Patent Application
20150048222
Garden hoses and other lines, such as air hoses and power cords, are frequently used outdoors in residential and commercial settings. Reels conveniently locate and store the hoses and lines in a static location. Accordingly, the hoses and lines must be unreeled and their working ends taken to various points of use. One example is a residential garden hose that is unreeled and pulled across the user's backyard to water a small garden area in a distant corner of the yard. Oftentimes, a portion of the user's home or various landscaping features are positioned between the hose reel and the garden area. Accordingly, if the user simply pulls the hose from the reel to the garden, the hose will rub along the house or landscaping features. This can damage the hose, the house, and the landscaping features, let alone make unreeling the hose difficult or impossible.
Various attempts have been made to provide line guides that guide hoses and other lines along a path throughout a yard or other area of use. However, such attempts frequently fall short, due to a number of deficiencies. For example, many line guides do not anchor to the ground in a manner that is sufficiently stable to endure the pulling and friction forces incurred in a typical hose deployment. Many designs do not do a sufficient job containing the hose as it is pulled along its deployment path, causing the hose to become disengaged with the guide. Some designs do not adequately reduce the friction caused by the moving hose, which is a significant portion of the guide's purpose. Other designs are prominently positioned when deployed in a lawn, making them difficult to trim or mow around.
Accordingly, a new hose guide design is needed that is simple in design and effective in function. Such a design should be dependable, durable and easy to operate. Embodiments of the design should allow the user to trim or mow around easily when it is deployed in a yard.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary, and the foregoing Background, is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Various embodiments of the line guide of the present technology use a two part design. Some embodiments include an enclosure end portion and a mounting end portion. The enclosure end portion, in some embodiments, includes a rod that is provided in the shape of a shepherd's crook to define an open passage through the enclosure end portion. Low friction guide balls, with thru-holes, sized slightly larger than the bent rod, are positioned along the length of the guide portion around the open passage. The balls serve to prevent friction when a line, such as a garden hose, is pulled through the enclosure end portion. The mounting end portion includes an elongated mounting post that depends from the enclosure end portion. Embodiments of the technology further provide the mounting end portion with a base portion formed from a tube with a pointed mounting end and an open, flanged top end.
In some methods of use, the base is driven into the ground so that the flanged end is flush with the top of the ground. The mounting post of the enclosure end portion is passed through the open upper end of the base and into its open interior. In at least some embodiments, the enclosure end portion has the ability to rotate within the base, allowing it to turn and capture a hose that is pulled up against it. The user disposes a length of the line through the open passage of the enclosure end portion. In some methods of use, the line guide is positioned near an obstacle, which a user seeks to avoid when pulling the line along its pathway above the ground. The user then directs the line through the open passage of the enclosure end portion. As the user continues to pull the line along its pathway, the line comes into contact with the engagement end portion and at least one of a plurality of guide balls such that the line guide resists lateral movement of the line. A plurality of line guides may be used in spaced-apart succession along the pathway in order to avoid larger and/or multiple obstacles adjacent the pathway. When use of the hose is complete, the engagement end portions may be removed from the base portions, while leaving the base portions in the ground. This allows for standard use of the yard, including mowing, watering, and the like.
These and other aspects of the present system and method will be apparent after consideration of the Detailed Description and Figures herein. It is to be understood, however, that the scope of the invention shall be determined by the claims as issued and not by whether given subject matter addresses any or all issues noted in the Background or includes any features or aspects recited in this Summary.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
With reference to
A mounting end portion 22 depends from the lower length 14 of the enclosure end portion 12. The mounting end portion generally includes an elongated mounting post 24. While the mounting post 24 is depicted as being straight, it is contemplated that embodiments of the line guide 10 could include mounting posts of various shapes. For example, a mounting post 24 could be provided in a corkscrew shape, which could be beneficial for securely threading the line guide 10 into a mounting surface, such as an area of ground cover. It is contemplated that the mounting post 24 will, in various embodiments, be formed in uniform construction with the enclosure end portion 12. Accordingly, embodiments of the mounting post 24 will be formed from a rod of various materials, such as stainless steel.
