Combination of Hose Reel and Carrier

Abstract

A carrier includes a pedestal adapted to be in engagement with a supporting surface when resting on the supporting surface, at least two wall structures mounted on the pedestal. A supported member is supported by the wall structures and includes a proximal end receiving one wall structure and a distal end receiving another wall structure. A support wall is connected to the supported member and disposed between the wall structures. A hose reel is selectively mounted between one of the wall structures and the support wall when the other wall structure is abutted by a wall that supports this combination and prevents against any accidental movement during the operation thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hose reel and a carrier on which the hose reel is mounted.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,360 shows a hose reel carrier assembly including a hose reel, which is operable to wind a hose thereon and enables the hose unwind therefrom, mounted to a hose carrier. The assembly is not embedded into a docking station and has mobility. Therefore, it is customary that user will move the assembly to abut against a wall in order to prevent the assembly from accidental movement during the operation of the hose reel, provided that the wall would not obstruct user to control an operation handle of the hose reel. But, the reel device of this assembly is fixed and it should be appreciated that the reel device can not change its mounting position with respect to the hose carrier to avoid the wall obstructing user to control the operation handle.

The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a carrier includes a pedestal which is adapted to be in engagement with a supporting surface when resting on the supporting surface. The carrier further includes at least two wall structures adapted to be mounted on the pedestal. Further, a supported member is supported by the wall structures and includes a proximal end receiving one wall structure and a distal end receiving another wall structure. Further, a support wall is connected to the supported member and disposed between the wall structures. Further, a hose reel is selectively mounted between one of the wall structures and the support wall when the other wall structure is abutted by a wall that supports this combination and prevents against any accidental movement during the operation thereof. Therefore, the wall would not obstruct user to operably control the hose reel.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the present disclosure to be easily understood and readily practiced, the present disclosure will now be described in conjunction with the following figures, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hose reel and a carrier in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hose and carrier shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the hose reel shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another exploded perspective view of the hose reel but taken from a different view than that of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the present invention and shows platforms of the carrier in a collapsed position.

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the present invention and shows the hose reel disposed in a different position than that of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the present invention and shows the hose reel in a position clear from a wall, and with the carrier supported by the wall such that the wall is adapted to prevent the carrier assembly from an accidental movement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, a carrier 1 and a hose reel 2 in accordance with the present invention are coupled to each other, and the hose reel 2 is adapted to change its mounting position with respect to the carrier 1 in order to avoid a wall, which is used to support this combination and prevent against any accidental movement during the operation thereof, to obstruct user to operably control the hose reel 2. As best shown in FIG. 9, the carrier 1 includes back and left lateral sides abutting against the wall and front and right lateral sides being clear from the wall, and the hose reel 2 is installed on the right lateral side of the carrier 1 to avoid the wall to interfere the operation of the hose reel 2.

The carrier 1 can be rested on a supporting surface, such as the ground, by a pedestal 10. The pedestal 10 includes first 101 and second 102 sides being opposite to each other. Preferably, the first 101 and second 102 sides are parallel to each other. Preferably, either of the first 101 and second 102 sides is parallel to the supporting surface. Also, one of the first 101 and second 102 sides can be used as a shelf for supporting things. In the embodiment, the second side 102 is used as a shelf. The pedestal 10 may include a plurality of leg structures 11 adapted to stably stand on the supporting surface, and each leg structure 11 and the supporting surface are in frictional engagement therebetween. Each leg structure 11 extends transversely to the first 101 and second 102 sides, and the leg structures 11 act collectively to space the sides 101, 102 from the supporting surface. However, the pedestal 10 may include a plurality of wheels moveable on the supporting surface to save effort on moving the pedestal 10. The pedestal 10 further includes a flange 12 with an inner and outer peripheral edges joining and extending along circumferential edges of the first 101 and second 102 sides. Preferably, the flange 12 encompasses the circumferential edges completely. Further, the flange 12 protrudes above the second side 102. Therefore, the flange 12 and the second side 102 cooperate to form a recess 103. The pedestal 10 also includes a plurality of slots 13 inset on the flange 12. Each slot 13 extends from the first side 101 to the second side 102 and is parallel to one another. Furthermore, the number of slots 13 on each of two opposing sections of the peripheral edge of the flange 12 is equal.

