Wirelessly Controlled Hose Reel

Abstract

A wirelessly controlled hose reel including a housing with a back wall and a lower enclosure. The back wall has a hose reel connected thereto such that the lower portion of the hose reel sits within the lower enclosure. A motor is connected to the lower enclosure and the center of the hose reel. The motor is further connected to a wireless transceiver. The motor is capable of spinning the hose reel forward or backward. A remote valve is connected to a side wall of the lower enclosure. The remote valve has a water input hose fluidly connected to a first end of the valve and a hose intake pipe fluidly connected to the second end. The remote valve is operably coupled to the wireless transceiver. The valve can be remotely opened and closed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/802,297 filed on Feb. 7, 2019. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wirelessly controlled hose reels. More particularly, the present invention provides an electric hose reel that can be controlled via a wireless controller such as a smart phone.

Many people use hoses around their homes for various projects. It can be difficult to properly care for hoses and to move them around. Hoses can be extremely bulky and, in some cases, heavy. Hoses can be stored on reels or hooks, but it can be hard to reel a hose up due to the weight. Further, in some geographic locations hoses require additional special care.

In some geographic locations where the temperatures get below the freezing temperature hoses will need winterized. Winterizing a hose means draining all of the water out of the hose and carrying the hose inside so it does not freeze. This can be difficult if the hose is large. Further, the spigot will then have to be turned off and any water drained. This will ensure that the spigot and the hose does not freeze and burst.

Consequently, there is a need in for an improvement in the art of wirelessly controlled hose reels. The present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art while at the same time solves a problem many people face when reeling up their hoses especially when the reel is located inside a house. In this regard the present invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a wirelessly controlled hose reel wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when using an wirelessly controlled hose reel. The wirelessly controlled hose reel comprises a hose reel mount with a hose reel rotatably attached thereto. A motor is operably coupled to the hose reel. A wirelessly transceiver is operably coupled to the motor. A controller is wirelessly connected to the wireless transceiver, wherein the controller controls the operation of the motor.

Another object of the present invention is to further include a toggle kill switch, wherein the kill switch shuts down the motor.

Another object of the present invention is to further include a mounting bracket on the hose reel mount to attach the hose reel mount to a structure.

Another object of the present invention is to have a reel made of plastic.

Another object of the present invention is to further include a power source operable coupled to the motor.

Another object of the present invention is to further include a hose connection fluidly connected to a water source.

Another object of the present invention is to further include an automatic shut off valve connected to the water source and the hose connection.

Another object of the present invention is to further include a mobile device and a mobile application to operate the wirelessly controlled hose reel.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the wirelessly controlled hose reel installed in a ceiling.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the wirelessly controlled hose reel with a mounting bracket.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the wirelessly controlled hose reel with an automatic shut off valve attached.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the wiring and connections for the wirelessly controlled hose reel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the wirelessly controlled hose reel. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for the wirelessly controlled hose reel. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the wirelessly controlled hose reel installed in a ceiling. There is a wirelessly controlled hose reel 100. In one embodiment the hose reel is installed in the rafters of a basement. This allows the hose reel to remain inside and away from the elements. In one embodiment, the hose will exit the wall through an insulated hole in the foundation. The various components are described throughout the specification are attached to the rafters. In some embodiments the components can be attached to various parts of the hose reel.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of the wirelessly controlled hose reel with a mounting bracket. The wirelessly controlled hose reel has a housing 201. A hose reel 206 is attached to the housing 201. In one embodiment the hose reel 206 is a plastic hose reel. The hose reel 206 has a motor 207 attached to the middle of the reel. In one embodiment, the motor 207 is an electric motor. The motor 207 is powerful enough to turn the reel either forward or backward with a hose thereon. There is further an electric water valve 208. This will be attached to the hose reel water input 302

