Abstract:
The present invention includes a hose reel having side rollers. A hose reel includes: a housing defined by at least one or more base members; a spool rotatably disposed within the housing, wherein the spool is adapted to connect to a flexible hose; a winding mechanism to rotate the spool and to coil the flexible hose around the spool; and one or more rollers associated with said housing, wherein the one or more rollers are able to rotate during coiling of the flexible hose around the spool.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to the field of hose reels for winding of flexible hoses. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A hose may be used for various purposes, for example, for watering a garden or a yard, for putting out a fire, as a game for children in summer time, to fill a remote container of water, to transfer water or other liquid(s) from a first point (e.g., a faucet) to a second point (e.g., a container), or the like. 
         [0003]    Some hoses may be flexible, and may be made, for example, from rubber or other elastic material(s). Some hoses may be long, for example, and may reach several meters in length. 
         [0004]    A hose reel may be used in order to facilitate storage of a long, flexible hose, when the hose is not in use. For example, a crank or handle may be rotated by a user in order to cause the flexible hose to rotate around a central spool of the hose reel, thereby winding or coiling the flexible hose around the spool and forming a spiral or coiled entity which may be stored more efficiently than a stretched or unfolded flexible hose. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, a hose reel may include a central spool rotatably disposed within a housing or support frame. The housing may include multiple rods, which may be assembled to form an “X” shape, a “Y” shape, or other suitable structure. The side rods may include rotatable rollers, which may allow a flexible hose to more efficiently reel-in into the hose reel or stretch-out from the hose reel. When not in use, the hose reel may optionally be folded to become a thin, reduced-volume, structure. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, a hose reel may include: a housing defined by at least one or more base members; a spool rotatably disposed within the housing, wherein the spool is adapted to connect to a flexible hose; a winding mechanism to rotate the spool and to coil the flexible hose around the spool; and one or more rollers associated with said housing, wherein the one or more rollers are able to rotate during coiling of the flexible hose around the spool. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, the housing may include a plurality of rods, and the one or more rollers may be partially internal, respectively, to the plurality of rods. 
         [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, each one of the rollers may be partially disposed within a channel embedded within each one of the rods, respectively; and each one of the rollers may be partially protruding out of said each one of the rods, respectively, in a direction towards a center of the hose reel. 
         [0009]    In accordance with the present invention, the housing may include a plurality of rods, and the one or more rollers may be external, respectively, to the plurality of rods. 
         [0010]    In accordance with the present invention, at least one of the plurality of rollers may be covered with external protrusions forming one or more tread patterns. 
         [0011]    In accordance with the present invention, each one of the rollers may be able to facilitate coiling of the flexible hose around the spool, by pushing the flexible hose away from the housing. 
         [0012]    In accordance with the present invention, the one or more rollers may be formed as one or more, respective, rods which may be integral to said housing. 
         [0013]    In accordance with the present invention, a shape of the housing may include a shape selected from the group consisting of: an “X” shape, a cross shape, and a “Y” shape. 
         [0014]    In accordance with the present invention, the housing may include: a first set of four rods on a first side of the housing, interconnected through a first pair of rotatable disks; and a second set of four rods on a first side of the housing, interconnected through a second pair of rotatable disks. 
         [0015]    In accordance with the present invention, the hose reel may be foldable in response to a snapping motion which rotates the two pairs of rotatable disks. 
         [0016]    In accordance with the present invention, in an open position, each one of the rods of the first set of rods may be generally perpendicular to each of two adjacent rods of said first set of rods; and in said open position, each one of the rods of the second set of rods may be generally perpendicular to each of two adjacent rods of said second set of rods. 
         [0017]    In accordance with the present invention, in a folded position, each one of the rods of the first set of rods may be generally parallel to two or more other rods of the first set of four rods; and in said closed position, each one of the rods of the second set of rods may be generally parallel to two or more other rods of the second set of four rods. 
