Patent Application
20240279023
The present invention generally relates to the technical field of hose reels, and it particularly relates to a portable hose reel for a flat flexible hose, in particular a garden hose, as well as an assembly comprising such hose reel and a flat flexible hose.
There are known hose reels, for example for flat flexible garden hoses in particular described in the international application PCT/IB2020/061026 of the Applicant, typically consisting of a central spindle with a crank so as to allow the winding or the unwinding of the connected hose.
However, such known hose reels tend to compress the hose not fully unwound once filled with water, with possible damage thereto.
Furthermore, such hose reels are typically cumbersome.
In addition, there are known hose reels, typically for fire safety sleeves, with circular cross-sections to support the hose and radially expandable, as particularly described in documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,533,432, 2,071,731, 2,526,984, 2,777,646.
In particular, the sleeve is interposed between two sections and the radial movement of the latter facilitates the unwinding of the of the sleeve and at the same time minimise the impact of the water hammer on the hose portion still wound, given by the water flow which flows therein.
Specifically, the circular cross-sections move between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration in which the sections are at least partially superimposed.
However, the full collapse of the sections damages the hose portion compressed between them.
An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the drawbacks illustrated above by providing a hose reel for flat flexible hoses that is highly efficient and cost-effective.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hose reel which allows to use a partially unwound flat flexible hose preserving it against possible damage.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a hose reel which does not damage the flat flexible hose when wound.
These and other objects which will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a hose reel and/or by an assembly having one or more of the characteristics described, illustrated and/or claimed herein.
The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
With reference to the aforementioned figures, herein described is a hose reel 1 for flat hoses T which can be connected with a water-supply system by means of a per se known fitting R. In particular, the fitting R may have a first male or female coupling R1 for the removable connection with the water-supply system and a second male or female coupling R2 for the removable connection with the flexible hose T.
It is clear that the hose reel 1 may be used with any type of hose without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims. On the other hand, as better explained below, the present invention is particularly advantageous for hoses of the flat type.
Furthermore, it is clear that the hose reel 1 may be portable and/or removably fixed to a movable or stationary support structure.
To this end, there may be provided for means for gripping the hose reel 1 with a hand by a user, for example a handle 2.
There may also be provided for, possibly combined with the aforementioned gripping means, means for removably fixing the hose reel 1 to the movable or stationary support structure, for example a carriage provided with wheels or a wall. The removable fixing means may for example include screws or pins 3.
The present invention may include various parts and/or similar or identical elements. Unless otherwise specified, similar or identical parts and/or elements will be indicated using a single reference number, it being clear that the described technical characteristics are common to all similar or identical parts and/or elements.
In particular, the hose reel 1 may be used for winding and unwinding a portion P of the pipe T.
Such portion P may correspond to the entire length of the hose T or to a part thereof. Generally, the hose reel 1 may include a rotatable element 100 for winding and unwinding the hose T.
The rotatable element 100 may rotate around an axis X so as to allow the winding and unwinding of the portion P.
Advantageously, the rotatable element may include a first and a second support element 101, 102 which rotate integrally joined around the axis X.
The two support elements 101, 102 may include a respective curved contact surface 23′, 23″ for the wound hose portion P. Suitably, the two support elements 101, 102 may be saddle-shaped.
The curved contact surfaces 23′, 23″ may be coaxial with respect to the axis X, that is the latter will be the axis around which both surfaces 23′ and 23″ may rotate integrally joined.
Preferably, one or both support elements 101, 102 may be movable with respect to a radial direction with respect to the axis X.
In other words, the support elements 101, 102 may be movable with respect to perpendicular direction with respect to the axis X.
In this manner, the support elements 101, 102 may pass between a proximal position in which the surfaces 23′, 23″ are proximal to each other, that is they have a minimum mutual distance, and a distal position in which the surfaces 23′, 23″ are distal to each other, that is they have a maximum mutual distance.
In particular, the filling with water and the emptying of the latter from the portion P of flexible hose T will carry out the radial movement with respect to the axis X of one or both support elements 101, 102 between the aforementioned distal and proximal positions.
Both in the distal position and in the proximal position, the surfaces 23′ and 23″ may remain spaced, that is without superimposed portions.
In this manner, the portion P supported by the latter shall not be compressed between them.
Therefore, possible damage to the hose T may be limited during the winding/unwinding when it is at least partially filled with water.
In particular, when the support elements 101, 102 are in proximal position, the surfaces 23′ and 23″ may remain spaced by a minimum distance, while when the elements 101, 102 are in distal position, may remain spaced by a maximum distance d, so as to allow the accessibility between them by a user.