The carrier 1 further includes two identical wall structures 20 mounted on the pedestal 10. The wall structures 20 are disposed oppositely. Additionally, the wall structures 20 are erected on the pedestal 10 in the same direction. Each wall structure 20 includes two opposing surfaces 201 and 202, and one of the surfaces 201 and 202 includes a plurality of ribs 21 protruded therefrom, and one of the ribs 21 is engaged in one of the plurality of slots 13 to fix the wall structure 20 to the pedestal 10. Additionally, the ribs 21 form a grid pattern that includes some ribs 21 extending in a first direction and some ribs 21 extending in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction. The ribs 21 not only enable the related wall structure 20 to fix to the pedestal 10, but also save material without compromising its structural strength.

The carrier 1 further includes a supported member 50, such as a sink as illustrated, supported by the wall structures 20. The supported member 50 includes a proximal end receiving one wall structure 20 and a distal end receiving another wall structure 20. The supported member 50 is tight fitted with the wall structures 20. Nevertheless, fasteners may be used to insert through apertures 24 defined in the wall structures 20 and engage with the supported member 50 to ensure secure engagement therebetween. The supported member 50 may include a faucet 51 releasably installed thereto. The supported member 50 may also include one supporting member 52 extending from its proximal end and another supporting member 52 extending from its distal end, respectively, and each supporting member 52 is utilized to support a platform 53. The platforms 53 can be used as worktables or shelves. Additionally, the platforms 53 are operable between an extended position (as shown in FIG. 1) and a collapsed position (as shown in FIG. 6). In the embodiment, the platforms 53 slide in a plane between the extended and collapsed positions, and the platforms 53 are moved away from each other when in the extended position whereas the platforms 53 are moved towards each other and close an opening of the supported member 50 when in the collapsed position.

The carrier 1 further includes a support wall 30 connected to the supported member 50 and disposed between the wall structures 20. In the embodiment, the supported member 50 includes two opposing lateral edges extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and the support wall 30 includes two lugs 33 connected to the lateral edges, respectively. The support wall 30 and one wall structure 20 enable a tray 40 to install therebetween. Additionally, the support wall 30 and the other wall structure 20 enable the hose reel 2 to install therebetween. The support wall 30 includes two opposing sides including a plurality of ribs 31 protruded therefrom. The ribs 31 form a grid pattern that includes some ribs 31 extending in a first direction and some ribs 31 extending in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction.

The tray 40 can be used as a shelf for supporting things. The tray 40 includes a plurality of slots 41 inset on two of its opposing lateral peripheral edges. Also, the plurality of slots 41 are parallel to one another. Furthermore, the number of slots 41 on each of two opposing lateral peripheral edges is equal. The tray 40 is fixed between the support wall 30 and the wall structure 20 by utilizing one rib 31 of the support wall 30 to support one lateral peripheral edge and ribs 21 of the wall structure 20 to engage in the slots 41 on the other lateral peripheral edge.

