Patent Document

[0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/002,997, filed Nov. 14, 2007 entitled Metal Hose Reel Water System. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to hose reels and, more specifically, to an inlet assembly that may be easily accessed. 
         [0004]    2. Background Information 
         [0005]    A hose reel typically includes a portable frame assembly that supports a basket assembly. The basket assembly has a central barrel and two end hubs. The basket assembly is structured to have a hose wound thereabout and is rotatably coupled to the frame assembly. The basket assembly also includes one or more conduits structured to couple an external hose to the basket assembly hose. One conduit, the basket assembly conduit, has an inlet end disposed along the axis of rotation of the basket assembly and includes a distal end that extends through the barrel body so that the basket hose may be coupled thereto. The basket assembly conduit rotates with the basket. A second conduit, the inlet conduit, provides the connection with the external supply hose. The inlet conduit has a first end and a second end. The second end is structured to be disposed within the basket assembly conduit inlet end and is disposed along the axis of rotation of the basket assembly. The inlet conduit first end extends from the basket assembly, and may extend from the frame assembly, and is structured to be coupled to the external hose. Typically, the inlet conduit first end extends at generally a right angle to the inlet conduit second end. The inlet conduit second end is disposed within the basket conduit thereby creating a passage for water extending from the external hose, through the inlet conduit, through the basket assembly conduit and into the basket assembly hose. To resist water leakage, the inlet conduit second end typically includes one or more resilient O-rings structured to engage the inner surface of the basket assembly conduit. 
         [0006]    When the basket assembly hose is being wound about the barrel, the basket assembly conduit rotates with the basket about the axis of rotation and the inlet conduit remains substantially stationary. In this configuration, the O-rings are subject to wear and tear as the O-rings are the elements at the interface between the inlet conduit and the basket assembly conduit. As such, a hose reel is typically structured to allow a user to separate the inlet conduit and the basket assembly conduit by allowing the inlet conduit to be removed. Once removed, the user can access the inlet conduit O-rings for replacement. The hose reel, however, must also include a device for maintaining the inlet conduit and the basket assembly conduit in place during normal usage. 
         [0007]    Various coupling devices are known in the prior art. Initially, the coupling devices were not structured to allow the user to separate the inlet conduit from the basket assembly conduit. Such coupling devices were typically snap clips structured to couple the inlet conduit to the hose reel frame assembly and substantially restrict the motion of the inlet conduit. As manufacturers learned that users desired to replace damaged O-rings, removable clips came into use. These clips, however, have been disposed in difficult to access locations, e.g., between a basket assembly hub and the frame assembly. Such coupling devices typically required the use of two hands and/or the use of tools to disengage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An inlet conduit assembly for a hose reel assembly as recited in the claims below includes a clip assembly that is structured to be accessible from the outer side of the frame assembly. Further, the clip assembly is structured to be operated without the use of tools. In this configuration, a user may quickly and easily actuate the clip assembly to release or engage the inlet conduit. Thus, a user may quickly and easily remove the inlet conduit so that the O-rings may be replaced or for other reasons. Further, when the user wished to install the inlet conduit, the installation is also easily accomplished. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the clip assembly includes a pivoting clip body having a clip structure that is, preferably, two pincer-like fingers. The body is coupled to the hose reel frame assembly and structured to pivot. The clip structure fingers extend in the same general plane that the clip body pivots in. The inlet conduit, which is preferably a circular tube, includes a retaining clip groove extending at least partially circumferentially thereabout. When the inlet conduit is fully inserted into the basket assembly conduit, the retaining clip groove is disposed in the plane of the clip body rotation. Thus, the clip body may be pivoted between a first position, wherein the clip structure does not engage the inlet conduit body retaining clip groove, and a second position, wherein the clip structure engages the inlet conduit body retaining clip groove. When the clip structure engages the inlet conduit body retaining clip groove, the inlet conduit is, essentially, prevented from being moved axially. That is, when the clip structure engages the inlet conduit body retaining clip groove the inlet conduit and the basket assembly conduit form a passage from the lateral side of the hose reel to a basket surface outlet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a hose reel assembly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of an inlet conduit assembly coupled to a hose reel. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view of an inlet conduit assembly. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front cross-sectional view of a clip assembly. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a hose reel assembly  10  includes a frame assembly  12  and a basket assembly  14 . The frame assembly  12  is structured to rotatably support the basket assembly  14 . The frame assembly  12  is, preferably, portable and includes a pair of wheels  16 . Preferably, the frame assembly  12  includes a plurality of members  18  forming a frame  20 ,  22  on each lateral side of the basket assembly  14 . The frames  20 ,  22  are held in a spaced relation by additional frame members  18 . The area between the frames  20 ,  22  defines the frame assembly inner side  24 . The other side of the frames  20 ,  22  defines the frame assembly outer side  26 , or lateral sides. 
