Cable reel and reel carrying caddy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10239725-B2
Application number	US-201715842254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2017
Priority date	Oct 7, 2011
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

A resilient cable caddy comprising a portable housing for storing reels of cable that has a lower base with a hinged top forming an enclosure for the reel. A reel of cable is rotatably mounted within the interior. A handle formed by abutting base and top portions enables carrying. Each reel comprises a spool with a central axle coupled at each end to spaced apart end caps, being retained by mounting rings. The spindles have bearing rings journaled to bearing races defined in the end caps. Both spindles comprise hubs disposed within case gudgeons. A two-piece spindle has a removable hub portion fitted to an internal socket. When reels are transported they may be stacked vertically atop one another with the one piece spindle engaging the empty and exposed spindle hub socket of an upper reel. Caddies may also be opened and stacked vertically for transportation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A caddy system for enclosing, transporting and dispensing cable, the caddy system comprising:
a reel for holding a spool of cable;
the reel including an axle and first and second end caps;
the first end cap including a first bearing race;
the second end cap including a second bearing race;
in the first bearing race a spindle or shaft is fitted;
the shaft having a first bearing part mating with the first bearing race and an adjoining support part that mates with a first gudgeon of the caddy;
the shaft irrotatably mated with the first gudgeon and the shaft rotatably mated with the first bearing race;
in the second bearing race, a spindle or socket is fitted;

the socket having a second bearing part mating with the second bearing race and the bearing part receiving a key that mates with the second gudgeon of the caddy; and,
the key irrotatably mated with the second gudgeon, the key irrotatably mated with the socket, and the second bearing race rotatably mated with the socket.

2. The caddy system of claim 1 wherein socket is dimensioned to irrotataby receive the adjoining support part.

3. The caddy system of claim 1 wherein portions of the first shaft bearing part are to either side of tabs including outwardly facing barbs that engage with an inner lip of the race.

4. The caddy system of claim 1 wherein one end of the axle fits over a cylindrical extension of one end cap and the other end of the axle fits over a cylindrical extension of the other end cap such that the shaft and socket do not touch the axle.

5. The caddy system of claim 4 wherein one cylindrical extension is opposite one bearing race and the other cylindrical extension is opposite the other bearing race.

6. The caddy system of claim 1 wherein the reel assembled with the shaft, socket, and key may be freely inserted into and removed from the gudgeons.

7. The caddy system of claim 1 further comprising:
a base with opposed upstanding panels forming a front and back and with opposed upstanding panels forming left and right sides;
the base and a lid in an articulated clamshell arrangement;
the gudgeons integral with the panel left and right sides; and,
the reel, shaft, socket, and key supported by the base when the shaft and key mate with respective gudgeons.

8. A method of providing a caddy for enclosing, transporting and dispensing cable, the method steps comprising:
providing a base with gudgeons in opposed sidewalls;
assembling a reel including an axle and two end caps;
inserting in a bearing race of the first end cap a shaft;
inserting in a bearing race of the second end cap a socket;
inserting in the second socket a key; and,
dropping the shaft and key into gudgeons;
wherein two sloping sides of the shaft mate with two sides of the first gudgeon such that the shaft is prevented from dropping through the first gudgeon and wherein two sloping sides of the key mate with two sides of the second gudgeon such that the key is prevented from dropping through the second gudgeon.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the shaft is irrotatable with respect to the gudgeon.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the bearing race of the first end cap is rotatable with respect to the shaft.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the key is irrotatable with respect to the second gudgeon.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the key is irrotatable with respect to the socket.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the bearing race of the second end cap is rotatable with respect to the socket.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein one end of the axle fits over a cylindrical extension of one end cap and the other end of the axle fits over a cylindrical extension of the other end cap such that the shaft and socket do not touch the axle.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:
providing a lid with curved sides for mating with curved sides of the base; and,
forming a handle where portions of the base and the lid come together.

Assignees

• Perfectvision Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Chastain Robert J
• Mcdonald Denton
• Carter James S
• Bowen Chrispin A
• Kelly David A
• Shaw Glen David

Classifications

• B65H49/325

  Arrangements or adaptations for supporting the shafts, e.g. saddle type shaft bearings · CPC title

• B65H75/185

  End caps, plugs or adapters · CPC title

• B65H75/30

  Arrangements to facilitate driving or braking · CPC title

• B65H49/328

  Arrangements or adaptations for stacking · CPC title

• B65H49/205 Primary

  Hand-held or portable dispensers · CPC title