         [0018]    In accordance with the present invention, the spool may include a connector to detachably attach the flexible hose to the spool. 
         [0019]    In accordance with the present invention, a lower part of the hose reel may include two or more wheels to allow manual wheeling of the hose reel. 
         [0020]    In accordance with the present invention, the winding mechanism may include a fixed non-folding handle. 
         [0021]    In accordance with the present invention, the winding mechanism may include a multiple-position handle able to pivot from a raised position to a lowered position. 
         [0022]    In accordance with the present invention, the winding mechanism may include an electric motor. 
         [0023]    In accordance with the present invention, at least one of the spool, the housing, and the one or more rollers may be formed of plastic. 
         [0024]    In accordance with the present invention, at least one of the spool, the housing, and the one or more rollers may be formed of one or more injected plastic materials. 
         [0025]    In accordance with the present invention, substantially all components of the hose reel may be formed of plastic. 
         [0026]    In accordance with the present invention, substantially all components of the hose reel may be formed of one or more injected plastic materials. 
         [0027]    In accordance with the present invention, the hose reel may further include the hose which may be detachably attached to the spool. 
         [0028]    In accordance with the present invention, the one or more rollers, upon rotation, are to reduce friction of the flexible hose with the housing. 
         [0029]    In accordance with the present invention, the housing may include a plurality of rods, and at least one of the rods of the housing is also a roller. 
         [0030]    The present invention may provide other and/or additional benefits and/or advantages. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. The figures are listed below. 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a hose reel in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of the hose reel in a folded position, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of another implementation of a hose reel, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of the hose reel of  FIG. 3  in a folded position, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of still another implementation of a hose reel, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of an implementation of the hose reel of  FIG. 1  in a folded position, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of two stacked hose reels, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of an exploded view of a hose reel, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of a hose reel in an open position, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  is a schematic illustration of the hose reel of  FIG. 9  in a folded position, in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0042]      FIGS. 11-14  are schematic illustrations of four views of a hose reel with a flexible hose coiled therein, in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments. However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, units and/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the discussion. 
         [0044]    Applicants have realized that a flexible hose being coiled around a central drum or spool of a hose reel may rub against side rods or side walls or housing of the hose reel, and the friction may slow down the coiling process or may make the coiling process more effort consuming. 
         [0045]    Accordingly, the present invention may provide a hose reel in which a support frame, side rods and/or side walls may have rollers or other elements which may reduce the friction with the flexible hose being coiled, thereby facilitating the coiling of the flexible hose. Additionally or alternatively, a hose reel in accordance with the present invention may be capable of reeling, coiling, holding, retaining and/or storing a longer flexible hose, compared, for example, to a conventional hose reel (e.g., having full barrels). 
         [0046]    Reference is made to  FIG. 1 , which is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a hose reel  100  in accordance with the present invention. Hose reel  100  may include, for example, a housing  101 , a spool  102 , and a handle  103 . 
         [0047]    The housing  101  may be or may include, for example, a frame or assembly or structure capable of supporting or holding the other components of the hose reel  100 . Optionally, the housing  101  may be capable of being positioned on a substantially flat surface (e.g., a floor, a table, the ground), for example, without rocking or shaking. The housing  101  may include four base members  111 - 114 , which may be generally horizontal or generally parallel to the ground or the floor when the hose reel  100  is in use. The base members  111 - 114  may be interconnected using multiple diagonal rods, for example, four rods  131 - 134  located on a first side of the hose reel  100 , and four rods  135 - 138  located on a second, opposite, side of the hose reel  100 . 
         [0048]    The spool  102  may be, for example, a rotatable cylinder or core or drum which may be connected to the handle  103  and which may rotate upon rotation of the handle  103 . The handle  103  may be a single-position non-folding handle; or may be a multi-position collapsible handle or crank which may be placed by the user in a lowered (or folded) position or in a raised (or extended) position, by utilizing a folding mechanism  106 . For example, the folding mechanism  106  may allow a first portion  104  of the handle  103  to pivot and fold into a second portion  105  of the handle  103 . 
