Biased To Retracted Position Patents (Class 137/355.23)
  • Patent number: 10336572
    Abstract: A compact inflator is described herein. The inflator may include a rotatable drum, an air pump disposed within the drum, a fixed securing mechanism that provides structural support to, and enables rotation of, the drum, a power supply, and an electric power transmission mechanism. The drum may draw in and let out a hose. The hose may have a first end and a second end, the first end having a connection mechanism that connects the hose to an inflatable object. The air pump may be connected to the second end of the hose. The power supply may provide power to the motor, and may be coupled to the pump or the power supply. The power transmission mechanism may include a slip ring assembly or a pair of parallel inductors, one which rotates with the drum about the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Jerome Miles, Davido Hyer, Jedediah Knight
  • Patent number: 10184231
    Abstract: A hose retraction system for a pull-out or pull-down faucet includes a support bracket configured to couple to a shank, a cylindrical housing mountable to the support bracket, and at least one constant force coil spring disposable in the cylindrical housing and configured to at least partially couple to a hose disposed in a faucet spout. The coil spring provides a recoil force sufficient to retract the hose when the hose is extended from the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: AS IP Holdco, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Pitsch, Hsiao Chang Li
  • Patent number: 9752639
    Abstract: A shear thickening fluid having a controlled stress response, in which various stress response characteristics, including, an onset stress, a boundary stress and a fractures stress, can be controlled. The stress response characteristics controlled by the controlled properties of the shear thickening fluid, including the viscosity of a fluid medium, the mechanical properties of the suspended particles and the mechanical properties of the fluid boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Victor Alfred Beck
  • Patent number: 9521227
    Abstract: A cable-arranging assembly coupled to a table such that a mobile device is displayed. A cable extends through a guide housing and a withdrawal unit configured such that the cable is connected to the mobile device. The guide housing and the withdrawal unit are coupled to the upper and lower portions of the table. A guide unit is rotatably disposed within the guide housing. The guide unit rotates along with rotation of the cable in the direction in which the cable rotates, thereby preventing the cable from being twisted or cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: KUM OH ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ki Sang Kim
  • Patent number: 9499373
    Abstract: Provided is a cable retraction unit assembly connected to a table for displaying a mobile device. The cable retraction unit assembly includes: a cable connected to a mobile device; a guide housing and a withdrawal unit respectively mounted to an upper portion and a lower portion of a table, with the cable penetrating through the guide housing and the withdrawal unit; and a guide unit rotatably provided within the guide housing, wherein the guide unit is configured to rotate in response to a rotating direction of the cable when the cable rotates, thereby being capable of preventing twisting or breaking of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: KUM OH ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ki Sang Kim
  • Patent number: 9470340
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are based on the idea of providing a device for handling a hose and a fuel dispensing unit having such a device. This is basically achieved by an elastic element that is adapted to extend within a frame element and to be guided by a guiding element, and by a hose guiding member which is movable away from said frame element allowing said hose to be pulled from an idle position to an operating position when said elastic element is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems LLC
    Inventors: Bengt I. Larsson, Mattias G. Martensson, Hanna Helgesson
  • Patent number: 9463951
    Abstract: A gas supply system includes a housing with an aperture, a spool, a one-way bearing, an interval locking device, a main keyed shaft, a spring housing, a spring torque spool and a pair of spring grounding tabs, a main base that stabilizes the housing, a rotating shaft where the main base is disposed on the distal end of the rotating shaft, a rotational bearing that is disposed on the proximal end of the rotating shaft and connects the rotating shaft to the main base. There is also a base clamp that has a pair of corresponding apertures and secures the gas supply system to a tubular shaped object and an adjustable clamp screw that has a handle and a threaded bolt wherein the proximal end of the threaded bolt is attached to and perpendicularly extends from the handle and the adjustable clamp screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Oliver Davis, Jr., Nancy Sue Davis
  • Patent number: 8590098
    Abstract: A vacuum hose storage system includes a housing which is mounted in a storage area of a dwelling or vehicle and connected to a vacuum source. A length of flexible, expandable cleaning hose is mounted in a looped fashion about a plurality of spaced rollers rotatably mounted within the housing. A handle is attached to one end of the hose and is seated in a cradle formed in the housing when the hose is in a fully retracted position within the housing. The cradle is mounted in the housing and receives the open end of the hose when not in use and enables other vacuum tubes in the structure to be operational without shutting off the vacuum to the stored hose. An ON/OFF switch is located in the cradle for controlling the vacuum source and is actuated when the handle is placed in or removed from the cradle. The hose has an internal helical spring which biases the hose toward a retracted position about the spaced rollers within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: H-P Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Smith, Andrew L. Gabric
