Title:
REMOTE CONTROL HIDE-AWAY HOSE
United States Patent 3612094
Abstract:
A garden hose mounted inside a building on a reel and adapted to be withdrawn for outside use. Spring means automatically rewinds the hose. A brake and a water valve are controlled on the outside of the building.
Application Number:
04/823874
Publication Date:
10/12/1971
Filing Date:
05/12/1969
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
B65H75/38; B65H75/44; B65H75/30; B65H75/34
Field of Search:
137/355.2,355.21,355.22,355.26
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Scott, Samuel
Claims:
What I claim as my invention is
1. Apparatus for storing a hose inside a building comprising a reel on which the hose can be wound, means for rotatably mounting said reel inside a building, an aperture in an outside wall of the building through which the hose can be withdrawn for outside use, spring means for rotating said reel in a direction to wind up the hose and being placed in tension by rotation of said reel in the opposite direction unwinding the hose, fluid supply means inside the building coupled to the hose, valve means for said fluid supply means, a control for said valve means accessible from the outside of the building, one-way brake means for said reel including an annular braking surface on said reel provided with an annular series of teeth, a braking member engageable with said teeth to prevent rotation of said reel in a direction to wind up the hose, resilient means normally applying a constant pressure on said braking member urging said braking member into engagement with said teeth, said teeth and braking member being so constructed as to cause said teeth to cam away and pass over said braking member upon rotation of said reel in a direction to unwind the hose, and control means accessible from outside the building for withdrawing said braking member from engagement with said teeth against the action of said resilient means and allowing said reel to be automatically rotated by said spring means in a direction to wind up the hose.
1. Apparatus for storing a hose inside a building comprising a reel on which the hose can be wound, means for rotatably mounting said reel inside a building, an aperture in an outside wall of the building through which the hose can be withdrawn for outside use, spring means for rotating said reel in a direction to wind up the hose and being placed in tension by rotation of said reel in the opposite direction unwinding the hose, fluid supply means inside the building coupled to the hose, valve means for said fluid supply means, a control for said valve means accessible from the outside of the building, one-way brake means for said reel including an annular braking surface on said reel provided with an annular series of teeth, a braking member engageable with said teeth to prevent rotation of said reel in a direction to wind up the hose, resilient means normally applying a constant pressure on said braking member urging said braking member into engagement with said teeth, said teeth and braking member being so constructed as to cause said teeth to cam away and pass over said braking member upon rotation of said reel in a direction to unwind the hose, and control means accessible from outside the building for withdrawing said braking member from engagement with said teeth against the action of said resilient means and allowing said reel to be automatically rotated by said spring means in a direction to wind up the hose.
Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a hose storage apparatus and refers more particularly to a remote control hideaway hose.
The ordinary garden hose is very difficult to store unless some sort of special apparatus is provided. Ordinary reels now employed require wheeling from a storage shelter to the garden and then the hose must be completely withdrawn from the reel and attached to an outside tap. When the hose is again ready to be stored, it must be uncoupled from the tap, rewound on the reel and then the entire package returned to the storage shelter. The rewinding is a tedious job and is made more difficult by twists and knots which develop as the hose is reeled in.
One object of this invention is to provide apparatus for storing an ordinary garden hose inside a building, an outside wall of the building being provided with an aperture through which the hose may be withdrawn for use.
Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus as described above in which the hose is stored on a reel rotatably mounted within the building.
Another object of the invention is to provide storage apparatus for a garden hose as described above in which an inside water conduit may be coupled to the hose within the building, the control means for a water valve being operable from the outside of the building.
Another object of the invention is to provide storage apparatus as described above in which the hose is attached to a manifold secured to the hub of the reel in communication with an interior chamber thereof, and the water conduit communicates with the manifold chamber through a fluid coupling connection.
Another object of the invention is to provide storage apparatus for a garden hose, including a reel for the hose mounted inside a building, an aperture in an outside building wall through which the hose may be withdrawn for use, spring means for rewinding the reel, and means for preventing the free end portion of the hose from being returned inwardly to the reel through the aperture.
Another object of the invention is to provide a reel for storing an ordinary garden hose having a novel brake device for preventing rewinding of the hose on the reel.