         [0049]    Rotation of the handle  103  may cause corresponding rotation of the spool  102  about a common axis of rotation, which may be, for example, generally parallel to a surface on which the hose reel  100  may be placed. Such rotation, in turn, may cause winding of a flexible hose  199  which may be connected to the spool  102 . The flexible hose  199  may be detachably connected to the spool  102 , by using a hose connector or other connection mechanism(s), for example, a clip, a screw, a pair of screws, a pressure-based connector, a male/female connector, a forcible insertion of the flexible hose  199  into a corresponding hole or cavity within the spool  102 , or other suitable connection mechanism(s). 
         [0050]    The flexible hose  199  may be, for example, a water hose, a garden hose, a rubber hose, a hose able to be folded or coiled or spiraled, a hose for transferring water or other liquid(s) from a first point to a second point, a hose for putting off a fire, an air hose, or the like. The flexible hose  199  may be or may include other type(s) of components, for example, elastic hose, elastic member, elastic element, elongated element, elongated member, or the like. The flexible hose  199  may include, for example, a hollow tube or pipe or tubing elements, capable of carrying or transferring or conveying fluid(s) and/or liquid(s) and/or gas(es) from a first location to another location. The flexible hose  199  may be generally cylindrical in shape, or may have a generally circular cross-section or generally oval cross-section. The flexible hose  199  may be formed of, for example, rubber, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE), Linear LDPE (LLDPE), PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC), PolyTetraFluoroEthylene (PTFE) or Teflon, and/or a combination of two or more such materials or other material(s) (e.g., in order to achieve a particular pressure rating or other characteristics). The flexible hose  199  may be non-metallic or may be substantially metal-free, or alternatively, may include metal components (e.g., metal connectors or endings, stainless steel portions, or the like). The flexible hose  199  may optionally include, or may be, an elongated and/or flexible and/or elastic item or article which may not be capable of transferring fluids; for example, a wire, a cable, an electric cable or wire, a chain, a rope, a string, a cord, a power cord, and/or other element which may be elongated and which may be subject to bending, coiling, wrapping, reeling, winding, folding, spiraling, or otherwise morphing or modifying its dimension(s). Such elements or components or items, even if not being a hose, may be regarded as equivalents and may be included in the terms “hose” or “flexible hose” as used herein; and the present invention may be used in conjunction with such types of elements, components or items. 
         [0051]    Optionally, the spool  102  may end with the handle  103  on a first side, and may end with a plunger or terminator on a second, opposite, side; or may end on the second side with an adapter  195  allowing a user to connect to the spool a second (e.g., shorter) flexible hose, thereby allowing transfer of water or other liquid(s) from the second flexible hose, through the spool  102 , to the flexible hose  199 . 
         [0052]    In accordance with the present invention, each one of rods  131 - 138  may include, in its internal side (e.g., the side facing towards the spool  102 ), a roller.  FIG. 1  shows four such rollers  141 - 144  in the internal sides of rods  131 - 134 , respectively; similar rollers may be included in the internal sides of rods  135 - 138 , which are hidden from view in  FIG. 1 . Each one of rollers  141 - 144  may be able to roll or spin around an axis, or may include beads or circular components capable of spinning (e.g., similar to beads on a rod within an abacus), or may include coils or springs or other suitable elements. 
         [0053]    As the flexible hose  199  is being coiled around the spool  102 , the flexible hose  199  may touch one or more of the rollers  141 - 144 , and may cause such roller(s)  141 - 144  to spin or rotate, thereby reciprocating with the flexible hose  199  and pushing the flexible hose  199  towards the center of the hose reel  100  and away from the respective rod  131 - 138 . This may facilitate the coiling of the flexible hose  199  around the spool  102 . 
