Reel stand with line guide

Abstract

A stand for carrying a reel around which a linear product such as wire may be wound. The stand comprises a base and a support member for engaging the reel in a manner that permits the reel to rotate so that the linear product may be unwound therefrom or wound thereon. The stand comprises a line guide having a guide head designed to guide the linear product during the winding or unwinding process. The guide head is carried on a guide arm which is configured to be mounted on the stand. Optionally, the line guide and stand are configured to provide a position on the stand where the line guide may be stowed when not in use. Preferably, the guide arm is flexible to permit the desired positioning of the guide head and, optionally, to facilitate stowage.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reel stand for supporting a reel comprising a linear product wound about the reel, the stand comprising: 
 a reel support member for supporting at least one such reel in a manner which permits the reel to rotate;    a base supporting the reel support member; and    a line guide comprising a guide arm and a guide head for guiding such linear product from such reel.    
     
     
         2 . The reel stand of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the reel support member and the base are configured to carry the line guide in a stowed position.  
     
     
         3 . The reel stand of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the support member and the base comprises a hollow structure configured to receive the guide arm therein for storage.  
     
     
         4 . The reel stand of  claim 1  wherein the guide arm comprises a flexible guide arm.  
     
     
         5 . The stand of  claim 3  wherein the line guide comprises a friction fit member for engaging a surrounding structure in which the line guide may be stowed.  
     
     
         6 . In a stand for supporting one or more reels, the improvement comprising a line guide mounted on the stand.  
     
     
         7 . The stand of  claim 6  wherein the line guide comprises a guide head carried by a flexible guide arm.  
     
     
         8 . The stand of  claim 6  configured to carry the line guide thereon in a stowed position when not in use.  
     
     
         9 . In a collapsible wire reel stand comprising 
 a pair of “U”-shaped frame members, each member comprising a central horizontal portion and a pair of vertical leg portions, the pair of frame members attached so that the horizontal portions rest on the ground and the opposing leg portions are joined as a hinge capable of being separated to form an opened inverted “V” position and a closed collapsed position;    a pair of angle members attached to one frame member and forming a fixed angle with relation to the remaining frame member in the opened position to control the amount of separation between the frame members when the reel stand is in its opened inverted “V” position;    a pair of bearing members attached to the joined legs of the frame members, each bearing member including an aperture;    a principal support bar for supporting a wire reel, said principal support bar disposed through the apertures of said pair of bearing members and releasably attached thereto;    at least one side support bar for supporting a wire reel and releasably attached between the vertical leg portions of a frame member, wherein the principal support bar and at least one side support bar remain attached to said frame members in the closed, collapsed position, the improvement comprising 
 a line guide mounted on the stand, the line guide comprising a guide head on a guide arm.  
   
     
     
         10 . The collapsible wire reel stand of  claim 9  wherein the line guide is mounted on the stand in a stowed position.  
     
     
         11 . The wire reel stand of  claim 9  wherein the line guide comprises a guide head mounted on a flexible guide arm.  
     
     
         12 . The wire reel stand of  claim 9  wherein the line guide is mounted on the stand with the guide head in position for guiding a wire being drawn from a reel on the stand.