A CABLE REEL ASSEMBLY, AND A CABLE REEL SUPPORT

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a cable reel assembly as well as to a cable reel support for supporting a cable reel

BACKGROUND ART

Cable reels are normally used for storing and transporting cables of various kinds such as electrical cables, telecommunication cables, bailing cables, flexible tubes and other kinds of cables, wires, tubes and ropes. Often such reels loaded with a cable or similar are very heavy and difficult to handle. To alleviate the handling of such reels several types of cable reel assemblies and cable reel supports have been suggested.

US patent no. 5,775,621 describes a reel caddy and support stand for cable spools with a central drum and enlarged disk-like ends with central openings therein. The reel caddy and support stand comprises a generally U-shaped bent handle portion having a curved end and elongated leg portions with the leg portions carrying stub spindle members adapted to be received in the spool disk like and central openings. The handle and leg portions providing a hairpin like spring action when the leg portions are spread apart to insert the stubs spindle members into the central openings of the disk ends. Stand leg members project at 90° angles from the stub spindle members so that the spool can be rotated and lifted about the legs and then with the handle portion on the same surface as the ends of the stand legs the spool can be freely rotated for unwinding or winding cable there from.

US patent no. 6,199,786 describes a reel assembly for supporting a reel and comprising an adjustable brake mechanism. The reel has a central aperture and the reel support is provided with an arm configured and sized to rotatably receive the reel; the arm having a proximal end provided with a fixed abutment element having a friction surface, and a distal end; the

adjustable brake mechanism comprising a pressure applying element configured and sized to be removably mounted to the distal end of the arm to bias the reel towards the fixed abutment element to thereby generate a friction force between the friction surface and the reel; the pressure applying element being longitudinally movable with respect to the arm to modify the friction force.

US patent no. 6,199,786 describes a cable reel lifter/transporter apparatus for elevating a heavy cable reel above a surface to permit free rotation of the reel, thereby allowing cable or tubing to be paid off the reel, and for manually transporting cable reels. The cable reel lifter/transporter apparatus includes a pair of L-shaped planar frames each having a long straight handlebar arm and a relatively short straight leg which depends perpendicularly downwards from a lower surface of the handlebar. Near a front transverse end thereof, each leg has at the lower end thereof a short tubular foot. A tubular bearing support protruding upwards from each handlebar rotatably supports opposite ends of a horizontal cable reel support shaft. A pair of arbors slidable on the shaft has inner tapered portions insertable into a separate spindle hole in each of two disk-shaped end plates of a cable reel, and subsequently secured to the shaft to hold the shaft and cable reel in a fixed position between the frames. Hand pressure exerted downwardly on the rear ends of the handlebars pivots the legs around the tubular axes of the feet, causing the cable reel support shaft and cable reel to elevate the reel end plates to a freely rotatable position above the ground. Rotating the handlebars on the cable reel support shaft in an opposite direction elevates the legs and feet above the ground, allowing the rear ends of the handlebars to be grasped to push the reel rollably along a surface, the cable reel end plates serving as wheels.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a novel cable reel assembly which provides a very simple and economical handling of cable reels. The cable reel assembly of the invention is both simple to transport and simple to handle

manually, and furthermore unwinding of cable can be performed in a very simple way.

The present invention also provides a novel cable reel support for supporting a cable reel which provides a very simple and economical handling of the cable reels.

The cable reel assembly of the invention and the cable reel support of the invention are defined in the claims.

The term "cable" is herein meant to include any type of endless (in general about 10 meters or longer) flexible elements which can be rolled onto a reel, including but not limited to electrical cables, telecommunication cables, bailing cables, flexible tubes, optical fibers and other kinds of cables, wires, tubes and ropes.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification and claims is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other stated features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

The cable reel assembly of the invention comprises a reel and a reel support.

