Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/087,963, filed on Mar. 23, 2005, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/556,049, filed Mar. 23, 2004. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to coil hoses. More particularly, the present invention is related to a coil hose permanently formed into a helix, and to the combination of such a hose with a carrying and/or storage unit for such a hose. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   One of the more recent innovations in gardening equipment is the “Coil Hose” wherein the hose is permanently formed into a helix like a spring having uniform convolutions that define a central volume such that the hose can be extended or retracted much like the stretching and releasing of a helical spring. Some distributors call such hoses “recoil hoses”. Such helical recoil or coil hoses are typically manufactured in lengths of 25 feet, 50 feet and 75 feet. Other lengths are, of course, possible. The internal diameter of such hoses ranges from about ⅜ inch to ⅝ inch, or larger. When retracted the many convolutions compact to 12 to 24 inches, depending upon the specified length. Each convolution is typically about 3 to 5 inches in diameter. These hoses are fabricated from plastic having a variety of colors: light or dark green, terracotta, yellow, etc. Such hoses are very useful when attached to a spigot at a house, garage, shed, or in the garden as they automatically retract into a very small “bundle” when not in use but can be stretched out to reach a watering position. Thus, they are very easy to use. Similar hoses are also used in various other applications, such as with compressed air tool systems and the like. 
   Despite the advantage of ease of use, these hoses exhibit problems in transport from one place to another or in their storage. These problems arise as the coil hoses act very much like a Slinky™ toy. If supported at ends, the center sags significantly. If supported near the center, the ends droop. Thus, the only way to move the coil hose from one location to another is to drag it across the ground. The same flexibility gives problems when trying to store the hose in the garage, shed, basement, etc. 
   Various efforts are reported in the literature to overcome the storage problem. One is a tray or “hammock” fastened to the wall of the storage area that supports the hose like a cradle. This is fine once the hose is in place; however, getting the flexible hose into the tray is not easy because of the extreme flexibility. Also, they are made to accommodate 25 foot hoses; if longer lengths are used, additional hammocks are requited. Another suggested solution is to hang a projecting arm from the wall and thread the coil hose onto this arm. To get the hose on this arm, a few coils (convolutions) at a time need to be threaded onto the arm: the weight of the remaining hose is always working against this operation. Still another device for the storage of a coil hose is a bellows-type sleeve, the length of which is adapted to hold the hose according to its length. The sleeve is adapted to be mounted on the wall of a structure where storage is to be effected. As with the other storage solutions, the flexibility of the coil hose hinders placing the hose within the sleeve. For all of these devices, the hose must be pre-drained before placement on or in the devices to prevent water draining during the positioning of the coil hose on the storage device. 
   Other devices have been developed to overcome these and similar problems associated with the collection, storage and transport of coil hoses. Typical of the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. Patents: 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               Patent No. 
               Inventor(s) 
               Issue Date 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               3,920,050 
               G. D. Nichol et al. 
               Nov. 18, 1975 
             
             
                 
               4,934,625 
               C. D. Richardson 
               Jun. 19, 1990 
             
             
                 
               4,997,997 
               E. K. Moore 
               Mar. 5, 1991 
             
             
                 
