Box for storing and dispensing cable

Abstract

A box for storing, shipping and dispensing cable or wire from a spool contained within the box. The box having features to allow efficient dispensing of cable in measured amounts.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A box for dispensing a length of cable wound around a spool positioned in the box comprising, 
 a box having continuous opposite sides, opposite ends and a top and bottom,    an opening in one end wall, and means forming a handle grip in the box, and    a cable spool support positioned within the box and including opposed rigid supports parallel to one another and shaped to support opposite ends of a spindle upon which cable is wound with the free end of the cable extending outwardly of the box.    
     
     
         2 . A box for dispensing cable, the box comprising: 
 a pair of opposed, rectangular side walls;    a front wall adjacent to each of the pair of side walls;    a back wall adjacent to each of the pair of side walls and opposite from the front wall;    a top wall adjacent to each of the pair of side walls, the front wall and the back wall;    bottom wall adjacent to each of the pair of side walls and opposite the top wall;    a panel in a wall of the box, adapted to be displaced to provide an opening in the wall; and    a cable spool support located in the box, the support including journals to support a spindle of a spool of cable for dispensing cable from the spool in the box, wherein the cable spool support comprises a pair of rigid supports positioned adjacent opposite walls and each closely fitting at least portions of five walls, each of said supports including a journal integrally formed in the support and shaped to receive an end of a spindle supporting a spool of wire, said spool of wire including a spindle, with the spool positioned between the supports one from the other, the end of the wire on the spools removable from the box through said opening.    
     
     
         3 . The box as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each of the pair of rigid supports are made of cardboard.  
     
     
         4 . The box as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the box and each of the pair of rigid supports are formed from a single sheet of cardboard.  
     
     
         5 . The box as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each of the pair of rigid supports have a U-shape, with the journal of each support defined by the bight of the U-shape.  
     
     
         6 . The box as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each of the pair of rigid supports are comprised of an expanded polystyrene plastic.  
     
     
         7 . A box as set forth in  claim 5  having a panel in one of the front or back walls, said panel shaped and sized to be moved from a position in a plane common with the front or back wall to a position at least in part engaging the cable on the spool.  
     
     
         8 . A box as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said panel is adapted to be folded along a line intermediate the ends and to be hinged along a parallel line for movement from and to said plane.  
     
     
         9 . A box as set forth in  claim 3  wherein each of said rigid supports comprise an internal panel integrally connected to the upper edge of a side wall and folded inwardly against the inner surface of said side wall.  
     
     
         10 . A box as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the internal panel is formed with an opening having a lower edge that extends transversely across a portion of the internal panel at a spaced distance from the lower edge of the side wall forming a supporting surface for an end of the spindle.  
     
     
         11 . A box as set forth in  claim 10  having spacers integrally connected to the lower edge of the internal support and folded between the internal support and side wall to form a reinforcing member for said supporting surface.