Cable dispenser

Abstract

A cable dispenser including a fixed stand with a rotatable cable turntable mounted concentrically within a rotatable pan which has a payout slot formed therethrough. Cable may be pulled from the dispenser at any angle and the structure provides an inherent braking action when pulling on the cable ceases.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A cable dispenser comprising a relatively stationary base, a cable dispensing control member having a bottom and an upstanding substantially cylindrical side wall, means mounting said member on said base for free rotation about the axis of said side wall, a turntable for supporting a coil of cable disposed within said member, means mounting said turntable on the bottom of said member for free rotation about said axis independently of rotation of said member, and means providing a dispensing opening at said wall through which the cable may be withdrawn from the dispenser, whereby when cable is pulled out through said opening said member is automatically oriented to align said opening with the cable payout direction while said turntable is free to relatively rotate as the cable is pulled out of the dispenser. 
     
     
       2. The cable dispenser defined in claim 1, wherein said wall surrounds the coil on said turntable in such relation that upon cessation of payout pull on the cable coils of cable within the member expand into friction contact with said wall and thereby arrest rotation of the turntable to prevent further payout of cable from the dispenser. 
     
     
       3. The cable dispenser defined in claim 1 wherein said member is pan-shaped and is provided with a cover having an opening on said axis, and said turntable has a central coil mounting cone extending upwardly into said cover opening. 
     
     
       4. The cable dispenser defined in claim 3 wherein the turntable is substantially parallel to the bottom of said pan-shaped member and said dispensing opening is near the lower end of said wall. 
     
     
       5. The cable dispenser defined in claim 1, wherein said base has a plurality of detachable support legs. 
     
     
       6. The cable dispenser defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting means for the cable dispensing control member and the turntable are concentric ball bearing assemblies. 
     
     
       7. A cable dispenser comprising: a fixed base; a generally cylindrical, upwardly open pan having a surrounding wall; first means for rotatably mounting said pan on said base; turntable means for supporting a coiled supply of cable and being located on said pan within said wall; second means for rotatably mounting said turntable means on said pan; means defining a cable dispensing opening in said pan wall; means for retaining cable within said pan in a coiled condition on said turntable means during payout of cable from said cable dispenser whereby, upon abrupt cessation of paying out of cable from said cable dispenser, said turntable may rotate with respect to said pan to cause coils of cable on said turntable to expand outwardly against said pan wall to thereby arrest rotary motion of said turntable with respect to said wall; said means for retaining said cable in a coiled condition on said turntable means comprising a centering cone, formed concentrically centrally on said turntable and extending vertically upwardly therefrom beyond a horizontal plane defined by the upper terminal circumference of said pan wall, a cover on said pan wall extending over said turntable and being removable from the pan wall to replenish said cable dispense with a supply of cable, said cover including means defining an opening centrally therein, and said turntable centering cone extending upwardly therethrough whereby cable coiled about said cone on said turntable may be removed from said turntable only by being fed tangentially from said turntable through said pan wall dispensing opening. 
     
     
       8. A cable dispenser as claimed in claim 7 wherein said turntable and centering cone are integrally formed together as a one piece member. 
     
     
       9. A cable dispenser comprising: a fixed table assembly having a generally horizontal support surface and at least three supporting legs each being detachable from said support surface; a generally cylindrical, upwardly open pan on said support surface and having an upstanding wall therearound; first bearing means for freely rotatably mounting said pan on said support surface; an integrally formed upwardly open reel for a supply of cable, located within said pan and comprising a generally circular turntable having a centrally disposed cable centering cone extending upwardly therefrom above a horizontal plane defined by upper terminal edge of said wall; second bearing means for freely rotatably mounting said turntable on said pan within said wall; a cover on said pan being removably friction fit on said wall and having means defining an opening centrally therethrough, said cone extending upwardly therethrough in assembly; and means defining a cable dispensing opening through said pan wall for feeding cable tangentially outwardly from said cable dispenser by pulling on a cable end extended through said dispensing opening, said cable dispenser abruptly ceasing dispensing of cable upon terminating pulling of cable from said dispenser due to coils of cable on said turntable expanding outwardly against said wall to arrest relative movement between said wall and turntable. .Iadd. 10. A cable dispenser comprising a relatively stationary base, a cable dispensing control member having a bottom and an upstanding substantially cylindrical side wall, means mounting said member on said base for free rotation about the axis of said side wall, a turntable for supporting a coil of cable disposed within said member, means mounting said turntable for free rotation about said axis independently of rotation of said member, and means providing a dispensing opening at said wall through which the cable may be withdrawn from the dispenser, whereby when cable is pulled out through said opening said member is automatically oriented to align said opening with the cable payout direction while said turntable is free to relatively rotate as the cable is pulled out of the dispenser. .Iaddend.