The reel is of the type which comprises a reel core shaft with a centre axis and a first and a second circular parallel interspaced reel end plates disposed in axial alignment with the centre axis. Such reels are well known in the art and are widely used for transportation of cables. The reel of the present invention comprises a reel core with a first and a second end hub extending beyond respectively said first and said second circular parallel interspaced reel end plates. The first and second end hubs should preferably extend at least about 2 mm, more preferably at least about 0.5 cm, such as at least about 1 cm beyond respectively said first and said second circular parallel interspaced reel end plates. In order to allow for

some production tolerances the end hubs should preferably extend at least about 5 mm beyond the reel end plates. On the other hand, the end hubs should not extend too long beyond the reel end plates, because this may take up too much space during transportation. In most situations it is desirable that the end hubs extend between about 1 cm and about 10 cm beyond the reel end plates. The end hubs may for example be pivotably extendable to provide the optimal length in any given situation.

The reel support comprises a body and a handle shaft connected to each other. The body and the handle shaft are arranged to have a first compact position and a second operational position in relation to each other. The reel support body comprises a first and a second parallel interspaced side plates, connected to each other and comprising essentially opposite identical plate edges. Each plate edge comprises a bearing edge section, and on opposite sides of the bearing edge section along the plate edge it comprises respectively a reel mounting edge section and a rear edge section. The said reel mounting edge sections of said first and said second side plates comprise opposite indentations, bearing said respective first and second end hubs of the cable reel. The centre axis of the cable reel is arranged at a first distance from the reel mounting edge sections. This first distance defines the depth of the indentations. The bearing edge sections of said first and said second side plates have a second distance to said centre axis which is larger than said depth of said indentations. In a preferred embodiment the second distance is at least about 10 % larger than the first distance, such as at least about 25 % larger, such as at least about 50 % larger, such as at least about 100 % larger than the first distance.

According to the invention the reel can easily be mounted and demounted with the reel support. The cable reel with cable may be delivered mounted to a reel support. It may be transported to the customer in its first compact position e.g. stacked with other cable reel assemblies. The cable reel assembly can further in its second operational position be transported in a simple manner by tipping the assembly so that it rests on the reel end plates which are then used as wheels. Furthermore the cable reel assembly can in

its second operational position be positioned to be supported by its bearing edge sections for simple unrolling of the cable.

The cable reel assembly provides a multifunctional cable reel device which simultaneously is a very strong and stable structure, which can withstand twists, pulling and pressure forces which are often applied during use.

The body and the handle shaft are arranged to have a first compact position and a second operational position in relation to each other.

In one embodiment the opposite plate edges each comprise a bordering edge section connecting the bearing edge section and reel mounting edge section of said respective plate edges, or connecting the bearing edge section and rear edge section of said respective plate edges. The bordering edge sections of the first and the second side plates have an essentially rounded shape. Thereby the cable reel assembly can in a very simple manner and in an ergonomically acceptable way be tipped from being supported by and resting on its bearing edge sections to be resting on the reel end plates for transportation manually and back again from being resting on its reel end plates to be resting on its bearing edge sections. This embodiment provides a very valuable improvement because such reels often need to be manually transported many times e.g. on a building site.

In a preferred embodiment the bordering edge section of each plate edge connects the bearing edge section and reel mounting edge section of the respective plate edges. Thereby the cable reel assembly when tipped to rest on the reel end plates for transportation manually is tipped such that the reel mounting edge section is facing upwards, which may result in a safer mounting of the cable reel in the reel support.

The reel may in principle have any size. However, for very small reels it may be superfluous to place it in a reel support. On the other hand, too large reels may not be manually handable even if they are mounted in a reel support. Generally it is therefore desirable that the reel has a diameter from

about 25 cm to about 200 cm, such as from about 40 cm to about 150 cm, such as about 60 cm.

The reel may have any width, e.g. up to about 200 cm or even up to about 300 cm. In one embodiment the reel has a width defined as the distance between the first and the second circular parallel interspaced reel end plates, of from about 10 to about 150 cm, such as from about 25 to about 100 cm.

The reel may be made from any suitable material or combinations of materials which have the necessary strength, such as polymer, wood, metals, glass fibers and combinations thereof. In one embodiment the reel is made from or comprises polymer. This polymer containing reel has the benefit of being relatively light, while simultaneously being sufficiently strong. For optimising the strength at least a part of said reel core, such as the end hubs may for example be reinforced e.g. by metal.

