Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GEARLESS HOSE TRACKING ASSEMBLY FOR HOSE REEL APPLICATIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to guiding mechanisms
and, more particularly, to a hose tracking assembly having a
guide member adapted to reciprocate across a double helix groove
provided about a static shaft, the guide member being driven by
the friction of the hose being pulled onto the reel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The use of hose reels for conventional handling and
storage of flexible garden hoses has gained wide public
acceptance. Such hose reels can be mounted on a cart or secured
to the wall and are primarily constructed of molded plastic
components. Various hose reel assemblies for storing garden
hoses are known in the art. For example, U.S. Patent Number
4,506,698, assigned to the assignee of the instant invention,
discloses a wall mounted hose storage apparatus. U.S. Patent
No. 4,512,361, assigned to the assignee of the instant
invention, discloses a hose reel apparatus on a wheeled cart.
U.S. Patent No. 6,050,291, assigned to the assignee of the
instant invention, discloses a rotatable reel within an
enclosure.
[0003] A drawback associated with these devices is that they
are not equipped with a hose tracking assembly to guide the hose
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member evenly as it is taken up on the spool. The lack of a
hose tracker generally causes the hose be distributed unevenly
across the spool. This condition is exacerbated if the garden
hose is not substantially perpendicular to the reel's axis of
rotation when being wound onto the spool, creating a tendency
for the garden hose to pile up on one end of the spool and not
evenly distribute itself along the length of the spool.
[0004] U.S. Patent No. 5,404,900, assigned to the assignee of
the instant invention, recognized the drawback of unevenly wound
hose and provides a hose reel with a hose tracker mechanism. A
spool is mounted within a housing and configured to be rotated
by a handle, a tracker shaft having a double helix thread
pattern is also rotatably mounted within the housing and
configured to rotate with the spool. A guide bracket moves
along the tracker shaft which makes a saddle-like arrangement
for the garden hose to ride in for correct positioning of the
hose to be wound onto the spool. The device allows the hose to
be evenly wound onto the spool in successive layers. However,
even winding requires rotation of the tracker screw to
reciprocate the guide bracket. Rotation of the tracker screw
requires a gear train or belt for timed operation in conjunction
with the spool member.
[0005] German Patent Publication DE 103 00 960 discloses a
device for winding and unwinding a garden hose. The device
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includes a drum, which is rotated by a handle. A shaft having a
double helix groove is mounted a spaced distance from the drum.
A wheel having a groove sized to accept the hose member rotates
about the shaft as the hose is pulled onto the drum. A rod
extends parallel to the shaft to prevent the hose member from
jumping off of the wheel when the hose is pulled from angle that
is not perpendicular to the drum. However, the positioning of
the rod requires the hose to be pulled into the reel from a
steep downward angle to create sufficient friction between the
wheel and the hose to cause the wheel to rotate. Pulling the
hose in at a lesser angle creates a lesser amount of friction
between the rod and the hose member.
[0006] U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2007/0241224,
assigned to the assignee of the instant invention, discloses a
system for evenly winding a hose on a reel. The device includes
a static shaft, a pulley, a pulley housing, and a spring loaded
mechanism configured for engaging the hose with the pulley. The
pulley is adapted to move along the shaft, in an oscillatory
motion in response to spooling of the hose. The mechanism
configured for engaging the hose with the pulley is attached to
the pulley housing at a position substantially perpendicular to
the pulley's axis of rotation and further configured to roll
over a surface of the hose which pushes the hose against the
pulley. However, it has been found that the perpendicular
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relationship between the rotatable rod and the pulley creates
very minimal contact between the surface of the hose and the
pulley and is subject to "jumping" or skipping on the pulley,
also the portion of the hose about to enter the pulley, which is
not in contact with the pulley or rotatable rod, is subject to
flailing.
[0007] U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2006/0054731
discloses a system for winding a hose onto a hose reel. The
system includes a spring operated device for pressing the hose
onto a pulley 58. The pulley moves along a shaft to move the
hose back and forth as it winds onto the reel.
