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.

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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