Modular hose reel

Abstract

A reel, such as a hose reel, which includes a modular base assembly and a modular spool assembly. The base assembly includes a frame which is formed by a plurality of extruded frame components joined to one another by connecting members. The lengths of the frame components may be easily varied in order to in turn vary the overall width, depth, and height dimensions of the frame of the base assembly. The spool assembly includes a pair of side walls joined to one another by a plurality of spacer members. The length of the spacer members may be varied to in turn vary the width of the spool assembly. In one embodiment, the base assembly frame components and the spacer members are aluminum extrusions which are each cut to a selected length. In this manner, the width, depth, and height of the frame of the base assembly and the width of the spool assembly may be selectively varied to easily custom manufacture different reels having different overall sizes.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 520,961, entitled MODULAR HOSE REEL, filed on Nov. 18, 2003.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to reels for storing hoses, electrical cords, ropes, cables, or other items. In particular, the present invention relates to a reel including a modular base assembly and a modular spool assembly. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Reels are used to store elongate items such as hoses for delivering fluids, including water, air, hydraulic fluid, or grease, for example. Such hoses may be round or flat in shape, and may also be used in vacuum applications for removing a fluid or a solid substance from a given location. Alternatively, reels may be used to store elongate items other than hoses, such as electrical cords, ropes, cables, or other items. [0006] Known r...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The present invention provides a reel, such as a hose reel, which includes a modular base assembly and a modular spool assembly. The base assembly includes a frame which is formed by a plurality of extruded frame components joined to one another by connecting members. The lengths of the frame components may be easily varied in order to in turn vary the overall width, depth, and height dimensions of the frame of the base assembly. The spool assembly includes a pair of side walls joined to one another by a plurality of spacer members. The length of the spacer members may be varied to in turn vary the width of the spool assembly. In one embodiment, the base assembly frame components and the spacer members are aluminum extrusions which are each cut to a selected length. In this manner, the width, depth, and height of the frame of the base assembly and the width of the spool assembly may be selectively varied to easily custom manufacture different reels having different overall sizes.

[0011] The modular design of the base assembly and the spool assembly of the present reel allows a manufacturer to produce a number of reels having varying sizes and dimensions using the same type of frame components for the frame of the base assembly and the same type of spacer components for the spool assembly in each reel. The dimensions of the base assembly and the spool assembly may be modified simply by modifying the lengths of the frame components of the base assembly and the lengths of the spacer members of the spool assembly. Thus, a manufacturer may custom produce reels of any size in order to suit any particular application having differing requirements such as size constraints and hose length or diameter, for example. Additionally, the reel manufacturer need produce and stock a large number of pre-formed frame components in order to product reels of different sizes, as with known reel constructions. The hose reel may also be shipped in disassembled form to reduce shipping costs, and the hose reel is easily assembled by a purchaser.

Problems solved by technology

A problem with the foregoing hose reel is that the base assembly and the spool assembly are each made of different, formed metal components having particular dimensions, such that the reel may be assembled only to a single, predetermined overall size.

However, because hose reels are typically used in many different types of applications, any single, predetermined size of the hose reel may not be suitable for each application.

However, when the hose reel is used on a truck, for example, space may be at a premium and the size of the hose reel is subjected to space constraints.

Additionally, a hose reel of a particular size may not be able to accommodate different types of hoses with varying thicknesses and diameters.

In this manner, known hose reels must be manufactured to a number of specific, predetermined dimensions and sizes in order to suit different particular applications, which requires production, inventory, and assembly of a number of different components, and increases the cost of manufacturing the hose reels.

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