Hose Storage Apparatus

Abstract

The hose caddy for expandable hoses comprises a housing formed from a bottom surface and sidewalls to define an open interior. A top is hingedly coupled to the housing to control access to the interior of the housing. A flexible elongated body is coupled to the housing using a guidance rail assembly. The flexible elongated body can be extended or retracted along the guidance rail assembly, and includes a hook for attaching the hose caddy to a water faucet.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field of Invention[0002]The present invention generally relates to the field of apparatuses for supporting expandable garden hoses.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Various means and methods are known in the art for storing conventional flexible garden hoses when the hose is not in use. The proper storage of garden hoses is critical for protecting the hose from inadvertent puncture from other gardening tools, damage due to hot temperatures (e.g., drying and cracking of the hose material), and damage due to cold temperatures (e.g., freezing of standing water not properly removed from the hose after use). Aesthetically, proper storage of garden hoses can protect the decor of the user's garden.[0005]Hose reels, a common device designed to allow a conventional flexible garden hose to spin around a central element for storage, allow the user to wind the garden hose onto a storage caddy. In some arrangements, the caddy can be rolled away for storage or attach...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a hose caddy for expandable hoses. The caddy has a housing with an open interior and a top that can be opened and closed. A flexible elongated member is connected to the housing using a guidance assembly. This member has a hook to attach the caddy to a water faucet. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a convenient and easy way to store and access expandable hoses.

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage of the techniques described above is that they are specifically designed for use with conventional flexible garden hoses, which are formed from resilient flexible material, such as rubber.

For example, the methods described above are not optimal for coil hoses, which automatically retract when not in use.

Further, the retracting force of the coil hose introduces difficulties in keeping the ends of the coil hose outside the openings of the pot during assembly.

Also, when retracted, the size of a coil hose makes the use of a large pot obsolete.

Finally, when retracted and fully coiled, a coil hose is difficult to wind onto a rack.

Such inherent disadvantages in the known methods for storing coil hoses have not been entirely ignored.

Nevertheless, all the techniques described above are not optimal for storing expandable hoses, which are capable of contracting to a small lightweight size, unlike conventional heavy garden hoses.

Similarly, there is no advantage to using a rack, due to the ease of transporting a retracted expandable hose, unlike conventional hoses that are cumbersome.

Further, the horizontal and vertical poles used by the coil hose storage systems are not practicable or applicable because the expandable hose does not coil onto itself when retracted.

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