To this end, the support elements 101, 102 may internally have a compartment 25 accessible by the user both when the support elements 101, 102 are in proximal position and when they are in distal position, so as to allow the user to connect the hose T and the fitting R.
In particular, the latter and the rotatable element 100 may be mutually connected so that the second male or female coupling R2 of the fitting R is inside the compartment 25 so as to allow the user to removably connect it with the flexible hose T.
The other male or female coupling R1 may be both inside and outside the compartment 25. However, preferably it may be outside the compartment 25 so as to allow the user to removably connect it with the water-supply system.
Suitably, the edges of the surfaces 23′, 23″ may be rounded, so as to further reduce the possibility of damaging the hose T.
Advantageously, one or both surfaces 23′, 23″ may comprise a pilot portion 21 or a pair of pilot portions 21 to wind the first turns of the connected hose T.
In particular, each portion 21 may have a semi-cylindrical extended shaped and it may have rounded edges so as to prevent any damage to the wound portion P.
In particular, if both surfaces 23′, 23″ include the portion 21, there may be obtained a generally X-shaped configuration so as to allow the portion P to wind in the clockwise or anticlockwise direction.
Furthermore, each portion 21 may include elastomeric sliding means, for example a strip made of SEBS, TPO, TPV, SBS or other thermoplastic elastomers.
This will allow to further reduce the possible damage caused to the portion P during the winding/unwinding thereof due to contact with the surfaces 23′ and 23″.
According to another particular example, the elements 101, 102 may be made of materials containing PTFE or other low coefficient of friction additives, so as to reduce friction when winding/unwinding the portion P, in particular if filled with water, and limit the wear thereof.
Advantageously, the hose reel 1 may also include two flanges 40′ and 40″ each of which have an inner surface 41.
In this case, the fitting R may pass through one of the flanges 40′, 40″ so that the male or female couplings R1, R2 are arranged on opposite sides with respect thereto. In particular, the flange 40″ may have an opening 45 for the fitting R.
Advantageously, furthermore, the fitting R may be arranged at the axis X.
The flanges 40′ and 40″ may be coupled respectively with two half-shells 49′ and 49″, in turn possibly coupled with two outer discs 490′ and 490″. In this manner, the half-shells 49′, 49″, which are fixed, may guide the flanges 40′, 40″ in rotation, and more generally the rotatable element 100.
Suitably, the outer discs 490′ and 490″ may have an exposed surface 44.
Preferably, the flanges 40′ and 40″ may be made of polypropylene, ABS, PC/ABS, PC, PMMA, PA, POM, or materials containing PTFE or other low coefficient of friction additives so as to reduce possible wear of the portion P.
For example, the materials may be possibly reinforced with glass fibres or any other type of filler.
In this manner, the structure obtained will be particularly resistant and light.
The elements 101, 102 may be connected with two lateral flanges 40′ and 40″, in particular at the inner surface 41 of the latter, as particularly explained below. The two half-shells 49′ and 49″ may be joined together directly or by means of a joining element 47 so that the half-shells 49′ and 49″ and element 47 define a half-closed shell, with the sole opening 48 from which the hose T may protrude so as to be gripped by a user.
On the other hand, the half-shells 49′ and 49″ and the discs 490′ and 490″ may protect a not particularly cautious user when using the hose reel 1 and in particular when moving one or both elements 101, 102.
According to a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, a flange 40′ may be connected to a crank 43 so that the movement thereof corresponds to the rotation of the elements 101, 102 around the axis X.
In particular, the crank 43 may be of the foldable type so as to lie on the outer surface 44 of the outer disc 490′ and contribute to make the hose reel 1 more compact.
According to a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the elements 101, 102 may include end portions 22 so that the surfaces 23′ and 23″ are interposed with respect to each other.
In this case, the surfaces 41 of the flanges 40′, 40″ may include housing areas 46, for example parallelepiped-shaped or cylindrical-shaped fissures, which define the stroke for the end portions 22 of the movable element.
However, it is clear that the housing areas 46 may have any other shape without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
Advantageously, the housing areas 46 and the end portions 22 may be counter-shaped.
Therefore, during the radial movement of one or both elements 101, 102, the portions 22 may slide along the fissures 46 so as to prevent the portion P of the hose T from protruding from the seat thereof, that is from the contact surfaces 23′ and 23″.
In this case, as a matter of fact, the hose T would be damaged due to the interposition thereof between the elements 101, 102 and the flanges 40′ e 40″ during winding/unwinding.
