Patent Application
20120256033
The present invention relates to a hose reel and, more specifically, to a hose reel having a frame assembly including closed extrusion members and wherein the closed extrusion members are positioned with their outer side oriented to be highly visible.
Hose reels are constructs structured to rotatably support a hose. More specifically, a hose reel has a frame assembly and a basket assembly. There are functional assemblies as well, such as, but not limited to, the water conduit assembly, but those are not relevant to the present disclosure. The basket assembly includes a barrel about which a hose is wound. The frame assembly is structured to rotatably support the basket assembly.
Hose reel frame assemblies are, typically, made from either tubular metal members or molded plastic members. Metal frame assemblies tend to be more expensive and are prone to rust. Thus, many hose reels are made from plastic. The molded plastic members are typically planar members having a perimeter sidewall and a plurality of support ribs on one or both sides of the planar member. Generally, a smooth surface is considered more eye-pleasing, so many hose reels have the ribs on only one side. With this type of frame member, the ribbed side is oriented to face laterally inward or outward. That is, there are typically two side frame assemblies held in a spaced relation that support a rotatable basket assembly. Each side frame assembly is typically molded as a single piece. These side frame assemblies are mirror images of each other. The basket assembly is rotatably disposed between the side frame assemblies. To reduce the visual impact of the less attractive ribbed side of the side frames, the side frame assemblies ribbed sides are oriented so as to face the basket assembly. The same is also true for the handle assembly which is coupled to the frame assemblies.
In this configuration, a user will typically see only one of the ribbed sides. That is, if the user is standing to the right of the hose reel, the user will see the smooth outer surface of the right frame assembly, but will also see past the basket assembly to see the ribbed inner side of the left side frame assembly. A user standing in front of, or behind, the hose reel, will typically see both side frame assemblies' inner sides.
In addition to the visual disadvantage of such plastic hose reels, there is an economic disadvantage as well. As noted above, the side frame assemblies are mirror images of each other. This requires two molds; one for each side frame as well as any associated parts. This also requires additional care in assembling a boxed hose reel for sale. That is, during the preparation of the boxed hose reel, care must be taken to ensure that each box has the proper inventory of parts, typically one part oriented for opposing sides of the hose reel.
The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a visually pleasing plastic frame assembly for a hose reel, and to reduce the cost associated with preparing the disassembled hose reel kit. As is known, and as mentioned above, molding of plastic into an elongated, thin walled planar member may incorporate a raised edge, side wall or medial rib to increase the rigidity of the member. The planar member may have sidewalls and ribs extending from opposing sides of the planar member. As used herein, such a construct shall be identified as a “two-sided” member. For aesthetics, and other reasons, plastic planar members may have one face without sidewalls and ribs, while having sidewalls and ribs on the opposing face. That is, the planar member may have a cross-section similar to the shape of a bracket character, e.g. “[”. As used herein, a planar member in such a configuration is a “one-sided” member having, as used herein, a “smooth side” without ribs, and, as used herein, a “ribbed side,” having ribs. Further, in either the one-sided or two-sided configuration, both sides of the planar member are generally visible. Accordingly, as used herein, a planar extrusion is an “open extrusion.”
Conversely, in an elongated plastic member having an arcuate cross-section, especially where the radius is relatively small, i.e. less than 2.5 inches, an angled cross-section, and/or wherein the longitudinal sidewalls extend generally tangent to the arcuate portion, e.g. such as, but not limited to, a “U” shape, only the outer side of the member is generally visible and the inner side of the member is generally hidden. Accordingly, as used herein, an extrusion having a cross-section structured so as to substantially hide one side of the member is a “closed extrusion.” More specifically, a closed extrusion having an arcuate portion, as used herein, is an “arcuate closed extrusion.” Further, as used herein, a closed extrusion has an “inner side,” e.g. the concave side, and an “outer side,” e.g. the convex side. The inner and outer sides may “face” a particular direction. That is, as used herein, “face,” when used as a verb, means that the identified side is predominantly visible from the identified direction. For example, if the outer side of the curved member faces upwardly, as in an inverted “U,” the outer side is predominantly visible when viewed from above. It is noted that, with an inverted U-shaped extrusion, the outer side is also visible from the sides. Conversely, a curved inner side that faces downwardly is predominantly visible when viewed from below; due to the curvature of the member, however, the inner side is less visible from the sides.
