US20070120003A1

US20070120003A1 - Caddy for spooled materials

Info

Publication number: US20070120003A1
Application number: US11/599,459
Authority: US
Inventors: Geoffrey Grant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-30
Filing date: 2006-11-15
Publication date: 2007-05-31

Abstract

The caddy for spooled materials facilitates the removal and installation of spools of coiled materials (wire, cable, rope, cord, chain, etc.) within the device, while positively retaining the spools as material is withdrawn. The caddy includes a pair of opposed lateral frame members having a series of fixed crossmembers therebetween, which define a spool retaining cradle therein. A pivotally mounted arm extends from each frame member adjacent the first or rear fixed crossmember, with a spool retaining crossmember connecting the distal ends of the arms. When the movable crossmember is raised, sufficient room is provided between the first fixed crossmember and movable crossmember to allow a spool to be placed within or removed from the caddy. However, when the movable crossmember is lowered, the space between the first fixed crossmember and movable crossmember is reduced to less than the diameter of the spool, thereby securing the spool in place.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/740,628, filed Nov. 30, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for storing, holding and dispensing various articles. More specifically, the present invention is a caddy or stand for holding one or more spools or reels of coiled or spooled material (e.g., electrical wire, cord, cable, etc.) thereon, and dispensing the material as required.
2. Description of the Related Art
Workers in many fields have need to deploy and install relatively long lengths of coiled material, e.g., electrical wiring, cables, ropes and chains, etc. Such materials are customarily provided on spools or reels, and unwound from the spool or reel as needed. As a result, various devices have been developed in the past for holding such spools in place as wire, cord, cable, chain, etc. is pulled from the spool. Most such devices employ an axle, which passes through the hollow core of the spool or reel, with the spool rotating about the axle as the material is dispensed from the reel. This retention principle has the advantage of positively retaining the spools on the carrier or caddy by means of the axle passing through the center of the spool.
However, such devices are not without their problems. One problem that is universal to such devices is the need to remove the axle from the carrier in order to remove and replace a spool or reel thereon. If the carrier is relatively wide and capable of carrying multiple spools on a single axle, the removal and replacement process may be even more complex due to the need to remove one or more spools from the axle in order to access a central spool requiring removal or replacement. Moreover, such devices allow the spool to revolve freely upon the axle, with little braking effect as the elongate material is pulled from the spool. This can lead to the spool continuing to rotate after the worker has drawn all of the material needed, resulting in a tangle of cord, wire, etc.
Some spool and reel holders have been developed that support the outer circumference of the spool, thus obviating the problem of the axle through the spool or reel. A common problem with such devices is the lack of positive retention of the reel or spool within the holder. Spools carrying relatively lightweight and/or stiff materials can be pulled from the holder when a worker pulls a length of material from the spool.
As a result, some spool holders have been developed that include a positionable crossmember, which bears against the spool to retain the spool positively within the holder when material is drawn from the spool. Most such devices utilize rectilinear crossmembers having their ends captured in slots in the side walls of the holder, rather than swinging or pivoting the crossmember clear of the spool for installing and removing a spool from the holder. Such a configuration also requires springs to urge the crossmember against the edge of the spool, in order to retain the spool positively within the holder. Of this class of device, only a single holder is known to the present inventor, which pivots the retaining crossmember arcuately upon a pair of arms. The geometry of this device also requires a spring(s) to hold the crossmember in place in order to retain a spool(s) within the holder.
Thus, a caddy for spooled materials solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The caddy for spooled materials provides for ease of removal and replacement of spools or reels of spooled materials therein (e.g., wire, rope, cord, cable, chain, etc.), while also positively retaining the spools or reels within the caddy. The geometry of the caddy for spooled materials results in greater retaining force upon the spools or reels held in the device, with greater tensile force upon the material being drawn from a spool.
