Cable spool carrying device

Abstract

A cable spool carrying device. In one example embodiment, a cable spool carrying device includes a handle, first and second legs attached to the handle, first and second feet attached to the first and second legs, respectively, and means for biasing the first and second legs away from one another.

1 . A carrying device comprising:
 a handle;   first and second legs attached to the handle; and   first and second feet attached to the first and second legs, respectively, each foot including an engagement surface that is substantially perpendicular to at least a portion of the leg to which the foot is attached;   wherein each leg is configured to be resiliently bent toward the other leg in order to allow the legs to extend through a circular mandrel opening in a flange of a cable spool and the engagement surface of each foot is configured to engage an inside surface of the flange.   
     
     
         2 . The carrying device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes indentations for four fingers of a human hand. 
     
     
         3 . The carrying device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each leg includes a curved outer surface having a radius of curvature that matches the radius of curvature of the circular mandrel opening in the flange of the cable spool. 
     
     
         4 . The carrying device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the distance between the two curved outer surfaces is about equal to a diameter of the circular mandrel opening. 
     
     
         5 . The carrying device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the resiliency of the legs allows the feet to be inserted into the circular mandrel opening in the flange of the cable spool; and   each leg is further configured to automatically spring back to a position where the distance between the two curved outer surfaces is about equal to a diameter of the circular mandrel opening.   
     
     
         6 . The carrying device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the engagement surface of each foot comprises an uneven surface. 
     
     
         7 . The carrying device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein each uneven surface is substantially parallel to a top portion of the handle. 
     
     
         8 . The carrying device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the feet are configured to break away from the handle when a force greater than or equal to a predetermined force is applied to the uneven surfaces of the feet. 
     
     
         9 . A cable spool carrying device comprising:
 a handle;   first and second legs attached to the handle;   first and second feet attached to the first and second legs, respectively, each foot including an engagement surface that is substantially perpendicular to at least a portion of the leg to which the foot is attached and that is configured to engage an inside surface of a flange of a cable spool; and   means for biasing the first and second legs away from one another.   
     
     
         10 . The cable spool carrying device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the means for biasing comprises one or more leaf springs positioned between the first and second legs. 
     
     
         11 . The cable spool carrying device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the means for biasing comprises one or more resilient portions of the first and second legs. 
     
     
         12 . The cable spool carrying device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein each leg is configured to extend through a circular mandrel opening in the flange of the cable spool. 
     
     
         13 . The cable spool carrying device as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the legs are configured to break when a force greater than or equal to a predetermined force is applied to the feet. 
     
     
         14 . The cable spool carrying device as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the feet include tapered portions, respectively, that cause the feet to slide toward one another when the feet are forced through a circular opening that is smaller in diameter than an outside distance between the first and second feet. 
     
     
         15 . The cable spool carrying device as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the cable spool carrying device is configured to be manually attached and detached to the cable spool without the assistance of any tools. 
     
     
         16 . The cable spool carrying device as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the cable spool carrying device includes a visible indicator that designates the size of the circular mandrel opening through which the legs of the cable spool carrying device is configured to extend. 
     
     
         17 . A cable spool carrying device comprising:
 a handle;   first and second legs connected to the handle, each leg configured to extend through a circular mandrel opening in a flange of a cable spool;   first and second feet connected to the first and second legs, respectively, at least a portion of each foot including an uneven surface that is generally perpendicular to the corresponding leg and is configured to engage an inside surface of the flange of the cable spool; and   first and second leaf springs connected to the handle and configured to bias the first and second legs away from one another.   
     
     
         18 . The cable spool carrying device as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising first and second supports reinforcing the connections between the handle and the first and second legs, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The cable spool carrying device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the handle is configured to substantially surround the four fingers of a human hand when the handle is gripped by the hand. 
     
     
         20 . The cable spool carrying device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the legs are configured to break away from the handle when the cable spool carrying device is attached to a cable spool that is heavier than or equal to a predetermined weight and a user exerts a lifting force on the handle that is equal to the predetermined weight.