[0008] The only point of contact between the pulley and the
hose is perpendicular to the pulley's axis of rotation where the
rotatable rod presses the hose against the pulley. By
maintaining greater contact between a greater portion of the
hose and the pulley, the hose is not subject to "jumping" or
skipping or flailing on the pulley as the hose is moved
therethrough. A delicate balance between maintaining sufficient
surface contact between a greater portion of the hose and pulley
is warranted. Also, not creating unnecessary frictional force
on the static shaft thus impeding the movement of the pulley
along the shaft is needed.
[0009] Thus what is needed in the art is a device that allows
a hose to be wound evenly on a hose reel using a guide wheel,
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positioned substantially perpendicular to a reel and translated
along a static shaft by a moving hose, and a tracker body,
having a roller assembly positioned offset the axis of rotation
of the guide wheel to provide greater surface contact between
the guide wheel and the hose. The guide wheel is driven by
friction of the moving hose about the guide wheel which
rotatably translates the guide wheel along a shaft from end to
end. The tracker body is equipped with a roller assembly
positioned offset the axis of rotation of the guide wheel and
defines a passage for the entry of a hose to ensure that the
hose does not "jump" or skip off the guide wheel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The instant invention provides a hose reel guide
device including a base, a housing structure, a static shaft, a
guide wheel, a tracker body, and a roller assembly. The base
includes a housing structure pivotally mounted thereon. The
static shaft is mounted on the housing structure. The static
shaft includes a first and second set of threads moving in
opposite directions from one end on the static shaft to an
opposite end on the static shaft. The guide wheel is adapted to
circumferentially engage a portion of the static shaft and also
adapted to receive a garden hose. The guide wheel includes a
plurality of threads that cooperatively engage one set of
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threads on the static shaft. The guide wheel configured to
oscillate about the static shaft as the guide wheel translates
from one end on the static shaft to opposite end, when a moving
garden hose passes therethrough. The tracker body is mounted on
the guide wheel. The tracker body has a channel adapted to
receive a portion of the garden hose and configured to
cooperatively moving along the shaft with the guide wheel when a
moving garden hose passes therethrough the guide wheel and
tracker body. The roller assembly is assembled on the tracker
body and is positioned offset the axis of rotation of the guide
wheel. The roller assembly assists in reeling the garden hose
through the guide wheel and the tracker body. The roller
assembly maintains sufficient surface contact between the garden
hose and the guide wheel while producing negligible drag on the
garden hose.
[0011] The roller assembly is assembled on the tracker body
above the guide wheel. The roller assembly comprises of a pin
and a roller. The roller is held in place between the walls of
the tracker body and the pin is inserted through the tracker
body apertures and the roller's center opening, whereby the
chamfered ends of the pin are fastened to the outside surface of
the tracker body's apertures. The roller rotates about the pin
and the roller's axis of rotation is congruent with the pin's
horizontal centerline. The roller assembly is positioned offset
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the axis of rotation of the guide wheel whereby the garden hose
maintains sufficient surface contact with the guide wheel. The
greater the surface contact between the hose and the guide wheel
the less opportunity for the hose to "jump" or skip or flail on
the guide wheel as is apparent with U.S. Publication No.
2007/0241224.
[0012] Accordingly, it is an objective of the present
invention to provide a hose reel guide device including a
tracker body and guide wheel, the guide moves back and forth
along and on a shaft. A garden hose passes through the hose
reel guide and onto the hose resulting in a uniformly and
smoothly wrapped hose on a hose drum which also provides a
compact storage configuration.
[0013] It is another objective of the present invention to
provide a hose reel guide device which is easy to assemble and
secure to a hose drum.
[0014] It is yet another objective of the present invention
to provide a hose reel guide device made of polymeric components
which are both lightweight and durable.
[0015] It is still yet another objective of the present
invention to provide a hose reel guide device that includes a
pivotable housing structure secured to the base of a hose reel
which spools a hose onto or off of the hose reel in a
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substantially perpendicular direction from the axis of the hose
reel.
[0016] It is a further objective of the present invention to
provide a hose reel guide device having improved surface contact
between a guide wheel and a hose by positioning a roller
assembly offset from the axis of rotation of the guide wheel.
The roller assembly allows for a greater portion of the hose to
make surface contact with the guide wheel.
[0017] It is yet a further objective of the present invention
to provide a hose reel guide device having a roller assembly
including a roller with an outer surface which including grooves
that grip the hose as it passes through the tracker body to
facilitate passage of the hose through the guide wheel.