Advantageously, the hose reel 1 may include elastic counteracting means 30 which interact with the support elements 101, 102, when moving the movable support element.
The elastic counteracting means 30 may for example be a pair of springs 31′, in case of a single movable support element, or two pair of springs 31′, 31″ in case both the elements 101 and 102 are movable.
For example, the springs 31′, 31″ may be made of stainless steel, with a length—in inoperative condition—of 115-230 mm, wherein the minimum corresponds to the case in which there is only one movable support element and the maximum in the case where both support elements are movable, average diameter of 12.5 mm and a steel wire diameter of 1.6 mm.
Furthermore, the springs 31′, 31″ may have a length equal to 65-130 mm when the elements 101 and 102 are in distal position and length equal to 40-80 mm when the same are in proximal position, wherein the minimum values correspond to the case where there is only one movable support element and the maximum values correspond to the case where both support elements are movable.
However, it is clear that the springs 31′, 31″ may have a dimensioning different from the one described above by way of example without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
Furthermore, it is clear that the springs 31′ may be dimensioned differently from each other and with respect to the springs 31″, and vice versa, so as to guarantee a different behaviour of the elastic counteracting means 30 by way of response to the pressure exerted by the portion P on the surfaces 23′ and 23″.
In other words, for example, the surface 23′ may be staggered with respect to the axis X with a different staggering angle α, measured as an inclination angle of the geometric axis X″ defined by the surface 23′ with respect to the rotation axis X, depending on the compression of one or the other spring 31′.
Similarly, also the surface 23″ may be staggered with respect to the axis X with a different staggering angle α, measured as an inclination angle of the geometric axis X″ defined by the surface 23″ with respect to the rotation axis X, depending on the compression of one or the other spring 31″.
In addition, the surfaces 23′ and 23″ may be staggered differently and independently with respect to each other.
In the embodiments described below, the element 101 will be a saddle 20′ which includes the surface 23′.
The saddle 20′ may be the only movable element with respect to the axis X, as described in the first and second embodiment.
According to a first embodiment, particularly shown in
In this case, the spindle 10′ may include the surface 23″ for winding the portion P.
Preferably, the spindle 10′ shall not be radially movable with respect to the axis X.
In order to couple the flanges 40′ and 40″ and the spindle 10′, the hose reel 1 may include connection means 42 and 12.
For example, the connection means 42 may be provided at the inner surfaces 41, while the connection means 12 may be provided at the end portions 1000′ and 1001′.
According to a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the connection means 42 and 12 may be of the snap-coupling type.
For example, there may be pins 12 and counter-shaped housings 42.
In this manner, the connection between the flanges 40′ and 40″ and the spindle 10′ may be quick and they may define a unitary assembly.
Advantageously, the rotatable element 100 may include a pair of cylinders 13′ coupled to the spindle 10′ and facing the end portions 22 of the saddle 20′.
In other words, the cylinders 13′ may be interposed between the saddle 20′ and the spindle 10′.
Furthermore, it is clear that the cylinders 13′ may be provided at any portion of the spindle 10′ without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
Advantageously, each end portion 22 of the saddle 20′ may include a slot 220′ with average diameter ϕ2.
On the other hand, the cylinders 13′ may extend along axes Y perpendicular to the axis X and they may have an average diameter ϕ1 substantially smaller than the diameter ϕϕ2.
In this manner, the slots 220′ may slide along the cylinders 13′, as described below.
Advantageously, the pair of springs 31′ may be fitted onto the cylinders 13′.
Therefore, it is clear that the cylinders 13′ will be guide cylinders for the springs 31′ to interact with the latter.
At the same time, the end portions 22 of the saddle 20′ may be abutment portions for the springs 31′ to interact with the latter.
On the other hand, the end portions 22 of the spindle 10′ may be part of the ends 1000′ and 1001′ and they may be portions facing the cylinders 13′, as shown in
In particular, when the portion P will be progressively filled with water, the saddle 20′ may move along a radial direction with respect to the axis X, under the weight of the portion P that will expand progressively.
The springs 31′ will be compressed and the portions 22 of the saddle 20′ will approach the portions 22 of the spindle 10′.
It is clear that even only one spring may be compressed, that is the springs may be compressed independently from each other so as to follow the tension generated by the expanding portion P and avoiding the possible damage thereto.
In other words, the surface 23′ will be suitable to be staggered with respect to the axis X as described above.
It is clear that the slots 220′ and the cylinders 13′ will allow such staggering thanks to the dimensioning thereof mentioned above, in which the diameter of the former is larger than the diameter of the latter.
