Field of the Invention

[0001 ] This invention relates generally to a trolley for carrying cable drums. Background of the Invention

[0002] Cable drums have annular flanges either end of a cylindrical core around which data or electrical cable is wound.

[0003] Cable drums may be carried along a rod with a person holding either end of the rod. On site, the rod may be supported on a frame (such as a tripod or the like) for unspooling.

[0004] The present invention seeks to provide a way to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative way of carrying and unspooling cable drums.

[0005] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0006] There is provided herein a trolley having a frame supported by a wheel assembly. The frame comprises a plurality of generally horizontal sidebars extending front-to-rear and which are vertically paired.

[0007] The trolley comprises cross bars extending side-to-side between respective vertically paired side bars, the cross bars being removable from at least one respective sidebar for insertion through respective cable drums.

[0008] As such, cross-rods may be inserted to carry cable drums on the trolley. [0009] The number cross-rods inserted may depend on the number of cable drums to be carried by the trolley. Furthermore, cross-rods may be positioned depending on the respective sizing of the cable drums including the cross-rods may be reconfigured to allow horizontally spaced cable drums to overlap vertically for compactness. The cross-rods may also be configured to adjust the centre of gravity of the trolley. [0010] On-site, the cables may be unspooled directly from the trolley, even if overlapping vertically.

[0011 ] The cross-rods may slide in and out of respective apertures of the sidebars and may comprise a quick release mechanism at a distal end thereof for quick reconfiguration of the trolley.

[0012] Furthermore, certain cross-rods may be lengthened or telescopic to allow for carrying of additional cable drums either side of the trolley.

[0013] As such, with the foregoing in mind, there is provided a trolley for cable drums, the trolley having a frame supported by a wheel assembly, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of vertically paired sidebars extending front-to-rear and cross bars extending side-to-side between respective vertically paired side bars, the cross bars being removable from at least one respective sidebar.

[0014] Vertically paired sidebars may comprise horizontally paired cross-rod engagements there along and wherein each cross-rod may be attachable between any two horizontally paired cross-rod engagements.

[0015] The cross-rod engagements may comprise apertures through which each respective cross bar may be slid across to engage.

[0016] A distal end of each cross-rod may extend beyond a respective sidebar and has a retainer mechanism thereon to prevent the distal end from sliding back in through a respective aperture.

[0017] The retainer mechanism may comprise a locking pin extending through corresponding apertures of the distal end.

[0018] The quick locking mechanism further may comprise a locking ring pivotally attached to the locking pin, the locking pin able to pivot over the distal end.

[0019] At least one cross-rod may extend substantially out from a respective sidebar for loading at least one additional cable drum thereon.

[0020] At least one cross-rod may extend substantially out from the respective sidebar by more than 30 cm. [0021 ] At least one cross-rod may comprise a telescopic member slidably retained therein which may be pulled therefrom for extending the cross-rod from the respective sidebar.

[0022] The frame may be vertically orientated.

[0023] The frame may comprise side frame members, each comprising a vertical frame member and an angled frame member.

[0024] Each side frame member may comprise a lower frame member between lower ends of the vertical frame member and the angled frame member.

[0025] The trolley may further comprise a base plate across lower frame members of the side frame members.

[0026] The wheel assembly may be connected between lower ends of vertical frame members.

[0027] The wheel assembly may act as a fulcrum.

[0028] The wheel assembly may comprise a triaxial rotatable bogie.

[0029] According to another aspect, there is provided a method of carrying cable drums using the trolley comprising connecting a plurality of cross-rods between respective pairs of sidebars through at least one respective cable drum.

[0030] The method may further comprise connecting the plurality of cross-rods which slide through respective horizontally paired apertures of respective vertically paired sidebars.

[0031 ] At least one vertically adjacent pair of cable drums may overlap vertically and be offset horizontally.

[0032] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0034] Figure 1 shows a side elevation view of a trolley for cable drums in accordance with an embodiment;

[0035] Figure 2 shows a rear elevation view of the trolley of Figure 1 ; [0036] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a trolley for cable drums in accordance with a second embodiment;

[0037] Figure 4 shows a side elevation view of the trolley of Figure 3;

[0038] Figure 5 shows a top plan view of the trolley of Figure 3; and [0039] Figure 6 shows a side elevation view of a trolley of Figure 3.

Description of Embodiments

[0040] A trolley 100 comprises a frame 101 which may be substantially vertically orientated. The frame 101 may have a top, bottom, front (the right-hand side given the orientation of Figure 1 ) and a rear (the left-hand side giving orientation of Figure 1 ) ·

[0041 ] The frame 101 may comprise side frame members 102 having bracing 103 therebetween. Each side frame member 102 may comprise a vertical frame member 106 transitioning at an apex thereof to an angled frame member 105. Each vertical frame member 106 may transition at a bottom thereof to a horizontal frame member 113.

[0042] A baseplate 104 may extend between the horizontal frame members 113 for the transportation of objects thereon, such as toolboxes.

[0043] The trolley 100 further comprises a wheel assembly 11 1 at the rear bottom thereof which may act as a fulcrum.