Another object of the invention is to provide a reel as described in the preceding paragraph which is mounted for rotation inside a building, and in which the brake means is controlled by means accessible from the outside of the building.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus for storing a hose inside a building, constructed in accordance with my invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 with parts in section.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the right, with parts in section.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 7.
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the reel on which the hose is stored or wound is generally indicated by the reference character 10. The reel is supported in the basement, for example, of a building by a hanger or support assembly 12 adjacent to an outside upright wall 14 of the building. The hanger has flanges 15 secured by suitable fasteners to an inside wall or support adjacent to the outside upright wall 14. A circular shroud 22 serves as a housing for the reel and is mounted on the hanger assembly 12 in fixed position by any suitable means such for example as the bolt and bracket assembly 24.
The hanger assembly 12 has an upright integral backplate 20, and to this backplate is mounted the axle 26 by a nut 28. A sleeve 27 surrounds the axle where it passes through the backplate.
The reel 10 has a central hub portion 30 and the axle 26 extends through the center axis of the hub portion. A bearing sleeve 32, which may be formed of nylon, on the axle supports the central hub portion 30 of the reel for free rotation. A nut and washer 33, 34 on the end of the axle locks the reel on the axle. There is a sleeve 36 on the axle between the reel and sleeve 27 to confine the reel axially between the nut and washer 34, 35 and the sleeve 36.
The reel 10 has a pair of side discs 38, 40 which are circular and extend radially outwardly beyond the annular flange 42 of the hub. These side discs are permanently secured to opposite sides of the hub and confine the hose when it is wrapped on the hub flange 42. The side discs 38, 40 of the reel may be secured to the hub portion 30 by any suitable means such as by welding or bolting.
Water is supplied to the hose on the reel by standard inside piping. A water pipe 44 in the building has a swivel assembly 46 at one end which is aligned with the hub of the reel and extends through a side opening in the shroud 22. Referring to FIG. 7, the side disc 38 of the reel has a central offset portion 48 spaced from the adjacent wall of the hub portion 30 to provide a manifold chamber 50. A permanent section of hose 52 on the hub portion 30 of the reel has one end opening into and communicating with the manifold chamber 50 through the wall of the hub portion, and the other end 54 extends through the flange 42 of the hub to which an ordinary garden hose may be connected by a standard hose coupling.
The swivel assembly 46 has a tubular portion 56 which extends into the manifold chamber 50 through the offset portion 48 of reel disc 38. A fitting 58 lines the opening in the offset portion through which the tubular portion 56 extends and has an inwardly directed radial flange 60. An annulus 62 secured as by threading to the fitting 58 surrounds tubular portion 56 and has an inturned portion at its outer end engaging an annular reduced part in the outer surface of the tubular portion 56. An O-ring seal 66 is disposed in an annular groove in the reduced part 56, and a second O-ring seal 70 is disposed between the inturned flange 60 of fitting 58 and the inner end of the annulus 62. A bearing sleeve 72 of nylon or the like is disposed between the reduced part of the tubular portion 56 of the swivel assembly 46 and the surrounding annulus 62. It is apparent that the reel together with the annulus 62 may rotate while the tubular portion 56 of the swivel assembly 46 remains stationary without any leakage of water at the joint.
A band spring 80 is wound in a coil between the backplate 20 and the adjacent side of the hub portion 30 of the reel, in the space surrounded by the integral annular flange 82 on reel disc 40. One end of the band spring 80 is secured to the backplate 20 by the nut and bolt assembly 84. The other end of the band spring is secured to the reel disc 40 and to the torque bar assembly 86. The torque bar assembly 86 has a hub portion 88 sleeved on the axle 26. The band spring is wound so that when the hose is withdrawn, the reel will turn in a direction tightening the band spring to store sufficient energy to reverse the reel and rewind the hose when the hose is released.