In other words, the slots 220′ and the cylinders 13′ may define means for staggering the surface 23′.
This will allow to protect the expanding hose T, and in particular the wound portion P, from possible damage.
As a matter of fact, the springs 31′ may be dimensioned so as to be compressed under the weight of the portion P filled with water and to support the portion P when it is empty.
In a second and third embodiment, the element 102 is a saddle 20″ and each saddle 20′, 20″ may have a symmetrical configuration with respect to a plane π2 perpendicular to the median plane π1.
Preferably, the saddles 20′, 20″ may rotate integrally joined around the axis X which lies on the plane π1.
Furthermore, the saddle 20″ may include the curved surface 23″.
In the second embodiment, the saddle 20″ cannot be radially moved with respect to the axis X.
Therefore, all observations raised regarding the spindle 10′ of the first embodiment may apply to the saddle 20″ given that it will behave in the same way, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
In particular, the cylinders 13′, interposed between the saddles 20′ and 20″ may be provided on the latter or they may be coupled therewith to form a unitary assembly.
According to a third embodiment, particularly shown in
Furthermore, the rotatable element 100 may include a spindle 10″ interposed between the saddles 20′ and 20″, with end portions 1000″ and 1001″.
In other words, the spindle 10″ may rotate around the axis X, passing through the latter, integrally joined with the saddles 20′ and 20″, facing the spindle 10″.
Advantageously, the spindle 10″ may have windows 14 for lightening the overall structure of the hose reel 1 and to allow the discharge of the fluid possibly spilt in the hose reel 1 when coupling and releasing the fitting R. The windows 14 may further allow the hose to pass through once connected.
To this end, the spindle 10″ and the saddles 20′ and 20″ may be connected so as to allow-on the one hand-the integrally joined rotation around the axis X and-on the other hand-the radial movement of the saddles 20′ and 20″ with respect to the axis X between the distal and proximal positions.
Advantageously, the spindle 10″ may include the pairs of cylinders 13′, 13″ symmetrical with respect to the planes π1 and π2.
Preferably, the cylinders 13′, 13″ may be provided at the ends 1000″ and 1001″ so as to face the end portions 22 of the saddles 20′, 20″ as particularly shown in
It is however clear that even in this case the cylinders 13′, 13″ may be provided at any portion of the spindle 10′ without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
The saddle 20″ may comprise all the characteristics listed with reference to the saddle 20′.
As a result, each end portion 22 of the saddle 20″ may include a slot 220″ with average diameter ϕ2.
On the other hand, the cylinders 13″ may extend along axes Y perpendicular to the axis X and they may have an average diameter ϕ1 substantially smaller than the diameter ϕϕ2.
In this manner, the slots 220″ may slide along the cylinders 13″, as described below.
Advantageously, the elastic means 30 may include the pair of springs 31′ fitted on the cylinders 13′ and a pair of springs 31″ fitted on the cylinders 13″.
Even in this case, the cylinders 13″ will be guide cylinders for the springs 31″.
At the same time, the end portions 22 of the saddle 20″ may be abutment portions for the springs 31″ to interact with the latter.
In particular, when the portion P will be progressively filled with water, both the saddles 20′, 20″ may move along a radial direction with respect to the axis X, under the weight of the portion P that will expand progressively.
The springs 31′ and 31″ will be compressed and the portions 22 of the saddles 20′, 20″ will approach the spindle 10″.
It is clear that, as shown in
In other words, the surfaces 23′ and 23″ will be staggered independently with respect to the axis X as described above.
Even in this case, the slots 220′, 220″ and the cylinders 13′, 13″ will allow such staggering and they may define the staggering means of the surfaces 23′ and 23″.
In such embodiment, the flanges 40′ e 40″ may be coupled to the spindle 10″ and they will therefore be connected to the saddles 20′, 20″.
Therefore, the aforementioned observations raised relating to the connection between the spindle 10′ of the first embodiment and the flanges 40′, 40″, shall also apply with particular reference to the spindle 10″.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there may be provided for an assembly 2 which includes a hose reel 1 as described above in the three embodiments and a flat hose T which can be connected to the water-supply system.
In addition, the assembly 2 may include a fitting R connected to the hose T and inserted through the opening 45 present in one of the flanges 40′ and 40″ for the connection with the hose T.
In the light of the above, it is clear that the invention attains the pre-established objects.
The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the inventive concept outlined in the attached claims. All details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the technical needs, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the attached claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102021000016907 | Jun 2021 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/055944 | 6/27/2022 | WO |
