Locking saddle for mandrel

Abstract

A saddle device for use with a mandrel is provided. The saddle comprises a bracket to keep a mandrel seated within the saddle facilitating unrolling and rewinding. The saddle of the present invention prevents a mandrel from exiting the saddle when material is wound about or unwound from the mandrel.

1 . A saddle device for receiving a mandrel about which a material is wound, the device comprising: 
 a generally U-shaped body having an open upper portion for a mandrel to pass through and a lower receiving portion within which the mandrel rests; and    a locking member positioned across the open upper portion of the body to define a confined space between it and the lower receiving portion to confine the mandrel which remains free to rotate.    
   
   
       2 . The saddle device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the U-shaped body extends above the height of the mandrel in the saddle by 50% of the diameter of the mandrel.  
   
   
       3 . The saddle device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member is removably attached across the open upper portion of the U-shaped body.  
   
   
       4 . The saddle device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member is integral with the U-shaped body.  
   
   
       5 . The saddle device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member prevents the mandrel from exiting the saddle when the mandrel is rotated.  
   
   
       6 . The saddle device of  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped body further comprises at least two bearing members, and wherein the mandrel rests on said at least two bearing members.  
   
   
       7 . The saddle device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member further comprises at least one bearing member to contact the mandrel.  
   
   
       8 . The saddle device of  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped body has uprights that are slightly tapered.  
   
   
       9 . A mandrel receiving device comprising: 
 a generally U-shaped body having an open upper portion sufficient for a mandrel to pass through and a lower portion within which the mandrel rests; and    a locking member positioned across the open upper portion of the U-shaped body to define a confined space, between it and the lower receiving portion, within which the mandrel is received.    
   
   
       10 . The mandrel receiving device of  claim 9 , wherein the received mandrel is free to rotate within said receiving device.  
   
   
       11 . The saddle device of  claim 9 , wherein the upper portion of the U-shaped body extends above the height of the mandrel in the saddle by 50% of the diameter of the mandrel.  
   
   
       12 . The saddle device of  claim 9 , wherein the locking member is removably attached across the open upper portion of the U-shaped body.  
   
   
       13 . The saddle device of  claim 9 , wherein the locking member is integral with the U-shaped body.  
   
   
       14 . The saddle device of  claim 9 , wherein the locking member prevents the mandrel from exiting the saddle when the mandrel is rotated.  
   
   
       15 . The saddle device of  claim 9 , wherein the U-shaped body further comprises at least two bearing members, and wherein the mandrel rests on said at least two bearing members.  
   
   
       16 . The saddle device of  claim 9 , wherein the locking member further comprises at least two bearing members to contact the mandrel and reduce its rolling resistance, allowing the mandrel to rotate more freely.  
   
   
       17 . The saddle device of  claim 9 , wherein the U-shaped body has uprights that are slightly tapered.  
   
   
       18 . A material retrieval and storage rack comprising: 
 a horizontal frame having spaced apart front, back, and side members that define a base area within the frame and ground engagement means;    framing members attached to the horizontal frame to define at least two spaced apart generally vertical frames;    at least two generally U-shaped bodies, each body comprising: 
 an open upper portion sufficient for a mandrel to pass through and a lower receiving portion within which the mandrel rests; and  
 a locking member attached across the open portion of the U-shaped body to define a confined space between it and the lower receiving portion within which a mandrel is free to rotate; and  
   a mandrel dimensioned to fit within the confined space in the U-shaped body.    
   
   
       19 . The material retrieval and storage rack of  claim 18 , wherein material is wound about the mandrel.  
   
   
       20 . The material retrieval and storage rack of  claim 18 , wherein the at least two U-shaped bodies each further comprise at least two bearing members to contact the mandrel.  
   
   
       21 . The material retrieval and storage rack of  claim 18 , wherein the at least two U-shaped bodies are releaseably attached to the vertical framing members.  
   
   
       22 . The material retrieval and storage rack of  claim 18 , wherein the locking members are releasably attached to the at least two U-shaped bodies.  
   
   
       23 . The material retrieval and storage rack of  claim 18 , wherein the locking members further comprise at least one bearing member to contact the mandrel.  
   
   
       24 . A locking saddle for receiving a mandrel about which a material is wound, the locking saddle comprising: 
 a generally U-shaped body having an open upper portion through which a mandrel can pass;    a lower receiving portion which includes bearing member; and    a movable locking member attached across the open end if the body to define a confined space between it and the bearing members of the lower receiving portion within which the mandrel is free to rotate on the bearing members.