Wire roll dispenser apparatus

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6637688
  • Patent Number
    6,637,688
  • Date Filed
    Friday, January 25, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 28, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Marcelo; Emmanuel
    Agents
    • Bielen, Jr.; Theodore J.
Abstract
A wire roll dispenser apparatus utilizing a base member having a surface contacting foundation. The base member also includes a platform element which extends outwardly from the foundation member. A plate of a certain in mass and engages a plurality of projections which span the plate and the surface element. The plate and surface element form space for a wire roll which is unrolled for use.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a novel and useful wire roll dispensing apparatus.




Rolls of material such as wire or fencing mesh are often wound into layers of spiral configuration. Since the winding is often achieved through a machine, a considerable degree of compression is applied to the spirally wound roll. To maintain such compression during shipping, securing wires, ropes, lines, and the like are temporarily tied around the roll. When the securing line is severed, the roll has a tendency to expand and unravel uncontrollably. Dispensing of the wire or wire mesh is not easily achieved requiring multiple persons to orient and turn the roll.




In the past, systems have been devised to handle coils and rolls of material. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,539,016, 1,706,605, 2,019,857, and 3,556,431 show reels which rotate about a central axis to unwind material which is wrapped around the reel.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,918 teaches a roller which unwinds a web material through a roll friction bar. The bar maintains a constant tension on the screen material across the width of the screen roll.




U.S. Pat. 3,868,070 and 4,666,102 describe coil and cable dispensing apparatuses in which the wound material is held on a rotatable spindle and allowed to dispense or pay out from the reel. During the pay-out plates hold tension on the reel throughout its turning motion.




A wire roll dispensing apparatus which does not require a reel for use would be a notable advance in mechanical arts.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful apparatus for dispensing wire rolls is herein provided.




The dispenser of the present invention utilizes a base member which includes a foundation for contacting a surface and for supporting a platform element in an upright position. The platform element is rotatably mounted to the foundation member. In certain cases, the platform element make take the form of a plurality of arms and each having an upper surface for supporting wire roll. The arms may be adjustable to accommodate rolls of varying sizes and configurations.




A plurality of projections extend relative to the platform element. Such projections may be constructed in the forms of tubes that fit over bosses or protuberances located on any one of the plurality of arms. The projections may be removably held to the arms and are of a predetermined length to accommodate a roll of wire material without interfering with the same.




A plate of a pre-determined mass is also employed in the present invention. The plate is configured to engage the plurality of projections extending relative to the platform element. The plate and platform element form a space for accommodating the wire roll. That it is to say, the wire roll lies between the pressing plate and the platform element when being dispensed in the present invention. The plate may be formed with a number of recesses to positively engage the ends of the plurality of projections extending form the platform element. Such recesses may be patterned to engage the plurality of projections when the arms of the platform elements are extended or retracted as the case may be. Once the wire roll is placed beneath the weight of the plate and above the platform element it may dispensed easily such that the weight of the plate counter acts the expanding tendency of the roll. The base member also constructed such that the platform element is rotatably mounted with respect to the foundation member to allow the user to easily direct the paying-out of the wire roll when it is being employed in a construction or repair project.




It may be apparent that novel and useful surface supported wire roll dispenser apparatus has been herein above described.




Is therefor an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing wire-like material which is simple to operate and requires a minimum of moving parts.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a wire roll dispenser apparatus which mounts on a surface and is capable of permitting the user to unwind or pay-out wire-like material in any direction about a central axis.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a wire roll dispenser apparatus which elimintes the need for a reel to dispense wire material.




A further object of the present invention is to provide a wire roll dispenser apparatus which greatly increases the safety of the workers who are unwinding a roll for use.




Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a wire roll dispenser which includes a minimum number of parts and is easily maintained and repaired.




Another object for the present invention is to provide a wire roll dispenser apparatus which is capable paying out wire-like material and possesses versatility in accommodating wire rolls of varying sizes.




The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially of concerns particular characteristics and features thereof which will become apparent as the specification continues.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a sectional view taken along line


2





2


of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a sectional view taken along line


3





3


of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is a side elevational view of a partial single arm of the platform element showing the engagement of a projection thereto.





FIG. 5

is a sectional view of an arm of the present invention in which a projection has been in place there upon.





FIG. 6

is a top plan view of the apparatus of the present invention indicating rotation of the platform element and plate to allow dispensing of wire-like material in various directions.











For a better understanding of the invention references made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be taken in conjunction with the herein above described drawings.




DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be referenced to the prior delineated drawings.




The embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings in whole by reference character


10


. Apparatus


10


includes as one of its elements base member


12


. Base member


12


possesses a foundation element


14


having a foot


16


and a post


18


held by hollow support


20


. Foot


16


rests on ground surface


22


and supports post


18


in an upright position, as depicted in FIG.


1


.




