Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02791966 2012-10-09
HBJ/SCB
Judith Kim HOYSAK
Peter Francis DOHM
GARDEN HOSE HOLDER WITH REMOVABLE CENTER POST
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to gardening and lawn
care needs and, more particularly, to a hose holder for hiding a
hose that has a removable center post.
Description of the Related Art
Garden hoses are needed to water garden plants such as
grass and flowers, to hook up to sprinkler systems, to use for
washing automobiles or sidewalks and for other useful outdoor
purposes. Many people who use garden hoses find them unsightly
when not in use. Accordingly, a wide selection of various products
designed to store, reel or cover garden hoses are available to meet
the needs of hose users.
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One known storage container for a hose is the hose pot.
The hose pot is generally a rectangular or cylindrical container
having a hole in the side through which the end of the hose extends
for hooking up to a faucet. The hose is placed into and removed
from the container through an opening in the top of the container.
Sometimes lids are provided to hide the hose completely.
Some models of hose pots include a center post attached
to the bottom of the pot to help the user wind the hose inside the
pot when the hose is not in use. In metal hose pots, the center
post is typically attached by a circular stub several inches tall
that is welded on the bottom inner surface of the pot. The center
post, which is a hollow tube of sheet metal having an inner
diameter, attaches to a stub having an outer diameter slightly
smaller than the post inner diameter, allowing the center post to
be fitted over the stub with a friction fit. When so connected,
the stub keeps the center post stable and secured to the pot.
While the stub and post assist the user in winding the
hose into the pot, the stub and/or center post limit use of the pot
for other storage purposes by reducing the total available space
inside the pot for storage of firewood, newspapers, etc. The
center post and stub also reduce the maximum size of an item that
can be stored in the pot, and prevent the pot from being used
effectively as a planter since the post and/or stub can interfere
with properly sitting a plant inside the pot.
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Therefore, a need exists for a hose pot without a stub
and having a removable center post so that the pot can serve many
alternate uses in addition to storing a hose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a hose pot for storing a hose having a stable
center post that is also removable to enable the pot to be used for
other purposes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
hose pot in accordance with the preceding object in which the
center post extends upwardly from the base of the pot about
two-thirds the height of the pot to maximize use of the hose pot
interior space available for storing a long length of hose.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a hose pot in accordance with the preceding objects in which the
base of the post is provided with a flange used to attach the post
to the bottom of the hose pot and/or to provide stability to the
post.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide a hose pot in accordance with the preceding objects in
which the post and flange are removed as a unit and, when removed,
the floor of the pot interior is flat, enabling the pot to be used
in many ways, unobstructed by the post or the flange.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
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a hose pot in accordance with the preceding objects in which the
flange has apertures therethrough that receive fastening elements
that are secured to the bottom of the pot to attach the post
thereto.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
hose pot having a post with a threaded end that is received within
a threaded opening in the bottom of the pot to attach the post
thereto.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a hose pot in accordance with the preceding objects in which the
outer surface of the pot base has feet to raise the pot off the
floor and prevent the heads of the fastening elements from
scratching the floor or other surface upon which the pot is
supported.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a
hose pot that is not complex in structure and which can be
manufactured at low cost but yet efficiently can be used as either
a hose holder or for other uses around the home.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a hose
pot having a removable center post that does not need a stub.
According to one embodiment, the center post is provided with a
flange having apertures therein that receive fastening elements
used to secure the post to the base of the pot. In another
embodiment which is not preferred, the post has a threaded lower
end that is received within a threaded opening in the bottom of the
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pot. When secured to the pot, the center post allows for easy
winding of the hose within the hose pot. When the center post is
removed, the upper surface of the bottom of the pot is flat so that
the pot has additional functionality as a storage container or
cache pot, i.e., a planter that serves as a holder for an inner
smaller flower pot that contains the soil.
These together with other objects and advantages which
will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of
construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and
claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming
a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts
throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective side view of a hose pot with
removable center post in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a bottom view of the hose pot and center post
as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the center post shown
in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a side view of the hose pot and center post
shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 5 is a side view of a representative fastening
element with a cap as used to secure the removable post to the hose
pot in accordance with the present invention.
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Figure 6 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of a
hose pot generally like that shown in Figure 1, but showing an
alternative flange configuration having tabs that are secured to
the base of the pot with clips on the pot bottom.
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of an
alternative embodiment of a hose pot with removable center post in
accordance with the present invention, with one side wall broken
away to show the center post and its interconnection to the base
wall.
Figure 8 is a side view of an alternative style center
post having a threaded end and a flange for use in the hose pot
shown in Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a side view of a plug that can be used with
the hose pot shown in Figure 7 when the center post is removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention
illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted
to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended
to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be
understood that each specific term includes all technical
equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a
similar purpose.
As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the present invention
includes a hose pot 10 having a generally flat base wall 26 and a
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removable center post, generally designated by reference numeral
12, which extends vertically upward from the base wall 26. The
hose pot 10 is shown as being generally spherical in shape, but the
pot can be cylindrical, square, rectangular, or virtually any other
shape. The hose pot 10 may be made of metal, plastic, or any other
material suitable for outdoor use and water exposure.