Further, the support ribs are preferably disposed on the inner side of a closed extrusion. In this configuration, the ribs are typically not visible. Thus, such extruded members may be positioned so that the inner side is not highly visible and the outer side is. This does not mean, however, that the inner side can never be seen, only that when generally viewed, the outer side is more visible than the inner side. More specifically, a closed extruded member may be positioned with the outer side oriented to be “highly visible.” As used herein, “highly visible” means that a substantial portion of the outer side of a closed extrusion faces substantially forward and/or upward.
The concept disclosed below relates to extruded plastic members configured to form a frame assembly for a hose reel. The plastic members forming the frame assembly are a closed extrusion which are oriented so that the inner side having ribs is generally hidden. For example, the hose reel has a lower frame assembly structured to support a hose reel having generally “A” shaped frame members. The frame members include closed extruded members wherein the inner sides are disposed at the interior surfaces of the “A” shape. In this configuration, the inner side of the closed extruded members are substantially not visible. That is, the ribs can only be seen easily from the lower side of the frame assembly and, as this side is adjacent to the ground, users should not be able to see the ribs during normal operation of the hose reel.
Further, when the frame members are formed from a closed extrusion, the same components may, typically be used on either side of the finished frame assembly. That is, unlike one sided plastic frame members, wherein the closed side faces inwardly and which therefore require a specific right side frame and left side frame, a closed extrusion frame member that faces downwardly may be used on either side of the frame assembly. As both sides of the frame assembly are alike, there is no need for side specific molds and no need to track which components are provided in the disassembled kit. That is, the number of components must be tracked, e.g. two side frame assemblies, but not the type of components, e.g. one right side frame assembly and one left side frame assembly.
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, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs.
As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other.
As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. The fixed components may, or may not, be directly coupled.
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, “temporarily coupled” means that two components are coupled in a manner that allows for the components to be easily decoupled without damaging the components.
As used herein, “correspond” indicates that two structural components are sized to engage each other with a minimum amount of friction. Thus, an opening which corresponds to a member is sized slightly larger than the member so that the member may pass through the opening with a minimum amount of friction. This definition is modified if the two components are said to fit “snugly” together. In that situation, the difference between the size of the components is even smaller whereby the amount of friction increases.
As used herein a “handle” is an element that is generally structured to be grasped by a user and not an element that is merely capable of being grasped. For example, a wheelbarrow frame assembly may have a plurality of elongated members that may be grasped, but only the handles are structured, i.e. positioned and sized, to be grasped by the user.
As used herein, a “grip” is the portion of a handle structured to be gripped by a user. A “grip” includes a portion of a handle having a sufficient, substantially straight length of handle to accommodate the width of four fingers, and may also include a textured surface on the handle and/or a padded portion of the handle. A “grip” must be distinguishable from other portions of the handle. For example, a smooth, straight broomstick is a handle without an identifiable grip because no portion of the handle is different than any other portion.
As described below, there are several components of the hose reel that have similar corresponding components, often a mirror image component. It is understood when two components are being described, subsequent pairs of reference numbers relate to the respective components. For example, as set forth below, the first and second side frame assemblies 26, 28 each include a forward support member 40, 42. This means that the first side frame assembly 26 includes forward support member 40 and the second side frame assembly 28 includes forward support member 42.