Base


12


also includes a platform element


24


. Platform element


24


,

FIGS. 1 and 3

may take the form of a plurality of arms


26


which extend outwardly from a central hub or socket


28


. Each arm includes an upper surface which lies generally at the same height and provide a platform for wire roll


30


. That is to say, the embodiment described in the drawing shows arms


32


,


34


,


36


, and


38


. Each of the arms


32


,


34


,


36


and


38


is formed into two parts. With reference to exemplary arm


36


, it may be seen that a hollow first portion


40


accommodates a movable second portion


42


, directional arrow


44


. A multiplicity of openings


46


through second portion


44


accommodate elongated fastener such as bolt


48


to fix the overall length of arm


36


relative to hub


28


. It should be understood that arms


32


,


34


, and


38


are likewise adjustable. Platform element


24


provides a platform for a roll


30


by contact of the upper surfaces


50


,


52


,


54


, and


56


of arms


32


,


34


,


36


, and


38


, respectively. In certain embodiments, platform element


24


may include a solid uninterrupted surface in this regard. Platform element


24


is rotatably mounted with respect to post


18


. That is to say, hub


28


rotates relative to post


18


according to direction al arrow


68


,

FIG. 3

Returning to

FIG. 1

, it may observed that a plurality of projections


58


extend outwardly relative to platform element


24


. For example, projections


60


,


62


,


64


and


66


(truncated) are depicted in

FIGS. 1-3

. Projections


60


,


62


,


64


, and


66


are associated with arms


32


,


34


,


36


and


38


respectively. Projections


60


,


62


,


64


and


66


serve to control the expansion of roll


30


.




A plate


70


,

FIG. 2

, is also employed in apparatus


10


. Plate


70


is constructed of a certain weight to press on wire roll


30


in the space


72


created between plate


70


and platform element


24


. In this regard, lower surface


74


of plate


70


includes plurality of recesses


76


. Such plurality of recesses


76


are aligned to encompass any of the plurality of projections


58


,


60


,


62


, and


64


, commensurate with the length adjustment of arms


32


,


34


,


36


, and


38


.




With reference to

FIG. 4

, it may be seen that arm


32


is depicted with respect to fixed second portion


80


thereof. A boss


82


is welded or otherwise fixed to surface


50


and includes an L-shaped spacer


84


which lies against boss


82


. Projection


60


, in the form of a tube, includes a cutout lower portion


88


which fits adjacent upper portion


86


of L-shaped spacer


80


. Thus, projection


60


, when fitting over boss


82


and L-shape spacer


84


, does not rotate, FIG.


5


.




In operation, the user places roll


30


in space


72


between plate


70


and platform element


24


. Wire roll


30


is pressed downwardly by the weight of plate


70


which maintains compression of the coil roll


30


. Projections


60


,


62


,


64


and


66


confine roll


30


laterally within space


72


. Roll


30


may be barbed wire, as shown in FIG.


6


. The end


90


of roll


30


may be a singly strand or a mesh or matrix, is then pulled outwardly from space


72


for use. Wire roll


30


turns within space


72


in a controlled manner. A rotation of platform elements


24


and plate


70


permits the user to orient or direct the paying out of end


90


of roll


30


in multiple directions.

FIG. 6

indicates the rotation of plate


70


and platform element


24


about axis


92


according to directional arrow


94


. End


90


, in form a single strand is depicted in multiple directions while a matrix, such as a fencing type material


96


, is also depicted as being unraveled from roll


30


.




While, in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A surface supported wire roll dispenser apparatus, comprising;a. a base member, said base member including a foundation member for contacting a surface and platform element mounted to said foundation member; b. a plurality of projections extending relative to said platform element; and c. a plate of predetermined mass engaging said plurality of projections and the wire roll, said wire roll located in a space for accommodating the wire roll between said plate and said platform element, and means for rotatably mounting said platform to said foundation member, said means for rotatably mounting said platform to said foundation member further comprising a socket extending from said foundation member and a post formed on said platform element, said post being rotatably held within said socket.
  • 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which at least one of said plurality of projections extending relative to said platform element further includes means for holding said at least one projection to said platform element.
  • 3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said at least one projection further comprises means for removably holding said at least one projection to said platform element.
  • 4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said means for removably holding said at least one projection further comprises a boss fixed to said platform element and a hollow tube at least partially encompassing said boss, said hollow tube being removably held to said boss.
  • 5. A surface supported wire roll dispenser apparatus, comprising;a. a base member, said base member including a foundation member for contacting a surface and a platform element mounted to said foundation member; said platform element comprising a plurality of arms oriented outwardly from a hub, each of said arms including a surface for contacting the wire roll; b. a plurality of projections extending relative to said platform element; and c. a plate of predetermined mass engaging said plurality of projections and the wire roll, said wire roll located in a space for accommodating the wire roll between said plate and said platform element.
  • 6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which at least one of said plurality of arms includes a first portion and a second portion removably held relative to said first portion to determine a dimension of elongation of said at least one of said plurality of arms.
  • 7. The apparatus of claim 6 which additionally comprises means for rotatably mounting said platform to said foundation member.
  • 8. The apparatus of claim 6 in which at least one of said plurality of projections extending relative to said platform element further includes means for holding said at least one projection to said platform element.
  • 9. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said at least one projection further comprises means for removably holding said at least one projection to said platform element.
  • 10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said plate includes a multiplicity of recesses, said hollow tube fitting in any of said multiplicity of recesses.
  • 11. The apparatus of claim 5 which additionally comprises means for rotatably mounting said platform to said foundation member.
  • 12. The apparatus of claim 5 in which at least one of said plurality of projections extending relative to said platform element further includes means for holding said at least one projection to said platform element.
  • 13. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said at least one projection further comprises means for removably holding said at least one projection to said platform element.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
1539016 Mizuno May 1925 A
1706605 Haase Mar 1929 A
2019857 Hoover Nov 1935 A
3556431 Frietag Jan 1971 A
3868070 Goodzey et al. Feb 1975 A
4666102 Colbaugh et al. May 1987 A
4811918 Grooms Mar 1989 A