WIRE DISPENSING STORAGE CONTAINER

Abstract

A wire dispensing storage container includes a number of features. In one feature, the container includes two pairs of axel mounts, each pair of mounts configured to mount one axel that can extend through a central opening in a wire spool to mount the spool within the container while allowing the spool to rotate for dispensing of wire from the spool and the container by a worker. One pair of the mounts is configured to allow an axel and a spool carried thereon to be removed from the container and installed into the container by a worker via a horizontally facing, front opening in the container. The other pair of axel mounts is configured to allow another axel and a spool carried thereon to be removed from the container and installed into the container by a worker via a vertically upwardly facing top opening in the container.

Claims

1. A wire dispensing storage container comprises: a pair of vertically extending mount walls spaced from each other and defining a pair of axel mounts for at least one ridged axel component that can extend through a central opening in a wire spool to mount the wire spool within the container while allowing the wire spool to rotate about the axel for dispensing of wire from the wire spool and the container by a worker, one of the axel mounts defined in one of the mount walls and the other of the axel mounts defined in the other of the mount walls; a bottom wall extending between the pair of mount walls; a back wall extending between the pair of mount walls; and a lid extending between the pair of mount walls and mounted to pivot between a closed position and an open position.

2. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 1 wherein the axel mounts are configured to allow both the axel and a wire spool carried thereon to be removed from the container by a worker and to be installed into the container by a worker via a horizontally facing, front opening in the container.

3. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 1 wherein the axel mounts are configured to allow both the axel and a wire spool carried thereon to be removed from the container by a worker and to be installed into the container by a worker via a vertically upwardly facing top opening in the container.

4. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 3 wherein in the closed position the lid covers the top opening and in the open position the lid exposes the top opening.

5. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 1 wherein the mount walls further define an additional pair of axel mounts for at least one additional ridged axel component that can extend through a central opening in an additional wire spool to mount the additional wire spool within the container while allowing the wire spool to rotate about the additional ridged axel for dispensing of wire from the additional wire spool and the container by a worker, one of the additional axel mounts defined in one of the mount walls and the other of the additional axel mounts defined in the other of the mount walls.

6. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 5 wherein one the pair axel mounts is configured to allow both the axel and a wire spool carried thereon to be removed from the container by a worker and to be installed into the container by a worker via a horizontally facing, front opening in the container.

7. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 6 wherein the additional pair of axel mounts is configured to allow both the additional axel and the additional wire spool carried thereon to be removed from the container by a worker and to be installed into the container by a worker via a vertically upwardly facing top opening in the container.

8. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises axel mounts that allow an axel to extend through the container, with opposite ends of axel extending in opposite directions from the container, with each of the opposite ends capable of mounting a wire spool for rotation so that wire can be dispensed from the wire spool by a worker.

9. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 1 further comprises axel mounts that allow a pair of the containers to be spaced from each other with opposite ends of an axel mounted in each of the spaced containers and at least one wire spool mounted on the axel for rotation so that wire can be dispensed from the wire spool by a worker.

10. The wire dispensing storage container further comprising at least one wire pulling guide configured to guide a plurality of wires from an equal plurality of wire spools in the container as the wires are dispensed from the container by a worker.

11. The wire dispensing storage container wherein the at least one wire pulling guide is configured to allow the wires to be dispensed when a worker is pulling the wire in a direction that is non-perpendicular to the rotational axis of the wire spool from which the wire is being dispensed.

12. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 1 wherein the wire dispensing container is configured so that the wire dispensing container can be stacked on top of another container, with a releasable connection securing the two containers in the stacked position.

13. The wire dispensing storage container wherein the another container is another one of the wire dispensing storage containers and each of the containers can be carrying a plurality of wire spools, with each wire spool mounted in a dispensing condition.

14. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 1 further comprising an additional vertically extending mount wall spaced from the other mount walls and in combination with one of the other mount walls defining an additional pair of axel mounts for at least one additional ridged axel component that can extend through a central opening in an additional wire spool to mount the additional wire spool within the container while allowing the additional wire spool to rotate about the axel for dispensing of wire from the additional wire spool and the container by a worker, one of the additional axel mounts defined in the additional vertically extending mount wall and the other of the additional axel mounts defined in the one of the other mount walls.

15. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 14 wherein the bottom wall extends between all of the mount walls, the back wall extends between all of the mount walls, and the lid extends between all of the mount walls.

16. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 14 wherein one of the one of the other mount walls is center wall, and the remaining two mount walls are side walls spaced on either side of the center wall.

17. A wire dispensing storage container comprising: three vertically extending mount walls spaced from each other and defining four pairs of axel mounts configured in the container to allow four separate wire spools to be mounted at the same time and for wire to be dispensed from each of the four wire spools at the same time by a worker, each pair of the four pairs of axel mounts configured to support a ridged axel component that can extend through a central opening in a wire spool to mount the wire spool within the container while allowing the wire spool to rotate about the axel for dispensing of wire from the wire spool and the container by a worker; a bottom wall extending between the mount walls; a back wall extending between the mount walls; and a lid extending between the pair of mount walls and mounted to pivot between a closed position and an open position.

18. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 17 wherein two pairs of the four pair of axel mounts are each configured to allow both an axel and a wire spool carried thereon to be removed from the container by a worker and to be installed into the container by a worker via a horizontally facing, front opening in the container.

19. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 18 wherein the other two pairs of the four pairs of axel mounts are each configured to allow both an axel and a wire spool carried thereon to be removed from the container by a worker and to be installed into the container by a worker via a vertically upwardly facing top opening in the container.

20. The wire dispensing storage container of claim 17 further comprising at least one wire pulling guide configured to guide a plurality of wires from an equal plurality of wire spools in the container as the wires are dispensed from the container by a worker.

Description

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front, right side, and above of a wire dispensing storage container according to this disclosure, with a lid of the container shown in an open position and four wire spools mounted in container, each wire spool mounted for rotation about its central axis by an axel to allow wire to be dispensed from the spool in either a horizontal or a vertical direction as required by a worker;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view from the front, left side and below of a portion of the wire dispensing storage container of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the front, right side and above of the wire dispensing storage container of FIGS. 1 and 2, but with the lid, wire spools, and associated wire spool axels not shown and with a portion of the container broken away for purposes of illustration to reveal a ridged metal support member of the container;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the front, left side, and above of the container of FIGS. 1-3, showing the wire spool axels in their mounted position/condition and with the lid, the support member, and a cross member not shown for purpose of illustration;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a front view of the container of FIGS. 1-4 with the lid of the container shown in a closed position and the four wire spools mounted in container, each wire spool mounted for rotation about its central axis by an axel to allow wire to be dispensed from the spool in either a horizontal by a worker;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a top view of the container of FIG. 5;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a top view of the container of FIGS. 5 and 6, but with the lid not shown for purposes of illustration;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the container of FIGS. 1-7;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view from the front, right side, and above of the container for FIGS. 1-8, with the lid shown in the closed position;

[0019] FIG. 10 is a right-side view of the container of FIGS. 1-9, with the lid shown in the open position and the left-side view being a mirror image of FIG. 10;

[0020] FIG. 11 is back view of the container of FIGS. 1-10 with the lid shown in the open position;

[0021] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view from the front, left side and above of the container of FIGS. 1-11 showing the major components of the container;

[0022] FIG. 13 is a perspective view from the front, right side and above of two of the containers of FIGS. 1-12 in a stacked condition wherein one of the container is stacked on the other containers and the containers are releasably secured to each other to retain the containers in the stacked condition;

[0023] FIG. 14 is an enlarged section view of a latch component of the container of FIGS. 1-12 that releasably secures the containers in the stacked condition shown in FIG. 13;

[0024] FIG. 15 is an enlarged section view of a pair of engaged connection features that releasably secure the containers in the stacked condition shown in FIG. 13;

[0025] FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view from the front, right side and above of the container of FIGS. 1-15, with two of the wire spools removed for purpose of illustration;

[0026] FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16, but from the front, left side and above;