The outside basement wall 14 of the building has an exterior recess supporting a housing 90. A door 92 closes the housing and may be a hinged door spring urged to closed position. Within the housing 90 there is a rotatable valve control wheel 94 of the usual type employed to turn the water on and off. The valve 96 for controlling the flow of water in the pipe is a simple on-off valve and is designated 96. The valve 96 is preferably located inside the building. Hence no outside plumbing is required and yet the valve wheel 94 for controlling the valve is operable from outside the building. As shown, the valve wheel 94 is mounted on a stem 98 rotatable in a fitting 100 through the wall of housing 90, and fittings 102 and 104 together with bar 106 connect the stem 98 to the stem 108 of the valve. As shown, the fitting 102 is secured to stem 108 and has a flange 110 provided with a rectangular aperture of a size to slidably receive the rectangular bar 106. The other fitting 104 is secured to the stem 98 of the wheel and has a slot 112 in which the opposite end of the bar 106 is received and secured by a pin 114. The connection between the fitting 102 and the bar 106 provides a longitudinally slidable connection to take up variations in the distance between the plumbing and the wheel 94.
The free end of the garden hose wound on the reel extends from the reel through an opening 116 in the shroud. The housing 90 has a hole 118 through which the garden hose may be withdrawn from the reel. A rubber ring 120 preferably surrounds the free end portion of the hose which ring is slightly larger than the hole 118 to prevent the free end of the hose from being withdrawn to the inside of the building. The rubber ring should have a tight fit on the hose, sufficiently tight that it will not slip axially by accident and yet loose enough that it may be adjusted axially by hand.
A brake device 122 is provided to prevent the reel from winding in the hose. The brake device comprises a pivoted lever 124 mounted for pivotal movement on the backplate 20 by the pivot pin 126. The lever has an integral arm 128 adapted to engage the series of teeth 130 provided around the radially outer surface of the integral annular flange 82 on reel disc 40. The lever has a second integral arm 132 to which a push-pull cable 134 has one end connected. The push-pull cable is supported in a sleeve 136, and one end of the cable extends through a fitting 138 in the wall of housing 90 and has a pull-knob 140 on the free end for pulling the cable and releasing the brake lever. The fitting 138 surrounds the cable sleeve 136 and a compression coil spring 142 surrounds the cable bearing at one end against the fitting and at the other end against a washer 144 on the cable normally pushing the cable inward to engage the brake lever.
The brake lever has a third integral arm 146. A tension spring 148 connected to the arm 146 and also to the backplate 20 normally urges the brake lever 124 in a direction to engage the reel.
When the brake lever is in its normal braking position by the action of the spring 148, its arm 128 engages the teeth 130 on the reel to lock the reel against rotation in a reverse or "winding" direction. However, the end of arm 128 which engages the teeth is angled so as to permit it to pass over the teeth and allow the garden hose to be withdrawn. In other words, the brake lever does not, in its normal position, prevent rotation of the reel in the "unwind" direction. When it is desired to reel in or wind the hose back on the reel, the pull-knob 140 is pulled to turn the brake lever 122 counterclockwise in FIG. 1, releasing the reel and allowing it to wind up automatically by the stored energy of the band spring.
It will thus be seen that when it is desired to use the garden hose, it is simply withdrawn by grasping the free end portion of the hose and pulling it out to the extent desired. The teeth 130 on the reel will cam over the brake lever arm 128. The rewind spring 80 will be wound up by the unwinding of the hose. The brake lever arm 128 will prevent rewinding of the hose after it has been drawn out, and the control wheel 94 for the water valve 96 may be operated to turn on the water. Thereafter, the water may be turned off by the wheel 94, the brake released by pulling on the pull-knob 140, and the spring 80 will rewind the hose on the reel in a convenient out-of-the-way place in the building. Because of the ring 120, the free end of the hose will always be on the outside of the building ready for use.
This invention relates generally to a hose storage apparatus and refers more particularly to a remote control hideaway hose.
The ordinary garden hose is very difficult to store unless some sort of special apparatus is provided. Ordinary reels now employed require wheeling from a storage shelter to the garden and then the hose must be completely withdrawn from the reel and attached to an outside tap. When the hose is again ready to be stored, it must be uncoupled from the tap, rewound on the reel and then the entire package returned to the storage shelter. The rewinding is a tedious job and is made more difficult by twists and knots which develop as the hose is reeled in.
One object of this invention is to provide apparatus for storing an ordinary garden hose inside a building, an outside wall of the building being provided with an aperture through which the hose may be withdrawn for use.
Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus as described above in which the hose is stored on a reel rotatably mounted within the building.
