REEL SYSTEM WITH SUPPLEMENTAL FEATURES
A hose reel device is provided with features for enhancing the functionality and ease of use of the device. The device comprises a drum provided with a frame member and at least one extension adapted for cleaning, winding, guiding, or elevating an elongate flexible hose that may be provided in combination with the device. The device also comprises various modular features such that the device may be modified for particular applications and based on the preferences of the end user.
This U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/196,466, filed Jul. 24, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELDThe present disclosure generally relates to systems and devices for managing flexible elongate objects such as hoses, wires, cables, and ropes. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a system with a reel for storing, coiling, extending and using a hose or similar device, and optional features for assisting in the use of the reel and the hose or other devices.
BACKGROUNDHose reels have gained wide public acceptance as a convenient device for storing hoses and like devices. These devices include portable hose reel carts, stationary hose reel carts, and stationary hose reel hangers that can be mounted to a surface of a building or vehicle. Hose reels provide for coiling of a hose, elevating a hose above a ground surface, and enhancing the portability of a hose at least when provided in a storage condition.
A typical portable hose reel includes an open, rotatable reel or spool typically provided on a support. Such devices may include wheels to permit ready transport of the hose from one location to another. At least one hose may be wound around the reel for storage, and unwound or extended from the reel when use is desired.
Hose reels may comprise a crank handle secured to a hub for rotating a spool and winding and unwinding a hose. Alternatively, it is known to provide a hose reel with a motor obtaining power from a battery to provide a desired rotation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,687, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, is directed to a battery powered hose reel to provide an alternative to manual cranking of a hose reel. The battery powers a motor typically allowing hundreds of hose retrievals before recharging.
It is also known to provide a water powered motor that can be used for automatic hose take-up. U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,188, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, provides a water-driven motor having an external gear motor, a linearly translating actuator, and a rotatable actuator. U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,342, which is also hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses the use of a water operated motor for conversion of linear motion to a rotational motion using pistons linked to a hose reel spool. U.S. Publication No. 2006/0045733, which is further hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses the use of a water turbine for use in rotation of a hose reel.
SUMMARYHowever, even with these known devices, there is still a need for an improved, low cost, high efficiency hose reel. Thus, there remains a long-felt and unmet need for hose reel devices in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure. The improved hose reels of the present disclosure include, for example, devices and features for efficient and ergonomic winding of a hose around a spool or drum, wherein the hose is elevated from a floor, ground, or working surface, wherein the device is wound in a preferred manner, and wherein cleaning of an exterior surface of a hose is achieved during winding or unwinding of the hose.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a hose reel device for storing, organizing, and protecting flexible devices such as hoses, cables, wires, ropes and similar devices (which for ease of explanation will all collectively be referred to as “hoses”) while still allowing for ease of use of the flexible device. In various embodiments, a protective housing or cage is provided to protect the hose reel and any associated flexible device from various external factors. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide hose reel devices that are durable, neatly coil and extend a flexible device, prevent damage to the flexible device(s), provide a compact system, allow for extension of a flexible device at a plurality of angles, comprise stacking abilities or features, are ergonomic and easy to handle, and that comprise self-cleaning features. Devices and features in furtherance of these objects are shown and described herein.
It is yet another object of embodiments of the present disclosure to provide a hose reel device that overcomes various drawbacks associated with the prior art including, but not limited to, issues related to coiling or storing a dirty hose, lack of mobility, difficulty winding or coiling, interference with nearby or adjacent components and machinery, and the ability to dispense or uncoil a hose at multiple different angles or orientations, etc.
In one embodiment, a hose winding apparatus for use with an associated flexible hose is provided, the apparatus comprising a drum having a hub defining an axis of rotation and a pair of flanges at opposing ends of the drum. The apparatus also has a frame that is at least partially surrounding the drum, and the drum is rotatably mounted to the frame. Next, a pair of rotatable arms extend from the frame, and at least one elongate rail member extends between the pair of rotatable arms. A hose guide member is provided on the at least one elongate rail member. The hose guide member is translatable with respect to the at least one elongate rail member, and the hose guide member comprises an aperture for receiving a flexible hose or similar device. The pair of arms are rotatable about an axis generally corresponding to the axis of rotation of the drum such that the hose guide member may be provided in a plurality of radial positions with respect to the drum.
In certain embodiments, the frame comprises a pair of lower frame members and a pair of upper frame members, and the apparatus is stackable with an additional apparatus of the same construction. In various embodiments, the hose guide member comprises a hose cleaning device having a plurality of bristles adapted to contact a flexible hose and remove debris from the flexible hose's exterior surface. Next, the at least one elongate rail member may comprise a self-reversing screw to provide a reciprocating motion to the hose guide member and to wind or coil a flexible hose or similar device about the drum in a preferred manner. In some embodiments, the self-reversing screw comprises a left-handed helical groove and a right-handed helical groove that overlap each other, and the hose guide member comprises a shoe that is operatively interconnected to the helical grooves to provide the reciprocating motion of the hose guide member.