               5,429,321 
               H. K. Skyba 
               Jul. 4, 1995 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Of these patents, the &#39;050 patent issued to Nichol et al., discloses a protective shroud for coil hoses for preventing the hose from becoming entangled. The &#39;050 is further provided to prevent the hose from becoming entangled with other objects such as a user&#39;s clothing. The shroud consists of a pair of concentric coil springs wound in opposing directions. End fittings are provided for connecting the ends of the coils, and through which the ends of the coil hose are received. The hose is received within the &#39;050 device and is not intended to be removed. 
   The &#39;625 patent issued to Richardson discloses a holder and carrier for elongated flexible members such as rope, garden hoses or electrical cables. The &#39;625 holder includes a planar base member having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top of the base member defines an opening which functions as a handle. Additional openings are provided to attach the base member to an existing wall structure. A pair of arms is attached to the bottom portion of the base member and function to retain a rope, hose or cable. The &#39;625 device is removable from the wall structure such that the user can carry the device using the handle, with the elongated member being carried by the device. 
   Moore, in the &#39;997 patent, discloses a coiled article retainer assembly comprising a generally planar rectangular body. The &#39;997 device defines two arms, spaced from and generally parallel to each other, and defining an upper handle and a lower coiled article retaining slot. A keeper assembly, comprising a two way flap-type valve, is disposed at the open end of the retainer slot for permitting the paying in or out of individual coils by normal force exerted by hand, yet has sufficient resistance to restrain individual coils of a coiled article from falling out of a fully loaded slot due the weight of the coils. 
   Skyba, in the &#39;321 patent, discloses a device for receiving, storing and dispensing a flexible elongated article with a generally uniform diameter such as a rope, electrical cord or hose. The &#39;321 device includes a body portion containing a slot for sequentially receiving single loops of the elongated article. The width of the slot at its narrowest portion is sufficiently less than the diameter of the elongated article to restrain movement thereof along the lineal axis of the elongated article while permitting insertion and removal of the article in the slot in a direction perpendicular to that axis. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a coil hose and caddy combination provided by a base member configured to rest against any support surface, such as a floor, lawn, etc., with an upstanding staff extending through the central cavity or volume formed within the convolutions of the coil hose. With the coil hose thus received about the staff, the combined unit is movable to any location where a hose is desired. Furthermore, when the hose is not needed, the combined unit is stored at any location. The base member can be of any configuration, and the shaft member can be removable from the base member if desired. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention showing the coil hose in a stored position upon the hose caddy; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a base member and staff of the hose caddy of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a base member and staff of the hose caddy of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of a further embodiment of a base member and staff of the hose caddy of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a base member and staff member of the hose caddy of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of a modification of the embodiment of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a cut-a-way drawing of a base member of the present invention that includes means for releaseably connecting a staff of the present invention to the corresponding base member to form the hose caddy; and 
       FIGS. 10A-C  is a series of side elevation views of several uniform convolutions of the coil hose of the present invention in a progression of extensions. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention includes a hose caddy for retrieving and storing a coil hose defining a series of convolutions. The hose caddy is illustrated generally at  10  in the figures. The coil hose is illustrated generally at  12  in the figures. The hose caddy  10  is provided for gathering the hose  12  thereon in a manner such that the hose  12  and caddy  10  are easily transported and stored. Further, the hose caddy  10  is configured such that the hose  12  is readily and easily dispensed at any selected location. 
   Referring now to the figures, in which like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding features, there is depicted in  FIGS. 10A-C  several convolutions  20  of the coil hose  12  of the present invention in a progression of extensions. Illustrated in  FIG. 10A , the several convolutions  20  of the coil hose  12  are illustrated when not in use and lying on a support surface  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10B , when the coil hose  12  is extended, the convolutions  20  separate from each other, but maintain their general shape and diameter. In a substantially extended position of the coil hose  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10C , the convolutions  20  separate further. As illustrated, in all degrees of extension, the coil hose  12  retains its helical configuration. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates the basic construction of the hose caddy  10  of the present invention. There is a hose caddy  10  and a coil hose  12  held by that caddy. The caddy  10  has a base member  14  for support upon a support surface  16  such as a floor, a work surface, or the like. A staff member  18  is carried by and extends upwardly from the base member  14 . The staff  18  is adapted to be loosely received within convolutions  20  of the hose  12 . Although the staff member  18  is shown as being positioned substantially in the center of and at a right angle with respect to the top surface  22  of the base member  14 , the only requirement is to have this staff member  18  positioned so that it and the stored hose  12  have a center of gravity within the area of the base member  14 . The staff member  18  can have any cross-sectional configuration. In the illustrated embodiments, the staff  18  defines a cylindrical cross-section. The cross-sectional geometry of the staff member  18  is dimensioned to be loosely received within the central volume  24  defined within the convolutions  20  of the coil hose  12 . The coil hose  12  is positioned upon the staff member  18  either manually or, preferably, by passing the staff member  18  through the central volume  24  while the coil hose  12  is on the supporting surface  16 . More specifically, the staff member  18  has a transverse dimension w that is substantially smaller than the inner dimension d; of the convolutions  20 . This relationship provides a loose fit and allows a user to hold the caddy and easily insert the staff member into the central volume  24  of the coil hose  12  lying on the support surface (i.e., the ground) while requiring little or no contact with the coil hose. By reducing or eliminating the amount of required contact with the coil hose, potential annoyances such as becoming soaked by water draining from the coil hose are minimized. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a compact combination is created for ease in moving the unit to any desired location for use of the hose  12  or for storage thereof. In this and other embodiments of the present invention, the components of the hose caddy  10  are fabricated from any suitable material, such as wood, rigid plastic, metal or combinations of materials. 
   Shown in  FIGS. 2-7  are some alternate configurations of the base member  14  of the present invention (absent the coil hose for simplicity). In  FIG. 2 , the base member  14  is substantially rectilinear in shape. A bottom surface  26  is that which contacts the support  16 , while the top surface  22  is, in the illustrated embodiment, substantially parallel to the bottom surface  26 . The four edges  28  complete the surface of the base member  14 . As shown, the staff member  18  projects from the top surface  22 . The staff member  18  is mounted on the base member  14  using any conventional fashion. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower end of the staff member  18  is received with a recess  30  in the base member  14  and secured therein using any fixed or releasable manner. However, it will be understood that the staff member  18  and base member  14  may be integrally formed. 
   Further illustrated in  FIG. 2  is a clasp  32  attached to the top surface  22  of the base member  14 . This clasp  32 , or other means (e.g., a recess) provides for the releasable holding of a hose nozzle (not shown). Also illustrated is a knob or other grasping element  34  at the distal end of the staff  18 . This element  34  facilitates grasp of the hose caddy  10  during transport thereof. While shown as being cylindrical, this element  34  can have any desired configuration and construction. 
     FIG. 3  is a similar construction except that the base member  14 ′ defines a circular configuration. To this end, it will be seen by those skilled in the art that the base member  14  of the present invention may define any selected geometric configuration. In all other respects, this embodiment is like that of  FIG. 2 . 
   In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , this embodiment has a base member  14 ″ with a central body member  36  with a stabilizer extending therefrom. In these  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the stabilizer is a plurality of radially extending legs  38 . The legs  38  of the illustrated embodiment define a circular cross-section. However, it will be understood that the legs  38  may define any cross-sectional configuration. The bottom surfaces  40  of each leg  38  form the bottom surface  26 ′ of the base member  14 ″. The central body member  36  of the illustrated embodiment is square. However, as with other elements of the present invention, the central body member  36  may define any selected geometric configuration. Although four legs  38  are illustrated, fewer or more than four may be incorporated to achieve stability on the support surface  16 . The legs  38  are attached to the central body member  36  by inserting one end of each into a recess  42  defined by the central body member  36 . It will be understood that other attachment means can be used, such as by gluing, welding, and the like. A first end of the staff member  18  is attached to the central body member  36  in a similar manner. Also, the legs  38  and/or the staff member  18  may be integrally with the central body member  38 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate the base member  14 ′″ constructed from conventional rigid plastic pipe components. The advantage of constructing the hose caddy  10  of these plastic components is the low maintenance of such materials. Also, the components can be purchased readily and are light in weight. At the central position is a plastic four-way connector  44 . The radial legs  38 ′, formed from plastic pipe, have