Another object of the invention is to provide storage apparatus for a garden hose as described above in which an inside water conduit may be coupled to the hose within the building, the control means for a water valve being operable from the outside of the building.
Another object of the invention is to provide storage apparatus as described above in which the hose is attached to a manifold secured to the hub of the reel in communication with an interior chamber thereof, and the water conduit communicates with the manifold chamber through a fluid coupling connection.
Another object of the invention is to provide storage apparatus for a garden hose, including a reel for the hose mounted inside a building, an aperture in an outside building wall through which the hose may be withdrawn for use, spring means for rewinding the reel, and means for preventing the free end portion of the hose from being returned inwardly to the reel through the aperture.
Another object of the invention is to provide a reel for storing an ordinary garden hose having a novel brake device for preventing rewinding of the hose on the reel.
Another object of the invention is to provide a reel as described in the preceding paragraph which is mounted for rotation inside a building, and in which the brake means is controlled by means accessible from the outside of the building.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus for storing a hose inside a building, constructed in accordance with my invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 with parts in section.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the right, with parts in section.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 7.
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the reel on which the hose is stored or wound is generally indicated by the reference character 10. The reel is supported in the basement, for example, of a building by a hanger or support assembly 12 adjacent to an outside upright wall 14 of the building. The hanger has flanges 15 secured by suitable fasteners to an inside wall or support adjacent to the outside upright wall 14. A circular shroud 22 serves as a housing for the reel and is mounted on the hanger assembly 12 in fixed position by any suitable means such for example as the bolt and bracket assembly 24.
The hanger assembly 12 has an upright integral backplate 20, and to this backplate is mounted the axle 26 by a nut 28. A sleeve 27 surrounds the axle where it passes through the backplate.
The reel 10 has a central hub portion 30 and the axle 26 extends through the center axis of the hub portion. A bearing sleeve 32, which may be formed of nylon, on the axle supports the central hub portion 30 of the reel for free rotation. A nut and washer 33, 34 on the end of the axle locks the reel on the axle. There is a sleeve 36 on the axle between the reel and sleeve 27 to confine the reel axially between the nut and washer 34, 35 and the sleeve 36.
The reel 10 has a pair of side discs 38, 40 which are circular and extend radially outwardly beyond the annular flange 42 of the hub. These side discs are permanently secured to opposite sides of the hub and confine the hose when it is wrapped on the hub flange 42. The side discs 38, 40 of the reel may be secured to the hub portion 30 by any suitable means such as by welding or bolting.
Water is supplied to the hose on the reel by standard inside piping. A water pipe 44 in the building has a swivel assembly 46 at one end which is aligned with the hub of the reel and extends through a side opening in the shroud 22. Referring to FIG. 7, the side disc 38 of the reel has a central offset portion 48 spaced from the adjacent wall of the hub portion 30 to provide a manifold chamber 50. A permanent section of hose 52 on the hub portion 30 of the reel has one end opening into and communicating with the manifold chamber 50 through the wall of the hub portion, and the other end 54 extends through the flange 42 of the hub to which an ordinary garden hose may be connected by a standard hose coupling.
The swivel assembly 46 has a tubular portion 56 which extends into the manifold chamber 50 through the offset portion 48 of reel disc 38. A fitting 58 lines the opening in the offset portion through which the tubular portion 56 extends and has an inwardly directed radial flange 60. An annulus 62 secured as by threading to the fitting 58 surrounds tubular portion 56 and has an inturned portion at its outer end engaging an annular reduced part in the outer surface of the tubular portion 56. An O-ring seal 66 is disposed in an annular groove in the reduced part 56, and a second O-ring seal 70 is disposed between the inturned flange 60 of fitting 58 and the inner end of the annulus 62. A bearing sleeve 72 of nylon or the like is disposed between the reduced part of the tubular portion 56 of the swivel assembly 46 and the surrounding annulus 62. It is apparent that the reel together with the annulus 62 may rotate while the tubular portion 56 of the swivel assembly 46 remains stationary without any leakage of water at the joint.