The removable center post 12 includes an upwardly
extending member 14 with a flange 16 at the base thereof as shown
in Figure 3. The upwardly extending member or post 14 is
preferably about two-thirds the height H of the hose pot from the
base 26 to the upper edge 27, as best seen in Figure 4. The center
post 1.2 may be cylindrical as shown, but may also be square in
cross section, oval, or other shapes as would be understood by
persons of skill in the art. Preferably the post has a cap 18 on
the top to keep out water and/or debris if the post is hollow, but
the cap is not required. In addition, the post may be solid in
construction, or hollow and filled with a material to prevent
unwanted collection of water and debris within the post. As a
further alternative, the post could be made of perforated material
to allow water to drain out of the center of the post. Therefore,
all constructions of an upwardly extending support member 14 around
which a hose or a portion of a hose may be wound when not in use
are intended to be included within the scope of the present
invention.
The flange 16 is generally perpendicular to the post and
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preferably extends outwardly from the post 14 approximately one
inch; smaller or larger flanges could also be used. Preferably,
the flange 16 completely encircles the post as shown in Figures 1-3
and may be welded or otherwise affixed to the base of the post.
According to a first embodiment, the flange 16 is
provided with a plurality of apertures 20 for receiving fastening
elements 22. The base 26 of the hose pot 10 is similarly provided
with correspondingly spaced apertures 24 to align with the flange
apertures 20 and receive the fastening elements 22 and allow the
flange and center post to be secured to the base 26 of the pot 10.
Preferably, the flange apertures 20 and pot base apertures 24 are
evenly spaced around the center post. While three aligned flange
and base pot apertures 20, 24 are shown, more or fewer fastening
points could be provided as necessary or desired for a given hose
pot design. The fastening elements 22 may be screws 30 as shown in
Figure 5, or may be bolts or other elements used for attachment as
would be known by persons of ordinary skill in the art.
Alternatively, the flange 16 could be embodied as a
plurality of tabs 160 which are a continuation of the base of the
post 14, turned up to extend laterally as shown in Figure 6.
According to this embodiment, the tabs are secured to the base 26
by locking the tabs into clips 130 on the pot base 26. Therefore,
the post is mounted in the pot 10 by first orienting the post so
that the tabs 160 are in offset relationship to the clips as shown
by the phantom tabs 132. The post is then rotated clockwise to
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lock the tabs 160 under the clips 130 as is shown in Figure 6.
The base 26 of the pot 10 is preferably provided with
feet 32 that raise the pot off the floor and prevent the heads 34
of the fastening elements 22 from scratching the floor or other
surface upon which the pot 10 is supported. Preferably, the screws
30 or other fastening elements have a plastic cap or acorn nut 36
as shown in Figure 5. The base 26 of the 10 pot may also include
drain holes 40 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6.
An alternative embodiment of a hose pot, generally
designated by reference numeral 50, is shown in Figures 7-9. As
representatively shown, the pot includes rectangular sides 52 and,
in Figure 7, one of the sides has not been shown in order to depict
the center of the pot 50. However, as in the first embodiment, the
pot may be any shape.
In the alternative embodiment, which is not preferred,
the pot 50 is configured with a cylindrical threaded opening 54 in
the base wall 56. The post 58 has a complementarily threaded end
60 that is screwed into the base wall opening 54 to secure the post
58 vertically in the pot 50. The post 58 preferably includes a
laterally extending flange 62 above the threaded end 60 that abuts
the base wall 56 when the post has been fully screwed in and
provides the post 58 with lateral support; a post 58 with such a
flange 62 is shown in Figure 8.
As in the first embodiment, when the post 58 is removed,
the upper surface 66 of the base wall 56 is substantially flat. If
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desired a plug, generally designated by reference numeral 68, may
be provided as shown in Figure 9. The plug 68 has a threaded part
70 and a flat or slightly rounded top 72. The threaded part 70 is
screwed into the opening 54 in the base wall 56 when the post 58 is
removed. The plug 68 both covers and protects the threaded opening
54 from being damaged so that the post 58 may be readily re-mounted
when desired. The alternative embodiment is preferably made of
plastic, but other materials or combinations of materials may be
used as would be understood by persons of skill in the art.
While the plug 68 in Figure 9 is shown with a top 72, the
plug may be configured to be screwed in from the inside of the pot
and then be even or recessed below the upper surface 66 of the base
wall 56 when sufficiently tightened. In this configuration, the
plug may conveniently be provided with a handle like that on a gas
cap to allow the hose pot owner to grasp the plug and fully insert
it even after the top of the plug has passed below the upper
surface of the base wall 56.
As described herein, the hose pot of the present
invention may be used effectively to contain and cover a hose, with
the center post facilitating winding of the hose for storage within
the pot. The design of the flanged center post allows the pot to
be used for many alternative purposes by removing the center post,
leaving the pot with a flat interior bottom surface and the
interior of the pot completely unobstructed.
The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be
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considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
The invention may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes
and is not limited by the dimensions of the preferred embodiment.
Numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit
the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact
construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all
suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling
within the scope of the invention.
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