PORTABLE WIRE WINDING SYSTEM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to wire winding devices and more particularly pertains to a new portable wire winding system for providing users with an easily portable device for winding up wire. Current wire winding devices are usually quite large, and either are mounted in one location near a power source or usually have a substantial portable power source, such as a gas-powered engine. For users working in remote locations, such as a farmer winding up wire used in fencing in remote fields or pastures, such current wire winding devices, are not suitable for these users. The portable wire winding system is made of a lightweight frame of relatively small size and can be operated using a portable rotary power tool, such as a power drill, to allow such users to wind wire in remote locations.

(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to wire winding devices. The prior art, as best understood, does not disclose a portable wire winding system that includes a support frame and a drive shaft that is rotatably mounted on the support frame and includes a projection positioned at one end of the drive shaft and designed to be engaged by a rotary power tool to rotate the drive shaft.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above in a portable wire winding system generally comprising a support frame, a spool shaft, a locking assembly, a drive shaft, and a drive assembly. The spool shaft is rotatably mounted on the support frame and includes a free end portion designed to removably support a wire spool thereon. The locking assembly is designed to detachably lock a wire spool in place on the spool shaft. The drive shaft is rotatably mounted on the support frame and includes a projection positioned at one end of the drive shaft and designed to be engaged by a rotary power tool to rotate the drive shaft. The drive assembly operatively connects the spool shaft and the drive shaft to permit transfer of rotational forces from the drive shaft to the spool shaft to rotate a wire spool on the spool shaft and wind up a length of wire.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable wire winding system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new portable wire winding system embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the portable wire winding system 10 generally comprises A portable wire winding system 10 includes a support frame 12, a spool shaft 14, a locking assembly 16, a drive shaft 18, and a drive assembly 20. The spool shaft 14 is rotatably mounted on the support frame 12 and includes a free end portion 22 designed to removably support a wire spool 60 thereon. The locking assembly 16 is designed to detachably lock a wire spool 60 in place on the spool shaft 14. The drive shaft 18 is rotatably mounted on the support frame 12 and includes a projection 24 positioned at one end of the drive shaft 18 and designed to be engaged by a rotary power tool to rotate the drive shaft 18. The drive assembly 20 operatively connects the spool shaft 14 and the drive shaft 18 to permit transfer of rotational forces from the drive shaft 18 to the spool shaft 14 to rotate a wire spool 60 on the spool shaft 14 and wind up a length of wire 64.

In order to maximize portability of the portable wire winding system 10, the support frame 12 includes lightweight tubing made of metal, plastic, or a combination thereof. The support frame 12 includes anchor structures 26 to permit temporary securing of the support frame 12 to a structure or surface, such as rings or similar that provide tie-down or anchor points. An exemplary embodiment of the support frame 12 is shown in the figures, but other configurations of the support frame 12, wherein components and pieces are arranged in different positions and relationships, are within the scope of the disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support frame 12 includes a plurality of bearings 28, such as four bearings 28. The spool shaft 14 is rotatably mounted in two of the bearings 28. The drive shaft 18 is also rotatably mounted in two of the bearings 28.

With reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the locking assembly 16 includes a drive pin 30 operatively connected to the spool shaft 14 and designed to engage and detachably lock a wire spool 60 on the spool shaft 14. The locking assembly 16 includes a drive sleeve 32 designed to slide onto and detachably connect to the free end portion 22 of the spool shaft 14 and a drive plate 34 attached to and extending radially from the drive sleeve 32. The drive pin 30 is mounted on the drive plate 34 and projects parallel to the drive sleeve 32. The locking assembly 16 also includes a locking pin 36 insertable through openings in the drive sleeve 32 and the spool shaft 14 to detachably lock the drive sleeve 32 on the spool shaft 14. The locking assembly 16 shown in the figures is one exemplary embodiment, and other designs, such as an armature permanently attached or mounted on said spool shaft 14, are within the scope of the disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drive assembly 20 includes a spool shaft pulley 38 mounted on the spool shaft 14, a drive shaft pulley 40 mounted on the drive shaft 18, and a drive belt 42 mounted on and connecting the spool shaft pulley 38 and the drive shaft pulley 40. The drive assembly 20 shown in the figures is one exemplary embodiment, and other designs of drive mechanisms, such as chains and gears, are within the scope of the disclosure.

The portable wire winding system 10 is designed to be easily transported from one location to another for use anywhere. For example, a user may need to go to a remote location far from a power source. The user can transport the portable wire winding system 10 to the remote location. The user can also bring a rotary power tool, such as a power drill 62 as shown in FIG. 8, that is powered by a battery. When the user needs to wind up a length of wire 64, the user connects a wire spool 60 to the locking assembly 16 by sliding the wire spool 60 onto the drive sleeve 32 and engaging the drive pin 30 in a side portion of the wire spool 60. This step can be performed whether the locking assembly 16 is on the spool shaft 14 or not. The user then uses the drive pin 30 to temporarily lock the drive sleeve 32 in place on the spool shaft 14. The user then connects the length of wire 64 to the wire spool 60. The user finally engages the projection 24 with the power drill 62 to rotate the drive shaft 18 and thereby rotate the spool shaft 14 and thereby rotate the wire spool 60 and wind up the length of wire 64. The projection 24 can be designed to be directly engaged by a chuck of a power drill 62 or by a socket attachment or similar.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.