In one embodiment the second circular parallel interspaced reel end plates of the reel have an outer periphery reinforcement such as a metal reinforcement or tyres. Thereby the reel end plates may obtain an increased lifetime even when subjected to excessive manual transportation on said reel end plates.

Also the reel support may be made from any suitable material or combinations of materials which have the necessary strength, such as polymer, wood, metals, glass fibers and combinations thereof. In one embodiment the reel is made from or comprises polymer. This polymer containing reel support has the benefit of being relatively light, while simultaneously being sufficiently strong. For optimising the strength the reel support may comprise one or more reinforcements e.g. in the edge along the indentations.

The cable reel support and the cable reel should preferably be adjusted to each other such that the first and the second parallel interspaced side plates of the reel support body have a distance to each other which is sufficiently

large for said side plates of the reel support body to embrace said reel end plates of the reel. Preferably the first and the second parallel interspaced side plates of the reel support body have a distance to each other which is sufficiently small for the first and the second end hubs to be supported by said opposite indentations of said reel support body. As mentioned above the end hubs may be pivotably adjustable.

In order to provide a very stable structure of the cable reel assembly the first and the second parallel interspaced side plates may in one embodiment be connected to each other with at least one connecting member, such as at least one bar extending from the first to the second parallel interspaced side plates. Preferably the first and the second parallel interspaced side plates are connected to each other with at least 2 such as at least 3 connecting members. Such 2 or more connecting members should preferably be placed with a distance to each other.

In one embodiment where the first and the second parallel interspaced side plates are connected to each other with at least one connecting member, this at least one connecting member is placed parallel to and with a third distance from the centre axis of said reel core shaft. The third distance should preferably be larger than the depth of said indentations. In a preferred embodiment the third distance is at least about 10 % larger than the first distance, such as at least about 25 % larger, such as at least about 50 % larger, such as at least about 100 % larger than the first distance.

In one embodiment the second distance is larger than said third distance and at least one connecting member is placed to connect side plates along their bearing edge sections. The at least one connecting member preferably is connected to said side plates substantially in flush with their bearing edge sections. This connecting member both applies stability to the system and at the same time it may be useful for transportation purposes, e.g. for being lifted by a fork-lift.

In one embodiment the second distance is larger than the third distance and a pair of connecting members are placed at a distance from each other and

in a plane substantially parallel to the bearing edge sections, so that when said bearing edge section of each of the side plates is support against a planar ground surface the plane comprising the pair of connecting members is at a distance from the planar ground surface so that the cable reel assembly can be lifted by a fork-lift where the fork of the lift is supporting the pair of connecting members.

The one or more connecting members may preferably provide a relatively stiff connection between the first and the second parallel interspaced side plates. The one or more connecting members may preferably be pivotable to provide the desired length. In one embodiment the one or more connecting members are collapsible e.g. by comprising a pair of hinges each. In this embodiment where the connecting member(s) is/are collapsible, the handle shaft optionally comprises a collapsible handle shaft connecting member.

In one embodiment said bearing edge section of each of the side plates is adapted to provide a stable support against a planar ground surface. In general it is desired that the cable reel assembly is adapted to rest on its bearing edge section both in its first compact position and a second operational position. The bearing edge section preferably has a length which is at least half of, preferably at least the length of the second distance between the bearing edge section and the centre axis. The length of the bearing edge section is measured as the direct line between the outermost points of the bearing edge section which is arranged to be in contact with the planar ground surface. It should be noted that the bearing edge section may have one or more indentations. The width of this/these indentation(s) is included in the length of the bearing edge section.

In one embodiment the bearing edge section of each of the side plates is substantially straight optionally with one or more indentations.

In one embodiment the bearing edge section and the reel mounting edge section respectively of each of the side plates are substantially straight with one or more indentations, and the bearing edge section and the reel mounting edge section preferably have an angle to each other which is

about 90 degrees or less, such as about 80 degrees or less, such as between 75 and 30 degrees.

