Hose reel frame and guide arm

• US 9,617,114 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2011
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graco Minnesota Incorporated (Graco Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graco Minnesota Incorporated (Graco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shakal, Anthony J., Holman, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcelo, Emmanuel M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stefanon, Justin
• Application Number:
  US13/522,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20120292419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,279 Days
• Field of Search: 242397, 242398, 242396, 2423964, 2423965, 242615, 2426153
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/33 Hollow or hose-like material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/38 involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of 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

Abstract

A hose reel structure includes an hose spool for coiling hose, a frame which rotatably supports the hose spool, and a guide arm which restricts the angle of approach of hose to the hose spool. The hose spool and guide arm are connected to the frame. At least one of the frame and guide arm are substantially U-shaped structures formed from an L-shaped piece and an I-shaped piece. The L-shaped piece has a first long side at approximately a right angle with a shorter base or front. The I-shaped piece has a second long side and fastener holes for connecting to the shorter base or front.

Claims

1. A hose reel structure comprising:

a hose spool for coiling hose;

a frame connected to the hose spool to rotatably support the hose spool; and

a guide arm which restricts the angle of approach of hose to the hose spool, the guide arm connected to the frame;

wherein the frame is a substantially U-shaped structure comprising;

an L-shaped piece having a base or front, a first long side extending at a right angle from a first end of the base or front, and a fastener tab comprising a flat plate perpendicular to the base, and extending upward at a right angle from a second end of the base or front opposite the first end; and

an I-shaped piece having a second long side and a set of support flanges formed from the second long side, wherein the support flanges are tapered and obtusely angled with respect to the second long side so as to extend towards the first long side, and include fastener holes for fastening the I-shaped piece side to the fastener tab.

2. The hose reel structure of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped structure is ribbed for increased strength.

3. The hose reel structure of claim 1, wherein:

the L-shaped frame piece comprises a horizontal frame base welded to a first vertical side with a mount for the hose spool; and

the I-shaped frame piece comprises a second vertical side with a mount for the hose spool.

4. The hose reel structure of claim 3, wherein the first and second vertical sides have flanges extending inward towards the interior of the U-shaped structure, in contact with the frame base, and the fastener tabs are angled to align with the flanges of the second vertical side.

5. The hose reel structure of claim 4, wherein the flanges of the first and second vertical sides are formed of a single, integral piece with the first and second sides.

6. The hose reel structure of claim 4, wherein the flanges have tapered profiles which are widest at the horizontal base, and narrower further up the vertical side.

7. The hose reel structure of claim 6, wherein the tapered profile of the support flange enables the support flange to avoid contact with the spool.

8. The hose reel structure of claim 3, wherein the I-shaped frame piece is secured on the frame base by threading a fastener through the I-shaped frame piece, into the fastener tab.

9. The hose reel structure of claim 3, further comprising a substantially L-shaped hose guide with strengthening ribbing, rotatably attached to the first or second flanged side of the frame, the L-shaped hose guide comprising a substantially L-shaped first hose guide piece with a front section having a hole or opening for guiding hose into a spool, and a side section rotatably attached to the frame.

10. The hose reel structure of claim 3, further comprising a substantially U-shaped hose guide with strengthening ribbing, rotatably attached to the L-shaped frame piece and the I-shaped frame piece, the U-shaped hose guide comprising:

an L-shaped hose guide piece with a front section having a hole or opening for guiding hose into a spool, a side section rotatably attached to the L-shaped frame piece and extending at substantially a right angle from a first end of the front section, and a fastener tab extending at substantially a right angle from a second end of the front section opposite the first end; and

an I-shaped hose guide piece rotatably attached to the I-shaped frame piece, and fastened to the fastener tab of the L-shaped hose guide piece.

11. The hose reel structure of claim 10, wherein the front section, the side section, and the fastener tab of the first hose guide piece are formed from a single, integral bent piece.

12. The hose reel structure of claim 11, wherein the frame comprises a metal stamping.

13. The hose reel structure of claim 10, wherein:

the hose guide is a substantially U-shaped structure comprising;

an L-shaped hose guide piece with a front section having a hole or opening for guiding hose into a spool, and a side section substantially perpendicular to the front section, the side section rotatably attached to the frame; and

an I-shaped hose guide piece rotatably attached to the frame, and fastened at one end to the front section of the L-shaped hose guide piece.

14. The hose reel guide arm of claim 13, wherein the L-shaped piece and the I-shaped piece are each formed of a single unitary piece.

15. The hose reel guide arm of claim 13, wherein the hose guide comprises a metal stamping.

16. A hose reel structure comprising:

a two-sided hose spool for retaining spooled hose; and

a frame for supporting the spool, the frame comprising;

a base;

a fastener tab comprising a flat plate perpendicular to the base, and extending at a right angle upward from a first location on the base;

a first frame side permanently affixed to the base and extending at a right angle upward from a second location on the base to support a first side of the hose spool, the second location separated from the first location by substantially a width of the two-sided hose spool;

a second frame side detachably fastened to the base and extending upward from the base to support a second side of the hose spool;

a first set of support flanges formed from the first frame side and contacting the base, obtusely angled with respect to the first frame side so as to extend toward the second frame side; and

a second set of support flanges formed from the second frame side and contacting the base, tapered and obtusely angled with respect to the second frame side so as to extend toward the first frame side, and including fastener holes configured to attach the second set of support flanges to the fastener tab, thereby securing the second frame side to the base.

17. The hose reel structure of claim 16, and further comprising a guide arm which restricts the angle of approach of hose to the hose spool, the guide arm comprising:

a first guide side rotatably attached to the first frame side;

a second guide side rotatably attached to the second frame suide; and

a guide front having a hole or opening through which hose passes, the guide front attached supported by the first and second guide sides.

18. The hose reel structure of claim 17, wherein the guide front and the first guide side are formed of a single integral piece, and the second guide side is fastened with threaded fasteners to the guide front.

19. The hose reel structure of claim 17, wherein:

the first and second frame sides further comprise circular arrays of studs; and

the first and second guide sides further comprise circular arrays of holes or indents which catch with the studs to anchor the guide arm relative to the frame.

20. The hose reel structure of claim 17, further comprising:

a ratchet element affixed to one side of the hose spool

a first pawl mounting location on the frame;

a second pawl mounting location on the guide arm; and

a pawl which catches on the ratchet element to limit movement rotation of the spool, the pawl mountable at either of the first and second pawl mounting locations.