Handheld coiled material dispenser

Abstract

The disclosed devices and methods relate to a wire mesh dispensing device which improves the storage, transportation, dispensing, and rewinding of coiled materials, particularly in construction and building maintenance settings such as solar energy and pest mitigation. The dispenser resolves problems from coiled materials prone to expansion or unwinding, leading to storage challenges and safety risks. It features enclosing structures that prevent the coil from expanding beyond a set volume, side plates that keep the material layers aligned, and mechanisms for easy lifting and carrying. The device also includes a stable base with non-slip feet for secure placement on varied surfaces, rollers and a side plate to facilitate low-friction rotation for easy material dispensing in any orientation, and a rewinding mechanism for material take-up or coil tightening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reel device for storage and distribution of coiled material, comprising:
 a frame;   an axle rotatably attached to the frame;   an inner coil side plate attached to the axle;   an outer coil side plate selectively attachable to the axle; and   a roller attached to the frame, the roller configured to cooperate with an outer layer of the coiled material to support a weight of the coiled material and reduce an amount of friction between the coiled material and the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The reel device of  claim 1 , comprising a coil containment device attached to the frame, the coil containment device configured to cooperate with the outer layer of the coiled material to set a maximum diameter of the coiled material. 
     
     
         3 . The reel device of  claim 1 , comprising a pad attached to at least one of the inner coil side plate or the outer coil side plate, the pad located between the inner coil side plate and the outer coil side plate, the pad configured to cooperate with an inner portion of the coiled material to prevent relative rotation between the axle and the inner portion of the coiled material. 
     
     
         4 . The reel device of  claim 1 , comprising a protruding structure located between the inner coil side plate and the outer coil side plate, the protruding structure configured to cooperate with an inner portion of the coiled material to prevent relative rotation between the axle and the inner portion of the coiled material. 
     
     
         5 . The reel device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the outer coil side plate, the roller, or the coil containment device are configured to move from a first position to a second position, the second position displaced from the first position by a distance measured in a direction parallel with an axis of the axle. 
     
     
         6 . The reel device of  claim 1 , wherein the roller defines an annular groove and the outer coil side plate is configured to engage the annular groove to:
 limit an amount of flexion of the outer coil side plate in a direction parallel to an axis of the axle, and   limit an amount of friction between the outer coil side plate and the frame.   
     
     
         7 . The reel device of  claim 1 , wherein the roller defines an annular groove and the inner coil side plate is configured to engage the annular groove to:
 limit an amount of flexion of the inner coil side plate in a direction parallel to an axis of the axle, and   limit an amount of friction between the inner coil side plate and the frame.   
     
     
         8 . The reel device of  claim 1 , comprising a bearing located between the frame and the axle, the bearing configured to reduce an amount of friction between:
 the axle and the frame in a first direction perpendicular to an axis of the axle, and   the axle and the frame in a second direction parallel to the axis of the axle such that the reel device can be operated in a first device position and a second device position, the second device position rotated ninety degrees from the first device position.   
     
     
         9 . The reel device of  claim 1 , comprising an axle guard, the axle guard located between the axle and an inner portion of the coiled material to protect a machine-threaded surface of the axle. 
     
     
         10 . The reel device of  claim 1 , comprising a knob, the knob configured to cooperate with a machine-threaded surface of the axle to secure the outer coil side plate to the axle and prevent relative rotation between the outer coil side plate and the axle. 
     
     
         11 . The reel device of  claim 1 , comprising a rewind knob attached to at least one of the axle or the outer coil side plate, wherein a force applied to the rewind knob urges a rotation of the axle to wind a length of material that was previously unwound from the outer layer of the coiled material back onto the outer layer of the coiled material. 
     
     
         12 . The reel device of  claim 1 , wherein the coiled material includes a wire mesh. 
     
     
         13 . A reel device for storage and distribution of coiled material, comprising:
 a frame;   an axle fixedly attached to the frame;   an inner coil side plate rotatably attached to the axle;   an outer coil side plate selectively rotatably attachable to the axle;   a roller attached to the frame, the roller configured to cooperate with an outer layer of the coiled material to support a weight of the coiled material and reduce an amount of friction between the coiled material and the frame; and   a coil containment device attached to the frame, the coil containment device configured to cooperate with the outer layer of the coiled material to set a maximum diameter of the coiled material.   
     
     
         14 . The reel device of  claim 13 , comprising an axle guard extending from an outer end to an inner end, the outer end attached to the outer coil side plate, the inner end attached to the inner coil side plated, the axle guard located between the axle and an inner portion of the coiled material to protect a machine-threaded surface of the axle. 
     
     
         15 . The reel device of  claim 13 , comprising a pad attached to the inner coil side plate, the pad configured to cooperate with an inner portion of the coiled material to eliminate relative rotation between the inner coil side plate and the inner portion of the coiled material. 
     
     
         16 . The reel device of  claim 13 , comprising a bearing located between the frame and a portion of the reel device that rotates relative to the frame, the bearing configured to reduce an amount of friction between:
 the frame and the portion of the reel device that rotates relative to the frame in a first direction perpendicular to an axis of the axle, and   the frame and the portion of the reel device that rotates relative to the frame in a second direction parallel to the axis of the axle such that the reel device can be operated in a first device position and a second device position, the second device position rotated ninety degrees from the first device position.   
     
     
         17 . The reel device of  claim 13 , the frame defining an aperture through which the reel device may be secured to a stationary object. 
     
     
         18 . The reel device of  claim 13 , comprising:
 a first set of feet located in a first plane; and   a second set of feet located in a second plane, the second plane perpendicular to the first plane, the first set of feet and the second set of feet configured to:
 resist movement of the reel device relative to a stationary object on a roof, and 
 resist scratching of an associated photovoltaic cell cover located on a roof. 
   
     
     
         19 . The reel device of  claim 13 , wherein the coiled material includes a wire mesh. 
     
     
         20 . A reel device for storage and distribution of coiled material, comprising:
 a frame;   an axle attached to the frame;   an inner coil side plate attached to the frame;   an outer coil side plate selectively attachable to the frame;   a roller attached to the frame, the roller configured to cooperate with an outer layer of the coiled material to support a weight of the coiled material and reduce an amount of friction between the coiled material and the frame;   a coil containment device attached to the frame, the coil containment device configured to cooperate with the outer layer of the coiled material to set a maximum diameter of the coiled material;   a pad attached to at least one of the inner coil side plate or the outer coil side plate, the pad located between the inner coil side plate and the outer coil side plate, the pad configured to cooperate with an inner portion of the coiled material to prevent relative rotation between the axle and the inner portion of the coiled material;   an axle guard, the axle guard located between the axle and an inner portion of the coiled material to protect a machine-threaded surface of the axle;   a knob, the knob configured to cooperate with a machine-threaded surface of the axle to secure the outer coil side plate to the axle and prevent relative rotation between the outer coil side plate and the axle; and   a rewind knob attached to at least one of the axle or the outer coil side plate, wherein a force applied to the rewind knob urges a rotation of the axle to wind a length of material that was previously unwound from the outer layer of the coiled material back onto the outer layer of the coiled material, wherein:
 the roller defines an annular groove and the outer coil side plate is configured to engage the annular groove to:
 limit an amount of flexion of the outer coil side plate in a direction parallel to an axis of the axle, and 
 limit an amount of friction between the outer coil side plate and the frame.