Hose roller

A hose roller device used to roll up collapsed hose, such as fire hose. The hose roller device includes a two pronged fork on which the collapsed hose is placed and rolled up into a uniform roll that can be easily removed from the two prongs for storage or transportation in the rolled condition. The two pronged fork is attached to one end of an axle that is rotatably held in a transverse bearing hole through an upright member. A crank handle is connected to the other end of the axle to roll up the hose. The member is held upright by a support system that fixes the vertical position. The support system allows the member to rotate about this longitudinal vertical centerline. The member extends above the two pronged fork and includes a fitting to which a tiller is connected. The tiller may be placed into either of two positions to accommodate a right or left handed person. The tiller is used steer hose roller device. The hose roller is designed to be mounted permanently in the ground or in concrete or removably mounted on a vehicle such as a fire apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a new and improved hose roller device that is 
steerable, and allows a collapsed hose laying haphazardly on the ground to 
be rolled up on the hose holder and easily pulled off the hose holder for 
reuse or storage. 
In the past various types of portable reels and hose rollers have been 
constructed and designed. Such devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
3,946,964; 4,288,047; 2,717,129; 3,779,478 and 3,722,823. Each of these 
devices have side members that prevent the hose roll from being easily 
pulled off the hose holder on the hose roller. Further, the prior art does 
not disclose a non-complex steerable hose roller device that can roll up a 
collapsed hose laying haphazardly on the ground. All the prior art devices 
are complex in construction and design and do not provide the practical 
and useful device disclosed herein by the applicant. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is a new and improved hose roller device. The hose roller 
device is used to roll up collapsed hose, such as fire hose that need not 
be positioned in a straight line on the ground. The hose roller device may 
be operated by a hand crank or a motor. The hose or a hose fitting is 
initially connected to a hose holder. The hose holder is connected to the 
hand crank or motor. The hose holder is rotated to roll up a collapsed 
hose into a uniform roll. The hose may be rolled up from one end or it may 
be rolled up from the center of the hose. The hose holder is free to one 
side. No obstructions are found adjacent a side of the hose holder. 
Therefore the rolled up hose may be pulled off of the hose holder in the 
form of a donut for storage or use. The hose holder is held by a long 
vertical member rotatable about its longitudinal center line. The vertical 
member may be rotated about its longitudinal center line into a proper 
position to position the hose holder to roll up a portion of a collapsed 
hose. A tiller connected to the vertical member is used to stear the hose 
roller device. The vertical member may be held in position by a support 
system in the ground, deck or on a vehicle. The support system is 
connected to a lower portion of the vertical member. 
The hose roller device includes a generally vertical member having its 
longitudinal center line, an upper portion with an axle opening, a lower 
portion. The hose roller device also includes the tiller and the hose 
holder. The hose holder includes a fork with open ends and a closed end, 
and an axle connected at one end to the closed end of the fork. The hose 
holder also includes a bearing that is positioned in the axle opening of 
the vertical member. The axle is positioned for rotation in the bearing. A 
drive means is connected to the other end of the axle. The drive means may 
be a crank handle or the drive means may be an electric motor powered by 
batteries or another source of electricity. Other power sources may be 
used. The vertical member also includes a support means positioned just 
above the lower portion. The generally vertical member is positioned for 
rotatable movement about the longitudinal center line and is supported on 
the support means that acts as a bearing surface. A support system 
includes a mating support means and an opening in the mating support means 
for passage of the lower portion of the generally vertical member below 
the mating support means. The support means and the mating support means 
have a ring shaped contact face that act as bearing surfaces. The support 
system includes a permanent receiver mount connectable to a vehicle, a 
mount member connected to the mating support means and releasably 
connectable to the mount member is slideably engageable into the receiver 
mount. Bolts are used to removably connect the mount member in the 
receiver mount. Other support systems may be used such as placing the 
mating support means in a hole in the ground or in a concrete block to 
support the hose roller device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawing, the invention is to a new and improved hose 
roller device 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The hose roller device 10 
is used to roll up into a roll 11 a collapsed hose 14, such as fire hose 
that need not be positioned in a straight line on the ground. The hose 
roller device 10 may be operated by a hand crank 12 or a motor (not 
shown). The collapsed hose 14 illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2 and shown 
in FIG. 3 is initially connected to a hose holder 18. In FIGS. 2 and 4 the 
fitting on one end of the hose is connected between forks 32. The hose 
holder 18 is rotated to roll up a collapsed hose 14 into a uniform roll, 
as shown at 11 in FIG. 3. The hose holder 18 has no obstructions on its 
left sides as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and therefore the roller up hose may 
be pulled off of the hose holder when a force is applied in the direction 
of arrow A. The rolled up hose may then be used or placed in storage. The 
hose holder 18 is held in position by a generally vertical member 20. The 
vertical member 20 is rotatable about its longitudinal center line 22. The 
vertical member 20 may be rotated into a proper position to roll up a 
portion of a collapsed hose laying haphazardly on the ground by a tiller 
16. The tiller may be connected to the member 20. The member 20 may be 
held in position by a support system 24 in the ground, on a deck or on a 
vehicle. 
