Patent Publication Number: US-2007102555-A1

Title: Reel base assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit under Title 35, U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/734,209, entitled REEL BASE ASSEMBLY, filed on Nov. 7, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to reels for storing hoses, electrical and data cords, ropes, cables, or other items. In particular, the present invention relates to a reel including an improved base assembly.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Reels are used to store a variety of flexible elongate items such as hoses for delivering fluids, including water, air, hydraulic fluid, or grease, for example. The hoses may be round or flat in shape, and may also be used in vacuum applications for removing a fluid or a solid substance from a given location. Reels are also used to store other flexible elongate items, such as electrical and data cords, ropes, cables, and the like.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , many known reels include a base assembly  10  to which a spool assembly (not shown) is rotatably mounted. Base assembly  10  typically includes a base plate  12  to which a pair of separate uprights  14  are connected to support the spool assembly. The base plate  10  is mounted to a support surface, such as a floor or a wall, for example, by suitable fasteners (not shown) inserted through mounting holes in base plate  12 . Uprights  14  are connected to base plate  10  either by welding, such as along one or more weld beads  16 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , or by separate hardware including fasteners  18 , such as bolts and nuts, as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
      Although base assemblies of the type shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  have proven to be satisfactorily durable and effective in use, a potential disadvantage of same is that vibration and impact forces originating from the support surface and/or the spool travel through base plate  12  and uprights  14 , and tend to produce stress concentrations at the connections of uprights  14  to base plate  12  and, in particular, at weld beads  16  and fasteners  18 . For example, “side-to-side” motion from vibration or impact in directions perpendicular to uprights  14 , either by itself or in combination with the weight of the spool assembly, and/or other forces from loading imposed on the spool assembly tend to produce the foregoing stress concentrations, which could potentially form cracks in weld beads  16  or could potentially loosen the nuts and bolts of fasteners  18 .  
      What is needed is a base assembly for a reel which is an improvement over the foregoing.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a base assembly for a reel, such as a hose reel, including two cooperating base components joined to one another and supporting a spool assembly. The base components may be identical to one another, and each include a base portion and an upright portion disposed 90° with respect to one another and formed monolithically from a single piece of material such as steel. The base components further include rigidifying structures such as gussets, edge bends, and reinforcement ribs or channels to rigidify the base components against vibration and impact stresses. Each of the base portions includes a connection plate and an offset connection flange, wherein the connection flanges overlap and are secured to respective connection plates when the upright components are mated and secured to one another with one upright component disposed at an orientation rotated 180° with respect to the other. The base assembly may be attached to a surface, such as a floor, wall, or other surface via suitable fasteners, and the connections between the upright components are substantially isolated from vibration and impact stresses imposed upon on the base assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the connection between the base components may be varied to provide modularity to the base assembly. In this embodiment, the base assembly may be configured to support spool assemblies of various dimensions.  
      In one form thereof, the present invention provides a base assembly for a reel, including a pair of base components, each including a base portion and an upright portion monolithically formed from a single piece of material, the base portions secured to one another in at least one location disposed between the upright portions; and each base component further including at least one fastener-receiving mount structure by which the base component is securable to a surface.  
      In another form thereof, the present invention provides a base assembly for a reel, including a pair of base components, each including a base portion and an upright portion; first and second sets of holes in each of the base portions, the first sets of holes alignable with one another to define a first width of the base assembly and the second sets of holes alignable with one another to define a second width of the base assembly; and each base component further including at least one fastener-receiving mount structure by which the base component is securable to a surface.  
      In a further form thereof, the present invention provides a base assembly for a reel, including a pair of base components, each including a base portion and an upright portion; means for selectively connecting the base portions to one another in either of first or second positions to define first and second widths, respectively, of the base assembly; and means for mounting the base components to a surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following descriptions of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of a known reel base assembly showing an upright welded to the base plate at a number of weld beads;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of another known reel base assembly showing an upright secured to the base plate with fasteners;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one of the base components of the reel base assembly of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing two base components connected to one another to form the reel base assembly;  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the reel base assembly of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the reel base assembly and the spool assembly;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the reel base assembly, showing the spool assembly rotatably supported by the reel base assembly;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one of the base components of the reel base assembly according to another embodiment;  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing two base components according to the embodiment of  FIG. 8  connected to one another to form the reel base assembly;  
       FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the reel base assembly of  FIG. 9 ;  
       FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the reel base assembly of  FIG. 9 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the reel base assembly of  FIG. 9  showing the base components in an alternate configuration;  
       FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective view of the reel base assembly of  FIG. 12 ; and  
       FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the reel base assembly of  FIG. 12 . 
