Adjustable reel assembly

• US 20040238675A1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reelcraft Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reelcraft Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Walter, Edward L., Penn, Sanford R., Banaszkiewicz, Gregory G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,150,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/377
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/33 Hollow or hose-like material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4402 Guiding arrangements to control paying-out and re-storing of the material guides per se B65H57/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4434 actuated by pulling on or imparting an inclination to the material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6954 Reel with support therefor

Abstract

A reel assembly for storing a hose, an electrical cord, or other items. The reel assembly includes a base, a spool rotatably mounted to the base, and a guide arm adjustably mounted to the base for guiding the direction in which a hose, for example, is extended from the reel and for guiding the hose onto the reel as the hose is wound upon the reel. A spring is operably connected between the spool and the base to bias the spool in a rotational direction in which the hose is wound onto the spool, thereby automatically retracting the hose after use. A pawl mechanism is mounted to the guide arm, and cooperates with a pair of ratchet teeth sets on the spool to selectively lock the spool against rotation in a hose-winding direction, thereby maintaining the hose in a desired extended position for use. The relative orientation of the ratchet teeth sets and the pawl mechanism, which is mounted to the guide arm, prevents “latch-out” when the hose is disposed in its fully extended position. Also, the spring is permanently enclosed within a spring housing defined between the spool and a cover which is permanently attached to the spool.

Claims

1. A reel assembly, comprising:

a base;

a spool rotatably mounted to said base, said spool including at least one set of ratchet teeth;

a guide arm connected to said base and extending therefrom; and

a pawl member mounted to said guide arm, said pawl member engagable with said ratchet teeth.

2. The reel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hose having a first end attached to one of said spool and said base and a second end guidably supported by said guide member, said hose windable about said spool.

3. The reel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spring connected between said spool and said base, said spring rotationally biasing said spool in a first direction.

4. The reel assembly of claim 1, wherein said guide arm is adjustably connected to said base, said guide arm selectively connectable in any one of a plurality of radially spaced positions with respect to said base.

5. The reel assembly of claim 1, wherein each said set of ratchet teeth is integrally formed with said spool and extends around a portion of a periphery of said spool.

6. The reel assembly of claim 5, wherein said spool includes a pair of said ratchet teeth sets, said ratchet teeth sets spaced opposite one another to define a pair of angular gaps therebetween.

7. The reel assembly of claim 1, wherein said spool includes a strain relief member positioned proximate one of said sets of ratchet teeth, said strain relief member capturing a portion of said hose against said spool.

8. The reel assembly of claim 1, wherein said pawl member is rotatable in first and second opposite directions from a neutral position, said hose reel further comprising means for resisting rotation of said pawl member from said neutral position in each of said first and second directions.

9. The reel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover permanently attached to said spool, said spool and said cover together defining a substantially enclosed spring housing therebetween; and

a spring carried within said spring housing, said spring rotationally biasing said spool in a first direction.

10. A hose reel, comprising:

a base;

a spool rotatably mounted to said base, said spool including at least one set of ratchet teeth;

a guide arm mounted to said base and extending therefrom;

a pawl member mounted to said guide arm, said pawl member engagable with said ratchet teeth; and

a hose having a first end connected to one of said spool and said base and a second end, said hose moveable between a fully retracted position wherein said hose is substantially wound about said spool and a fully extended position wherein said hose is extended from said spool and said pawl member is not in engagement with said ratchet teeth.

11. The hose reel of claim 10, further comprising a spring connected between said spool and said base, said spring rotationally biasing said spool in a first direction.

12. The hose reel of claim 10, wherein said guide arm is adjustably mounted to said base, said guide arm selectively positionable in one of a plurality of radially spaced positions with respect to said base.

13. The hose reel of claim 10, wherein said spool includes a pair of said ratchet teeth sets integrally formed therewith, said ratchet teeth sets spaced opposite one another along a portion of a periphery of said spool to define a pair of angular gaps therebetween.

14. The hose reel of claim 10, wherein said spool includes a strain relief member positioned proximate one of said sets of ratchet teeth, said strain relief member capturing a portion of said hose against said spool.

15. The hose reel of claim 10, wherein said pawl member is rotatable in first and second opposite directions from a neutral position, said hose reel further comprising means for resisting rotation of said pawl member from said neutral position in each of said first and second directions.

16. A hose reel, comprising:

a base;

a spool rotatably mounted to said base, said spool having opposite first and second sides;

a hose having a first end connected to one of said spool and said base, said hose windable about said spool;

a cover permanently attached to one of said sides of said spool, said spool and said cover together defining a substantially enclosed spring housing therebetween; and

a spring carried within said spring housing.

17. The hose reel of claim 16, wherein said spring is connected between said base and said spool, said spring rotationally biasing said spool in a first direction.

18. The hose reel of claim 16, wherein one of said spool and said cover includes a plurality of stakes and the other of said spool and said cover includes a plurality of apertures, said stakes inserted through said apertures and deformed about said apertures to thereby permanently attach said cover to said spool.