It should be noted that holder 18 includes two dowels 18' and 18" welded to 
base 36 (not shown). The hose roller device 10 includes member 20 which 
has a longitudinal central line 22, upper portion 26 with an axle opening 
30 therein, and lower portion 28 that is connectable to the support system 
24. A hose holder 18 includes a fork 18' and 18" with open ends 34 and a 
closed end 36, axle 38 connected at one end by a weld to the closed end 36 
of the fork 32, and a bearing 40 positioned in the axle opening 30 and 
between member 20 and holder 18. An additional bearing 46 may be used. The 
axle 38 is positioned for rotation in the bearing 40. A drive means such 
as 12 is connected to the other end of the axle 38. The fastening means 
between the axle 38 and crank handle 12 may be a nut on a threaded axle. 
The drive means may be a crank handle 12 as shown or the drive means is an 
electric motor (not shown) or some other power source. A T-fitting 60 may 
be connected to the top of the vertical member 20. A tiller 16 with a 
threaded end may be connected into either side of the T-fitting 60. This 
feature shown in FIG. 1 allows a right or left handed person to easily use 
the hose roller device 10. An alternate tiller arrangement may be 
constructed by making a hole through the top of member 20 similar to hole 
30 but 90 degrees from hole 30. Tiller 16 may be a rod with one enlarged 
end. This tiller (not shown) may be used as tiller 16. 
The member 20 includes a support ring 42. This support ring or support 
means 42 is positioned above said lower portion 28. The member 20 is 
positioned for rotatable movement about the longitudinal center line 22. 
The member 20 is supported on surface 43 of the support means 42. The 
support system 24 has a mating support means 44 with a mating surface 45. 
The mating support means 44 has an opening in it for passage of the lower 
portion 28 of member 20. A part of the lower portion 28 is positioned 
beneath the mating support means 44. 
The support system 24 includes a permanent receiver mount 72 shown in FIGS. 
1, 2 and 4. The receiver mount 72 is connectable to a vehicle. Arms 52 and 
53 are placed under a vehicle. Bolts and nuts 50 are placed through 
openings 51 in the arms and connected to the frame or bumper of a vehicle. 
The support system also includes a mount member 48 connected by welding to 
the mating support means 44. The mount member 48 is slideably engaged into 
the receiver mount 72. Wing bolt 54 is used to removably fix the mount 
member 48 in the receiver mount 46. 
A sleeve 70 is supported over a bolt 62 for guiding the hose 14 as the 
distal end is wound up on the hose holder 18. The bolt head 68 is on one 
side of number 20 and a nut 64 is secured to the bolt on the other side of 
the post. The sleeve 70 is held between a second nut 66 and the head of 
the bolt 68. 
The sleeve 70 keeps the hose from riding on member 48 when the hose holder 
18 is placed in certain positions. As the last few feet of hose are being 
wound up or rolled up, the sleeve will be utilized to aid in providing a 
smooth uniform roll. 
It should be noted that the sizes of the part may be changed to accommodate 
various size hoses and components. The hose holder 18 having dowels 18' 
and 18" at approximately 21/4 inches apart can accommodate 11/2 to 3 inch 
hoses. 
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is 
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is 
recognized, however, the departures may be made therefrom within the scope 
of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person 
skilled in the art.