Apparatus to support a reel

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting a reel ( 23 ) for rotation, comprising a horizontal member ( 24 ) about which the reel ( 23 ) can be mounted for rotation, a frame assembly ( 11 - 13 ) to support the horizontal member ( 24 ), the frame assembly ( 11 - 13 ) being movable between a raised position where the reel ( 23 ) can rotate without striking the ground and a lowered position where the horizontal member ( 24 ) can pass through the reel ( 23 ) that is on the ground to enable the reel ( 23 ) to be attached to the horizontal member ( 24 ) without lifting the reel ( 23 ) off the ground. The frame assembly ( 11 - 13 ) comprising a pair of leg members ( 11, 12 ), a cross member ( 13 ) and a ground wheel ( 19, 20 ) attached to the lower part of each leg member ( 19, 20 ).

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus to support a reel for rotation, the apparatus comprising a horizontal member about which the reel can be mounted for rotation, a frame assembly to support the horizontal member above the ground such that the reel can rotate without striking the ground, the frame assembly being rotatable between a raised position where an attached reel can rotate without striking the ground, and a lowered position where the horizontal member can pass through a reel that is on the ground to enable the reel to be attached to the horizontal member without lifting the reel off the ground, and braking means to control rotation of the reel on the horizontal member.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the frame assembly comprises a pair of leg members, and a cross member, the leg members being adjustably mounted to the cross member to enable the spacing between the leg members to be varied.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a ground wheel is attached to the lower part of each leg member.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the ground wheel is adjustably mounted to the leg member to be movable between a lowered position where the ground wheel is able to support the remainder of the apparatus, and an upper position where the ground wheel is raised above the ground.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the braking means is on each side of the reel.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the braking means comprises a guard adapted for frictional engagement with the reel to control rotation of the reel.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each leg member comprises a first part and a second part that are adjustably attached to each other to enable the length of each leg member to be adjusted.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , including a reel, the reel comprising an annular rim, and a pair of cross members, a central axle supported by each cross member, the axle adapted to be supported for rotation by the apparatus, each cross member containing a pair of spaced apart projections about which a wire can be wound, the pair of spaced apart projections being adjustably mounted relative to each other to enable the spacing between the projections to, be varied.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each projection is mounted to a bracket, the bracket being slidably mounted to the cross member.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  including a threaded rod to which the bracket is mounted whereby rotation of the threaded rod causes movement of the bracket.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising at least two reels mounted to the horizontal member mounted to the horizontal member.