[0027] FIG. 18 is a perspective view from the front, right side, and above of two of the containers of FIGS. 1-17 spaced from each other with opposite ends of a spool axel mounted in each of the containers and four wire spools mounted on axel for rotation in addition to the four wire spools in each of the containers so that wire can be dispensed from all twelve of the wire spools carried by the containers;

[0028] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the containers and axel of FIG. 18, but taken from the left side and with 4 wire spools removed from the axel, all of the wire spools and axels removed from the containers, and the lid not shown for purposes of illustration;

[0029] FIG. 20 is a perspective view from the front, right side and above of the container of FIGS. 1-19, with an axel extending through the container and a pair of additional wire spools mounted on opposite ends of the axel for rotation so that wire can be dispensed from all six of the spools carried by the container;

[0030] FIG. 21 is a perspective view from the front, left side and above of the container and axel of FIG. 20, but with the wire spools removed from the axel, all of the wire spools and axels removed from inside the container, and the lid not shown for purposed of illustration;

[0031] FIG. 22 is an enlarged perspective view from the front, left side and below of a center insert support wall of the container of FIGS. 1-21;

[0032] FIG. 23 is an enlarged perspective view from the front, left side and above of the center insert support wall of FIG. 22;

[0033] FIG. 24 is an left-side view of the center insert support wall of FIGS. 22 and 23, with the right-side view being a mirror image of FIG. 24;

[0034] FIG. 25 is a bottom view of the center insert support wall of FIGS. 22-24;

[0035] FIG. 26 is an enlarged perspective view from above, the front, and right side of the container for FIGS. 1-21, but with the lid and center insert support wall removed for purposes of illustration;

[0036] FIG. 27 is an enlarged top view of the container of FIGS. 1-21, again with the lid and center insert support wall removed for purposes of illustration;

[0037] FIG. 28 is an enlarged perspective view from below, the left side and rear of a cross bar member, ridged metal support, and a pair of dispensing guides of the container of FIGS. 1-21;

[0038] FIG. 29 is a view similar to FIG. 28 but with the cross bar member removed;

[0039] FIG. 30 is a view similar to FIGS. 28 and 29, but showing only the pair of dispensing wire guides;

[0040] FIG. 31 is a sectioned, perspective view of the left side wall of the container of FIGS. 1-21; and

[0041] FIG. 32 is an enlarged view taken from line 32-32 in FIG. 31.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] As best seen in FIGS. 1-9, a wire dispensing storage container 10 is provided for storing and dispensing wire 12 from a plurality of wire spools 14. In this regard, in the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the container 10 is configured to carry four of the wire spools, identified as 14A-D, to dispense four lengths of wire 12A-D wrapped around the spools 14A-D. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the container has a pair of horizontally facing front openings 16 and 16, with each opening being of sufficient size to allow a worker to manually load and remove a corresponding one of the spools 14C and 14D into and out of the container 10. The container 10 of the illustrated and preferred embodiment further includes a pair of vertically upwardly facing top openings 18 and 18, with each opening being of sufficient size to allow a worker to manually load and removed a corresponding one of the spools 14A and 14B into and out of the container 10. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, each of the spools 14A-D is rotatably mounted on corresponding spool axel or rod 20A-D that extends through an opening 22A-D (shown in phantom) centered in each of the spools 14A-D. Those skilled in the art will understand that commercially available wire spools are typically provided with central openings, like the openings 22A-D, so that the wire spools can be rotatably mounted on an axel or rod for dispensing wire from the spool. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the container is sized so that each of the spools 14A-D can be a 500 foot spool of 10 AWG wire, with each of the axels 20A-D being made from a 1 inch diameter rod or length of 1 inch Electrical Metallic Conduit.