The hose reel 2 includes an axle assembly 70 including a first reel axle 71 and a second reel axle 72 coupled to each other, a first connecting end 712 defined in the first reel axle 71 and a second connecting end 722 defined in the second reel axle 72. The hose reel 2 may include two discs 80 in which each includes a hole 81 extending therethrough and with one hole 81 allowing insertion of the first connecting end 712 and another hole 81 allowing insertion of the second connecting end 722. The first connecting end 712 further engages in a hole 32, which extends through the opposing sides of the support wall 30, and the second connecting end 722 further engages in a hole 22, which extends through the first 201 and second 202 surfaces of the wall structure 20, to enable the hose reel 2 to be connected between the support wall 30 and the wall structure 20. Each wall structure 20 includes two holes 22 defined therein and except the hole 22 that the connecting end 722 inserts through the other holes 22 include caps 23 fitted therein to close their openings and make the carrier 1 with a more appealing appearance. Additionally, the discs 80 are prevented from relative rotation with respect to the first 712 and second 722 connecting ends, respectively. In the embodiment, each hole 82 is of a circular shape but in order to prevent the disc 80 from rotating relative to the first connecting end 712, the first reel axle 71 includes two protuberances 713 extending adjacent to the first connecting end 712 and the disc 80 includes two slots 82 that allow insertion of the protuberances 713 and prevent the protuberances 713 from movement therein. Likewise, the second reel axle 72 includes two protuberances 723 extending adjacent to the second connecting end 722 and the disc 80 includes two slots 82 that allow insertion of the protuberances 723 and prevent the protuberances 723 from movement therein. In the embodiment, each slot 82 is of a shape that has a larger diametrical section and a smaller diametrical section connected to each other, and the larger diametrical section is with a size that enables the related protuberances 713, 722 to extend therethrough and the smaller diametrical section is with a size that prevents the related protuberances 713, 722 from moving from the larger diametrical section.

In addition, the hose reel 2 is rotatable in a plane transverse to the longitudinal length of the axle assembly 70, and the longitudinal length of the axle assembly 70 is adjustable because the first 71 and second 72 reel axles are telescopically connected with each other. Moreover, the second reel axle 72 is prevented from relative rotation with respect to the first reel axle 71. In the embodiment, the first reel axle 71 includes an inner circumferential wall of a circular cross-section and the second reel axle 72 includes an outer circumferential wall engaged in the inner circumferential wall but in order to prevent relative rotation between the first 71 and second 72 reel axles, the first reel axle 71 includes a plurality of abutting walls 711 extending from the inner circumferential wall and the second reel axle 72 includes flat outer circumferential wall sections 721 abutted by the abutting walls 711. In the embodiment, the outer circumferential wall of the second reel axle 72 includes two flat outer circumferential wall sections 721 formed oppositely. Additionally, the second reel axle 72 includes two arcuate outer circumferential wall sections formed oppositely and interconnecting the flat outer circumferential wall sections 721.

Further, the first reel axle 71 has its outer circumferential wall adapted to allow a hose to be wound thereon, and a hose attaching member 714 mounted therein and including an end exposed outside the outer circumferential wall for attaching the hose to the first reel axle 71.

In order to facilitate rotation of the hose reel 2, a crank 90 is provided. The crank 90 includes a body, a sleeve 91 extending therefrom and transversely to the body and inserting through the hole 22 of the wall structure 20 and tight-fitting with the connecting end 722. A fastener 911 may be used to insert through the sleeve 91 and engage in an aperture 724 formed in the second connecting end 722 to ensure secure engagement therebetween. The crank 90 also includes a controlling handle 92 extending from and transversely to the body. The sleeve 91 and the controlling handle 92 extend in opposite directions and are in non-coaxial relationship, so the controlling handle 92 would extend away from the wall structure 20 and that could allow its operation without interference with structures of the carrier 1.

The carrier 1 further includes a support panel 60 including a proximal end connected to one wall structure 20 and a distal end connected to the other wall structure 20. In the embodiment, the support panel 60 includes one slot 61 disposed at the proximal end to allow one rib 21 of one wall structure 20 to engage therein, and one slot 61 disposed at the distal end to allow one rib 21 of the other wall structure 20 to engage therein. Additionally, the support panel 60 includes two brackets 62 disposed at the proximal end and the wall structure 20 includes two fixing member 25 extending from the second side 202 and inserting through the two brackets 62, respectively, to ensure secure engagement therebetween. Likewise, the support panel 60 includes two brackets 62 disposed at the distal end and the other wall structure 20 includes two fixing member 25 extending from the second side 202 and inserting through the two brackets 62, respectively, to ensure secure engagement therebetween. Additionally, the support panel 60 includes a plurality of channels 63 each extending transversely to its longitudinal length and between the proximal and distal ends thereof. Furthermore, each channel 63 is with a width marginally larger than a distance of the opposing sides of the support wall 30 so as to enable the channel 63 to be selectively disposed in one of the channels 63. Thus, the support wall 30 is further supported and retained in place by the support panel 60.