As shown in
The frame assembly 20 is made from plastic components and, as detailed below, preferably from a plurality of elongated members which include at least one closed, extruded member 21. As shown in
The base assembly 29 includes a first base member 48 and a second base member 50 as well as one or more cross frame members 30. In a preferred embodiment, the base members 48, 50 are shaped as upwardly extending arches. On each base member 48, 50 there is a front coupling 52, 54, and a rear coupling 56, 58. Each coupling 52, 54, 56, 58 includes a post 53 and a lug 55. Each coupling 52, 54, 56, 58, and more specifically each post 53, extends generally upwardly. Each lug 55 is disposed at the distal end of the associated post 53 and each lug 55 is sized and shaped to snuggly correspond to the lower ends of the support members 40, 42, 44, 46. The side frame assemblies 26, 28 are coupled, as described below, to the upper side of the base assembly 29 to form the lower frame assembly 24. In this embodiment, the first side frame assembly 26, the second side frame assembly 28, and the base assembly 29 are each formed as a unitary body. It is, however, noted that the base assembly 29 cross frame members 30 may be formed independently and thereafter coupled to the base members 48, 50.
Further, a wheel 45, 47 (
The side frame assemblies 26, 28 are structured to rotatably support the basket assembly 200. That is, the basket assembly 200 includes a cylindrical barrel 202. At each end of the barrel 202 there is a radially extending flange 204, 206. The space about the barrel 202 and in between the two flanges 204, 206 define the basket 208 which is the space in which the hose reel hose (not shown) is disposed. That is, the hose reel hose is wrapped about the barrel 202. As is known, a portion of the water conduit assembly 300 extends through one axle 212 (
The frame assembly 20 may include various types of members, e.g. solid, hollow, closed extrusion, etc. In this disclosure, at least one frame member 30 is an elongated closed extrusion member 31, as shown in
The at least one closed extrusion member 31 is positioned with the outer side 35 oriented to be highly visible. That is, the at least one closed extrusion member 31, or a substantial portion of the at least one closed extrusion member 31, outer side 35 faces generally forward and/or upward. Conversely, the at least one closed extrusion member 31, inner side 33 faces generally backward and/or downward. In this configuration, a user or observer will typically see the smooth outer side of the at least one closed extrusion member 31.
A closed extrusion member 31 may further be supported by one or more ribs 51. The ribs 51 are disposed on the inner side of a closed extrusion member 31. The ribs 51 are planar members having an inner edge 64 and an outer edge 66. The rib inner edge 64 is, preferably, directly coupled to the inner side 33 of a closed extrusion member 31 and may be formed as a unitary body therewith. Thus, the rib inner edge 64, preferably, corresponds with the shape of the closed extrusion member 31. That is, if the closed extrusion member 31 is a narrow, rectangular channel, as shown in
The ribs 51 may extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the closed extrusion member 31 or may extend at an angle generally less than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the closed extrusion member 31. Typically, when the ribs 51 have a curved outer edge 66, the ribs 51 extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the closed extrusion member 31. Ribs 51 in this configuration resemble the inner side of a canoe. Ribs 51 having a straight outer edge 66 typically extend at an angle generally less than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the closed extrusion member 31. Further, such ribs 51 typically cross over each other creating a pattern similar to “X's”, as shown in
Preferably, each of the frame members 30 forming the side frame assemblies 26, 28, and the base assembly 29 are closed extrusion members 31. That is, each support member, 40, 42, 44, 46, and each base member 48, 50 is elongated and has a lateral width, i.e. a width normal to the plane of the side frame assemblies 26, 28. The support members 40, 42, 44, 46 each descend from the associated hub 32, 34 with the forward support members 40, 42 extending toward the hose reel front side 12 and the rear support members 44, 46 extending toward the hose reel rear side 14. The distal ends of each support member, 40, 42, 44, 46 have a rib 51 spaced therefrom. That is, each distal end of each support member, 40, 42, 44, 46 forms a pocket (not shown).