         [0016]    The basket assembly  14  includes a barrel  30 , two hubs  32 ,  34 , and a basket assembly conduit  36 . The basket assembly  14  is structured to support a basket assembly hose  38 . The barrel  30  is, preferably, a cylindrical body  40  having an outer surface  42 . The barrel  30 , preferably, has a diameter several times larger than the diameter of the basket assembly hose  38 . The basket assembly hubs  32 ,  34  are each disposed on, and are coupled to, a lateral side of the barrel  30 . The basket assembly hubs  32 ,  34  are further rotatably coupled to the frame assembly  12 . The hubs  32 ,  34  define the usable storage space for the basket assembly hose  38  about the barrel  30 . The basket assembly  14  is rotatably coupled to the frame assembly  12  and has an axis of rotation extending generally along the longitudinal axis of the barrel body  40 . The axis of rotation of the basket assembly  14  is typically horizontal and typically extends laterally relative to the frame assembly  12 . 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the barrel  30  is also substantially hollow. The basket assembly conduit  36  includes a preferably cylindrical, hollow, L-shaped body  44 , an inlet end  46  and an outlet end  48 . The basket assembly conduit body  44  also includes an axially extending portion  49  and a radially extending portion  51 . The basket assembly conduit body  44  is disposed substantially within the basket assembly conduit body  44  with the basket assembly conduit body axially extending portion  49  being disposed substantially along the axis of rotation of the basket assembly  14 . The basket assembly conduit body radially extending portion  51  extends through the barrel outer surface  42 . The basket assembly conduit outlet end  48  is disposed at the outer end of the basket assembly conduit body radially extending portion  51  and is structured to be coupled to the basket assembly hose  38 . That is, the basket assembly conduit outlet end  48  preferably includes threads or another such hose coupling device. The basket assembly conduit inlet end  46  is disposed at the distal end of the basket assembly conduit body axially extending portion  49  and is located at, or adjacent to, a lateral side of the barrel  30 . 
         [0018]    The basket assembly  14  further includes an inlet conduit assembly  50  that includes a generally cylindrical, elongated body  52  and a clip assembly  54 . The inlet conduit assembly body  52  has a first end  56 , a second end  58 , and a retaining clip groove  60 . The retaining clip groove  60  extends at least partially circumferentially about the inlet conduit body  52 . The inlet conduit body first end  56  preferably includes about a ninety degree bend. The inlet conduit body first end  56  is structured to be coupled to an external hose (not shown). That is, the inlet conduit body first end  56  preferably includes threads or another such hose coupling device. The inlet conduit body second end  58  is sized to fit within the basket assembly conduit inlet end  46 . The inlet conduit body second end  58  further includes at least one, and preferably two, O-ring grooves  62 ,  64 . An O-ring  66 ,  68  is disposed in each O-ring groove  62 ,  64 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the clip assembly  54  includes an elongated body  70  and a shroud assembly  80 . The clip assembly body  70  has a first end  72 , a pivot point  74 , a clip structure  76 , and a second end  78 . Preferably, the pivot point  74  is disposed at, or adjacent to, the clip assembly body first end  72 . The clip assembly body  70  is pivotally coupled to the hose reel frame assembly  12  and, more specifically, the clip assembly body  70  is pivotally coupled to the shroud assembly  80 . The clip structure  76 , as shown, includes a pair of elongated, spaced, flexible fingers  77 A,  77 B that act as a retaining member  75 . To resist axial movement of the inlet conduit body  52  the retaining member  75  is structured to be disposed in the inlet conduit assembly retaining clip groove  60 . Thus the retaining member  75  could be a single finger  77 A or a similar structure. When a pair of elongated, spaced, flexible fingers  77 A,  77 B, or an equivalent retaining member  75 , are used, the fingers  77 A,  77 B are spaced apart from each other a distance about the same as the diameter of the inlet conduit body  52  at the inlet conduit body retaining clip groove  60 . Thus, the clip structure  76  is structured to engage, that is, fit snugly about, the inlet conduit body retaining clip groove  60 . Further, the clip assembly body  70  is structured to move within a plane. The fingers  77 A,  77 B extend generally within the clip assembly body  70  plane of motion. Further, the clip assembly body  70  preferably includes a thumb tab  79  or a similar actuator. The thumb tab  79  is preferably disposed at, or adjacent to, the clip assembly body second end  78 , or otherwise generally on the opposite side of the clip assembly body  70  from the clip assembly pivot point  74 . The thumb tab  79  is a ridge or extension that extends out of the clip assembly body  70  plane of motion. 