[0043] As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the container 10 includes 4 pairs of axel mounts 26A-D and 28A-D, with each pair 26, 28 allowing an axel 20 carrying to be loaded into and out of the container 10 while carrying a corresponding one of the wire spools 14. The mounts 26A and 26C are integrally formed in a left-side wall 30 of the container 10, the mounts 26B and 26D are integrally formed in a right-side wall 32 of the container 10, the mounts 28A and 28C are integrally formed in one side of a center insert support wall 34, and the mounts 28B and 28D are integrally formed in an opposite side of the center insert support wall 34. All of the slots 26A, 28A, 26B, and 28B are of an identical configuration, with an linear channel 36 extending at an angle from an upwardly facing opening 38 down to a short vertical channel 40 that terminates in a semicircular receptacle 42, all of which are sized to provide a sliding fit with the axels 20, as best seen in FIG. 3 for mount 26A and in FIG. 24 for mount 28A. All of the slots 26C, 28C, 26D, and 28D are of an identical configuration, with a linear channel 46 extending at an angle from a horizontally facing opening 48 down to a short vertical channel 50 that terminates in a semicircular receptacle 52, as best seen in FIG. 3 for mount 26A and in FIG. 24 for mount 28C. The semicircular receptacles 42 and 52 receive the opposite ends of each axel 20 carrying each spool 14 in the fully mounted position for transport, storage, and dispensing of wire from the spool as it rotates about the axel 20. The weight of each spool 14 in combination with the shape and orientation of the channels 36,40, 46, and 50 serve to retain the axels 20 and spools 14 seated in the receptacles 42 and 52 in the mounted condition/position.

[0044] The wires 12 can either be dispensed vertically through the openings 18 and 18 or horizontally through the openings 16 and 16. Alternatively, in the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the wires can be dispensed through either of two wire pulling guides 54 and 54. The guides 54 and 54 each have a through opening 56 with inwardly and outwardly facing perimeters that are relieved with curved chamfers to provide a smooth guidance of the wires 12 into and out of each opening 56. Each of the guides 54 and 54 are each preferably formed from a durable material that also provides a low friction surface for the wires to slide against, such as, for example, a suitable nylon material. A pair of wire tie-off openings 58 are provided adjacent each of the guides 54 and 54 to allow a worker to tie-off the ends of each wire 12 from each spool 14 to secure the wires 12 when the wires 12 are not being dispensed.

[0045] The container 10 includes a lid 60 that pivots on a hinge 62 between an open position/condition shown in FIGS. 1, 10, 11, 16, 17, and 20, and a closed position/condition shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 9, 13-15, and 18. In the open position, the lid 60 exposes the openings 18 and 18 so that wire 12 can be dispensed through the openings 18 and 18 and the spools 14A and 14B mounted on the axels 20A and 20B can be loaded into and out of the container 30. In this regard, the container includes a kickstand component 64 that engages the lid 60 and the wall 34 to retain the lid 60 in the open position. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the kickstand 64 is a wire form that is pivot mounted to the lid 60 and releasably engageable with a slot 66 formed in the wall 34. In the closed position, the lid 60 blocks the openings 18 and 18 to prevent removal of the spools 14A and 14B from the container 30. In this regard, the container 10 includes a pair of bail latches 68 to retain the lid 60 in the closed position.

[0046] In the illustrated and highly preferred embodiment, the container 10 is configured to be part of a stackable storage system so that the container 10 can be stacked on top of another container 10 as shown in FIG. 13, with a releasable connection securing the two containers 10 in the stacked position/condition. While any suitable releasable connection, many of which are known, can be used, in the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the connection is provided in the form of four receptacles 70 formed in the lid 60, four cleats 72 formed in a bottom wall 74 of the container 10, a spring biased latch member 76 mounted for vertical translation on the front of the container 30, and a latch slot 78 formed in the lid 60. As best seen in FIG. 14, part of the latch member 76 engages in the slot 78 and a rearwardly directed part 79 of each cleat 72 engages in an opening 80 formed in a back wall of each receptable 70. To release the connection, the latch member 76 is translated upwardly by a user against a spring bias force to disengage the member 76 from the slot 78 and the upper container 10 is translated in a forwardly direction to release the parts 79 from the openings 80.