[0044] In the embodiment shown, the wheel assembly 1 1 1 comprises a triaxial rotatable bogie having three wheels thereon for stair climbing. Flowever, a single wheel variant is envisaged too.

[0045] The trolley 100 comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal sidebars 107 extending from front-to-rear. The sidebars 107 are vertically paired. In other words, each pair of sidebars 107 may locate at the same vertical height of the frame 101. [0046] In the embodiment shown, the trolley 100 comprises five sidebars 107 although the number may be varied. Furthermore, whereas the sidebars 107 may be equidistantly vertically spaced, in the embodiment shown, the sidebars 107 may be non-uniformly vertically spaced. [0047] The trolley 100 further comprises a plurality of cross-rods 108 extending side- to-side between vertically adjacent sidebars 107. Each cross-rod 108 is removable from one or both respective sidebar 107 for insertion through the core of a cable drum 110 to transport the cable drums 1 10 on the trolley 100 as shown.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, each pair of sidebars 107 comprises horizontally paired cross-rod engagements 109. In other words, each pair of cross rail engagements 109 corresponds in position from front-to-rear. As such, each cross-rod 108 is attachable between a respective pair of horizontally paired cross-rod engagements 109. In an embodiment, and as is shown in Figure 1 , the cross-rod engagements 109 may comprise apertures 109 through which each respective cross rod 108 is slidably engaged.

[0049] The apertures 109 may be equidistantly spaced and, as such, the upper cross rods 108 of shorter length may comprise fewer apertures as shown in Figure 1. [0050] A distal end of each cross-rod 108 may comprise a retainer mechanism 112 to prevent the distal end of the cross-rod 108 from sliding through the respective aperture 109.

[0051 ] The retainer mechanism 112 may comprise a quick release mechanism for quick reconfiguration of the cross-rods 108. In one embodiment, the quick release locking mechanism 112 comprises a pin extending through a corresponding aperture at a distal end of the cross-rod 108 and a locking ring which is pivotally attached to the pin to pivot over the distal end of the cross-rod 108 and hold the pin in place. [0052] Each cross-rod 108 may comprise a retainer mechanism 1 12 at either end. Flowever, in alternative embodiments, each cross-rod 108 a comprises a retainer mechanism 1 12 at one end and a fixed flange at the opposite end.

[0053] As shown in Figure 2, each cross-rod 108 may extend just beyond each respective sidebar 107. Flowever, in embodiments, at least a subset of the cross-rods 108 may be longer so as to extend substantially beyond one or both respective sidebar 107 for loading additional cable drums 110 on the sides of the trolley 100. [0054] In embodiments, each cross-rod 108 may comprise a telescopic member slidably retained therein which may be pulled from the cross-rod 108 for lengthening. [0055] In alternative embodiments, longer cross-rods 108 may be provided which may be selectively inserted through the apertures 109 when required. A set of longer cross-rods 108 may be clipped to a holster at the side of the trolley 100 for example, ready for use. Longer cross-rods 108 may replace shorter cross-rods 108 or alternatively longer cross-rods 108 could be inserted adjacently through unoccupied apertures 109 of a sidebar 107. In embodiments, if a longer cross-rod 108 is inserted adjacent a shorter cross-rod 108, both may retain the same cable drum 110.

[0056] Figure 3 - 6 show a further embodiment wherein the trolley 100 comprises a substantially horizontally orientated frame 101 comprising a rear axle 1 14 supporting fixed wheels 1 15 at a rear of the frame 101 and a pair of lockable castor wheels 1 16 at a front of the frame 101.

[0057] The frame comprises rear vertical frame member 117, shorter front vertical frame member 118, a horizontal lower frame member 119 between lower ends thereof and an angled frame member 120 running at an angle between upper ends of the vertical frame members 117, 1 18.

[0058] The frame 101 may comprise a brace 123 between the front vertical frame members 1 18.

[0059] The trolley 100 comprises a plurality of cross-rods 108 substantially equidistant along the length of an extended between the angled frame members 120 supporting a plurality of cable drums 1 10 thereacross.

[0060] As shown in Figure 4, each cross-rod 108 may rest against a pair of wedges 121. In this manner, each cross-rod 108 may be lifted from the angled frame members 120 to access the drums 1 10 thereon. The angled frame members 120 may be spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate a pair of drums therebetween in the manner shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, the cross-rods 108 may extend outwardly from the angled frame members 120 a sufficient length to support a further pair of outer cable drums 110 thereon.

[0061 ] Distal ends of each cross-rod 108 may comprise a retainer mechanism 112 to prevent the outer cable drums 1 10 sliding off. As alluded to above, the retainer mechanism 112 may comprise a locking pin and ring. [0062] The trolley 100 may be pushed by holding the frame 101 at the apex between the vertical frame members 117 and the angled frame members 120.

[0063] Figure 6 shows the trolley 100 when stood upright (i.e., castor wheels off the ground). Furthermore, Figure 6 100 shows wherein the trolley comprises an angled brace 124 between the lower frame member 119 and angled frame member 120. [0064] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. Flowever, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

[0065] The term “approximately” or similar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.