A band spring 80 is wound in a coil between the backplate 20 and the adjacent side of the hub portion 30 of the reel, in the space surrounded by the integral annular flange 82 on reel disc 40. One end of the band spring 80 is secured to the backplate 20 by the nut and bolt assembly 84. The other end of the band spring is secured to the reel disc 40 and to the torque bar assembly 86. The torque bar assembly 86 has a hub portion 88 sleeved on the axle 26. The band spring is wound so that when the hose is withdrawn, the reel will turn in a direction tightening the band spring to store sufficient energy to reverse the reel and rewind the hose when the hose is released.
The outside basement wall 14 of the building has an exterior recess supporting a housing 90. A door 92 closes the housing and may be a hinged door spring urged to closed position. Within the housing 90 there is a rotatable valve control wheel 94 of the usual type employed to turn the water on and off. The valve 96 for controlling the flow of water in the pipe is a simple on-off valve and is designated 96. The valve 96 is preferably located inside the building. Hence no outside plumbing is required and yet the valve wheel 94 for controlling the valve is operable from outside the building. As shown, the valve wheel 94 is mounted on a stem 98 rotatable in a fitting 100 through the wall of housing 90, and fittings 102 and 104 together with bar 106 connect the stem 98 to the stem 108 of the valve. As shown, the fitting 102 is secured to stem 108 and has a flange 110 provided with a rectangular aperture of a size to slidably receive the rectangular bar 106. The other fitting 104 is secured to the stem 98 of the wheel and has a slot 112 in which the opposite end of the bar 106 is received and secured by a pin 114. The connection between the fitting 102 and the bar 106 provides a longitudinally slidable connection to take up variations in the distance between the plumbing and the wheel 94.
The free end of the garden hose wound on the reel extends from the reel through an opening 116 in the shroud. The housing 90 has a hole 118 through which the garden hose may be withdrawn from the reel. A rubber ring 120 preferably surrounds the free end portion of the hose which ring is slightly larger than the hole 118 to prevent the free end of the hose from being withdrawn to the inside of the building. The rubber ring should have a tight fit on the hose, sufficiently tight that it will not slip axially by accident and yet loose enough that it may be adjusted axially by hand.
A brake device 122 is provided to prevent the reel from winding in the hose. The brake device comprises a pivoted lever 124 mounted for pivotal movement on the backplate 20 by the pivot pin 126. The lever has an integral arm 128 adapted to engage the series of teeth 130 provided around the radially outer surface of the integral annular flange 82 on reel disc 40. The lever has a second integral arm 132 to which a push-pull cable 134 has one end connected. The push-pull cable is supported in a sleeve 136, and one end of the cable extends through a fitting 138 in the wall of housing 90 and has a pull-knob 140 on the free end for pulling the cable and releasing the brake lever. The fitting 138 surrounds the cable sleeve 136 and a compression coil spring 142 surrounds the cable bearing at one end against the fitting and at the other end against a washer 144 on the cable normally pushing the cable inward to engage the brake lever.
The brake lever has a third integral arm 146. A tension spring 148 connected to the arm 146 and also to the backplate 20 normally urges the brake lever 124 in a direction to engage the reel.
When the brake lever is in its normal braking position by the action of the spring 148, its arm 128 engages the teeth 130 on the reel to lock the reel against rotation in a reverse or "winding" direction. However, the end of arm 128 which engages the teeth is angled so as to permit it to pass over the teeth and allow the garden hose to be withdrawn. In other words, the brake lever does not, in its normal position, prevent rotation of the reel in the "unwind" direction. When it is desired to reel in or wind the hose back on the reel, the pull-knob 140 is pulled to turn the brake lever 122 counterclockwise in FIG. 1, releasing the reel and allowing it to wind up automatically by the stored energy of the band spring.
It will thus be seen that when it is desired to use the garden hose, it is simply withdrawn by grasping the free end portion of the hose and pulling it out to the extent desired. The teeth 130 on the reel will cam over the brake lever arm 128. The rewind spring 80 will be wound up by the unwinding of the hose. The brake lever arm 128 will prevent rewinding of the hose after it has been drawn out, and the control wheel 94 for the water valve 96 may be operated to turn on the water. Thereafter, the water may be turned off by the wheel 94, the brake released by pulling on the pull-knob 140, and the spring 80 will rewind the hose on the reel in a convenient out-of-the-way place in the building. Because of the ring 120, the free end of the hose will always be on the outside of the building ready for use.