While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of invention and the scope of invention is only limited by the scope of accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

at least two wall structures; and

a hose reel selectively mounted on one of the wall structures when the other wall structure is abutted by a wall that supports this combination and prevents against any accidental movement during the operation thereof.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a pedestal adapted to be in engagement with a supporting surface when resting on the supporting surface, wherein the pedestal includes first and second sides being opposite to each other, a flange with an inner and outer peripheral edges joining and extending along circumferential edges of the first and second sides, and a plurality of slots inset on the outer peripheral edge of the flange, and wherein the flange and the second side cooperate to form a recess.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein each slot extends from the first side to the second side, and with the slots being parallel to one another.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of slots are disposed in two opposing sections of the peripheral edge of the flange, and wherein the number of slots on each section is equal.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pedestal includes a plurality of leg structures adapted to stably stand on the supporting surface, and with the leg structure and the supporting surface are in frictional engagement therebetween, and wherein the leg structures act collectively to space the first and second sides from the supporting surface.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the wall structures are disposed oppositely and are erected on the pedestal in the same direction, wherein each wall structure includes two opposing surfaces, and with one of the surfaces including a plurality of ribs protruded therefrom, and wherein one of the ribs is engaged one of the plurality of slots to fix the wall structure to the pedestal.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein the plurality of ribs form a grid pattern that includes some ribs extending in a first direction and some ribs extending in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a supported member supported by the wall structures and including a proximal end receiving one wall structure and a distal end receiving another wall structure.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein the supported member includes one supporting member extending from its proximal end and another supporting member extending from its distal end, respectively, wherein the supported member further includes two platforms supported by the supporting member, respectively, and wherein the platforms are operable between an extended position and a collapsed position.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hose reel includes an axle assembly including a first reel axle and a second reel axle coupled to each other, a first connecting end defined in the first reel axle and a second connecting end defined in the second reel axle.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a support wall disposed between the wall structures and being positionable at various locations between the wall structures, and wherein the hose reel is selectively mounted between one of the wall structures and the support wall when the other wall structure is abutted by a wall that supports this combination and prevents against any accidental movement during the operation thereof.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the hose reel includes a disc installed on one of the first and second connecting ends and prevented from relative rotation with respect to the one of the first and second connecting ends.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first and second reel axles are telescopically connected with each other and are prevented from relative rotation with respect to each other.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the hose reel is rotatable in a plane transverse to a longitudinal length of the axle assembly.

15. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first reel axle includes an outer circumferential wall adapted to allow a hose to be wound thereon, and a hose attaching member mounted therein and including an end exposed outside the outer circumferential wall for attaching the hose to the first reel axle.

16. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the hose reel includes a crank selectively disposed on one of the wall structures that is clear from the wall which supports the combination, with the crank including a body, a sleeve extending therefrom and inserting through the wall structure and engaging with the second connecting end, and a controlling handle extending from the body, and wherein the sleeve and the controlling handle extend in opposite directions and are in non-coaxial relationship.

17. The combination as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a support panel including a proximal end connected to one wall structure and a distal end connected to the other wall structure.

18. The combination as claimed in claim 17 wherein the support panel includes at least two slots, with one slot disposed at the proximal end thereof to allow one rib of one wall structure to engage therein, and with one slot disposed at the distal end thereof to allow one rib of the other wall structure to engage therein.

19. The combination as claimed in claim 17 wherein the support panel includes at least two brackets, and with one bracket disposed at the proximal end and the other bracket disposed at the distal end thereof, respectively, wherein the wall structure includes at least two fixing members, and with one extending from the second side of one wall structure and the other extending from the second side of the other wall structure, and wherein the at least two fixing members insert through the at least two brackets, respectively.

20. The combination as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a tray selectively mounted between the other of the wall structures and the support wall, wherein one of the support wall and the tray includes two opposing sides including a plurality of ribs protruded therefrom, wherein the other of the wall and the tray includes two opposing lateral peripheral edges including a plurality of slots inset thereon, and wherein the tray is fixed between the support wall and the other of the wall structures.