  • Patent number: 8578960
    Abstract: A gas supply system in the form of a winding device that includes a housing with an aperture, a spool, a one way bearing, an interval locking device, a universal shaft, a spring housing, a spring torque spool and a pair of spring grounding tabs, a main base that stabilizes the housing, a rotating shaft where the main base is disposed on the distal end of the rotating shaft, a rotational bearing that is disposed on the proximal end of the rotating shaft and connects the rotating shaft to the base clamp. The base clamp has a pair of corresponding apertures and secures the gas supply system to a tubular shaped object, and includes an adjustable clamp screw that has a handle and a threaded bolt wherein the proximal end of the threaded bolt is attached to and perpendicularly extends from the handle and the adjustable clamp screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Oliver Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8490644
    Abstract: A hydraulically powered, hose winding apparatus comprises a support and a hose reel rotatably mounted on the support. A hose is operatively coupled to the hose reel whereby the hose winds about the hose reel when the hose reel is rotated in a first direction. Rotation of the hose reel is driven by a cooperating valve mechanism and gear mechanism. The valve mechanism includes a turbine which is rotated by pressurized fluid flowing through the valve mechanism. The turbine is coupled the gear mechanism which transmits rotary motion from the turbine to the hose reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Strachan
  • Patent number: 8465347
    Abstract: A retractable water dispenser arm system for a grinder/polisher includes a flexible hose formed, in part in a loop and affixed at at least one location to a base of the grinder polisher. A spout is mounted to an end of the flexible hose. A biased tension arm engages the hose at the loop, and is moveable, along with movement of the hose, to maintain the hose in tension. The biased tension arm includes a roller over which the hose traverses. A mount on the base is configured to receive the spout and is further configured for traverse of the hose therethrough. The mount includes a mount roller operably mounted thereto for guiding the hose through the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Hart
  • Patent number: 8267330
    Abstract: A mobile hose winding apparatus, including a case, a hose winding mechanism for hose winding, a sprinkler mechanism and a water inlet and outlet mechanism. One end of the water inlet and outlet mechanism is used to connect to the hose on the winding mechanism while the other end is connected to the water inlet of the sprinkler mechanism; the hose winding mechanism and the water inlet and outlet mechanism are fitted in the case, with the sprinkler mechanism in the front of the case. The mobile hose winding apparatus abandons the wall-mounted connecting mode of the conventional hose winding apparatus, and thus the apparatus according to the present disclosure can be moved as a whole for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ames True Temper, Inc.
    Inventor: Jian Huang
  • Patent number: 8230876
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling a hose arranged in a hose housing. The hose is in successive order connected to a fuel supply connection, passes a first roll, passes a second roll and extends through an opening in the hose housing, towards a nozzle end of the hose. The first roll is attached to the housing by at least one resilient element and a first carrier part having the form of a swing lever, and the second roll is attached to the housing by at least a second carrier part, to allow extracting and retracting of the hose through the opening. Moreover, a method for handling a hose as well as a fuel dispensing unit are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventors: Johan Gunnarsson, Annika Birkler
  • Patent number: 8191551
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method for delivering oxygen from an oxygen supply to a person in a convenient, sanitary and organized manner. The oxygen delivery system includes a rail attached to a surface of the room and a sliding trolley attached to the rail. An oxygen supply tube is attached to the oxygen supply and the trolley for transferring oxygen from the oxygen supply to the trolley. The system enables the person to move to various locations in the room while receiving oxygen from the oxygen supply through the oxygen supply tube, the trolley, a drop tube and a nasal cannula, or other breathing device connected to the trolley. The person may guide the trolley around the room by pulling the drop tube in the desired direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Joan Skovgard
  • Patent number: 7921871
    Abstract: Low-profile garden hose storage apparatus comprises a housing adapted for mounting onto an exterior wall of a building to store a garden hose having first and second ends and an outer diameter ‘d’. A reel, rotatable in the housing, has a central hub and a pair of plates spaced apart at a distance of 1, 2 or 3d. In the preferred embodiment the plates are spaced apart at a distance slightly greater than d such that a single layer of hose may be wound thereon in a ‘pancake’ configuration. A water inlet is coupled to the hub through a swivel fitting, enabling the reel to rotate as water is delivered. The first end of the garden hose is coupled to the hub of the reel between the plates, with the second end of the garden hose extending through an opening in the housing. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for automatically winding the garden hose onto the reel between the plates, thereby retracting the hose into the housing through the opening thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: John E. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 7617840