[0018] It is also another objective of the present invention
to provide a hose reel guide device which includes a roller
assembly that provides constant contact between a garden hose
and a guide wheel to ensure that the moving garden hose provides
the force for moving the tracker body and the guide wheel back
and forth along a shaft.
[0019] Other objects and advantages of this invention will
become apparent from the following description taken in
conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set
forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments
of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a
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part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of
the present invention and illustrate various objects and
features thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the hose reel guide
device of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the hose reel
guide device of the present invention without a pin;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view the hose reel guide
of the present invention including a hose;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view the hose reel guide
of the present invention including a first pin;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the invention in
Fig. 4 with the pin installed;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the present
invention without the hose reel guide;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the hose reel
guide of the present invention including a roller;
[0027] FIGS. 8 A-C are views of the pin used in conjunction
with the hose reel guide of the present invention;
[0028] FIGS. 9 A-C are views of the roller used in
conjunction with the hose reel guide of the present invention;
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[0029] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the present
invention used in conjunction with a hose reel;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a section along line 11-11 in Fig. 10; and
[0031] FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the present
invention used in conjunction with a hose reel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] While the present invention is susceptible of
embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and
will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not
limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present
disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present
invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the
specific embodiments illustrated.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 1-12, a gear-less tracking
assembly 10 and its components will be now be described. In a
preferred embodiment the tracking assembly 10 is employed in
conjunction with a hose reel. Figs. 10 and 12 illustrate the
present invention used in conjunction with a those reel. In the
preferred embodiment the tracking assembly 10 is secured to the
front lower portion of a hose reel 12. A hose, not illustrated,
is wound onto and removed from the hose reel 12. When the hose
is wound onto the reel 12 the tracking assembly 10 moves the
hose back and forth along the axis 14 of the hose reel 12. This
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enables a hose to be evenly wound onto the hose reel 12 without
piling up in one ore more areas along the axis of the hose reel.
This also enables a greater length of hose to be wound onto a
hose reel. In addition, this prevents a hose from piling up
along one portion of the hose reel which in turn makes it more
difficult to wind the hose onto the hose reel and consequently
unwind the hose from the hose reel.
[0034] Figs. 1-7 illustrated the different components which
comprise the tracking assembly. A base or front gate 16
includes two side walls 18 and 20. A front wall 22 extends
between the two side walls 18 and 20. A bottom wall 24 extends
between the side walls and is also secured to the front wall 22.
The bottom wall 24 can be excluded in a different embodiment.
The bottom wall can be formed from a single or multiple members.
A plurality of back walls 26, 28 are secured to the side walls
and bottom wall. The back walls 26, 28 extend upwardly to the
top walls 30, 32 of the base.
[0035] A front surface 34 extends between both side 18, 20
walls, the top walls 30, 32 and the front walls 22. Two support
ribs 36, 38 are secured to the front surface 34 proximate the
side walls. A shaft 40 is secured between the support ribs 36,
38. A double helix 42 is formed along the shaft 40.
[0036] A hose guide wheel 44 is formed of two half wheels 46
and 48. The two half wheels are secured together such that they
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can be readily disassembled. The inner circumference of the
guide wheel 44 includes a plurality of grooves which provide for
increased gripping of a hose by the guide wheel. A gear
follower 50 is positioned within an inner axial portion of the
hose guide wheel. The gear follower is resiliently biased into
engagement with the double helix, whereby as the guide wheel 44
rotates the gear follower 50 engages the double helix and moves
the guide wheel back and forth along the shaft 40. The spring
bias permits the gear follower 50 to be disengaged from the
double helix 42, by an operator pulling the gear follower away
from the double helix or by other means. When the gear follow
is not engaged with the double helix 42 the guide wheel can be
readily moved along the shaft 40 without rotating the guided
wheel. Thus the guide wheel can be readily repositioned
anywhere along the shaft 40.