    
    
      Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention any manner.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , one of the two base components  22  of base assembly  20  ( FIG. 4 ) of a reel in accordance with the present invention is shown. As described below and shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , two identical base components  22  are connected to one another to form base assembly  20 , which supports spool assembly  24  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) to store and to facilitate the use of a hose, cord, rope, cable, or other flexible elongate item. Although base components  22  are described herein as identical, base components  22  need not be identical, wherein one or both of the base components  22  may include one or more structural features which are different from the other.  
      Each base component  22  may be formed monolithically from a single piece of metal, such as steel or aluminum, by stamping, punching, and/or bending operations, and generally includes base portion  26  and upright portion  28  oriented approximately 90° with respect to one another. Base portion  26  and upright portion  28  are connected at a bend joint  30 , which may include one or more gussets  32  integrally formed therewithin to rigidify the bend joint  30 . Upright portion  28  generally extends vertically from base portion  26  and includes one or more rigidifying structural features such as bends  34  along the edges thereof, and a plurality of reinforcement channels or ribs  36  stamped in upright portion  28  to rigidify upright portion  28  and prevent bending and/or twisting of same with respect to base portion  26 . Additionally, upright portion  28  includes saddle  38  for rotatably supporting spool assembly  24  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) in the manner described below.  
      Base portion  26  is generally rectangular in shape, and includes a pair of mount structures for receiving fasteners to mount base portion  26  to a suitable support surface, such as a floor, wall, or vehicle, for example. The mount structures may include at least one closed hole  40  disposed on one side of upright portion  28  and at least one open hole or slot  42  disposed on the other side of upright portion  28 . Base portion  26  additionally includes connection plate  44  disposed in the same plane as the remainder of base portion  26 , and a raised connection flange  46  stamped from base portion  26  and disposed slightly upwardly thereof in an offset orientation with respect to connection plate  44 . Connection plate  44  and connection flange  46  may each include one or more holes  48  therein.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , to form base assembly  20 , two base components  22  are oriented with one base component  22  disposed at a 180° rotational position with respect to the other base component  22 , and base components  22  are thereafter mated and secured to one another. In this manner, base assembly  20  may advantageously be formed from two identical base components  22 , thereby reducing the total number of parts needed to form base assembly  20 , and the connection between base components  22  provides accurate and reproducible spacing between upright potions  28  thereof for receipt of spool assembly  24 . When base components  22  are oriented with respect to one another as described above, connection flanges  46  overlap respective connection plates  44  of the base components  22  and may be secured to one another via suitable hardware, such as fasteners  49  ( FIG. 4 ), for example bolts, nuts, or rivets, passing through holes  48 . Alternatively, base components  22  may be secured to one another via welding, or via connection systems that form fastener-less, rivet-type connections by punching and forming together the material of connection plates  44  and connection flanges  46 . In an alternate embodiment, base portions  26  of base components  22  need not overlap with one another, for example, respective edges of base portions of a pair of base components may abut one another and be connected by welding.  
      Base assembly  20  may be secured to any surface, such as a floor, a wall, a suitable surface on a vehicle, or any other surface, by a plurality of fasteners  50  ( FIG. 4 ) inserted through holes  40  and slots  42  of base components  22 . Advantageously, slots  42  allow mounting of base assembly  22  to a non-horizontal surface, such as a wall (not shown), by a single installer. For example, the installer may partially insert a pair of fasteners  50  in the wall, followed by positioning base assembly  22  such that fasteners  50  are slidably received into respective slots  42 , which allows base assembly  22  to be temporarily hung from the wall while additional fasteners  50  are inserted through holes  40 . Thereafter, each of the fasteners  50  may be tightened to firmly and rigidly mount base assembly  20  to the wall. Alternatively, base components  22  may include only holes  40  or only slots  42  or any desired combination or arrangement of the foregoing.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , spool assembly  24  may be rotatably mounted to base assembly  22  by positioning the ends of axle  54  of spool assembly  24  within saddles  38  of upright portions  28  and securing the same to upright portions  28  using suitable clamps or fasteners. Spool assembly  24  further includes sidewall members  56  connected via central member  58 . Axle  54  is positioned through central member  58  and is secured to opposing hubs  60 . Hubs  60  are connected to one another by guide bar  62 , which supports and directs a hose or other flexible, elongate object positioned on spool assembly  24  during extension and retraction of the same. Spool assembly  24  and base assembly  22  may include additional features such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/446,592, entitled ADJUSTABLE REEL ASSEMBLY, filed on May 28, 2003 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/963,330, entitled MODULAR HOSE REEL, filed on Oct. 12, 2004, each assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.  
