Stud-Mounted Reel Holder for Controlled Wire Unspooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for dispensing wire, cable, and flexible tubing from a spool at construction sites often result in kinking, excessive unspooling, and difficulty in moving the spool due to inadequate support and design.
Innovation Solution
A device adapted for mounting on a vertical support, such as a stud, that holds the spool off the floor, providing sufficient drag to prevent excessive unspooling and allowing easy movement without tools or fasteners, featuring a combination of straight and angled assemblies with curved brackets for secure attachment and adjustable angles to manage spool rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spool is mounted on a horizontal pipe across two studs, then the spool is held up off the ground and wire can be dispensed, but the wire often kinks, jamming the spool so that it does not spin easily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal pipe mounting to vertical stud mounting, changing the dimensional orientation of the spool holder. This vertical configuration allows wire to dispense downward in a straight line, preventing kinks while maintaining spool elevation off the ground.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved surfaces and rounded edges in the spool holder design, particularly in the wire guide channel and spool contact surfaces. These curved features prevent wire from catching or kinking during dispensing, ensuring smooth spool rotation.
2Ease of operation
If the spool is mounted on a horizontal pipe, then wire can be dispensed, but a full spool of wire can develop momentum and continue to dispense excess wire after the operator has stopped pulling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the friction parameter between the spool and holder by using specific surface materials and contact geometries. This controlled friction provides sufficient drag to prevent excessive wire dispensing while maintaining smooth rotation during active pulling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wire guide channel as an intermediary element between the spool and the dispensing point. This channel controls wire path and tension, preventing momentum-induced over-dispensing while facilitating smooth wire feed during active use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the spool is mounted on a pipe fastened to studs, then the spool is securely held, but moving the spool to a different area of the job site is difficult because the pipe needs to be unfastened from the studs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the spool holder into separable components that can be quickly assembled and disassembled from the stud without tools. This segmented design enables rapid relocation by simply detaching the holder from one stud and reattaching it to another.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic mounting mechanisms that transition between fixed and movable states. The holder can be quickly secured to a stud when needed and just as quickly released for relocation, providing adaptability without permanent installation.
4Ease of manufacture
If a reel holder sits on the floor, then the device is simple to implement, but it creates a tripping hazard at the job site and often it is difficult to make the device dispense wire freely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent elevates the reel holder from floor level (horizontal plane) to stud-mounted height (vertical plane). This dimensional change removes the tripping hazard by positioning the reel above the walkable area while maintaining simple device construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the reel holder from the floor surface and relocates it to the vertical stud structure. This separation eliminates the tripping hazard associated with floor-based holders while preserving the essential wire dispensing function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device ensures easy dispensing of wire while preventing kinking and excessive unspooling, allowing for quick relocation and storage by providing stable support and controlled spool rotation without the need for tools.
Implementation Method 1
The first curved bracket and the second curved bracket are adapted to grasp a substantially vertical wooden stud and support the device when it is in use
Implementation Method 2
providing sufficient drag on the reel to avoid excess unspooling of the wire
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided that is adapted for mounting on a vertical support, such as a stud at a construction job site, to hold a spool of wire off the floor, allowing the wire to be dispensed easily, yet providing sufficient drag on the reel to avoid excess unspooling of the wire. The device is adapted for mounting on a stud or comparable vertical support without the use of tools or fasteners so it can be moved quickly from location to location. The device is conveniently disassembled into two smaller assemblies for storage and transport to the job site.