초록 ▼

A towable dispenser system for providing a highly portable and convenient means of dispensing elongate flexible materials such as wire. The system includes a frame removably attachable to a vehicle for pulling the frame, ground engaging apparatus for engaging a ground surface and supporting the fram

A towable dispenser system for providing a highly portable and convenient means of dispensing elongate flexible materials such as wire. The system includes a frame removably attachable to a vehicle for pulling the frame, ground engaging apparatus for engaging a ground surface and supporting the frame above the ground surface, and a spool mounting assembly mounted on the frame for supporting at least one spool on the frame. The spool mounting assembly comprises a primary support member mounted on the frame, a spool axle being mounted on the primary support member for positioning in the bore of a spool. The spool mounting assembly includes at least one, and possibly two, spool retaining assemblies for releasably retaining spools on the spool axle. The spool retaining assembly may include a retaining arm movable between an engaged position blocking spool movement off of the spool axle and a disengaged position permitting spool movement off of the spool axle.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A towable dispenser for dispensing an elongate flexible member from a spool while being towed by a towing vehicle, the dispenser comprising:a frame removably attachable to a vehicle for pulling the frame behind the vehicle;ground engaging means for engaging a ground surface in a manner supporting

1. A towable dispenser for dispensing an elongate flexible member from a spool while being towed by a towing vehicle, the dispenser comprising:a frame removably attachable to a vehicle for pulling the frame behind the vehicle;ground engaging means for engaging a ground surface in a manner supporting the frame above the ground surface and permitting the frame to move over the ground surface; anda spool mounting assembly mounted on the frame for supporting at least one spool on the frame, the spool mounting assembly comprising:a primary support member mounted on the frame;a spool axle being mounted on the primary support member for positioning in a bore of the spool supported on the spool mounting assembly, the spool axle having opposite ends;at least one spool retaining assembly for releasably retaining the spool on the spool axle, the at least one spool retaining assembly being movable between an engaged position in which a retaining arm engages the end of the spool axle such that spool movement in an axial direction off of the spool axle is blocked and a disengaged position in which the retaining arm is disengaged from the end of the spool axle such that spool movement in the axial direction off of the spool axle is permitted without raising the spool axle;wherein the at least one spool retaining assembly includes retaining arm for releasably retaining the spool on the spool axle, the retaining arm being mounted on the frame and on one of the ends of the spool axle;wherein the spool retaining assembly includes an inner guide plate mounted on the spool axle and an outer guide plate removably mounted on the spool axle for positioning the at least one spool between the inner and outer guide plates;wherein the spool retaining assembly includes a support tube for inserting into the bore of the spool, the support tube having a passage therethrough for receiving a portion of the spool axle therethrough, the support tube being removably positioned between the inner and outer guide plates.2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the retaining arm is slidable away from and toward the spool axle.3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the retaining arm comprises:a main segment;a base segment mounted on the main segment and extending away from the main segment, the base segment being removably inserted in an opening on the frame; anda retainer segment mounted on the main segment at a distance from the base segment, the retainer segment being removably engageable with one of the ends of the spool axle when the retainer arm is in the engaged position.4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the retaining arm has a recess formed therein for removably receiving the end of the spool axle, the end of the spool axle being positioned in the recess when the retaining arm is in the engaged position and the end of the spool axle being withdrawn out of the recess when the retaining arm is in the disengaged position.5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the support tube is mounted to the outer guide plate and is removable from and remountable to the spool axle with the outer guide plate.6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises:a lower portion of the frame including a tongue section for removably attaching to the towing vehicle and an axle section attached to the tongue section; andan upper portion of the frame being positioned above the lower portion, the upper portion including at least one upright member extending upwardly from the lower portion of the frame and a cross member mounted on the at least one upright member and extending substantially transversely, the cross member having end portions at laterally opposite sides of the upper portion.7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the spool mounting assembly simultaneously supports a pair of spools in a manner permitting elongate material to be simultaneously drawn from each of the spools.8. The dispenser of claim 1 additionally comprises:a loose end retaining member for wrapping a loose end of an elongate flexible member from said spool mounted on the spool mounting assembly, the loose end retaining member being mounted on and extending outwardly from the frame;an auxiliary spool holding assembly for holding an inactive spool between uses, the auxiliary spool holding assembly being mounted on the frame, the auxiliary spool holding assembly comprising a holding member mounted on the frame, and a pair of upright shafts for each inserting into the central bore of the inactive spool, each of the upright shafts having a lower end mounted on the holding member and a free upper end for simultaneously holding a pair of spools;an auxiliary hitch for attaching a trailer to the frame for towing behind the frame; anda tool support extending from the frame for releasably supporting tools thereon, the tool support having at least one aperture formed therein for receiving a portion of a tool.9. A towable dispenser for dispensing an elongate flexible member from a spool while being towed by a towing vehicle, the dispenser comprising:a frame removably attachable to a vehicle for pulling the frame behind the vehicle;ground engaging means for engaging a ground surface in a manner supporting the