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for dispensing and retrieving a length of hose. A housing contains upper and lower roller guides, a brake drum, a ratchet mechanism and a block and tackle assembly. As the hose is pulled out of the housing the upper roller guides move towards the lower roller guides and energy is stored in the block and tackle mechanism. The break drum and ratchet mechanism prevent the hose from being wound into the housing until the release mechanism is activated. One the release mechanism is activated the hose is wound into the housing by the energy stored in the block and tackle mechanism causing the upper roller guides to move away from the lower roller guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventor: Robert A Zinda
  • Patent number: 7559501
    Abstract: This invention discloses a hose or cable reeler that can retract a hose or cable without the need for a retracting coil spring. The reeler generally comprises a reeling wheel assembly and a reeling wheel drive. The reeling wheel assembly is detachably coupled with the reeling wheel drive by means of a clutch. The reeling wheel drive mainly comprises a gear transmission chain, and is operated through a lever by manpower (e.g., treading of a foot). Since manpower is used to retract the hose or cable, this invention avoids the related problems that may occur when the retraction is achieved completely relying on the coil spring. For example, the disordered brandish, which may occur owing to an excessive retractive force, can be avoided during the retraction of the hose or cable, and a combined drive of manpower and retractive force of the coil spring is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Inventor: Huang Jian
  • Publication number: 20090145492
    Abstract: A hose retractor for use with a pull-out dispensing unit of a faucet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Kurt J. Thomas, Derek A. Brown, Brian A. Enlow
  • Patent number: 7073529
    Abstract: A retractable garden hose reel that obviates the need for a hand crank to reel in the garden hose includes a pair of wheels pivotally mounted to a frame that includes a handle and a base with a reel shaft and a slide track extending between and interconnected to side frame members of the frame. An extendible and retractable garden hose is mounted on the reel shaft and enclosed within a housing unit adjacent one side frame member is a recoil spring concentric with the reel shaft and having one end attached to the reel shaft and an opposite end secured within the housing unit so that extension of the garden hose winds the recoil spring and retraction of the garden hose occurs when a lock and release mechanism disengages from a sprocket interconnected to the reel shaft and the recoil spring thereby allowing the recoil spring to simultaneously unwind and retract the garden hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Eric Harkey
  • Patent number: 6953049
    Abstract: A hose concealing device which hides a hose when it is not intended to be used and which allows access to the hose when it is desirable to use the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventor: Steven Kowalke
  • Patent number: 6926027
    Abstract: Fluid hoses associated with land vehicles, such as a truck, are supported on the vehicle by a spring-biased reel mounted beneath the truck. Desired tension is maintained on the hoses by the spring loading of the reel whereby the hoses are maintained in a desired location and position on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Carl L. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 6915816
    Abstract: A faucet assembly includes a faucet hub, a hose, a hose retraction mechanism and a storage bag for storing any slack in the hose. The faucet hub includes at least one hose guide that is used to reduce the amount of wear on the hose. The retraction mechanism allows the hose to extend from the faucet hub. Once in the extended position, the retraction mechanism is configured to lock the hose in the extended position. Upon actuation by the user, the retraction mechanism can retract the hose back inside the faucet hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventors: Alfred C. Nelson, Jeffrey L. Moore, Derek A. Brown
  • Patent number: 6834813
    Abstract: An in-building wall-mounted water-providing assembly for providing a means to have water readily and easily accessible indoors for watering plants and such. The in-building wall-mounted water-providing assembly includes a reel support assembly including a bracket being adapted to fasten to a wall of a building, and also including a reel support member being attached to the bracket, and further including a shaft being journaled to the bracket; and also includes a reel member being rotatably mounted upon the reel support member; and further includes a water conduit assembly including a hose being carried about the reel member; and also includes a hose windup/brake assembly including a coiled spring being attached to the shaft and to the reel member for winding up the hose about the reel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Inventor: Jeremy E. Nobi
  • Publication number: 20040177880
    Abstract: A faucet assembly includes a faucet hub, a hose, a hose retraction mechanism and a storage bag for storing any slack in the hose. The faucet hub includes at least one hose guide that is used to reduce the amount of wear on the hose. The retraction mechanism allows the hose to extend from the faucet hub. Once in the extended position, the retraction mechanism is configured to lock the hose in the extended position. Upon actuation by the user, the retraction mechanism can retract the hose back inside the faucet hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Alfred C. Nelson, Jeffrey L. Moore, Derek A. Brown
  • Publication number: 20040163710
    Abstract: A reel for storing an air hose includes a hollow housing having a spring biased pulley rotatably mounted therein. A pressured air inlet extends through the housing along the pulley axis of rotation and is sealed to a nozzle rotating with the pulley. The pulley stores an air hose having one end connected to the nozzle and an opposite end extending through an opening in the housing for attachment to a pneumatic tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Joseph J. Smith
  • Patent number: 6766821
