Cable dispenser

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.

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.