In one embodiment the bearing edge section and the rear edge section respectively of each of the side plates are substantially straight with one or more indentations, and the bearing edge section and the rear edge section preferably have an angle to each other which is about 90 degrees or less, such as about 80 degrees or less, such as between 75 and 30 degrees.

In one embodiment the bordering edge section of each of the side plates connecting said bearing edge section and one of said reel mounting edge section and rear edge section has a rounded curvature, preferably with a radius of from about 5 to about 95 %, such as from about 10 to about 70 %, such as from about 20 to about 40 % of the second distance between the bearing edge section and the centre axis. The curvature should preferably provide a smooth curve for simple and ergonomically acceptable tipping of the cable reel assembly in its operational position from a rest position where it rests on its bearing edge sections to a manual transportation position where it rests on its reel end plates; and back again.

For a safe mounting of the reel in the reel support it is in one embodiment desired that the indentations of the reel mounting edge section of each of said side plates have a depth sufficiently large to support said respective end hubs of said cable reel. In one embodiment where the end hubs have a diameter D, the indentations of the reel mounting edge section of each of said side plates should preferably have a depth of at least about 50 % of D, more preferably at least about D, such as at least about 150 % of D.

In one embodiment the indentations of said reel mounting edge section of each of said side plates have an extension pointing downwards when the reel support is supported on its bearing edge sections. Thereby the weight of the reels may be used in the mounting of the reel in the reel support.

In one embodiment the reel mounting edge section of at least one of, preferably both of said side plates comprises a locking unit for locking an

end hub of said cable reel in said indentation. The locking unit may be any kind of locking unit for example selected from a click lock, a pivotable lock and a hinge lock. The locking unit may preferably require a key to be unlocked.

Thereby the cable company may deliver their cable to their customers on a cable reel assembly i.e. wound onto a reel mounted in and locked in a reel support. The customer unwinds and uses the cable as desired and thereafter returns the unloaded cable reel assembly to the cable company. The cable company can now unlock the reel from the reel support, wind new cable to the reel and once more fix it in the reel support for delivery to a customer. Thereby the cable company can ensure that the customer receives an optimal combination of reel and reel support, that the reel is correctly mounted in the reel support, that the customer obtains all the beneficial handling opportunities as described above and that the reel support is not used in combination with competitors ^' reeled products.

In one embodiment the body and the handle shaft of the reel support are connected to each other in a pair of axel bearing hinges, so that the handle shaft can be in at least two positions, a first compact position where the handle shaft is folded towards the reel mounting edge sections or towards the rear edge sections of the side plates opposite said respective reel mounting edge sections, and a second operational position where the handle shaft is unfolded to protrude away from the body of the reel support.

In one embodiment it is preferred that the handle shaft is arranged to be folded towards the reel mounting edge sections to be arranged in its first compact position because this provides an extra safe mounting of the reel in the reel support.

The cable reel assembly may comprise one or more fixing elements for fixing the body and the handle shaft in each of said two positions. The fixing elements may e.g. by one of more flange locks and/or snap locks. The fixing elements may for example be released by pressing a bottom or by switching a tap from one position to another.

In one embodiment the handle shaft can be folded to its compact position to expose a pair of contact edge sections of the respective side plates and the handle shaft, said axel bearing hinges protruding from said of contact edge sections The contact edge section may preferably be facing upwards when the cable reel assembly is resting on its bearing edge sections.

In one embodiment the pair of contact edge sections is substantially straight and preferably substantially parallel with said bearing edge sections. The contact edge sections may thus provide an excellent support for stacking another cable reel assembly.

In one embodiment each of the bearing edge sections comprises an indention corresponding to said respective protruding axel bearing hinge. Thereby two or more cable reel assemblies can be stabled on top of each other in a very stable and safe manner.

In one embodiment at least one of the contact edge sections further comprises one or more guiding flanges which guiding flanges are disposed with an angle towards an inner face of its respective side plate of from about 100 to about 175 degrees, such as from about 135 to about 170 degrees, such as from about 145 to about 160 wherein the inner face of the side plate is the side of it that faces the other side plate. Such guiding flanges make it much simpler to stack two or more cable reel assemblies on top of each other because it will be much easier to position the cable reel assembly since the guiding flanges will correct small deviations during the stacking process.

