DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a top view of a bandage roller 20 that includes a motor 24, preferably electric, having a casing 26 secured to a housing 22. The housing 22 can be constructed in many different forms. For example, the housing 22 can be constructed with mounts (not shown) for attachment to the top of a table or a bench or can be constructed with legs or panels (not shown) that support the bandage roller 20 on top of a floor. The motor 24 has a rotatable shaft 28 or spindle with an attachment region 30 for attaching a bandage B thereto (Also, see FIG. 2). The attachment region 30 is preferably two rods 70 and 72 that are attached to the rotatable shaft 28 in a manner such that a space 52 is defined thereby which allows for the insertion of a bandage B.

[0023] The housing 22 can encase the motor 24 or can simply provide structural support for the motor 24. The housing 22 can include hinged doors or removable covers (not shown) that will provide access to the rotatable shaft 28. Vent slits may be provided in the housing 22 to allow air to circulate to the motor 24. The housing 22 is preferably formed from a plastic material, but can be formed from a metal alloy, wood, or any other material capable of supporting the motor 24. A rubber, plastic, or similar type seal (not shown) may be installed around the housing 22 to protect the bandage roller 20 from environmental influences, such as dirt, water, and mud, for example.

[0024] The space 52, which in the exemplary embodiment, is formed between the two rods 70 and 72, preferably, has an open end such that a bandage B can easily be slid into the space 52. The rods 70 and 72 are spaced such that the rods 70 and 72 will snugly fit against a bandage B when the bandage B is slid therebetween into the space 52. FIG. 2 shows a portion of a bandage B that has been placed into the space 52. The space 52 securely holds the bandage B and as the rotatable shaft 28 begins to revolve, the bandage B is held even more securely on the rods 70 and 72 by the turns of the bandage B.

[0025] Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that movement of the bandage B toward the motor 24 is prevented by a stationary guide 36 having a limiting surface 38 (Also, see FIG. 3). In the exemplary embodiment, the stationary guide 36 is formed as a raised element on the housing 22. The stationary guide 36 can alternatively be constructed in other ways, for example, it can be provided as a plate secured to the side of the motor casing 26 through which the rotatable shaft 28 extends, it can be provided by a portion of the housing 22 that abuts the motor casing 26, or it can be provided as an element that is attached to the rotatable shaft 28. The only important feature concerning the stationary guide 36 is that it provide the limiting surface 38 which limits movement of the bandage B toward the motor casing 26. Another guide is provided, which is preferably an adjustable guide 32 that is moveable toward and away from the motor casing 26 such that bandages B of different widths can be aligned with and guided onto the attachment region 30 of the rotatable shaft 28 thereby allowing uniformly wound rolls to be obtained. The adjustable guide 32 has a limiting surface 34 that prevents bandages B from moving in a direction away from the motor casing 26 while the limiting surface 38 of the stationary guide 36 prevents bandages B from moving in a direction toward the motor casing 26, and in this manner uniformly rolled bandages B can be provided.

[0026] The adjustable guide 32 cooperates with a gliding surface 40 that allows one of the wide surfaces of a bandage B to glide thereon. The gliding surface 40, the limiting surface 34 of the adjustable guide 32, and limiting surface 38 of the stationary guide 36 cooperate to define a path for aligning and guiding bandages B onto the attachment region 30 of the rotatable shaft 28. In a preferred embodiment, the housing 22 is constructed with a wall 62 that extends lengthwise in a direction parallel to the attachment region 30 of the rotatable shaft 28 and that extends vertically to a height H2 that is above the height H1 of the rotatable shaft 28 (See FIG. 3). The gliding surface 40 is provided as a top surface of the wall 62 of the housing 22 and has rounded corners to ensure uninterrupted passage of bandages B thereon. In addition to defining a path, the gliding surface 40 acts to thin out bandages B such that tightly wound bandage rolls can be obtained. When a bandage B is being rolled up, it will pass over the gliding surface 40 and then will be pulled down to the attachment region 30.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the adjustable guide 32 is constructed with a pin having a handle 58 and a threaded portion opposite the handle 58, and the top surface of the wall 62 of the housing 22 is constructed with threaded holes 60 formed therein which mate with the threaded portion of the pin. To move the adjustable guide 32 to another position, the handle 58 is rotated to loosen the fastening of the adjustable guide 32 on the top surface of the wall 62. A slot formed in the adjustable guide 32 enables the adjustable guide 32 to be moved a small distance in either direction. If the adjustable guide 32 must be moved to accommodate a bandage B having a much greater or lesser width than the bandage B previously wound, the handle 58 can be rotated until the threaded portion of the pin is completely free of the threaded hole 60 and the threaded portion of the pin can be inserted into another one of the threaded holes 60.

[0028] In a first preferred manner of using the bandage roller 20, bandages B will be fed by hand to the gliding surface 40 in a flattened and straightened manner such that the bandages B will be rolled uniformly and compactly. This operation typically does not take much effort on the part of a user. In a second preferred manner of using the bandage roller 20, an additional guide 44 is attached to the housing 22 and eliminates the need for hand feeding of bandages B. This additional guide 44 receives bandages B before the adjustable guide 32 receives them. The additional guide 44 preferably includes two rods 80 and 82 which are configured to define a space 42 therebetween for receiving bandages. The space 42 acts to straighten and flatten bandages B, and also acts to remove any loose particles of dirt and debris that may have collected on the bandages B. The additional guide 44 is attached to the housing 22 such that is extends lengthwise in a direction parallel to the attachment region 30 of the rotatable shaft 28. The two rods 80 and 82 are positioned at a height H3 that is below the height H2 of the gliding surface 40 (See FIG. 3).

[0029] A cooling fan 56 may optionally be provided for cooling the motor 24. One way of constructing the cooling fan 56 is by constructing the rotatable shaft 28 to extend out of the rear of the motor casing 26, and by attaching fan blades to the rotatable shaft 28.

[0030] A speed adjuster 46 (See FIG. 4) is electrically connected to the motor 24 for controlling the speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft 28. The speed adjuster 46 is preferably provided as a foot pedal 48 having a movement that controls the setting of a potentiometer. FIGS. 1 and 4 show portions of an electric cable that electrically connects the speed adjuster 46 to the motor 24. The motor 24 can be powered by connection to an electrical outlet or by batteries, such as rechargeable batteries.

[0031] In addition to rolling bandages B used for wrapping the legs of horses, the bandage roller 20 can be used to roll bandages used in regard to other animals, bandages used by professional athletes, and bandages used by health professionals working in hospitals, for example.