frame above the ground surface and permitting the frame to move over the ground surface; anda spool mounting assembly mounted on the frame for supporting at least one spool on the frame, the spool mounting assembly comprising:a primary support member mounted on the frame;a spool axle being mounted on the primary support member for positioning in a bore of the spool supported on the spool mounting assembly, the spool axle having opposite ends;at least one spool retaining assembly for releasably retaining the spool on the spool axle;wherein the retaining arm has a hole extending therein that is alignable with a hole in the spool axle when the retaining arm is in the engaged position, and a pin removably inserted into the hole of the retaining arm and the hole of the spool axle for releasably locking the retaining arm in the engaged position.10. A towable dispenser for dispensing an elongate flexible member from a spool while being towed by a towing vehicle, the dispenser comprising:a frame removably attachable to a vehicle for pulling the frame behind the vehicle;ground engaging means for engaging a ground surface in a manner supporting the frame above the ground surface and permitting the frame to move over the ground surface; anda spool mounting assembly mounted on the frame for supporting at least one spool on the frame, the spool mounting assembly comprising:a primary support member mounted on the frame;a spool axle being mounted on the primary support member for positioning in a bore of the spool supported on the spool mounting assembly, the spool axle having opposite ends;at least one spool retaining assembly for releasably retaining the spool on the spool axle;a loose end retaining member for wrapping a loose end of an elongate flexible member from the spool mounted on the spool mounting assembly, the loose end retaining member being mounted on and extending outwardly from the frame.11. A towable dispenser for dispensing an elongate flexible member from a spool while being towed by a towing vehicle, the dispenser comprising:a frame removably attachable to a vehicle for pulling the frame behind the vehicle;ground engaging means for engaging a ground surface in a manner supporting the frame above the ground surface and permitting the frame to move over the ground surface; anda spool mounting assembly mounted on the frame for supporting at least one spool on the frame, the spool mounting assembly comprising:a primary support member mounted on the frame;a spool axle being mounted on the primary support member for positioning in a bore of the spool supported on the spool mounting assembly, the spool axle having opposite ends;at least one spool retaining assembly for releasably retaining the spool on the spool axle;an auxiliary spool holding assembly for holding an inactive spool between uses, the auxiliary spool holding assembly being mounted on the frame, the auxiliary spool holding assembly comprising a holding member mounted on the frame, and at least one upright shaft for inserting into the central bore of the inactive spool, the at least one upright shaft having a lower end mounted on the holding member and a free upper end.12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein a pair of the upright shafts are mounted on the holding member for simultaneously holding a pair of spools.13. A towable dispenser for dispensing an elongate flexible member from a spool while being towed by a towing vehicle, the dispenser comprising:a frame removably attachable to a vehicle for pulling the frame behind the vehicle;ground engaging means for engaging a ground surface in a manner supporting the frame above the ground surface and permitting the frame to move over the ground surface; anda spool mounting assembly mounted on the frame for supporting at least one spool on the frame, the spool mounting assembly comprising:a primary support member mounted on the frame;a spool axle being mounted on the primary support member for positioning in a bore of the spool supported on the spool mounting assembly, the spool axle having opposite ends;at least one spool retaining assembly for releasably retaining & the spool on the spool axle; andan auxiliary hitch for attaching a trailer to the frame for towing behind the frame.14. A towable dispenser for dispensing an elongate flexible member from a spool while being towed by a towing vehicle, the dispenser comprising:a frame removably attachable to a vehicle for pulling the frame behind the vehicle;ground engaging means for engaging a ground surface in a manner supporting the frame above the ground surface and permitting the frame to move over the ground surface; anda spool mounting assembly mounted on the frame for supporting at least one spool on the frame, the spool mounting assembly comprising:a primary support member mounted on the frame;a spool axle being mounted on the primary support member for positioning in a bore of the spool supported on the spool mounting assembly, the spool axle having opposite ends;at least one spool retaining assembly for releasably retaining the spool on the spool axle;a tool support extending from the frame for releasably supporting tools thereon, the tool support having at least one aperture formed therein for receiving a portion of a tool.15. A method of dispensing wire for constructing a fence, comprising:providing a towable dispenser including a frame removably attachable to a vehicle for pulling the frame behind the vehicle; ground engaging means for engaging a ground surface in a manner supporting the frame above the ground surface and permitting the frame to move over the ground surface; and a spool mounting assembly mounted on the frame for supporting at least one spool on the frame, the spool mounting assembly comprising a primary support member mounted on the frame, a spool axle being mounted on the primary support member for positioning in a bore of a spool supported on the spool mounting assembly, the spool axle member having opposite ends, and at least one spool retaining assembly for releasably retaining the spool on the spool axle;mounting a pair of spools of wire on the dispenser;attaching a wire from each of the pair of spools to an initial fence post of a series of spaced fence posts mounted in and extending upwardly from a ground surface; andtowing the dispenser across the ground surface and away from the initial fence post along the series of fence posts to simultaneously unspool wire from the pair of spools;cutting at least one of the wires on the spools to form a loose end and wrapping the loose end about a loose end retaining member mounted on the frame of the dispenser;attaching a trailer to an auxiliary hitch mounted on the frame of the dispenser and towing the trailer behind the dispenser; andstoring an inactive spool on an auxiliary spool holding assembly mounted on the frame between uses of the spool.