      Advantageously, in use, the rigid, integral and monolithic connection between base portions  26  and upright portions  28  of upright components  22 , as well as gussets  32 , edge bends  34 , and reinforcement ribs  36  resist vibrational and impact stresses along bend joint  30  between base and upright portions  26 ,  28 , respectively, and also resist twisting or bending of upright portions  28  with respect to base portions  26 . The connection of base assembly  20  to a support surface via fasteners  50  also effectively isolates the connections between base components  22  along connection plates  44  and connection flanges  46  such that impact and vibrational stresses are not imposed on the connections between base components  22 . The foregoing features provide a base assembly  20  having a rigid structure with enhanced resistance to mechanical stresses and loads imposed thereon by vibration, impact, or other forces, such as “side-to-side” forces perpendicular to upright portions  28 , for example, thereby reducing maintenance and/or repair of base assembly  20  and extending useful service life of the reel assembly.  
       FIGS. 8-12  depict base components  22 ′ forming base assemblies  20 ′ according to another exemplary embodiment. Base components  22 ′ and base assembly  20 ′ include several features which are identical to base components  22  and base assembly  20  of the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1-7 , discussed in detail above, and identical reference numerals have been used to indicate identical or substantially identical features therebetween. Referring to  FIG. 8 , base component  22 ′ includes base portion  26  and upright portion  28 . Base portion  26  includes connection plate  44 ′ and connection flange  46 ′. Connection plate  44 ′ and connection flange  46 ′ include a first row of holes  48 ′ positioned along line A, similar to holes  48  of connection plate  44  and connection flange  46  of base component  22 . Additionally, connection plate  44 ′ and connection flange  46 ′ include a second set or plurality of holes  64  positioned along line B, which is laterally spaced from line A by distance D 1 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , two base components  22 ′ are arranged to form base assembly  20 ′ in a similar manner as base components  22  of  FIG. 4 . Specifically, base components  22 ′ are oriented at a 180° angle with respect to one another and holes  48 ′ of opposing connection plates  44 ′ and connection flanges  46 ′ are aligned. With base components  22 ′ in this position, fasteners  49  may be passed through holes  48 ′ to secure base components  22 ′ together to form base assembly  20 ′. In this configuration, base assembly  20 ′ has a first width W 1 , shown in  FIG. 9 . A spool assembly, similar to spool assembly  24  of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , and which is sized to be received within first width W 1 , may be rotatably mounted in saddles  38  of upright portions  28 .  
      To accommodate a narrower hose reel assembly, base components  22 ′ may be configured to vary the width of base assembly  20 ′. Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 12-14 , base components  22 ′ are oriented at a  1800  angle with respect to one another, as described above, and holes  64  of opposing connection plates  44 ′ and connection flanges  46 ′ are aligned. With base components  22 ′ in this position, fasteners  49  may be passed through holes  64  to secure base components  22 ′ together, forming base assembly  20 ′ having second width W 2 , which is less than first width W 1  by distance D 1  ( FIG. 8 ). A spool assembly, similar to spool assembly  24  of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , and which is sized to be received within second width W 2 , may be rotatably mounted in saddles  38  of upright portions  28 .  
      In another exemplary embodiment, connection plate  44 ′ and connection flange  46 ′ may include an additional set or plurality of holes  64 . In one exemplary embodiment, the additional set or plurality of holes  64  may be laterally spaced from line B toward upright support  28 . In this embodiment, base components  22 ′ may be configured, in a manner similar to that described above, to accommodate a spool assembly having a width less than second width W 2 . Alternatively, in another exemplary embodiment, the additional set or plurality of holes  64  may be laterally spaced from line A away from upright support  28 . In this embodiment, base components  22 ′ may be configured, in a manner similar to that described above, to accommodate a spool assembly having a width greater than first width W 1 . In another exemplary embodiment, connection plate  44 ′ and connection flange  46 ′ may include more than one additional set or plurality of aligned holes  64 .  
      Advantageously, the inclusion of holes  64  in connection plate  44 ′ and connection flange  46 ′ provides modularity to base assemblies  20 ′. This modularity allows for base assemblies  20 ′ to accommodate spool assemblies having differing dimensions. For example, as described above, base assemblies  20 ′ may be configured to accommodate a spool assembly having a first width or, alternative, a spool assembly having a second, different width. Moreover, further sets or pluralities of holes  64  may be added to again increase the modularity of base assemblies  20 ′, allow base assemblies  20 ′ to accommodate a multitude of spool assemblies having different dimensions.  
      While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.