    Abstract: A reel for storing an air hose includes a hollow housing having a spring biased pulley rotatably mounted therein. A pressured air inlet extends through the housing along the pulley axis of rotation and is sealed to a nozzle rotating with the pulley. The pulley stores an air hose having one end connected to the nozzle and an opposite end extending through an opening in the housing for attachment to a pneumatic tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Mfg. Co, Inc
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Joseph J. Smith
  • Patent number: 6591858
    Abstract: A gas tubing reel includes a housing having a tubing-reel rotatably positioned therein for unwinding and retracting tubing. The tubing-reel is biased in a retracting direction and includes ratcheting and releasing means for selectably paying out or retracting the tubing. One side wall of the housing defines an opening through which the tubing-reel may be slidably removed. The cable reel includes a line guide engaged with a worm gear for reciprocative movement between side walls of the housing whereby to evenly distribute the gas tubing on the tubing-reel. A swivel housing is coupled to the tubing-reel in a bearing relationship and includes an inlet port for receiving an end of the tubing and an outlet port for coupling to a nasal cannula. Thus, a gas may be delivered from a gas source through the gas tubing, swivel coupling, and cannula to a patient without tangling or twisting the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Rebekah A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6588444
    Abstract: A safety reel for storing, paying out and rewinding tube is provided. As tubing is paid out of the reel a coil spring is wound tight to provide the energy to recoil the tubing when desired. In this way tubing may be reeled up to a desired length and is thereby not underfoot, causing potential tripping hazards and tube crushing situations. The safety reel of the present invention allows the quick and easy replacement of tubing. The reel and case are provided with easy alignment devices such that the internal reel hose guide inlet and the external case payout opening may be quickly and easily aligned together so that tubing may be quickly and easily replaced. In this manner the user is encouraged to replace the tubing at recommended intervals so that germs, bacteria and the like are minimized and the user's health is better protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Medical Safety Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Paplow, Scott Nathanson, Lynn M. Taussig
  • Publication number: 20030098378
    Abstract: A structure of a water-hose retracting device is disclosed. The structure a hose retracting frame, a covering plate, an axial tube module, a hose accessing frame and a rotating reel, and in combination with a ratchet wheel and an urging block, characterized in that the axial tube module is positioned at the hose retracting frame, and the interior of the hose body is engaged with the rotating reel which can be tightened by rotating, thereby by means of the urging block with the ratchet wheel, an appropriate length of the hose can be accessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Chih Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 6550266
    Abstract: A wall-mounted spool assembly connecting a water line to an icemaker. The icemaker connection is made by a flexible line which is dispensed by an automatically retracting spool. As the refrigerator is moved in and out, the spool dispenses and retracts sufficient line to maintain a stress-free connection to the icemaker. A shut-off valve is incorporated so that the user can shut off the water supply if the refrigerator must be disconnected. The device also included a fascia plate to give the whole a neat and finished appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Dennis G. Miller
  • Patent number: 6328060
    Abstract: A gasoline dispensing unit and method according to which one end of a cord is attached to a dispensing hose to support the hose relative to a dispenser unit during non-use. The other end of the cord is attached to a drum having a tapered outer surface and a continuous spiral groove. When the hose is not in use, the cord is wound on the drum from the largest-diameter drum portion to the smallest-diameter portion. The cord thus unwinds from the drum from its smallest-diameter portion to the largest-diameter portion when the hose is pulled from the housing to provide a mechanical advantage and reduce the required pulling force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Michael Smith
  • Patent number: 6199579
    Abstract: A system and method for handling a hose, according to which the hose is clamped to a clamp and the clamp is moved between a first position in which the hose is retracted and a second position in which the hose is extended. Manual movement of the hose from its retracted position is sensed and the clamp is driven to its second position, and manual movement of the hose from its extended position is sensed and the clamp is driven to its first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Dresser Equipment Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken W. Taylor, Orville N. Fleming, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6170542
    Abstract: Electronic air-supplying and pressure-equalizer system for tires, to be preferably installed at petrol stations, service areas, mechanical assistance points on roads or the like, similar to those comprising a compression unit, which, either through a deposit or directly, supplies a gas, preferably compressed air, to an inflating unit, which has several inflating conduits having, at their free ends, mechanisms for coupling the inflating conduits to a tire valve, as well as a structure for supporting the conduits, which is provided with a working unit or machine (1), including a housing (2), a metal framework (11), an electronic measuring instrument, and a pneumatic equipment (35) a propeller or compressor equipment, having an inner or outer compressing unit, a basis or supporting unit and an air-delivering unit (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Fast Air S.L.
    Inventor: Fermin Jaime Loureiro Benimeli