         [0054]    Optionally, the rods  131 - 138  may be structured to be foldable relative to each other. For example, in an expanded or open position, rod  131  may be substantially perpendicular to rod  134 ; rod  132  may be substantially perpendicular to rod  133 ; rod  137  may be substantially perpendicular to rod  136 ; and rod  135  may be substantially perpendicular to rod  138 . In a folded position, rod  131  may be substantially parallel to rod  134 ; rod  132  may be substantially parallel to rod  133 ; rod  137  may be substantially parallel to rod  136 ; and rod  135  may be substantially parallel to rod  138 . 
         [0055]    Rollers  141 - 144  may be completely external to their respective rods  131 - 134 ; or alternatively, rollers  141 - 144  may be partially external and partially internal to their respective rods  131 - 134 . For example, each one of rods  131 - 134  may include a channel or crater or cavity, in which the rollers  141 - 144  may lie while slightly or partially protruding from the rod  141 - 144  towards the center of the hose reel  100 . 
         [0056]    Reference is made to  FIG. 2 , which is a schematic illustration of the hose reel  100  in a folded position, in accordance with the present invention. As depicted, the hose reel  100  may assume a substantially flat structure when fully folded, thereby occupying only a fraction of the volume which a fully-expanded hose reel  100  may occupy. The foldable hose reel  100  may thus be efficiently shipped or stored (e.g., at a store, or at a user location) by folding the hose reel  100  prior to such shipping or storage. It is noted that the folding or snapping process, which allows the hose reel  100  to fold or snap or become smaller or more compact in size, is further described herein with reference to  FIG. 8  and the components shown therein. 
         [0057]    Reference is made to  FIG. 3 , which is a schematic illustration of another implementation of a hose reel  100 A, in accordance with the present invention. Hose reel  100 A may be generally similar to hose reel  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, in the implementation shown in  FIG. 3 , instead of having semi-internal rollers (similar to rollers  141 - 144  of  FIG. 1 ), the hose reel  100 A of  FIG. 3  may include external rollers, for example, rollers  141 - 148  which may be external to their corresponding rods, or which may constitute such rods as an integral part of the housing  101  (e.g., a roller may be also a rod, and vice versa). 
         [0058]    Reference is made to  FIG. 4 , which is a schematic illustration of the hose reel  100 A of  FIG. 3  in a folded position, in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the hose reel  100  may assume a substantially flat structure when fully folded. 
         [0059]    Reference is made to  FIG. 5 , which is a schematic illustration of still another implementation of a hose reel  100 B, in accordance with the present invention. Hose reel  100 B may be generally similar to hose reel  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, in the implementation shown in  FIG. 5 , each one of the external rollers  141 - 148  may include external protrusions  140  or bumps (e.g., multiple tread designs which may be uniform or different in shape, size, pattern, or other characteristics) which may slightly protrude out from the external rollers  141 - 148 , and may assist in pushing the flexible hose  199  away from the rods  131 - 138  and/or in reducing the friction between the flexible hose  199  and the rods  131 - 138  and/or otherwise facilitating the coiling of the flexible hose  199  around the spool  102 . 
         [0060]    Reference is made to  FIG. 6 , which is a schematic illustration of an implementation of hose reel  100  in a folded position, in accordance with the present invention; as well as to  FIG. 7 , which is a schematic illustration of two stacked hose reels which are labeled here as  99  and  100 . As shown, hose reels  99  and  100  may be stackable, in order to allow stable and/or efficient storage or shipping of multiple hose reel units. 