[0037] The guide wheel 44 is positioned within a tracker body
52, as illustrated in Figs. 2-5 and 7. The tracker body 52
includes a guide member 54 which engages a rail 56 positioned on
the tracker assembly. The guide member 54 includes two flanges
58 and 60. These flanges engage the rail 56 and permit the
tracker body to move in a direction along the axle 40. They
also prevent the tracker body 52 from rotating around the shaft
40. The upper portion of the tracker body 52 includes surfaces
53 which extend laterally inwardly toward each other. These
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surfaces 53 assist in keeping a hose in contact with the tracker
assembly.
[0038] A roller 62 is positioned within an upper portion of
the tracker body 52 between side walls of the tracker body, as
shown in Figs. 4, 5, 10 and 12. A pin 64 extends through the
hollow central portion of the roller 62. One end 66 of pin 64
is larger in diameter than the pin whereby end 64 engages a hole
in a sidewall of the tracker body and prevents the pin from
passing completely through the tracker body and the roller. End
66 is also preferably D-shaped to act as a catch in the tracker
body and to properly align and prevent excessive rotation of the
pin 64. Another end 68 of the pin is formed from two flanges
which are constructed and arranged to be compressed so as to
pass through the roller and a side wall on the tracker body and
also be expanded to engage the side wall of the tracker body to
prevent movement of the pin along its axis. This construction
also secured the roller 52 onto the tracker body while
permitting the roller to rotate about its axis. In a preferred
embodiment one end portion of pin 64 has a slot 70. Slot 70
permits the end portion 68 of the pin to be compressed whereby
the end portion 68 can pass through the center of the roller 52
and the sidewall of the tracker body. After end portion 68
passes through the sidewall of the tracker body the end portion
68 of pin expands outwardly in a radial direction such that end
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portion 68 engages the side wall of the tracker body keeping the
pin and roller within the tracker body. The longitudinal
portion of pin 64 located between the ends can be provided with
grooves 65. These grooves help to reduce friction of the
surface of the longitudinal portion of pin 64 when pin 64 and
roller 52 are mated together. The longitudinal portion of pin
64 acts as a bearing surface.
[0039] Roller 52 is illustrated in Figs. 9 A-C. Roller 52
preferably includes a plurality of raised ribs 66 spaced around
the outer circumference of the roller. The ribs 66 enhance the
contact between the roller and a hose 68 such that there is
limited slippage between the roller and the hose. The roller is
also offset in a lateral direction from a vertical axis of the
axle 40. This offset is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Further
the distance between the outer surface of the roller and the
inner surface of the guide wheel is preferably less that the
diameter of the hose which is being wound onto the hose reel.
The combination of this distance and the offset of the roller in
a lateral direction from the vertical axis of shaft 40 provides
a unique relationship which limits virtually any slipping
between the hose 68 and the guide wheel. The relationship
ensures that the guide wheel will continually rotate and move
the hose guide back and forth along the shaft 40. This ensured
that the hose 69 is wound evenly onto the hose reel.
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[0040] One of the devices that the gear-less tracking
assembly can be used with is a hose reel. This combination is
illustrated in Figs. 10-12. Pivoting hinges or members 70 are
secured to each of the side walls 18. Each of the pivoting
hinges cooperate with respective pivot receivers 72, illustrated
in Fig. 11, which are mounted on an inner lower portion of a
hose reel. Stop ribs 74 are also mounted on the side walls 18.
The stop ribs 74 cooperate with an inner surface of the hose
reel to help secure the tracker assembly to the hose reel. As
illustrated in Fig. 12, a fastener 76, such as a screw or bolt,
can also be used to secure the tracker assembly to the hose
reel.
[0041] In addition to being used in conjunction with a hose
and a hose reel the tracker assembly 10 can be employed with any
flexible cable, hose or elongate member to assist the placement
of the cable, hose or elongate member onto a reel. The tracker
assembly also assists in the removal of the cable, hose or
elongate member from the reel.
[0042] All patents and publications mentioned in this
specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in
the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and
publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same
extent as if each individual publication was specifically and
individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
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[0043] It is to be understood that while a certain form of
the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the
specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to
what is shown and described in the specification and any
drawings/figures included herein.
[0044] One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that
the present invention is well adapted to carry out the
objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well
as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures
and techniques described herein are presently representative of
the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are
not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and
other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are
encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined
by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has
been described in connection with specific preferred
embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as
claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific
embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described
modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those
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skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the
following claims.
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