Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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[0001] LOCKING SADDLE FOR MANDREL
[0002] FIELD OF INVENTION
[0003] The present invention generally relates to a saddle for a mandrel that
is used with a storage and dispensing rack more particularly it relates to a
locking
saddle that secures a mandrel when a floor covering is wound onto or off of
the
mandrel and most particularly it relates to a power driven mandrel.
[0004] BACKGROUND
[0005] Floor covering racks are well known for storage, display and
dispensing purposes. Floor covering is usually stored or displayed in multiple
rolls
presented on a rack. These material racks are used in a variety of settings.
For
example, in a gymnasium it is desirable to cover the floor when the floor is
used for
non-sporting events, such as, dances, dinners, etc. The floor covering
material is
rolled on mandrels which are present on a rolling rack. Each mandrel rests on
spaced apart saddles that are secured to the rack. One known rack of this type
is
described in U.S. Patent No. 5,590,435 to Kostigian. When the covering
material
is put on or removed from the mandrel, the mandrel is subject to jumping out
of
the saddle. This can lead to personal injury or damage to the floor.
[0006] SUMMARY
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a saddle
that locks a mandrel in the saddle. The saddle of the present invention
comprises
a generally U-shaped body having an open upper portion sufficient for a
mandrel
to pass through and a lower receiving portion within which the mandrel rests.
The
U-shaped body further comprises a locking member attached across the open end
of the body to define a conf"fined space between it and the lower receiving
portion
within which the mandrel is free to rotate. It is a further object of the
present
invention to provide a saddle that allows for easy insertion of the mandrel
into the
rack. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a
saddle that
allows for vertically progressive storage, dispensing and display of floor
covering
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rolls.
[0008] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS)
[0009] Other features and advantages of the invention shall become clearer
from the following description of some preferred embodiments with reference to
the attached drawings wherein:
[0010] Figure 1 is an isometric view of the saddle of the present invention in
use with a rack.
[0011] Figure 2 is a side elevation of the saddle of the present invention
with
a mandrel in place, representing an enlarged exemplary depiction of an element
of
Figure 1 as denoted by A.
[0012] Figure 2A is an alternate embodiment of the saddle of the present
invention shown in Figure 2.
[0013] Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the locking member of the
present invention.
[0014] Figure 4 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the
locking member shown in Figure 3.
[0015] Figure 5 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the
locking member shown in Figure 3.
[0016] Figure 6 is a top view of the saddle of the present invention.
[0017] Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 6.
[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS)
[0019] As is shown in Figure l, saddle 5 is attached to a rack 100 for storing
and dispensing floor coverings. In order to accommodate rolls of floor
coverings of
various lengths, the saddles 5 may be releasably attached and able to be
repositioned in the rack 100. Such racks are normally able to accommodate a
multitude of rolls.
[0020] Preferably, pairs of saddles 5 are used with a rack 100 for holding
rolls of material 105 to be displayed, distributed or rewound. The rack 100
comprises a horizontal frame 110 and vertical framing members 120 attached
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thereto defining vertical frames. The saddles 5 can be permanently attached to
the framing members 120 for example, by welding. Alternatively, the saddles
may
be releasably attached to the framing members 120, by for example by nuts and
bolts, pins, etc. The position of the saddles 5 can be raised or lowered to
accommodate rolls 105 of various sizes. The saddles 5 supports a mandrel 50
about which material is wound.
[0021) As is shown in Figure 2, each saddle 5 comprises a U-shaped body 10
and locking member 20. Locking member 20 closes the U-shaped body 10 of the
saddle 5 after the mandrel 50 has been seated within the saddle 5. Saddle 5 is
open at its tapered top end 40 and receives the mandrel 50 within it. In an
alternate embodiment, the locking member 20 is fixedly attached to the U-
shaped
body 10 of the saddle 5. In this embodiment, the mandrel 50 is received by
sliding
the mandrel 50 through the openings of both saddles. One or both ends of the
mandrel 50 may be fitted with pins 55 or other means to prevent the mandrel 50
from sliding all the way through the saddles 5. The pins 55 can also be used
in
rewinding the mandrel. Material can be rewound manually by aligning a crank 60
with pin 55 as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, the material may be wound
about
the mandrel by a motorized winder.
[0022] The U-shaped body 10, shown in Figure 2, comprises upright portions
15. The U-shaped body further comprises, an open upper portion that receives
the
mandrel 50, a bracket 20 that closes the upper portion, and a curved closed
lower
portion. The bracket 20 is either releasably attached to or integral with the
U
shaped body 10, creating a confined space for retaining said mandrel 50 within
the
U-shaped body 10 of the saddle 5. The upright portions 15 extend upwardly
above
the mandrel at a height of approximately 50% of the diameter of the mandrel
seated in the saddle. Once seated within the saddle 5, the mandrel 50 is free
to
rotate but is retained in the saddle 5 by the locking member 20. As can be
further
seen in Figure 2, an end of the locking member 21 rests within the U-shaped
grove
of the saddle body 10. The other end of the bracket 22 aligns in a relatively
parallel position with the U shaped body 10.
[0023] Still with reference to Figure 2, the saddle 5 preferably includes
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bearings or rollers 30. The rollers 30 are generally tangent to the outer
circumference of the roller. The rollers 30 reduce rolling resistance and
allow for
the mandrel to spin more freely and smoothly. It should be noted that other
friction reducing elements can be used in place of the rollers, e.g. needle
bearings,
ball bearings, etc. Locking member 20 is contoured to mandrel 50 and keeps it
seated within the saddle on rollers 30. Figure 6 clearly shows the orientation
of
two rollers 30 in the lower portion of the U-shaped body 10. Such an
arrangement
permits a mandrel 50 to rotate in the saddle 5 without contacting the sides or
bottom of the saddle.
[0024] A mandrel 50 may be inserted into the saddle directly through the
opening between the locking member 20 and rollers 30. Locking member 20 can
either be permanently affixed to the saddle's U-shaped body 10 or may be
removably fastened. The locking member may be removably fastened to the U-
shaped body by fasteners such as bolts, screws, pins, and the like. As is
shown in
Figure 7, opening 35 allows a fastener therethrough to allow fastening of the
locking member 20 to the U-shaped body 10. Opening 35 can also serve in the
attachment of the U-shaped body 10 to the uprights 120 of the frame 100.
(0025] Alternatively, the locking member 20 may be hinged to allow a
portion to be pivoted out of the way allowing access to the lower portion of
the
saddle. The mandrel 50 may be placed in the saddle 5 through the open upper
portion after first removing locking member 20 and securing it to the saddle
after
the mandrel 50 is seated on rollers 30 within the saddle 5.
(0026] As is shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, locking member 20 is a rigid strip
in a curved shaped. The curved shape generally conforms to the shape of
mandrel
50. The curved shape of the locking member allows mandrel 50 to rotate
properly
within the saddle 5 on rollers 30. The locking member 20 comprises an opening
25
which is able to receive a fastener and attaches locking member 20 to the U-
shaped body 10 of saddle 5.
(0027] As shown in Figure 5, locking member 20 may also comprise rollers
31 or other friction-reducing elements to facilitate unwinding and rewinding
of
floor coverings, particularly when a motorized winding device is used. Rollers
31
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engage the mandrel 51 to further reduce the rolling resistance of the mandrel
50
rotating within the saddle 5.
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