Supporting side for a hose-winding drum for a device for winding flexible hose

Abstract: The side has a plurality of parallel ribs (2) and, perpendicularly to them, successions of slots (3) alternated with successions of stiffening elements (4, 5) formed by sections of wall alternated inward and outward from the hose-winding device and provided with stiffening ribs (6). In the side there are seats (7, 8) for the introduction of ends of a handle element (102) and of a base element (101). In it there are also a snap-on coupling (9) of a hub (106) of a hose-winding drum (103) and a snap-on coupling (111) for a shaft (112) supporting a pair of wheels (113).

Description: The present invention relates to a supporting side for a hose-winding drum for a device for winding flexible hose according to the preamble of claim 1, see US-A-4 913 580. Devices are known for winding flexible hose wherein a rotating drum destined to receive the flexible hose is supported by a tubular metal structure formed by a base part possibly provided with wheels and by a top part acting as a gripping and operating element. The two tubular structure parts, substantially conformed in a U-shape with suitably located bends, are joined together and to the rotation pivot of the hose-winding drum at a pair of couplings, generally of plastic material, located at the two sides of the drum. Each of such couplings receives one end of each of the two parts of tubular structure and, perpendicularly, the drum's rotation hub, thus defining a single structure for supporting the drum. Couplings for supporting the hub in plastic material are currently known, formed by two equal side-by-side elements, each having a closed hole seat for receiving the end of a respective part of the tubular structure and an open perpendicular half-seat co-operating with the corresponding half-seat of the other element for receiving the drum's rotation hub. Couplings for supporting the hub are also known constituted by a single element with an elongated shape having at the ends respective aligned closed hole seats for receiving the respective ends of parts of a supporting tubular structure that can be connected together and through which a perpendicular hole is drilled for receiving a rotation hub. These latter couplings are of extremely simple construction, they may be assembled easily and quickly for connecting together tubular structures and the support of a rotation hub, such as that of the rotating drum of a hose-winding cart. The use of the illustrated couplings does, however, requires the handle element, in addition to the bends necessary for forming the U, to also have a pair of bends such as to allow it to be inserted in the coupling in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground, and then to extend transversally to it and either upward or downward with an optimum inclination so as to allow an easy pushing or grasping action of the hose-winding device and its stable positioning on the ground, respectively. The object of the present invention is that of accomplishing a supporting side for a hose-winding drum for a device for winding flexible hose that executes the same function carried out by said couplings and is shaped so as to receive on one side a tubular base element and on the other side a tubular handle element, both in the shape of a U but with no other additional bends. Another object is that of accomplishing a side with the minimum use of material and thus extremely light, but all the same suitable for resisting the various deflection and torsion forces. According to the invention such objects are attained through a supporting side for a hose-winding drum for a device for winding flexible hose, which includes the features of claim 1. Lightness and scarcity of the material used are thus combined, with the consequent drop in costs, an excellent resistance to deflection and torsion stresses. At the same time a suitable shape of the side allows the use of U-shaped tubular metal elements, thus with no additional bends, both for the base and for the handle, with the co nsequent reduction in production times and of related costs, as well as with an obvious saving in storage space. The features of the present invention shall be made more clear by the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof illustrated as a non-limiting example in the enclosed drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a hose-winding cart provided with sides according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a lateral view of a side according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a plan view from above of the side of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 shows a detail of the side of Fig. 2 corresponding to a coupling for the hub of a hose-winding drum; Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a plan view from above of the detail of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 shows a detail of the side of Fig. 2 corresponding to a snap-on coupling of one end of a handle element, or alternatively of a base element; Fig. 10 shows the same detail of Fig. 9 in an axial cross-section; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 