BACKGROUND

[0001] A cable spool is a flanged drum around which various types of electrical and optical cable can be wound. For example, a standard cable spool may be sized to accommodate about one thousand feet of standard coaxial cable. The drum of the spool may be about one foot high and have flanges attached to the top and bottom of the drum that are about one foot in diameter. In addition, each flange generally includes a circular opening through which a mandrel can be inserted in order to allow the spool to be spun by pulling on the cable, thus unwinding the cable from the spool. A standard cable spool is thus small enough to be transported by a single cable technician during cable installation at a home or business, for example.

[0002] Unfortunately, however, the bulk and the weight of a standard cable spool that is loaded with cable generally prevent a cable technician from lifting and carrying the spool with only one hand. As the installation of coaxial cable generally requires the use of tools and other equipment, requiring the use of both hands to carry the spool necessitates that the cable technician make multiple trips between his or her vehicle and the installation site because he/she does not have a free hand to simultaneously carry tools and other equipment. Requiring multiple trips to transport the cable spool and the tools and equipment increases the time required at each cable installation site, as well as the cost of each cable installation.

[0003] Further, requiring the use of both hands to carry a cable spool can be difficult and even dangerous when a technician needs to simultaneously perform a task that requires the use of a hand, such as holding onto a hand railing while navigating stairs or gripping rungs of a ladder while climbing the ladder.

SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0004] In general, example embodiments of the present invention relate to a cable spool carrying device. The example cable spool carrying device disclosed herein enables a cable technician to carry a cable spool with a single hand, thus freeing the other hand to simultaneously perform other tasks such as carrying tools and other equipment or holding onto a hand rail or a ladder.

[0005] In one example embodiment, a carrying device includes a handle, first and second legs attached to the handle, and first and second feet attached to the first and second legs, respectively. Each leg is configured to extend through a circular mandrel opening in a flange of a cable spool and each foot is configured to engage an inside surface of the flange.

[0006] In another example embodiment, a cable spool carrying device includes a handle, first and second legs attached to the handle, first and second feet attached to the first and second legs, respectively, and means for biasing the first and second legs away from one another.

[0007] In yet another example embodiment, a cable spool carrying device includes a handle, first and second legs connected to the handle, first and second feet connected to the first and second legs, respectively, and first and second leaf springs connected to the handle and configured to bias the first and second legs away from one another. Each leg is configured to extend through a circular mandrel opening in a flange of a cable spool. At least a portion of each foot includes an uneven surface that is generally perpendicular to the corresponding leg and is configured to engage an inside surface of the flange of the cable spool.

[0008] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Aspects of example embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of example embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1A is a top perspective view of an example cable spool carrying device;

[0011] Figure IB is a front view of the example cable spool carrying device of Figure 1A;

[0012] Figure 2A is a top perspective view of the example cable spool carrying device of Figure 1 A just prior to the insertion of a portion of the device into a circular mandrel opening in a flange of an example cable spool; [0013] Figure 2B is a front view of the example cable spool carrying device of Figure 2A and a front cross-sectional view of the example cable spool of Figure 2A during insertion of a portion of the device into the circular mandrel opening in the flange of the cable spool;

[0014] Figure 2C is a front view of the example cable spool carrying device of Figure 2A and a front cross-sectional view of the example cable spool of Figure 2A after insertion of a portion of the device into the circular mandrel opening in the flange of the example cable spool and during the lifting of the cable spool using the device; and

[0015] Figure 2D is a front view of the example cable spool carrying device of Figure 2A and a front cross-sectional view of the example cable spool of Figure 2A prior to extraction of a portion of the device from the circular mandrel opening in the flange of the example cable spool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a cable spool carrying device. In the following detailed description of some example embodiments, reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, it is to be understood that the various embodiments of the invention, although different, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in one embodiment may be included within other embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

I. Example Cable Spool Carrying Device

[0017] With reference now to Figures 1A and IB, an example cable spool carrying device 100 is disclosed. As mentioned previously, and as discussed in greater detail below in connection with Figures 2A-2D, the example cable spool carrying device 100 enables a cable technician to carry a cable spool with only one hand, thus freeing the other hand to simultaneously perform other tasks such as carrying tools and other equipment or holding onto a hand rail or a ladder. It is understood, however, that the example cable spool carrying device 100 is not limited to use in carrying a cable spool, but can more generally be used to carry any item that includes an appropriately sized opening in a relatively thin component of the item.