With continued reference to
In some embodiments, the mounting end portion 22 of the line guide 10 includes an elongated base portion 32. The base portion 32 generally includes an open interior 34 extending between an open end portion 36 and a mounting end portion 38. The open end portion 36 and open interior 34 are shaped to removably receive a length of the elongated mounting post 24. In some embodiments, the fit between the mounting post 24 and the open interior 34 is sufficiently loose to permit rotation of the mounting post 24 and enclosure end portion 12 with respect to the base portion 32. In some such embodiments, the enclosure end portion 12 will rotate about a long axis of the base portion 32, sweeping a circular path having a diameter of approximately 6.25 inches. In other embodiments, it may be desirable to lock the position of the structures with respect to one another. It is contemplated that, in such instances, the mounting post 24 could be removably friction fit within the open interior 24 such that rotation is resisted but not prevented. A locking pin or other such mechanical fastener could be used to temporarily or permanently prevent rotation between the mounting post 24 and the base portion 32. It is contemplated that the base portion 32 will, in various embodiments, be formed from a durable material that can withstand extended periods disposed in the ground. Accordingly, embodiments of the base portion 32 are formed from corrosion resistant materials, such as stainless steel. Particular embodiments of the base portion 32 are provided with a length of approximately 12.75 inches. In some such embodiments, the mounting post 24 is provided with a length of approximately 5.5 inches. However, various different lengths for the mounting post 24 and base portion are contemplated for use with different ground and line types.
Embodiments of the base portion 32 will be shaped for easier insertion into, and removal from, various types of ground cover. Accordingly, embodiments of the base portion 32 include flange 40 that cantilevers outwardly from the open end 36. The flange 40 provides an engagement surface on which the base portion 32 may be pressed or repeatedly struck in order to insert the base portion 32 into the ground. The flange 40 further serves as a restraint to prevent disposing the base portion 32 too deeply into the ground and further provides a feature to engage when extracting the base portion 32 from the ground. Embodiments of the mounting end portion 38 of the base portion 32 are shaped as a pointed ground engagement tip to enhance the ability of the base portion 32 to penetrate hard ground cover.
Methods of using the present technology are depicted, generally, in
Once the line guide 10 is disposed within the ground 4, the user may dispose a length of the line 2 through the open passage 20 of the enclosure end portion 12. The user then directs the length of line 2 through the open passage 20 of the enclosure end portion 12. When the line 2 engages the plurality of guide balls 26, the line guide 10 resists lateral movement of the line 2 with respect to the line guide 10 as it is directed through the open passage 20. In this manner, the line 2 is directed along the defined pathway and not into contact with the obstacles. Where rotation is structurally permitted between the enclosure end portion 12 and the base portion 32, contact between the line 2 and the guide balls 26 rotates the enclosure end portion 12 with respect to the base portion 32. This proves beneficial, by further reducing resistance between the line 2 and the line guide 10, as the user moves away from the line guide 10 at an angle.
Once the user no longer needs to use the line along its pathway through the yard, the user removes the line 2 from the open passages 20 of the line guides 10. The elongated mounting posts 24 may then be removed from within the open interiors 34 and open ends 36 of the base portions 32. Where desirable, the user may then remove the base portions 32 from the ground 4 by pulling or prying the flanges 40 away from the ground 4. However, the low profile of the base portions 32 (and corrosion resistant materials) enable them to be left in the ground 4. With the flanges 40 positioned closely adjacent the ground 4, the user is free to use the ground area for normal activities, such as lawn mowing, etc.
The line guide makes using a garden hose easier, while at the same time protecting plants, pots and outdoor furniture. The garden hose guide directs the hose around corners and obstacles that normally create wasted time and frustration. The long receiver tube drives in flush with the ground and accepts the removable hose guide rod. The Shepard's crook design pivots to capture the hose regardless of the direction the hose is pulled against it; this allows the user to pull the hose left or right and the guide will pivot to contain it. The “C” shape prevents the hose from slipping off. Low friction roller balls let the hose slip through the guide without resistance.
Although the technology been described in language that is specific to certain structures, materials, and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures, materials, and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed in light of the number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or any and all individual values subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10 should be considered to include and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or individual values that are between and/or inclusive of the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10, 2.34 to 3.56, and so forth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3, 5.8, 9.9994, and so forth).
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/866,899, filed Aug. 16, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61866899 | Aug 2013 | US |