[0047] As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cylindrical shaped, axel mounting, through bore or opening 84 is provided in each of the side walls 30 and 32 of the container and another cylindrical shaped, axel mounting, through bore or opening 86 is provided in the wall 34, with the bores 84 and 86 being centered on a common axis so that they are aligned, as shown in FIG. 10. As best seen in FIGS. 18 and 19, a pair of the containers 10 can be spaced from each other with a long axel or rod 90 extending between and through each of the containers 10, mounted in the bores 84 and 86 of each container 10. One or more wire spools 14 can be mounted for rotation on the axel 90 between the containers 10 for dispensing of wire from each spool 14 by a worker. In the illustrated embodiment, a worker can dispense wire simultaneously from any combination of the four spools 14 carried between the containers 10 and the eight wire spools 14 carried in the containers 10 (spools 14A and 14B not visible in FIG. 18). As best seen in FIGS. 20 and 21, an axel 92 can extend through the bores 84 and 86 of a single container 10 with wire spools 14 mounted for rotation on opposite ends of the axel 92 that extend from each of the sidewalls 30 and 32. In the illustrated embodiment, a worker can dispense wire simultaneously from any combination of the two wire spools 15 mounted on the axel 92 and the four wire spools 14 carried in the container 10.

[0048] FIG. 12 shows the main components of the container 10, most of which have been discussed above. As seen in FIG. 12 the structure of the container 10 is provided by a one-piece, unitary box 96, the center insert support wall 34, a cross bar 98 and a ridged metal channel 100. The box 96 includes the sidewalls 30 and 32, the bottom wall 74 and a back wall 101 that carries part of the hinge 62. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the box 96 is molded from a suitable material, such as a suitable composite material or a suitable plastic material, such as a suitable polypropylene; the cross bar 98 is also a unitary piece molded from a suitable composite material or a suitable plastic material, such as a suitable polypropylene; the wall 34 is a unitary piece also molded of a suitable material, such as a suitable metal, composite, or plastic, such as for example a suitable glass filled or reinforced polymer, and the metal channel 100 is stamped from a suitable metal, such as a suitable steel. As best seen in FIG. 28, the metal channel 100 is carried in the cross bar 98 to provide additional structural support, with a pair of downwardly extending legs 102 of the channel 100 being received in closely conforming receptacles formed in each of the sidewalls 30 and 32 of the box 96. Suitable rivets, threaded fasteners, and mechanical features, such as dovetails and channels, are used to retain the structural components of the container 10 together so that the container can structurally support and store the spools 14 in each of the configurations shown in the Figs.

[0049] As best seen in FIGS. 31 and 32, a side rail 106 is formed as a unitary part of each sidewall 30 and 32 for the mounting of accessories to the container 10. In this regard, each side rail 106 has an upwardly directed lip 108 and a downwardly directed lip 110 that can be engaged by mount features provided on the accessories. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the downwardly facing lip has been shaped and sized to provide a comfortable grip handle that can be engaged by the fingers of worker to lift and/or move the container 10.

[0050] Preferred embodiments of the inventive concepts are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor(s) for carrying out the inventive concepts. Variations of those preferred embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor(s) expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor(s) intend that the inventive concepts can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, the inventive concepts disclosed herein include all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements and features in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the inventive concepts unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. Further in this regard, while highly preferred forms of the container 10 are shown in the figures, it should be understood that this disclosure anticipates variations in the specific details of each of the disclosed components and features of the container 10 and that no limitation to a specific form, configuration, or detail is intended unless expressly and specifically recited in an appended claim.

[0051] For example, while specific and preferred forms have been shown for the box 98, wall 34, cross bar 98, wall 34, and channel 100 are shown as four seperate components that are assembled together, other constructions are possible that would involve more or fewer separate pieces. For example, in some embodiments, it might be advantageous for the wall 34 and/or the cross bar to formed in a mold as a unitary part of the box 98, rather than as a separate component. As another example, in some applications, it might be desirable to eliminate the openings 16 and 16 and rearrange the mounts 26C, 28C, 26D, and 28D to allow the spools 14C and 14D to be loaded into and removed from the container 10 through the openings 18 and 18. Accordingly, no limitation to any specific feature, configuration, or material is intended unless expressly recited in an appended claim.

[0052] The use of the terms a and an and the and at least one and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term at least one followed by a list of one or more items (for example, at least one of A and B) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms comprising, having, including, and containing are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning including, but not limited to,) unless otherwise noted. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventive concepts disclosed herein and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any invention unless expressly claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

[0053] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.