[0018] As disclosed in Figures 1A and IB, the example cable spool carrying device 100 generally includes a handle 102, first and second legs 104 and 106 attached to the handle 102, and first and second feet 108 and 110 attached to the first and second handles 104 and 106, respectively. The handle 102 includes four indentations 1 12 for four fingers of a human hand 300 (see Figure 2 A) and is configured to substantially surround the four fingers when the handle 102 is gripped by the hand 300. The legs 104 and 106 include curved outer surfaces 1 14 and 116, respectively. The feet 108 and 1 10 include uneven surfaces 1 18 and 120, respectively. The uneven surfaces 118 and 120 are substantially perpendicular to the legs 104 and 106 and substantially parallel to the top portion of the handle 102. The feet 108 and 110 also include tapered surfaces 122 and 124, respectively.

[0019] As disclosed in Figures 1A and IB, the example device 100 may further include first and second supports 126 and 128 reinforcing the connections between the handle 102 and the first and second legs 104 and 106, respectively. The example device 100 may further include a leaf-spring component 130 positioned between the first and second legs 104 and 106. The leaf-spring component 130 includes first and second leaf springs 132 and 134 connected to the handle 102 via a post 136. The leaf-spring component 130 is configured to bias the first and second legs 104 and 106 away from one another. The leaf-spring component 130 is therefore one example structural implementation of a means for biasing the first and second legs 104 and 106 away from one another.

[0020] It is noted that a variety of means may be employed to perform the functions disclosed herein concerning the leaf-spring component 130 biasing of the first and second legs 104 and 106 away from one another. Thus, the leaf-spring component 130 comprises but one exemplary structural implementation of a means for biasing of the first and second legs 104 and 106 away from one another.

[0021] Accordingly, it should be understood that such structural implementations are disclosed herein solely by way of example and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way. Rather, any other structure or combination of structures effective in implementing the functionality disclosed herein may likewise be employed. By way of example, in some example embodiments of the example device 100, the leaf-spring component 130 may be altered to include coil springs (not shown) instead of the leaf springs 132 and 134. Further, in other example embodiments the leaf-spring component 130 may be omitted altogether and the biasing functionality may be accomplished by one or more resilient portions of the first and second legs 104 and 106. In yet other example embodiments, the biasing functionality may be accomplished by some combination of the above example embodiments.

[0022] The example cable spool carrying device 100 may be integrally molded as a single piece. For example, the device 100 may be integrally molded from polypropylene, semi-rigid polyvinyl chloride (semi-rigid PVC), polyethylene, or some combination thereof.

[0023] The example cable spool carrying device 100 may further include a visible indicator (not shown) that designates the size of the circular mandrel opening for which the device 100 is configured to carry. For example, the device 100 can include a color, visible texture, visible characters, or other visibly perceptible characteristic on a surface of the device 100 to visibly specify the particular size of circular mandrel opening that the device 100 is configured to carry. As a technician may need to install cable from differently sized cable spools with differently sized circular mandrel openings, this visible indicator can enable the technician to quickly distinguish between differently sized devices 100. For example, one circular mandrel opening may be about 1 and 5/8 inches in diameter, while another circular mandrel opening may be about 2 inches in diameter.

II. Example Use of the Example Cable Spool Carrying Device

[0024] With reference now to Figures 2A-2D, one example use of the example cable spool carrying device 100 is disclosed. In particular, Figures 2A-2D disclose the example cable spool carrying device 100 being used to carry an example cable spool 200 with only one hand 300 of a technician holding the example device 100. The example cable spool 200 includes a drum 202 and top and bottom flanges 204 and 206. Portions of the drum and/or top and bottom flanges 204 may be formed from plywood, for example. Approximately 1000 feet of standard coaxial cable 208 is wound around the drum 202 between the flanges 204 and 206. The top and bottom flanges 204 and 206 include top and bottom circular mandrel openings 210 and 212. A mandrel (not shown) can be inserted through the mandrel openings 210 and 212 in order to allow the cable spool 200 to be spun by pulling on the coaxial cable 208, thus unwinding the coaxial cable 208 from the drum 202 of the cable spool 200.