The device essentially comprises a pair of parallel frame members with a series of three fixed crossmembers extending therebetween. The fixed crossmembers define a spool holding cradle, with the width of the device being adaptable to hold one or more spools of material side by side, as desired. A pivotally mounted arm extends from each side of the cradle, with the distal ends of the arms having a spool-retaining crossmember therebetween. The spool-retaining crossmember is positioned to the opposite side of the cradle from the pivot points for the arms. When the crossmember is raised, sufficient room is provided between the first or rear fixed crossmember and the movable crossmember to allow a spool of material to be placed within or removed from the caddy. However, when the crossmember is lowered, the space between the first fixed crossmember and the movable crossmember is reduced to less than the diameter of the spool, thereby securing the spool in place. The material on the spool is routed over the top of the lowered movable crossmember, thereby urging the crossmember downward to retain the spool even more securely when tension is applied to the material being withdrawn from the spool. Various embodiments are disclosed herein, including holders for single and multiple rows of spools, handles and wheels to facilitate transport particularly of larger multiple spool configurations, etc.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a caddy for spooled materials according to the present invention, showing various features thereof.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the caddy for spooled materials according to the present invention, showing the installation and removal of a spool therefrom and the operation of the spool retaining apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a caddy for spooled materials according to the present invention, including a plurality of spool holder rows.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention comprises various embodiments of a caddy for spooled materials, such as spools of wire, cable, rope, cord, chain, etc., as desired. The caddy may be constructed to have a single spool-containing row of one or more spools, or multiple rows, as desired. The configuration of the caddy for spooled materials allows spools of coiled material to be placed in the device through a spool insertion and removal area provided when the spool retaining crossmember is raised, with the arm automatically reducing the area to smaller than the diameter of the spool when the crossmember is lowered to retain a spool(s) within the caddy.
FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, respectively, provide perspective and side elevation views of a first embodiment of the present caddy for spooled materials 10, with the caddy 10 having only a single lateral spool-containing row. The caddy 10 includes laterally opposed and spaced apart longitudinal first and second frame members 12 a and 12 b, respectively, with each frame member further having a first or forward end 14 a, 14 b, respectively, and an opposite second or rearward end 16 a, 16 b, respectively. The forward and rearward ends 14 a, 14 b, 16 a, and 16 b may comprise downwardly turned legs, if so desired, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It should be noted that the term “forward” in the present disclosure refers to the direction of dispensing of coiled materials from any spool(s) contained within the present caddy 10, with the term “rearward” referring to the opposite direction.
A first or front crossmember 18 is rigidly and immovably affixed between the two frame members 12 a and 12 b, with a substantially parallel second or rear crossmember 20 also being rigidly and immovably affixed between the two frame members. The front and rear crossmembers 18 and 20 are spaced apart longitudinally from one another and define a spool plane P therebetween (shown in FIG. 2), with the spool plane P being coplanar with the frame members 12 a and 12 b and lying generally through, or close to, the axial center and maximum diametric width of a spool of material S placed within the device 10. The span or distance between the two crossmembers 18 and 20 also defines a spool retaining span R therebetween, with the span R being at least the same as, or slightly greater than, the diameter D of a conventional spool of material S placed therein.
A central crossmember 22 is also rigidly and immovably affixed between the two longitudinal frame members 12 a and 12 b, generally between and substantially parallel to the forward and rearward crossmembers 18 and 20. However, the central crossmember 22 is displaced below the spool plane P, with the three crossmembers 18, 20, and 22 defining a spool cradle 24 therein for locating and containing one or more spools S therein. The central crossmember 22 is carried between first and second depending central crossmember attachment flanges 26 a and 26 b, which extend from the respective frame members 12 a, 12 b between the forward and rearward crossmembers 18 and 20.