shows an end of a handle element, or of a base element; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the handle element of Fig. 14 inserted in the coupling of Fig. 10; Fig. 16 is an axial cross-sectional view of a detail corresponding to the connection of the side of Fig. 2 to the wheel axis of the cart of Fig. 1; Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVII-XVII of Fig. 16. With reference to Fig. 1, a hose-winding cart indicated as a whole with the numerical reference 100 comprises a structure formed by a tubular metal base element 101 and by a tubular metal handle element 102 bent in a U-shape and inserted at the free ends in seats 7, 8, respectively, obtained inside supporting sides 1 for a rotating hose-winding drum 103. The hose-winding drum 103, made entirely of plastic, is formed by a pair of flanges 104, with lightening holes 105, and by connecting cross-pieces 107 suitable for connecting the flanges 104 themselves together. From one of the two flanges 104 there protrudes laterally and toward the inside a male fitting element 108 to which there may be connected a female fitting element suitably fastened to an irrigation line that may be wound onto the drum 103 over the set of cross-pieces 107. The male element 108 communicates with a similar male fitting element (not shown) protruding from the opposite part of the same flange 104 and suitable for the connection, by means of a female fitting element, to a flexible hose connected to a water outlet. From the flanges 104 there protrude laterally hubs 106 suitable for being supported, with the interposition of bushes 24 (Fig.s 6-8), in suitable couplings 9 obtained in the sides 1. The hubs 106 are formed by an externally-grooved internal portion 113 and by an externally-threaded external portion 109, well visible in Fig. 8. On the externally-threaded portion 109 of one of them there is screwed on a handle 110 (Fig. 1) used for rotating the drum 103. Opposite the base element 101, the sides 1 have snap-on couplings 29, constituted by laterally protruding semicylindrical sleeves, each provided with a centering pin 31 (Fig.s 16 and 17) for a shaft 112 supporting a pair of wheels 113. One of the two sides 1 supporting the hose-winding drum 103 is represented in detail in Fig.s 2-5. Said side is made in a substantially trapeze-like shape with a plastic beehive structure and has a pair of base and top sides 12, 11, respectively, and lateral sides 13, 14. In a direction parallel to the sides 11, 12 there extends a plurality of parallel horizontal ribs 2 and in a direction perpendicular to them vertical successions of holes 3 alternated with vertical successions of stiffening elements formed by wall sections 4,5, respectively, alternated outward and inward. The holes 3 arranged in the proximity of the base side 12 and of the top side 11 are respectively alternated with wall sections 16, 17 arranged in an intermediate position with respect to the surface of the side 1. The wall sections 4, 5, 16, 17 are in turn provided with stiffening ribs 6. At the intersection between the top wall 11 and the side 14, and also at the intersection between the base wall 12 and the side 13, there are the seats 7, 8, that are identical to one another. The choice of positioning the seat 7 at an angle with respect to the top wall 11 and to the side 14 allows use to be made of single-bend tubes (U-shaped) for the handle elements 102 instead of tubes provided with transversal bends as well. This fact simplifies substantially the manufacture of said elements during the construction stage. At the intersection between the side 13 and the top wall 11 there is the coupling 9; at the intersection between the base wall 12 and the side 14 there is also the coupling 29. From the top wall 11 there further protrudes a tang 15, shaped like a male fitting element, that may be used for connecting to the female fitting in the section of the irrigation line that is normally connected to the water supply. Fig.s 6, 7, 8 show the enlarged detail of the snap-on coupling 9. It consists of a semicircular seat 18 suitable for receiving, with the interposition of a bush 24, the hub 106 of the drum 103 and of an appendix 19 provided with a protrusion 20. To the circular half-seat 18 there is also connected an elastic holding_element 21 provided with a notch 23 complementary to the protrusion 20 and of an appendix 22 aligned with the top wall 11. The appendix 19 may be displaced from a_posiiton where the coupling 9 is open, illustrated in Fig. 1, to a position where the same is closed round the bush 24 with the protrusion 20 inserted in the notch 23 (Fig. 6) exploiting the flexibility of the appendix 22. In turn the appendix 22 is suitable for operating the disengagement of the protrusion 20 from the notch 23 to cause the coupling 9 to reopen. Fig.s 9-15 show the enlarged detail of the seat 7 for the introduction of an end of the handle element 102. The seat 8 for the introduction of an end of the base element 101 is altogether equivalent. The seat 7 consists of cylindrical surface 28 and of a tang 25 that ends with a tooth 26 suitable for being inserted in a corresponding