[0025] Figure 2A discloses the example cable spool carrying device 100 just prior to the insertion of the feet 108 and 1 10 of the device 100 into the circular mandrel opening 210 in the top flange 204 of the example cable spool 200. As disclosed in Figure 2A, the distance Dl between the two curved outer surfaces 114 and 116 of the first and second legs 104 and 106 is about equal to a diameter D2 of the circular mandrel opening 210. Further, the radius of curvature of the two curved outer surfaces 1 14 and 1 16 matches the radius of curvature of the circular mandrel opening 210 in the flange 204 of the cable spool 200. Also disclosed in Figure 2 A, the diameter D2 of the circular mandrel opening 210 is smaller in diameter than an outside distance D3 between the feet 108 and 110.

[0026] Figure 2B discloses the example cable spool carrying device 100 during insertion of the feet 108 and 1 10 of the device 100 into the circular mandrel opening 210 of the cable spool 200. As disclosed in Figure 2B, during insertion of the device 100, the leaf-spring component 130 allows the legs 104 and 106 to be resiliently bent toward one another in order to allow the feet 108 and 110 to be inserted into the circular mandrel opening 210. Also disclosed in Figure 2B, the tapered portions 122 and 124 cause the feet 108 and 110 to slide toward one another when the feet 108 and 110 are forced through the circular mandrel opening 210.

[0027] Figure 2C discloses the example cable spool carrying device 100 after insertion of the feet 108 and 110 of the device 100 into the circular mandrel opening 210 and during the lifting of the cable spool 200 using the device 100. As disclosed in Figure 2C, after insertion, the leaf springs 132 and 134 of the leaf-spring component 130 cause the legs 104 and 106 to automatically spring back to a position where the distance D 1 between the two curved outer surfaces 1 14 and 1 16 is about equal to the diameter D2 of the circular mandrel opening 210. Also disclosed in Figure 2C, during the lifting of the cable spool 200, the uneven surfaces 1 18 and 120 of the feet 108 and 110 engage an inside surface 214 of the top flange 204.

[0028] With continuing reference to Figure 2C, the example cable spool carrying device 100 may further be configured to prevent a technician from using the device 100 to lift the cable spool 200 if the cable spool 200 is greater than or equal to a predetermined weight. For example, some portion of the handle 102, the legs 104 and 106, or the feet 108 and 1 10 can be configured to break when the example device is attached to a cable spool that is heavier than or equal to a predetermined weight (such as 40 pounds or 50 pounds, for example) and the technician exerts a lifting force with the technician's hand 302 on the handle 102 that is equal to the predetermined weight. This breaking at a predetermined weight prevents the technician from lifting a cable spool at or above a weight considered safe, thus avoiding injury to the technician. [0029] Figure 2D discloses the example cable spool carrying device 100 just prior to the extraction of the feet 108 and 1 10 of the device 100 from the circular mandrel opening 210 of the example cable spool 200. As disclosed in Figure 2D, when a technician wishes to detach the example device 100 from the example cable spool 200, the technician can grasp the legs 104 and 106 with one hand 302 and squeeze the legs 104 and 106 together. The technician can then lift on the handle 102 with the other hand 300. The example device 100 is therefore configured to be attached and detached to the cable spool 200 manually without the assistance of any tools. Once detached from the cable spool 200, the example device 100 can be reused by attaching to another cable spool.

[0030] The example cable spool carrying device 100 disclosed herein thus enables a cable technician to carry the cable spool 100 with only one hand, thus freeing the other hand to simultaneously perform other tasks such as carrying tools and other equipment or holding onto a hand rail or a ladder.

[0031] The example embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms. The example embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.