         [0061]    Reference is made to  FIG. 8 , which is a schematic illustration of an exploded view of hose reel  100 B of  FIG. 5 , in accordance with the present invention. All eight external rollers  141 - 148  are shown, corresponding to eight rods  131 - 138 . It is noted that optionally, each rod  131 - 138  and its respective roller  141 - 148  may be implemented as a pair of components, or as a single unified component (e.g., the roller may be also the rod, and the rod may be also the roller). The spool  102  is shown as exploded into two portions, denoted  102 A and  102 B; and a hose connector  115  may be disposed within the spool  102  or may be connected to, or embedded in, the spool  102 . Further shown is the adapter  195  for connecting a secondary flexible hose, at the end of the spool  102  opposite the handle  103 . 
         [0062]    Optionally, rods  131  and  132  may be interconnected through a disk  181 ; and rods  133  and  134  may be interconnected through a disk  182 . Disk  181  may fit within or around disk  182 . Furthermore, disk  181  may be able to rotate relative to disk  182 , or vice versa. Similarly, rods  135  and  136  may be interconnected through a disk  183 ; and rods  137  and  138  may be interconnected through a disk  184 . Disk  183  may fit within or around disk  184 . Furthermore, disk  183  may be able to rotate relative to disk  184 , or vice versa. This structure may allow folding of the hose reel  100 , by applying a snapping motion in order to snap the rods  131 - 138  from an open position to a closed position. 
         [0063]    Reference is made to  FIG. 9 , which is a schematic illustration of the hose reel  100  in an open position; and to  FIG. 10 , which is a schematic illustration of the hose reel  100  in a folded position, in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0064]    Reference is made to  FIGS. 11-14 , which are schematic illustrations of four views of hose reel  100 B, in accordance with the present invention. Shown is the flexible hose  199  coiled around the spool  102 ; as well as a secondary hose  197  which may be connected to the adapter  195 . 
         [0065]    In accordance with the present invention, each side of the hose reel  100  (i.e., the right side, and the left side) may have four rods (as shown), or three rods (e.g., arrange in a “Y” shape), or other suitable number of rods. Optionally, instead of rods or in addition to rods, side walls or side panels or side plates may be used, and may include internal and/or external rollers. 
         [0066]    In accordance with the present invention, hose reel  100  may be, for example, generally “X”-shaped, generally “+” shaped (“plus”-shaped), generally cross-shaped, generally “Y”-shaped, or may have other suitable structure. 
         [0067]    The present invention may be implemented, for example, as a hose reel cart or as a hose reel having supporting wheels, thereby allowing a user to more easily push or move the hose reel by taking advantage of such wheels. Optionally, the hose reel of the present invention may be used in conjunction with a “hose hide-away” box or housing which may surround or wrap or encompass the hose reel, may hide the coiled flexible hose from plain sight and/or from environmental conditions (e.g., rain, snow, sunlight), or may otherwise provide a boxed housing to the hose reel. Other suitable implementations may be used. 
         [0068]    The present invention may be implemented, for example, as an electric hose reel or an automatic or semi-automatic hose reel which may utilize electric power, hydraulic power, spring-based power, manual power, or other type of power or forces or a combination thereof. Such hose reels may benefit from having rollers embedded within, or mounted on, one or more side rods, side panel, side walls, or other suitable members of such hose reels. 
         [0069]    The hose reel  100  may be formed of plastic; or, one or more components may be formed of plastic. Optionally, one or more of the components of hose reel  100  may be formed of injection molding of one or more raw plastic material(s). The present invention may be exercised using other suitable materials, for example, wood, metal(s), or the like; and/or using plastic components which may be formed by injection molding or by other plastic manufacturing processes. For example, a hose reel may be formed or assembled such that substantially all the components of the hose reel, in accordance with the present invention, may be formed or plastic, or injected plastic material(s), or wood, or metal, or the like. Optionally, at least the spool and/or one or more of the rods and/or the rollers, may be formed or plastic, or injected plastic material(s), or wood, or metal, or the like. Other suitable material(s) or combinations of materials may be used. 
         [0070]    Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may be utilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more other embodiments, or vice versa. 
         [0071]    While certain features of some embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the claims are intended to cover all such modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents.