Patent Application
20090151484
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hose reel and, more specifically, to a folding crank handle for a hose reel.
2. Background Information
Hose reel assemblies are devices structured to assist in transporting and using hoses, typically garden hoses for dispensing water. Generally, the hose reel assembly includes a base, frame, or housing assembly structured to rotatably support a reel, or “basket assembly.” The basket assembly's primary components are a barrel, around which an outlet hose is wrapped, two hubs which are coupled to the housing assembly, and guide plates which define the usable area of the barrel. The basket assembly also includes a crank, used to turn the basket primary components, and a water conduit having a movable outlet and a generally stationary inlet. The stationary inlet of the conduit extends away from the reel and is structured to be coupled to a supply hose which is further coupled to a water supply. The movable outlet of the conduit is disposed on the circumference of the reel. The outlet hose is coupled to the movable outlet and is used to deliver water to the end use. Hose reel assemblies also may include an autotrack device structured to wind the outlet hose on the reel in a controlled manner. In this configuration, an outlet hose may be coupled to the movable end of the conduit and, when the reel is rotated, the hose is wrapped, or unwrapped, about the reel. Thus, a hose may be transported and/or stored on the hose reel assembly.
The hose reel assembly, typically, is made of plastic and sold in a disassembled state. While manufacturers try to make the assembly of a typical hose reel relatively simple, there are many components of a hose reel assembly that are difficult for some users to install or assemble. As such, manufacturers try to include as many preinstalled components as possible. The disadvantage to having preinstalled components, however, is that some components, especially those like the crank handle that extend away from the body of the hose reel, require additional room in the shipping container and/or storage box. Accordingly, some manufacturers have devised structures that are partially collapsible, such as a folding crank handle, that reduce the volume/size of the hose reel during shipping. Unfortunately, these structures were also designed to snap into an extended position and not be collapsed again. Thus, the next generation of folding crank handles were structured to allow the user to release the crank handle so that the crank handle could be returned to the retracted position. The release devices, however, were typically hard to reach and difficult to actuate. For example, the folding crank handle disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,670 used a pawl and detent locking device wherein the user was required to reach behind the handle to access a locking tab. Given that the handle is disposed immediately adjacent to the housing assembly, accessing the locking tab could be difficult.
There is, therefore, a need for a folding crank handle wherein the crank handle release device is easy to access.
There is a further need for a folding crank handle wherein the crank handle latching device is disposed on the outer surface of the crank assembly.
These needs, and others, are met by at least one embodiment of the claimed invention wherein a crank assembly has a crank arm with a handle member pivotally coupled thereto. The handle member includes a lock assembly with a crank component and a handle component. The crank component includes a latch surface on a crank arm outer surface. The lock assembly handle component is, preferably, at least one extension extending from the handle member and structured to engage the latch surface. The lock assembly handle component further has a release device structured to disengage the at least one extension from the latch surface. The release device is accessible from the crank arm outer surface. In this configuration, a user may easily access the release device because the release device is located on the outer surface of the crank arm.
A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
As used herein, the word “unitary” means a component is created as a single piece or unit. That is, a component that includes pieces that are created separately and then coupled together as a unit is not a “unitary” component or body.
As used herein, a “uniform surface” has generally the same texture across the surface. Such a “uniform surface” may be smooth or uniformly textured. A “uniform surface” does not have any localized pits, detents, or deformations.
As shown in
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The handle assembly 80 has an elongated handle member 82 and the lock assembly handle component 104 (described below) which is preferably a button assembly 84. The handle member 82 may have a rotating outer shell 86 as is known in the art. The handle member 82 (
The lock assembly 100 has a crank component 102 and a handle component 104 and is structured to releasably lock the handle member 82 in the second position. The lock assembly crank component 102 is a latch surface 106 (
As shown in
The release device 120 is, preferably, the button assembly 84. The button assembly 84 has a sidewall 122, a button member 124 and a biasing device 126. As shown in
The axial face of the button member 124 on the button member exposed portion 134 is a button surface 135.
The biasing device 126, which is preferably a compression spring 140, is disposed within the cavity 128 and extends between the sidewall 122 and the button member 124. In this configuration, the biasing device 126 is structured to bias the button member 124 to said first, locking position. Further, the button member 124 is sized to generally correspond to the shape of the cavity 128. That is, the cavity 128 is, preferably, generally cylindrical and the button member 124 is a cylinder. In this configuration, the button member 124 moves in a generally linear manner along the motion axis 132 between the first and second positions. The at least one extension 110A, 110B is disposed on, and extends outwardly from, the button member exposed portion 134.
As set forth above, the handle member 82 is pivotally coupled to the crank arm 56. Thus, the handle member 82 has an axis of rotation 150 relative to the crank arm 56. The handle member axis of rotation 150 extends through the pivot pins 98A, 98B. The crank arm stop surface 74 extends generally parallel to the handle member axis of rotation 150. The sidewall 122 has an outer surface 152 and includes a handle stop member 154 extending therefrom. The handle stop member 154 is structured to engage said crank assembly stop surface 74 when the handle member 82 is in the second, extended position.
In this configuration, the button surface 135, which is the point which a user must press to release the lock assembly 100, is exposed when the handle member 82 is in the second, extended position. Thus, a user may stow the handle assembly 80 in the first, retracted position for storage and move the handle assembly 80 into the second, extended position for use. As the handle member 82 moves from the first, retracted position to the second, extended position, the handle member 82 passes through an intermediate position between said first, retracted position and said second, extended position. When the handle member 82 is in the intermediate position the at least one extension 110 engages the stop surface 74 and the continued motion of the handle member 82 toward the second, extended position causes the button member 124 to move toward the second, retracted position. With the button member 124 in the second, retracted position, the at least one extension 110 can move past the stop surface 74 to be disposed above the latch surface 106. The biasing device 126 causes the button member 124 to move back into the first, locking position and the at least one extension 110 engages the latch surface 106. In this configuration, the handle member 82 is locked in the second, extended position. To release the handle member 82, the user applies pressure to the button surface 135 causing the button member 124 to move into the second, retracted position. With the button member 124 in the second, retracted position, the at least one extension 110 can again move past the stop surface 74 while the user pivots the handle member 82 toward the first, retracted position.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