In various embodiments, the apparatus has an extending hose guide that is provided on the frame. A guide member is positioned on a distal end of the extending hose guide, and the guide member comprises an aperture for receiving a flexible hose. Further, the extending hose guide may comprise a plurality of telescoping, concentric frame elements that allow the extending hose guide to selectively extend above the frame.
In yet another embodiment, a hose winding apparatus for use with an associated flexible hose is provided, and the apparatus has a drum having a hub defining an axis of rotation. The apparatus also has a frame at least partially surrounding the drum, the drum being rotatably mounted to the frame, and the frame having a portion that is a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of the drum. A pair of rotatable arms may extend from the frame, and the pair of rotatable arms are rotatable about the axis of rotation of the drum. Next, a rail member can extend between the pair of rotatable arms, and the rail member is a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of the drum. The rail member and the pair of rotatable arms are adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation of the drum, and the rail member may contact the portion of the frame to prevent rotation of the rail member and the pair of rotating arms in one direction. The apparatus may also have a hose guide member provided on the rail member, and the hose guide member comprises an aperture for receiving a flexible hose.
In some embodiments, the frame comprises a second portion that is a second predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of the drum, and a second rail member extends between the pair of rotatable arms, contacts the second portion of the frame to prevent rotation of the second rail member and the pair of rotating arms in a second direction. In various embodiments, the hose guide member is provided on a second rail member extending between the pair of rotatable arms, and the hose guide member is translatable with respect to the rail members.
In another embodiment, a hose winding apparatus for use with an associated flexible hose is provided, and the apparatus comprises a drum having a hub defining an axis of rotation and comprises a frame at least partially surrounding the drum, the drum being rotatably mounted to the frame. The apparatus has a pair of rotatable arms extending from the frame, wherein the pair of rotatable arms are rotatable about an axis generally corresponding to the axis of rotation of the drum. At least one elongate rail member extends between the pair of rotatable arms. A first guide member can be provided on the at least one elongate rail member, the first guide member comprises an aperture for receiving a flexible hose, and the first guide member may be provided in a plurality of radial positions with respect to the drum. The apparatus may also have an extending hose guide provided on the frame, wherein a second guide member is positioned on a distal end of the extending hose guide, and the second guide member comprises an aperture for receiving a flexible hose.
In some embodiments, the extending hose guide comprises a plurality of telescoping, concentric frame elements that allow the extending hose guide to selectively extend above the frame. In various embodiments, the frame is positioned on a platform of a cart, the cart having at least one wheel to move the frame and cart.
The Summary is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description and no limitation as to the scope of the present disclosure is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary. Additional aspects of the present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the Detailed Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosed system and together with the general description of the disclosure given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosed system.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the particular system embodiments illustrated herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONAs further shown in
Portions of the bracket members 24a, 24b form recesses that secure the bracket members 24a, 24b to the frame 4. As shown in
It will be appreciated that the bracket members 24a, 24b may be selectively interconnected to the frame 4 in a number of ways. For example, a clamp on each bracket member 24a, 24b allows for a user to selectively secure the bracket members 24a, 24b to the frame 4 in a plurality of locations on the frame 4. In another further example, the frame 4 comprises a curved segment having a constant radius of curvature, and the recesses of the bracket members 24a, 24b have the same radius of curvature. Thus, the bracket members 24a, 24b can selectively change positions along the curved segment of the frame 4. Deflectable portions and/or interference fits can secure the bracket members 24a, 24b in particular positions, but it will also be appreciated that other selective securing features such as deflectable pins, screws, latches, and other similar features can secure the bracket members 24a, 24b in particular positions on the frame 4.
Next, in certain embodiments, and as shown in
The embodiment of
It will be appreciated that the orientations of the bracket members 24a, 24b are not necessarily “parallel” and “perpendicular.” For instance, the second bracket member 24b can be in an orientation between parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the rails 22a, 22b such that a user selectively interconnects the second bracket member 24b to the frame, then only has to rotate the bracket members 24a, 24b and the rails 22a, 22b a few degrees to selectively interconnect the first bracket member 24a to the frame. It will be further appreciated that while the opening of the second bracket member 24b is oriented outwardly in
A hose guide 80 is provided on the rails 78a, 78b. The hose guide 80 comprises hose tensioning rollers 82 and a hose cleaning brush 84. The brush 84 comprises an aperture with inwardly extending bristles to clean and/or dry a hose as it travels through the hose guide 80. In preferred embodiments, at least one of the rails 78a, 78b comprises a self-reversing screw for enabling lateral translation of the guide 80 and winding a hose around the drum 74 in a preferred manner. Various self-reversing screw constructions are contemplated for use with embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the structures shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,421 to Berlier et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, may be provided in various embodiments to achieve a reciprocating lateral motion R of the hose guide 80 and enable a preferred winding and storage of a hose when a crank or handle member 85 is operated. Additionally, the arms 76a, 76b of the device 70 are rotatable, in a ratcheting, spring loaded locking pins, or other desired fashion, and capable of extending away from the frame member 72, through use of telescoping or other construction mean, at a variety of angles or orientations.