cavity 27 obtained in the end of the handle element 102 for their reciprocal locking in position. It should be noted that the tooth 26 has a perpendicalar front 65 suitable for preventing the handle element 102 from accidentally slipping off. Fig.s 16, 17 show in detail the enlarged particular of the coupling 111. It consists of a semicircular seat 29 at whose centre there protrudes a centering pin 30 suitable for being inserted in a corresponding hole 31 of the shaft 112 supporting the pair of wheels 113. At each end of the supporting shaft 112 there is a locking cap 130. During the assemblying stage, the free ends of the handle element 102 and of the base element 101 are inserted in the seat 7, 8, respectively, of the two sides 1 and locked in them thanks to the engagement of the teeth 26 in the cavities 27 obtained in them. The use of additional screws and nuts is thus avoided and the engagement is made stable and secure. The shaft 112 supporting the pair of wheels 113 is snap-inserted in the connections 111 and centred in them by means of the engagement of the centering pins 30 in the holes 31. At the ends of the shaft 112 the wheels 113 are inserted, locked with the caps 130. This also does away with additional screws and nuts. The drum 103 is in turn positioned with the hubs 106 in the couplings 9, locked with respect to them, again without screws and nuts, through the closing of the appendices 19 and the insertion of the corresponding protrusions 20 in the notches 23. The handle 110 is screwed on one of the two hubs 106 so as to operate the rotation of the drum 103 for winding or unwinding the flexible hose. Although a side has been described for a cart with a hose-winding drum, the same side may be used for a wall-mounted hose winder. The handle element, as is obvious, shall be replaced by a suspension element. In addition, there shall be no wheels or the corresponding connecting shaft.

Claims: A supporting side for a hose-winding drum for a device for winding flexible hose, having substantially parallel upper and lower peripheral edges (11,12) and upwardly extending front and rear peripheral edges (13,14) defining a flat body with two major surfaces, said body comprising a plurality of ribs (2) parallel to each other, said body further comprising a first passing-through hole (9) for rotatably accomodating a hub (106) of a hose-winding drum (103) and a second passing-through hole (29) provided with first coupling means (30) for accomodating and connecting a wheel supporting shaft (112) and a first upwardly open seat (7) arranged in said upper edge (11) and provided with second coupling means (25,26) for the introduction and connection of a respective substantially vertical end of a U-shaped handle tubular element (102), characterized in that said body further comprises a second frontally open seat (8) arranged at the lower end of said front edge (13) and provided with third coupling means (25,26) for the introduction and connection of a respective substantially horizontal end of a U-shaped base tubular element (101) and a succession of holes (3) between each pair of said parallel ribs (2) and alternated with successions of stiffening elements formed by sections of wall alternated inward and outward from the hose-winding device, said holes (3) having edges connected to each other and to said ribs (2) by stiffening ribs (6), said parallel ribs (2) being also parallel to said upper and lower peripheral edges and said holes (3) being elongated parallel to said ribs. A side according to claim 1, characterized in that said first upwardly open seat (7) and said first passing-through hole (9) are located at two opposite ends of said upper peripheral edge (11), and said second passing-through hole (29) and said second frontally open seat (8) are located at corresponding opposite ends of said lower peripheral edge (12). A side according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first upwardly open seat (7) and second frontally open seat (8) comprise a semi cylindrical surface (28), and both of their respective second and third coupling means (25,26) comprise a tang (25) which bridges the semi cylindrical surface (28) and ends with a tooth (26) suitable for being inserted in a corresponding cavity (27) in the respective end of the tubular element (102,101) introduced therein. A side according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said first passing-through hole (9) comprises a circular half-seat (18) suitable for receiving said hub (106) and an appendix (19) which is pivoted on one end of said half-seat (18) and can be releasably snap-connected to another end of said half-seat (18). A side according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said second passing-through hole (29) comprises a semicircular seat (29) for receiving said shaft (112), and said first coupling means (30) comprise a centering pit (30), protruding from said semicircular seat (29), suitable for being inserted in a corresponding hole (31) of the shaft (112).

Inventors: ROMAN GIANFRANCO, ROMAN, GIANFRANCO
Applicants: CLABER SPA, CLABER S.P.A.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65H75
IPC codes: B65H75