As noted above, base members 48, 50 may be upwardly arched so that, when the side frame assemblies 26, 28 are coupled thereto, the two lateral sides of the frame assembly 20 generally resemble a capital “A” with the hub 32, 34 at the vertex of the support members, 40, 42, 44, 46. In this configuration, a user, and more specifically a user's eyes, will typically be disposed above the side frame assemblies 26, 28 and the base assembly 29. Thus, to reduce the chance of the user seeing the closed extrusion member inner side 33, the closed extrusion members inner sides 33 face generally downwardly. It is noted that, at the back end of the arched base members 48, 50, the closed extrusion members inner sides 33 face forwardly and, as such, could be seen by a user standing directly in front of the hose reel 10. Typically, however, the other elements of the side frame assemblies 26, 28, notably the forward support member 40, 42, will block the user's view of the forward end of the arched base members 48, 50. Only when a user is standing to one side of the hose reel 10 will the user be able to see some small portion of the arched base member closed extrusion inner side 33. This is noted as the disclosed concept does not require that the entire closed extrusion inner side 33 face backwardly and/or downwardly, but rather that a substantial portion of each closed extrusion member 31 face backwardly and/or downwardly.
Further, the base assembly cross frame members 30 may also be closed extrusion members 31. The cross frame members 30 are, preferably, arcuate closed extrusion members 31 having longitudinal sidewalls. The closed extrusion cross frame members 30 may have ribs 51 disposed on the inner side. The closed extrusion cross frame members 30 face substantially downwardly. In this configuration, a user cannot typically see the inner side of the closed extrusion cross frame members 30. It is noted that, while the closed extrusion member outer side 35 is typically smooth, the closed extrusion cross frame member 30 disposed at the front side of the hose reel 10 may include a textured step 23. The textured step 23 is disposed on the same lateral side as the barrel crank 214. In operation, the user may stand on the textured step 23 while using the crank 214.
To assemble the lower frame assembly 24 the two side frame assemblies 26, 28 are coupled to the base assembly 29. More specifically, the pockets located at the distal ends of each support member 40, 42, 44, 46 correspond to the lugs 55 and, more specifically, the lugs 55 snuggly correspond to the pockets. Further, the posts 53 have an outer surface with substantially the same dimensions as the support member 40, 42, 44, 46 coupled thereto. In this configuration, there is an essentially seamless transition between the outer side 35 of each support member 40, 42, 44, 46 and the associated coupling 52, 54, 56, 58.
The frame assembly handle assembly 22 also includes closed extrusion members 31. As shown in
That is, the handle assembly 22 may move between an upper first position (
When the handle assembly 22 moves between the first and second positions, the first and second arms 72, 74 also move between an upper first position and a lower second position. It is noted that, unlike the prior art, wherein it is known to move the handle to the front of the hose reel 10 in the lower position, in this embodiment when the first and second arms 72, 74 are in the first position, the handle assembly body 70 extends toward the lower frame assembly 24 rear side 14, and when the first and second arms 72, 74 are in the second position, said handle assembly body 70 extends toward said lower frame assembly 24 rear side 14 as well.
As noted above, the handle assembly arms 72, 74 are preferably closed extrusion members 31. The handle assembly arms 72, 74 are positioned with the inner side 33 of the closed extrusion members 31 facing generally backwardly when in the first, upper position, and substantially downwardly when in the second, lower position. As before, the handle assembly arms 72, 74 may be any embodiment of a closed extrusion member 31, as discussed above, but are preferably arcuate closed extrusion members having tangential sidewalls. The handle assembly arms 72, 74 preferably include ribs 51 having a straight outer edge extending at an angle generally less than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the closed extrusion member 31. That is, the handle assembly arms 72, 74 preferably include ribs 51 which cross over each other creating a pattern similar to “X's”, as shown in
The handle member 76 may also be a closed extrusion member, but more preferably is formed of a series of exposed, closely spaced, parallel ribs 51, thereby forming the grip 78. A shell 79, e.g. a semicircular tube, may be disposed over a portion of the exposed ribs 51 forming the grip 78.
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 invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