While various embodiments of the system have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Further, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as, additional items.
Claims
1. A winding apparatus comprising:
- a drum having a hub defining an axis of rotation and a pair of flanges at opposing ends of the drum;
- a frame at least partially surrounding the drum, the drum being rotatably mounted to the frame;
- a pair of rotatable arms extending from the frame;
- at least one elongate rail member extending between the pair of rotatable arms;
- a guide member provided on the at least one elongate rail member;
- the guide member being translatable with respect to the at least one elongate rail member, and the guide member comprises an aperture for receiving a flexible elongate member; and
- wherein the pair of rotatable arms are rotatable about an axis generally corresponding to the axis of rotation of the drum such that the guide member may be provided in a plurality of radial positions with respect to the drum.
2. The winding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a pair of lower frame members and a pair of upper frame members, and wherein the apparatus is stackable with an additional apparatus of substantially the same construction.
3. The winding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises an elongate member cleaning device having a plurality of bristles adapted to contact an outer surface of the flexible elongate member and remove debris therefrom.
4. The winding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate rail member comprises a self-reversing screw to provide a reciprocating motion to the guide member and to wind or coil the flexible elongate member about the drum.
5. The winding apparatus of claim 4, wherein the self-reversing screw comprises a left-handed helical groove and a right-handed helical groove that overlap each other, and the guide member includes a portion that is operatively interconnected to the helical grooves to provide the reciprocating motion of the guide member.
6. The winding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- an extending guide provided on the frame, wherein an apertured member is positioned on a distal end of the extending guide and construed to receive the flexible elongate member.
7. The winding apparatus of claim 6, wherein the extending guide comprises a plurality of telescoping, concentric frame elements that allow the extending guide to selectively extend above the frame.
8. A hose winding apparatus for use with an associated flexible hose comprising:
- a drum having a hub defining an axis of rotation;
- a frame at least partially surrounding the drum, the drum being rotatably mounted to the frame;
- a first bracket member having a portion that forms a recess with a first opening, the recess of the first bracket being configured to selectively receive a first portion of the frame;
- a second bracket member having a portion that forms a recess with a second opening, the recess of the second bracket being configured to selectively receive a second portion of the frame;
- at least one rail member extending between the first and second bracket members; and
- a hose guide member comprising an aperture for receiving a flexible hose and provided on the at least one rail member.
9. The hose winding apparatus of claim 8, wherein the portions of the first and second bracket members are deflectable to form interference fits with the frame.
10. The hose winding apparatus of claim 8, wherein the hose guide member comprises a handle portion for manually moving the hose guide member along the at least one rail member.
11. The hose winding apparatus of claim 8, wherein the hose guide member comprises a hose cleaning device having a plurality of bristles adapted to contact the outer surface of the flexible hose and to remove debris from the flexible hose.
12. The hose winding apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one rail member comprises a self-reversing screw to provide a reciprocating motion.
13. The hose winding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the self-reversing screw comprises a left-handed helical groove and a right-handed helical groove that overlap.
14. The hose winding apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:
- an extending hose guide provided on the frame and having an apertured member positioned on its distal end for receiving a flexible hose.
15. A hose winding apparatus for use with an associated flexible hose comprising:
- a drum having a hub defining an axis of rotation;
- a frame at least partially surrounding the drum, the drum being rotatably mounted to the frame;
- a pair of rotatable arms extending from the frame, wherein the pair of rotatable arms are rotatable about an axis generally corresponding to the axis of rotation of the drum;
- at least one elongate rail member extending between the pair of rotatable arms;
- a first guide member provided on the at least one elongate rail member, the first guide member comprises an aperture for receiving a flexible hose and positionable in a plurality of radial positions with respect to the drum; and
- an extending hose guide provided on the frame, wherein a second guide member is positioned on a distal end of the extending hose guide and includes an aperture for receiving the flexible hose.
16. The hose winding apparatus of claim 15, wherein the extending hose guide comprises a plurality of telescoping, concentric frame elements that allow the extending hose guide to selectively extend.
17. The hose winding apparatus of claim 15, wherein the frame is positioned on a platform of a wheeled cart.
18. The hose winding apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first guide member comprises a hose cleaning device having a plurality of bristles adapted to contact an outer surface of the flexible hose.
19. The hose winding apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one elongate rail member comprises a self-reversing screw to provide a reciprocating motion to the first guide member.
20. The hose winding apparatus of claim 19, wherein the self-reversing screw comprises a left-handed helical groove and a right-handed helical groove and the first guide member is operatively interconnected to the helical grooves to provide the reciprocating motion.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 25, 2016
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2017
Inventors: Gerardo Angel Gonzalez Chapa (Camas, WA), Alberto Azael Espinoza Trevino (San Nicolas de Los Garza), Shawn Wright (Sparta, NC)
Application Number: 15/218,944