 is defined through the first and second halves 314, 316 of the housing 312 and is arranged to receive a capsule 346 therein for storage of tie wraps 348 or other fastening components.
The housing 312 may be formed from any of a number of suitable rigid plastic materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, or ethylene copolymers. It is to be appreciated that the housing 312 may also be formed in a clam shell design, whereby the two halves 314, 316 of the housing 312 are hingedly connected using suitable means (not shown). Additionally, it is to be appreciated that the housing 312 may consist of a clear plastic construction or include a clear portion, such as a clear “stripe”, for viewing the contents of the housing.
It is to be appreciated that the guy marker material 354 is preferably manufactured in a continuous process which imparts a shape memory characteristic to the material 354 and then coils the material 354 into flattened layers to form the bulk roll 352 illustrated. The material 354 may be formed by any well-known extrusion, casting, or molding method. The material 354 may be impact modified, UV stabilized, and/or weather-screened as desired to withstand the elements associated with outdoor use. Preferably, the plastic used is thermoplastic having other characteristics, namely, a color concentrate additive.
The first half 314 of the housing 312 includes a set of access holes 360 which are provided to assist with manual rotation of the bulk roll 352 of guy marker material 354. Similarly, the second half 316 of the housing 312 is provided with a corresponding set of access holes 362. Preferably, the set of access holes 360 in the first half 314 of the housing 312 overlie the set of access holes 362 in the second half 316 of the housing 312 when the housing halves are brought together in a closed relationship.
The second half 316 of the housing 312 defines a substantially planar side wall 366 and a central sleeve member 368 projecting upwardly from the side wall 366. The central sleeve member 368 includes a circumferential terminal edge 370 distal to the wall 366. The sleeve 368 defines a portion 342a of the opening 342 therethrough. Similarly, the first half 314 of the housing 312 defines a substantially planar side wall 374 in which the respective access holes 360 are formed. The wall 374 also includes a central sleeve 376 projecting downwardly from the wall 374 and includes a circumferential terminal edge 378 distal to the plate 374. The second sleeve 376 defines a portion 342b of the opening 342 therethrough. It is to be appreciated that the cavity 340 formed by the first and second halves 314, 316 of the housing 312 generally defines a ring-like space around the sleeves 368, 376 and between the side walls 366, 374. Accordingly, the bulk roll 352 of coiled guy marker material 354 is suitably arranged in the ring-like cavity 340 around the sleeves 368, 376.
The first and second halves 314, 316 of the housing 312 further include flattened sections 330a, 330b, respectively. The flattened sections 30 are distal to the handle 320 and collectively provide a means for enabling the dispenser 310 to stand upright on a planar surface. The second half 316 of the housing 312 includes a peripheral wall 317 with a suitable opening 382 provided at one end of the flattened section 330b. Similarly, the first half 314 of the housing 312 includes a peripheral wall 315 provided with an opening 384 at one end of the flattened section 330a. In the assembled position, the openings 382, 384 in the peripheral walls 317, 315 of the second and first halves 316, 314 of the housing 312 cooperatively form an outlet to rotatably guide the guy marker material 354 from the dispenser 310.
Referring now to
The guy marker material 354, as discussed, can be drawn from the housing 312 at any desired length. After paying out the desired length, the guy marker material 354 may be cut using any suitable associated tool. After the guy marker material 354 is cut and severed from the coil 52, the shape memory characteristic previously imparted during manufacture thereof causes the material to curl and form into a desired tubular shape 355. It will be appreciated that the tubular shape 355 includes a slit 356 running longitudinally along the guy marker material 354. This slit 356 provides the opening by which an operator may expand the opening to slip over a guy wire (not shown) in order to install the marker to visually identify downed guys or other wire installations to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60710691 | Aug 2005 | US |