The rearward and central crossmembers 20 and 22 may also include a series of roller sleeves installed concentrically thereon, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The roller sleeves facilitate rotation of the spools S within the cradle or caddy, by rolling or rotating with the rims of the spools as they rotate within the caddy as material is dispensed. The roller sleeves of the rearward crossmember 20 are designated as rollers 21 a, 21 b, and 21 c, while the roller sleeves of the central crossmember 22 are designated as 23 a, 23 b, and 23 c. It will be seen that each roller sleeve has a length corresponding to the length of the spool S that rides upon that sleeve, with the number of sleeves on each crossmember 20 and 22 corresponding to the number of spools S that may be carried or held by the caddy. Thus, each spool S rotates or rolls within the caddy upon its own separate roller sleeve pair, independently of the other spools, in order that the other spools will not rotate simultaneously with the material dispensing spool as material is drawn therefrom.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the rollers are installed only upon the rear and central crossmembers 20 and 22. This is because as material is pulled from the spool(s) S. the spool(s) are urged upwardly and to the rear, thereby placing more force on the rear and central crossmembers 20 and 22 than upon the forward crossmember 18. However, it will be seen that additional roller sleeves (not shown) may be installed upon the forward crossmember 18, if so desired. It should also be noted that while such roller sleeves are not shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3 (discussed further below), such sleeves may be installed upon the various crossmembers of the embodiment of FIG. 3, if so desired.
First and second elongate spool retaining arms 28 a and 28 b, respectively, extend from the respective frame members 12 a, 12 b rearwardly of the rear crossmember 20, i.e., between the crossmember 20 and the rearward ends 16 a, 16 b of the frame members. The retaining arms 28 a, 28 b each have a frame attachment end 30 a, 30 b, respectively, pivotally secured to the respective frame member by a pivot 32 a, 32 b. The distal ends 34 a, 34 b include a spool-retaining arm crossmember 36 extending therebetween, with the lengths 38 of the arms 28 a, 28 b between their pivots 32 a, 32 b and the crossmember 36 being at least slightly greater than the spool retaining span R between the front and rear crossmembers 18 and 20 and the diameter D of a conventional spool S. The spool-retaining arm crossmember 36 may include a roller or sleeve 40 therearound (shown in broken lines in FIG. 2) to facilitate the deployment of a length of material passing thereover from a spool contained within the device.
It will be noted that as the two spool-retaining arms 28 a, 28 b are pivotally secured to their respective frame members 12 a, 12 b at points 32 a, 32 b behind the rear crossmember 20, that the span between the rear crossmember 20 and the distal spool-retaining arm crossmember 36 will vary with the position of the two arms 28 a, 28 b and their crossmember 36. FIG. 2 shows this clearly. In FIG. 2, the raised position of the two arms (shown by the arm 28 b in broken lines) provides a span equal to the length 38 of the arms between their pivot points 32 a, 32 b and their opposite distal spool-retaining crossmember 36, with this length or span 38 being at least slightly larger than the diameter D of a conventional spool S to be placed within the caddy 10. However, when the arms 28 a, 28 b are lowered to their spool retaining position (shown by the single arm 28 b in solid lines in FIG. 2), the span 44 between the rear fixed crossmember 20 and the distal spool-retaining crossmember 36 is reduced somewhat as the crossmember 36 approaches the two frame members 12 a, 12 b, due to the rearward displacement of the arm pivot points 32 a, 32 b relative to the location of the rear crossmember 20. This reduced span 44 is somewhat less than the diameter D of a spool S or the spool retaining span R between the forward and rearward fixed crossmembers 18 and 20. Thus, a spool S having a conventional diameter D is securely retained within the caddy 10 when it is placed within the spool cradle area 24 and the spool-retaining crossmember 36 is lowered.
The caddy 10 is used generally as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The two spool-retaining arms 28 a, 28 b and their spool-retaining crossmember 36 are raised to increase the span 38 to allow a spool S to be inserted between the fixed rear crossmember 20 and the spool-retaining crossmember 36, and into the spool retaining cradle area 24 of the caddy 10. The elongate material (e.g., wire, cable, rope, cord, etc.) coiled on the spool S is passed over the top of the spool-retaining crossmember; there is no need to thread the end of the material through an eyelet or any other form of passage to install a spool of material in the caddy 10. Thus, if, e.g., a wiring project has begun and the dispensed end of the wire extending from the spool S is already installed, the spool S may still be placed within the caddy 10 without need to cut the wire in order to feed the end through some opening or passage in the caddy 10. When tension is applied to the wire or other elongate material extending from a spool S installed within the caddy 10, the material applies a forward and downward pressure on the spool-retaining crossmember 36, thus resulting in greater retention of the spool(s) S within the caddy 10.
Preferably, the downward movement of the arms 28 a, 28 b and their spool-retaining crossmember 36 (and roller or sleeve 40, if provided) is limited in order to avoid bearing against the edge(s) of the spool(s) S contained within the caddy 10 in order to avoid excessive binding and friction upon the edge(s) of the spool(s). Such limit may be provided by a lateral stop 46 a, 46 b extending outwardly from the respective frame members 12 a, 12 b. The arms 28 a, 28 b encounter the respective stops 46 a 46 b just before the retaining arm crossmember 36 (or its surrounding roller or sleeve 40) contacts the edge of the spool(s) S, leaving a clearance gap 48 between the spool(s) and the crossmember 36. This allows the spool(s) S to rotate reasonably freely within the caddy 10, while still positioning the crossmember 36 sufficiently low as to retain the spool(s) S securely within the caddy 10. Depending upon the relative geometry of the fixed rear crossmember 20, the arm pivots 32 a and 32 b, and the length or span 38 of the arms 28 a and 28 b, the stops 46 a, 46 b may be provided by outward extensions of the fixed rear crossmember 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or may alternatively be installed elsewhere on the two frame members 12 a, 12 b.
FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present caddy for spooled materials, designated as caddy 110. The caddy 110 is essentially a multiple row configuration of the single row caddy configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and described above. The caddy 110 includes a pair of opposed elongate frame members 112 a and 112 b, with depending front legs 114 a, 114 b and opposite rear legs 116 a, 116 b. However, rather than having only a single fixed front crossmember, rear crossmember, and central crossmember, the caddy 110 includes a series of front crossmembers 118 a, 118 b, and 118 c, a corresponding series of rear crossmembers 120 a, 120 b, and 120 c, and a corresponding series of central crossmembers 122 a, 122 b, and 122 c. The central crossmembers 122 a through 122 c are supported between opposed flanges 126 a through 126 f, which depend from the two frame members 112 a and 112 b. Alternatively, a single elongate central crossmember support flange could be installed upon each frame member, rather than using a series of separate flanges, as shown in FIG. 3.
A corresponding series of spool retaining arms 128 a through 128 f is pivotally secured to the two frame members 112 a and 112 b, and serve the same function as the arms 28 a, 28 b for the single row embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. The arms 128 a through 128 f are pivotally secured to a series of three pivot rods 132 a through 132 c, with the rods 132 a through 132 c being installed somewhat rearwardly of the respective rear fixed crossmembers 120 a through 120 c. Each pair of arms 128 a, 128 b; 128 c, 128 d; and 128 e, 128 f, have a spool retaining crossmember 136 a through 136 c, respectively, extending therebetween.
Each row of the multiple row spool caddy 110 will be seen to function essentially identically to the single row caddy 10 embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, with each row functioning independently of the others. Additional features, such as the arm stops 46 a, 46 b shown in FIG. 1, and/or the crossmember roller or sleeve 40 shown in FIG. 2, may be applied to the multiple spool row configuration 110 of FIG. 3, as desired.
The spool caddy 110 of FIG. 3 is adapted for the simultaneous carriage of numerous spools of material. As these spools may weigh several pounds when fully loaded (depending upon the material thereon), it will be seen that the caddy 110 may have considerable mass when carrying a full load of filled spools of e.g., wire, metal cable, chain, etc. Accordingly, some means to facilitate the transport of the caddy 110 may be provided, as desired. In FIG. 3, a handlebar 150 is shown as an optional installation in broken lines, extending upwardly from the rearward ends 116 a, 116 b of the two frame members 112 a, 112 b and extending there across. Further ease of transport may be provided by the installation of first and second wheels, respectively 152 a and 152 b, upon the lower ends of the respective forward legs 114 a, 114 b of the caddy 110. This arrangement of the handlebar 150 at the rearward end of the device keeps the forward end open for deployment of wire or other material from the spool(s) secured upon the caddy 110. Alternatively, the handle 150 and wheels 152 a, 152 b could be exchanged from end to end, if so desired, and other handle configurations may be provided as, desired. Alternatively, a fixed handle and/or wheels could be provided for the single spool row embodiment 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, if so desired.
In conclusion, the caddy for spooled materials, in its various embodiments, greatly facilitates the work involved in the carriage, deployment, and installation of electrical wiring, cable, rope and cord, and various other elongate coiled or rolled materials carried on spools. The elimination of the central axle through the carrier or caddy greatly simplifies the placement and removal of spools of material into and from the caddy, yet there is no need to route the wire (or other elongate material) through a guide, opening, or other passage in the caddy. The wire or other material is merely passed over the top of the retaining arm crossmember, with tension on the wire or elongate material also applying downward pressure on the crossmember to retain the spool(s) securely therein without need of further complications such as springs and other fasteners and retainers. The caddy is adaptable to expansion, as shown by the multiple row embodiment of FIG. 3, with wheels, a handlebar(s), etc. further facilitating use of the device. Accordingly, the present caddy for spooled materials will prove to be a most popular accessory for electricians and all others who have occasion to work with spooled materials.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A caddy for spooled materials, comprising:

a longitudinal first frame member having a forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end;

a longitudinal second frame member having a forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end, the second frame member being spaced laterally opposite the first frame member;

at least one front crossmember and at least one rear crossmember immovably affixed between the first frame member and the second frame member, each of the crossmembers being spaced longitudinally from one another and defining a generally diametric spool plane and spool retaining span therebetween;

at least one central crossmember immovably affixed between the frame members between the front crossmember and the rear crossmember and displaced below the spool plane, the corresponding front, rear, and central crossmembers defining a spool cradle therein;

at least one elongate first spool-retaining arm pivotally attached to the first frame member rearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember;

at least one elongate second spool-retaining arm pivotally attached to the second frame member rearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember, each of the spool-retaining arms having a frame attachment end and a distal end opposite the frame attachment end, and having a length greater than the spool retaining span of the front and rear crossmembers; and

a spool-retaining arm crossmember extending between the distal end of the corresponding first and second spool-retaining arms, each of the spool-retaining arm crossmembers and the corresponding rear crossmember defining a variable span therebetween;

whereby each variable span defines a width greater than a spool diameter for passage of a spool therethrough when the corresponding spool-retaining arm crossmember is raised, and defines a width narrower than the spool diameter for retention of a spool within the corresponding spool cradle when the corresponding said spool retaining arm crossmember is lowered.

2. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one front crossmember comprises a plurality of front crossmembers;

said at least one rear crossmember comprises a plurality of rear crossmembers;

said at least one central crossmember comprises a plurality of central crossmembers;

said at least one first spool-retaining arm comprises a plurality of first spool-retaining arms;

said at least one second spool-retaining arm comprises a plurality of second spool-retaining arms; and

said at least one spool-retaining arm crossmember comprises a plurality of spool-retaining arm crossmembers.

3. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 1, further including:

a first central crossmember attachment flange depending from said first frame member; and

a second central crossmember attachment flange depending from said second frame member, each of the central crossmembers extending between said first central crossmember attachment flange and said second central crossmember attachment flange.

4. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 1, further including:

at least one first spool-retaining arm stop extending from said first frame member; and

at least one second spool-retaining arm stop extending from said second frame member.

5. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 1, further including a roller disposed about said spool-retaining arm crossmember.

6. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 1, further including:

a first wheel depending from the forward end of said first frame member; and

a second wheel depending from the forward end of said second frame member.

7. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 1, further including a handle extending upwardly from the rearward end of said first frame member and said second frame member.

8. A caddy for spooled materials, comprising:

a longitudinal second frame member having a forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end, the second frame member being spaced laterally opposite said first frame member;

a plurality of front and rear crossmembers immovably affixed between the first and second frame members, each of the corresponding front and rear crossmembers being spaced longitudinally from one another and defining a generally diametric spool plane and spool retaining span therebetween;

a plurality of central crossmembers immovably affixed between the frame members between the corresponding front and rear crossmembers and displaced below the spool plane, each of the front, rear, and central crossmembers defining a spool cradle therein;

a plurality of elongate first spool-retaining arms pivotally attached to the first frame member rearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember;

a plurality of elongate second spool-retaining arms pivotally attached to the second frame member rearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember, each of the spool-retaining arms having a frame attachment end and a distal end opposite the frame attachment end, and having a length greater than the spool retaining span of each of the corresponding front and rear crossmembers; and

whereby each variable span defines a width greater than a spool diameter for passage of a spool therethrough when the corresponding one of the spool-retaining arm crossmembers is raised, and further defines a width narrower than the spool diameter for retention of a spool within the corresponding spool cradle when the corresponding one of the spool-retaining arm crossmembers is lowered.

9. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 8, further including:

a second central crossmember attachment flange depending from said second frame member, the central crossmembers extending between the first central crossmember attachment flange and the second central crossmember attachment flange.

10. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 8, further including:

a plurality of first spool-retaining arm stops extending from said first frame member; and

a plurality of second spool-retaining arm stops extending from said second frame member.

11. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 8, further including a roller disposed about each of said spool-retaining arm crossmembers.

12. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 8, further including:

a first wheel depending from the forward end of said first frame member; and

a second wheel depending from the forward end of said second frame member.

13. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 8, further including a handle extending upwardly from the rearward end of said first frame member and said second frame member.

14. A caddy for spooled materials in combination with at least one spool of material, the combination comprising:

at least one front crossmember and at least one rear crossmember immovably affixed between the first and second frame members, each of the crossmembers being spaced longitudinally from one another and defining a generally diametric spool plane and spool retaining span therebetween;

at least one central crossmember immovably affixed between each of the frame members between the corresponding front and rear crossmembers and displaced below the spool plane, each of the front, rear, and corresponding central crossmembers defining a spool cradle therein;

at least one elongate second spool-retaining arm pivotally attached to the second frame member rearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember, each of the spool-retaining arms having a frame attachment end and a distal end opposite the frame attachment end, and having a length greater than the spool retaining span of the front and rear crossmembers;

a spool-retaining arm crossmember extending between the distal end of the corresponding first and second spool retaining arm, each of the spool-retaining arm crossmembers and the rear crossmember defining a variable span therebetween; and

at least one spool of elongate material, the spool having a diameter;

whereby each of the variable spans define a width greater than the spool diameter for passage of the at least one spool therethrough when the corresponding spool retaining arm crossmember is raised, and further defines a width narrower than the spool diameter for retention of the at least one spool within the corresponding spool cradle when the corresponding spool-retaining arm crossmember is lowered.

15. The caddy for spooled materials combination according to claim 14, wherein:

said at least one rear crossmember comprises a plurality of rear crossmembers;

16. The caddy for spooled materials combination according to claim 14, further including:

a second central crossmember attachment flange depending from said second frame member, each of the central crossmembers extending between the first and second central crossmember attachment flanges.

17. The caddy for spooled materials combination according to claim 14, further including:

18. The caddy for spooled materials combination according to claim 14, further including a roller disposed about said spool-retaining arm crossmember.

19. The caddy for spooled materials combination according to claim 14, further including:

a first wheel depending from the forward end of said first frame member; and

a second wheel depending from the forward end of said second frame member.

20. The caddy for spooled materials combination according to claim 14, further including a handle extending upwardly from the rearward end of said first frame member and said second frame member.