         [0020]    The shroud assembly  80  may be formed integrally with, that is, molded as part of, the frame assembly  12  or as a separate assembly as shown. Regardless of whether the shroud assembly  80  is integral or separate, the shroud assembly  80  includes a generally planar body  82  with a front side  84 , a back side  86 , an opening  88  and a generally tubular extension  90 . The shroud assembly body  82  is structured to be coupled to the frame assembly  12  adjacent to the basket assembly conduit inlet end  46  and, more preferably, with the axis of the tubular extension  90  aligned with the basket assembly body  40  axis of rotation. The tubular extension  90  extends from the shroud body back side  86  and aligned and in fluid communication with the shroud body opening  88 . The tubular extension  90  includes at least one, and in the disclosed embodiment, two clip structure passages  92 . The tubular extension clip structure passages  92  are structured to allow the clip structure  76 , that is the fingers  77 A,  77 B, to pass through the tubular extension  90 . The shroud assembly body  82  also includes a stop member  94  which is disposed generally opposite the location where the clip assembly body  70  is pivotally coupled to the shroud assembly body  82 , as described below. The shroud assembly body  82  may include a notch  96 , or similar opening, structured to allow the thumb tab  79  to extend outwardly therefrom as described below. 
         [0021]    The inlet conduit assembly  50  is assembled as follows. The clip assembly body  70  is pivotally coupled to the shroud assembly body  82 . Preferably, the clip assembly body first end  72  is pivotally coupled to the shroud assembly body back side  86 . The clip assembly body  70  travels in a plane aligned with the tubular extension clip structure passages  92 . In this configuration, the clip assembly body  70  may pivot relative to the shroud assembly body  82  and move the fingers  77 A,  77 B through the tubular extension clip structure passages  92 . When the fingers  77 A,  77 B are disposed through the tubular extension clip structure passages  92 , the clip assembly body second end  78  contacts the shroud assembly body stop member  94 . Further, the thumb tab  79  extends, typically through the shroud assembly body notch  96 , outwardly beyond the shroud assembly body front side  84 . 
         [0022]    The shroud assembly  80  is then coupled to the frame assembly  12 . Preferably, the shroud assembly  80  is adjacent to the basket assembly conduit inlet end  46  and, more preferably, with the axis of the tubular extension  90  aligned with the basket assembly body  40  axis of rotation. The tubular extension  90  may be sized to fit about the basket assembly conduit body axially extending portion  49  and may be disposed about the basket assembly conduit inlet end  46 . The shroud assembly  80  may be coupled to the frame assembly by fasteners  100 , a clip structure (not shown), or any other common means. 
         [0023]    In this configuration, the inlet conduit body  52  may be removably installed as follows. The clip assembly body  70  is pivoted to a first position, wherein the clip structure  76  does not engage the inlet conduit body retaining clip groove  60  and does not extend through the tubular extension clip structure passages  92 . The inlet conduit body second end  58  is passed through the shroud assembly body opening  88  and the tubular extension  90 . The inlet conduit second end  58  then engages, that is, moves into the basket assembly conduit inlet end  46  and is pivotally coupled thereto. At this point, the inlet conduit second end  58  is partially disposed in the basket assembly conduit body axially extending portion  49  and the O-rings  66 ,  68  sealingly engage the inlet conduit second end  58 . Thus, a fluid passage exists from outside the frame assembly  12 , through the inlet conduit body  52 , through the basket assembly conduit  36 , to the outer side of the barrel  30 . 
         [0024]    However, to maintain the inlet conduit body  52  in this position, the inlet conduit body  52  must be prevented from moving axially. The inlet conduit body  52  is prevented from moving axially by the clip assembly  54 . That is, when the inlet conduit body  52  is fully installed, the inlet conduit body retaining clip groove  60  is disposed, generally, within the clip assembly body  70  plane of motion. Thus, the clip assembly body  70  may be moved to a second position wherein the clip structure  76  engages the inlet conduit body retaining clip groove  60 . That is, the clip assembly body  70  is pivoted about the pivot point  74  until the fingers  77 A,  77 B pass through the tubular extension clip structure passages  92  and engage the inlet conduit body retaining clip groove  60 . It is noted that the stop member  94  contacts the clip assembly body second end  78  when the clip assembly body  70  is in the second position. In this configuration, the inlet conduit body  52  is, essentially, prevented from moving axially. 
         [0025]    Removal of the inlet conduit body  52  is accomplished by returning the clip assembly body  70  to the first position and pulling the inlet conduit body  52  axially until the inlet conduit body  52  has moved out of the shroud assembly  80 . It is noted that the movement of the clip assembly body  70  is accomplished easily by a user who engages the thumb tab  79  by hand. That is, there are no tools required to install or remove the inlet conduit body  52  and to move the clip structure  76  into, or from, engagement with the inlet conduit body  52 . It is further noted that because the shroud assembly  80  is coupled to the outer side of the frame assembly  12 , the thumb tab  79  is easily accessed. That is, a user does not have to remove components of the frame assembly  12  or the basket assembly  14  in order to access the clip structure  76 . 
         [0026]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. For example, as set forth above, the inlet conduit second end  58  is disposed within the basket assembly conduit inlet end  46  and the O-rings  66 ,  68  are disposed on the outer side of the inlet conduit second end  58 . It is understood that such an arrangement could be configured with the O-rings  66 ,  68  disposed about the basket assembly conduit inlet end  46  and the basket assembly conduit inlet end  46  could be structured to fit inside the inlet conduit second end  58 . Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.

Technology Category: y