The handle shaft comprises at least one handle leg connected to the body. The handle shaft may preferably comprise a first and a second handle legs and a handle shaft connecting member connecting the first and the second handle legs to each other. The first and the second handle legs are connected to respectively said first and second parallel interspaced side plates.

In one embodiment the handle shaft can be in at least two positions, a first compact position where the handle shaft is folded towards the reel mounting edge sections or towards the rear edge sections of the side plates opposite said respective reel mounting edge sections and a second operational position where the handle shaft in unfolded to protrude away from the body of the reel support. In its first compact position in relation to the body of the reel support the handle shaft is preferably aligned with the body such that the handle shaft connecting member is substantially aligned with the bearing edge sections of said first and said second side plates.

In one embodiment the handle shaft can be in a first compact position where the handle shaft is folded towards the reel mounting edge sections so that the handle shaft connecting member is substantially parallel to a connecting member connecting the side plates to each other. The handle shaft connecting member and the connecting member are placed at a distance from each other and in a common plane substantially parallel to the bearing edge sections, so that when said bearing edge section of each of the side plates is supported against a planar ground surface the common plane comprising the handle shaft connecting member and the connecting member is at a distance from the planar ground surface so that the cable reel assembly can be lifted by a fork-lift, where the fork of the lift is supporting the handle shaft connecting member and the connecting member.

In one embodiment the handle shaft can be in a first compact position where the handle shaft is folded towards the rear edge sections of the side plates opposite said respective reel mounting edge sections, so that said handle shaft connecting member is substantially parallel to a connecting member connecting the side plates to each other, the handle shaft connecting member and the connecting member being placed at a distance from each other and in a common plane substantially parallel to the bearing edge sections, so that when said bearing edge section of each of the side plates is supported against a planar ground surface the common plane comprising the handle shaft connecting member and the connecting member is at a distance from the planar ground surface so that the cable reel assembly can

be lifted by a fork-lift, where the fork of the lift is supporting the handle shaft connecting member and the connecting member.

The invention also relates to a plurality of cable reel assemblies as described above wherein these cable reel assemblies can be safely stabled onto each other.

The plurality of cable reel assemblies comprises preferably at least four cable reel assemblies which can be arranged directly onto a 800x1200 pallet, the plurality of cable reel assemblies may preferably comprise additional cable reel assemblies placed on top of the first four cable reel assemblies.

The invention also relates to a reel support for a cable reel assembly. The reel support is as described above in connection with the cable reel assembly.

The reel support may preferably comprise a body and a handle shaft connected to each other and arranged to have a first compact position and a second operational position in relating to each other. The reel support body preferably comprises a first and a second parallel interspaced side plate, connected to each other and comprising essentially opposite plate edges each comprising a bearing edge section and a reel mounting edge section bordering each other with a bordering edge section, the reel mounting edge sections of said first and said second side plates comprising opposite indentations, arranged to support a reel, the bordering edge sections of said first and said second side plates preferably having an essentially rounded shape.

In one embodiment the reel support comprises a body and a handle shaft connected to each other and arranged to have a first compact position and a second operational position in relating to each other, the reel support body comprises a first and a second parallel interspaced side plate, connected to each other and comprising essentially opposite plate edges each comprising a bearing edge section, a rear edge section and a reel mounting edge

section. The bearing edge section and the rear edge section bordering each other with a bordering edge section, said reel mounting edge sections of said first and said second side plates comprising opposite indentations, arranged to support a reel, and said bordering edge sections of said first and said second side plates have an essentially rounded shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained more fully below in connection with a preferred embodiment and with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cable reel assembly seen from the side in its first compact position.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a cable reel assembly seen from the side in its first compact position.

FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment of a cable reel assembly seen from the side in its second operational position.

FIG. 4 shows a cable reel support seen from the side in its second operational position.

FIG. 5 shows a cable reel.