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the wirelessly controlled hose reel with an automated shut off attached. The electric water valve 208 is fluidly coupled to a water input 301. The water input 301 receives water from a water main. On the other side of the electric water valve 208, there is a fluid connection to the hose reel water input 302. In one embodiment, the electric water valve 208 is a two-part valve. The first part is a manual valve 303. The manual valve 303 has a valve handle 304. The valve handle 304 has an actuator 305 attached thereto. The actuator 305 is an electric actuator. In one embodiment the value is an electric valve and does not require the valve handle.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a block diagram of an embodiment of the wiring and connections for the wirelessly controlled hose reel. The wirelessly controlled hose reel has a power source 501. In one embodiment, the power source is a wired power source. In another embodiment, the power source is a battery. In some embodiments, there are additional components to adjust the voltage and wattage of the power input. The power source 501 is connected to a wireless transceiver 503. The wireless transceiver is capable of transmitting WIFI and Bluetooth.

The power source 501 and the wireless transceiver 503 are operably coupled to a motor 502. The motor 502 is capable of moving the hose reel in forward and in reverse. The motor will active when the wireless transceiver receives a signal. The power source 501 and the motor 502 are coupled to a backlash sensor 504. The backlash sensor 504 is located below the hose reel such that it can be tripped by a hose that is not winding or unwinding properly. When the backlash sensor 504 is tripped it shuts off the motor 502.

The power source 501 and the wireless transceiver 503 are operably coupled to the on/off valve 505. The on/off valve is capable of turning the water on or off and allowing water to flow to the hose. The on/off valve is coupled to a leak sensor 506. The leak sensor 506 is located below the wirelessly controlled hose reel. The leak sensor 506 is further coupled to the wireless transceiver 503. If water is detected by the leak sensor 506 the sensor will turn off the on/off valve 505. Further, the leak sensor 506 can send a notification via the wireless transceiver 503.

The wireless transceiver 503 wirelessly connects to a mobile device 507. In one embodiment the mobile device 507 is a remote. In another embodiment, the mobile device 507 is a cellular phone. In the embodiment where the mobile device 507 is a cellular phone, the cellular phone runs a mobile application. The mobile application is capable of controlling the on/off valve 505, and the motor 502. Further, in one embodiment, the mobile application is capable of receiving notifications. The notifications can include reminders that the water is on, a notification that the backlash sensor 504 has been tripped, or a notification that the leak sensor 506 has been triggered.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) A wirelessly controlled hose reel, comprising:

a hose reel mount with a hose reel rotatably attached thereto;

a motor operably coupled to the hose reel;

a wireless transceiver operably coupled to the motor;

a controller wirelessly connected to the wireless transceiver, wherein the controller controls the operation of the motor.

2) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 1, further comprising a toggle kill switch, wherein the kill switch shuts down the motor.

3) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket on the hose reel mount to attach the hose reel mount to a structure.

4) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 1, wherein the reel is made of plastic.

5) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 1, further comprising a power source operably coupled to the motor.

6) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 1, further comprising a hose connection fluidly connected to a water source.

7) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 6, further comprising an automated shut off valve connected to the water source and the hose connection.

8) A wirelessly controlled hose reel, comprising: An wirelessly controlled hose reel, comprising:

a hose reel mount with a hose reel rotatably attached thereto;

a motor operably coupled to the hose reel;

a wirelessly transceiver operably coupled to the motor;

a mobile device wirelessly connected to the wireless transceiver;

an application installed on the mobile application, wherein the mobile application controls the motor.

9) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 8, further comprising a toggle kill switch, wherein the kill switch shuts down the motor.

10) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 8, further comprising a mounting bracket on the hose reel mount to attach the hose reel mount to a structure.

11) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 8, wherein the reel is made of plastic.

12) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 8, further comprising a power source operably coupled to the motor.

13) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 8, further comprising a hose connection fluidly connected to a water source.

14) The electric wirelessly controlled hose reel of claim 13, further comprising an automatic shut off valve connected to the water source and the hose connection.