one end fitted within a socket of this connector  44 , and each are capped with a cap member  46  whereby the wall thickness of the cap members  46  matches the wall thickness of the connector  44 . A further socket member  48  is provided on the connector  44  providing a socket generally oriented perpendicularly to the legs  38 ′. This socket member  48  provides a socket to receive an end of the staff member  18 , also formed from plastic pipe. The end of the staff member can also be received in an additional socket formed in the side surface of the connector  44 . Typically the plastic pipe and the accompanying fittings, have a ½ inch internal diameter. However, it will be understood that any size pipe and fittings are useful for constructing this embodiment of the present invention. Various rigid plastic components can be utilized in the present invention, e.g. PVC, CVPC, etc. Typically, the legs  38 ′ are four to five inches in length, and the staff member  18  is typically eighteen to thirty inches in length. Of course, other sizes and lengths are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . In this variation, one cap member  46  is replaced with a plastic elbow  50  oriented to be directed upwardly relative to the legs  38 ′. Although illustrated as a 90 degree elbow  50 , other elbow configurations are within the scope and spirit of this embodiment of the invention. Inserted into the second socket of the elbow  50  is a short piece of plastic pipe to form a carrying handle  52 . This handle  52 , which is exterior to convolutions  20  of the hose  12  when on the staff member  18 , can be provided with a separate cap member  54 . It will be recognized that a similar handle can be combined with the other embodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment is illustrated dividing the length of the staff member  18  into at least two sections  18 A and  18 B. The sections are joined in conventional fashion such as with a coupling  56 . This feature, which facilitates the shipping of the components, is applicable to all of the embodiments of the present invention. Of course, other divisions in the length of the staff member  18  are within the scope of the present invention. Further, if longer hoses are to be carried on the hose caddy  10 , additional lengths can be added to the staff member  18 . 
   In the embodiments of  FIGS. 6-8  the components are joined with a friction fit such that components, including the staff member  18 , are removable. It will also be understood that the various components may be permanently secured one to another with conventional means (e.g., glue) as desired. As in  FIG. 2 , the embodiments of  FIGS. 3-8  may be provided with a clip or clasp  32  attached to one of the legs  38  or  38 ′ as illustrated in  FIG. 8  for the releasable retention of a hose nozzle (not shown). 
   As mentioned above, the invention also embraces models where the staff member  18  can either be permanently attached to the base member  14  or can be releasably attached thereto. Permanent attachment can be accomplished by welding, gluing, etc. 
   In  FIG. 9  one embodiment of a detachable shaft member  18 ′ is illustrated. As depicted in  FIG. 9 , the base member  14  is provided with a cylindrical recess (assuming a staff member  18 ′ of circular cross-section)  58  within, and oriented perpendicular to, the top surface  22 . The wall of the recess  58  is provided with a detent member  60  of conventional construction. The external surface of the staff member  18 ′ is provided with an encircling recess  62 , this recess receiving the detent  60  when the staff member  18 ′ is fitted within the recess  58  so as to retain the staff member  18 ′ in an installed position. However, sufficient axial pull on the staff  18 ′ causes disengagement between the detent member  60  and the recess  62  whereby the staff  18 ′ is removed from the recess  58  if desired. The terminal end of staff member  18 ′ is chamfered as at  64  whereby the detent member  60  is retracted as the staff member  18 ′ is inserted into the recess  58  until mated with the encircling recess  62 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , in a normal utilization of the present invention, the combination of hose  12  and hose caddy  10  is created by passing the staff member  18  into and substantially through the volume  24  defined by the hose convolutions  20 . This is easily accomplished while the hose  12  is supported on the ground or other support surface  16  as the cross-sectional dimension of the shaft is less than the diameter of the convolutions  20 . When in this upright position, for a hose  12  used as a watering hose, residual water within the hose  12  drains from the hose  12  before the hose-caddy combination is moved into a storage facility. There is no lifting of the hose  12  so that the hose  12  and the caddy  10  are put together in one unit. The hose caddy  10  can then be righted so that the base member  14  is supported upon the ground or other support surface  16 . The combination thus is ready for transport to any location where the hose  12  is to be used, or to a storage location. When the hose  12  is to be used, the hose  12  and hose caddy  10  combination is transported to the use location. With the hose caddy  10  in a substantially horizontal orientation, the hose  12  is easily drawn off the staff member  18  for use. 
   Thus the combination of the coil hose and hose caddy provides for the easy transport and/of storage without having to deal with the flexibility of the hose. The combination can be moved to any place where a hose is desired, or to a storage place without the installation of a storage device. 
   While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.

Technology Category: 7