The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they merely show details which are essential to the understanding of the invention, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of

illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cable reel assembly seen from the side in its first compact position. The cable reel assembly comprises a cable reel 1 and a reel support 2. The reel comprises a reel core shaft with a centre axis 11 and a first and a second circular parallel interspaced reel end plate 1 where only one of these reel end plates 1 , can be seen in the FIG. 1. The reel core shaft comprises a first and a second end hub 5 extending beyond respectively said first and said second circular parallel interspaced reel end plates 1.

The reel support 2 comprises a body 4 and a handle shaft 3 connected to each other with a pair of axel bearing hinges 6. The reel support body 4 comprises a first and a second parallel interspaced side plate where only one can be seen in FIG.1. Each side plate comprises a plate edge with a bearing edge section 7, and on opposite sides of the bearing edge section along the plate edge respectively a reel mounting edge section 8 and a rear edge section 9. The reel mounting edge section 8 of each side plate comprises an indentation 10, bearing said hubs 5 of said cable reel 1 with their centre axis 11 arranged at a first distance 12 from said reel mounting edge section 8 defining the depth of said indentations 10. The bearing edge sections of the side plates have a second distance 13 to the centre axis which is larger than said depth 12 of said indentations 10.

The indentation 10 has an extension pointing downwards when the reel support is supported on its bearing edge sections for easy mounting. The reel mounting edge section 8 of at least one of the side plates comprises a locking unit 15 for locking the end hub 5 of the cable reel 1 in the indentation 10. The locking unit 15 is in the form of a hinge lock which requires a key to be unlocked. Accordingly the locking unit 15 also comprises a key hole 17.

Between the bearing edge section 8 and the reel mounting edge section 7 the plate edge of each of the side plates comprises a bordering edge

section 14 which has an essentially rounded shape, here with an angle of about 45 degrees.

The handle shaft 3 is in its first compact position where the handle shaft is folded towards the reel mounting edge section 8 and the cable reel assembly comprises locks 18, 19 which can fix the handle 3 in the desired position.

The lock 18 fixes the handle 18 in its compact position. For unlocking the handle the tap 20 should be switched to another position. The lock 19 is adapted to fix the handle shaft 3 in its operational position and it can be unlocked by pressing a bottom.

Once the handle shaft 3 is folded to its compact position a pair of contact edge sections 21 of the respective side plates and the handle shaft are exposed, said axel bearing hinges 6 protruding from said contact edge sections.

As it can be seen in FIG. 1 the bearing edge section 7 is adapted to provide a stable support against a planar ground surface. The bearing edge section comprises an indentation 16 which corresponds to the protruding provided by the axel bearing hinges 6.

The contact edge sections further comprise one or more guiding flanges 22 which guiding flanges are disposed with an angle towards an inner face of its respective side plate to guide the cable reel assembly during stacking. The cable reel assemblies can accordingly be stacked in a simple manner as described above.

The handle shaft 3 comprises a handle shaft connecting member 23 and the body comprises a connecting member 24 connecting the side plates to each other. The handle shaft connecting 23 member and the connecting member 24 are placed at a distance from each other and in a common plane substantially parallel to the bearing edge sections 7, so that when said bearing edge section of each of the side plates is supported against a planar ground surface the common plane comprising the handle shaft connecting member 23 and the connecting member 24 is at a distance from the planar

ground surface so that the cable reel assembly can be lifted by a fork-lift, where the fork of the lift is supporting the handle shaft connecting member and the connecting member.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a cable reel assembly seen from the side in its first compact position. The cable reel assembly comprises a cable reel 101 and a reel support 102. The reel comprises a reel core shaft with a centre axis 111 and a first and a second circular parallel interspaced reel end plate 101 where only one of these reel end plates 101 , can be seen in the FIG. 2. The reel core shaft comprises a first and a second end hub 105 extending beyond respectively said first and said second circular parallel interspaced reel end plates 101.

The reel support 102 comprises a body 104 and a handle shaft 103 connected to each other with a pair of axel bearing hinges 106. The reel support body 104 comprises a first and a second parallel interspaced side plate where only one can be seen in FIG.2. Each side plates comprises a plate edge with a bearing edge section 107, and on opposite sides of the bearing edge section along the plate edge respectively a reel mounting edge section 108 and a rear edge section 109. The reel mounting edge section

108 of each side plate comprises an indentation 110, bearing said hubs 105 of said cable reel 101 with their centre axis 111 arranged at a first distance

112 from said reel mounting edge section 108 defining the depth of said indentations 110. The bearing edge sections of the side plates have a second distance 113 to the centre axis which is larger than said depth 112 of said indentations 110.

The reel mounting edge section 108 of at least one of the side plates comprises a locking unit 115 for locking the end hub 105 of the cable reel 101 in the indentation 110. The locking unit 115 is in the form of a hinge lock which requires a key to be unlocked. Accordingly the locking unit 115 also comprises a key hole 117.

Between the bearing edge section 108 and the rear edge section 109 the plate edge of each of the side plates comprises a bordering edge section

114 which has an essentially rounded shape, here with an rounded angle of about 45 degrees.

The handle shaft 103 is in its first compact position where the handle shaft is folded towards the rear edge section 109 and the cable reel assembly comprises locks 118, 119a, 119b which can fix the handle 103 in the desired position. The lock 118 is fixing the handle 118 in its compact position. For unlocking the handle the tap 120 should be switched to another position.

The lock 119a, 119b is adapted to fix the handle shaft 103 in its operational position and it can be unlocked by pressing a bottom.

Once the handle shaft 103 is folded to its compact position a pair of contact edge sections 121 of the respective side plates and the handle shaft are exposed, said axel bearing hinges 106 protruding from said of contact edge sections.

As it can be seen in FIG. 2 the bearing edge section 107 is adapted to provide a stable support against a planar ground surface. The bearing edge section comprises an indentation 116 which corresponds to the protruding provided by the axel bearing hinges 106.

The contact edge sections further comprise one or more guiding flanges 122 which guiding flanges are disposed with an angle towards an inner face of its respective side plate to guide the cable reel assembly during stacking. The cable reel assemblies can accordingly be stacked in a simple manner as described above.

The handle shaft 3 comprises a handle shaft connecting member 123 and the body comprises a connecting member 124 connecting the side plates to each other. The handle shaft connecting 123 member and the connecting member 124 are placed at a distance from each other and in a common plane substantially parallel to the bearing edge sections 107, so that when said bearing edge section of each of the side plates is supported against a planar ground surface the common plane comprising the handle shaft connecting member 123 and the connecting member 124 is at a distance

from the planar ground surface so that the cable reel assembly can be lifted by a fork-lift, where the fork of the lift is supporting the handle shaft connecting member and the connecting member.

FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment of a cable reel assembly seen from the side in its second operational position. The reference numbers correspond to the reference numbers in FIG. 1.

The handle shaft 3 is protruding away from the body 4 and it is fixed in this second position by the lock 19. It can bee seen that the lock 18 has been unlocked by switching the tap 20 to another position than in FIG.1.

The cable reel assembly is now in its operational position and it can easily be tipped by drawing the handle shaft 3 in the direction of the fat arrow, whereby the cable reel assembly first will be supported on its rounded border edges 14 until it rests on its reel end plates 1. In this position the cable reel assembly can be transported using the reel end plates 1 as wheels.

FIG. 4 shows a cable reel support seen from the side in its second operational position. The reference numbers correspond to the reference numbers in FIG. 1.

The locking unit 15 is now unlocked and the reel is removed. It can here be seen that the locking units are hinge locks.

The reel support body 4 comprises a first and a second parallel interspaced side plate connected to each other with 3 connection members 24, 24a, 24b.

FIG. 5 shows a cable reel. The reel comprises a reel core shaft 5a with a centre axis 11 and a first and a second circular parallel interspaced reel end plate 1. The reel core shaft comprises a first and a second end hub 5 extending beyond respectively said first and said second circular parallel interspaced reel end plates 1.

Some preferred embodiments have been shown in the foregoing, but it should be stressed that the invention is not limited to these, but may be embodied in other ways within the subject-matter defined in the following claims.