Hose cart

Abstract

A hose cart comprises a cart body (1). A hose drum (4) for carrying a hose, and the hose drum (4) is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the cart body (1) to allow the hose to be wound onto the drum (4) and unwound from the drum (3); the automatic hose rewinding mechanism (5) is used for driving the roller (4) to rotate so as to rewind the hose onto the roller (4); and at least one main wheel device (2) rotatably mounted on the cart body (1) so that a user can perform a push translational movement of the hose cart relative to the ground. A ballasting device is arranged on the cart body (1) so as to resist movement of the hose cart relative to the ground in the process that a user unfolds the hose from the roller (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hose cart. Background Art

[0002] The hose cart includes a main body that carries a roller for the hose and at least one wheel arrangement to facilitate its movement across the floor. The hose cart provides a convenient way for users to access and use the hose. Users do not need to mount such equipment on a wall, for example, and the cart can be easily moved between different locations for storage and use.

[0003] A problem with hose carts (or indeed hose reels in general) is that rewinding the hose onto the reel after use can be physically difficult, or at least tedious. One option in this situation might be to provide the hose cart with an automatic hose rewind mechanism, but this can present some difficulties. A significant force is required to pull the hose from a cart with a rewind mechanism, and the reel also exerts significant force when rewinding the hose. Furthermore, the hose unwinding and rewinding typically occur while the cart is unattended—that is, while the user is "at the other end of the hose." Consequently, the cart may be pulled toward or tilted toward the user during unwinding, may tilt backward during rewinding, and, if equipped with automatic rewinding, may tilt to one side or the other during rewinding and / or unwinding. Furthermore, when considering these issues, several other problems may arise.

[0004] It would be desirable to provide a hose cart that simplifies the process of rewinding the hose onto the hose cart. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hose trolley, comprising: Cart body; a hose drum for carrying a hose, the hose drum being mounted for rotation relative to the cart body to allow the hose to be wound onto and unwound from the drum; an automatic hose rewinding mechanism, configured to drive the drum to rotate so as to rewind the hose onto the drum; and At least one main wheel assembly is rotatably mounted on the cart body to facilitate a user to push and translate the hose cart relative to the ground.

[0006] The trolley body is provided with a ballast device so as to resist the movement of the hose trolley relative to the ground when the user unrolls the hose from the drum.

[0007] This can help to resist the tendency of the hose cart to be pulled towards the user as it unwinds the hose, particularly when a situation is reached where most of the carried hose has been extracted from the drum.

[0008] As presently preferred, the ballast means may comprise blocks of ballast material, for example bricks, such as concrete bricks or clay bricks.

[0009] The density of the ballast material is preferably greater than that of water, i.e. greater than 1000 kg / m 3 .

[0010] The density of the ballast material blocks is preferably greater than the density of water, i.e. greater than 1000 kg / m 3 .

[0011] Preferably, the density of the ballast material is at least 1500 kg / m 3 .

[0012] Preferably, the density of the ballast material block is at least 1500 kg / m 3 .

[0013] The mass of the ballast means is preferably at least 2 kg, preferably 2.5 kg to 7.5 kg, more preferably 2.8 kg to 3.2 kg.

[0014] In selecting the weight, a balance needs to be struck between ensuring stability while preventing the device from being too heavy to handle and maneuver.

[0015] Alternatively, the ballast means may comprise ballast containers filled or capable of being filled with a suitable ballast material. In some such cases, the ballast material may be water. However, the use of water as ballast has been found to present some practical problems, with tests showing that when left outdoors, water used as ballast may freeze, expand, and damage the ballast containers. Water also has a lower density than other suitable ballast materials, so a suitable mass of water will take up more space. If a granular ballast material, such as sand, is used, it has a higher density and is less susceptible to damage in freezing conditions, but may be messy and inconvenient for the user.

[0016] The hose cart may have a pushing configuration wherein the at least one main wheel arrangement contacts the ground on which the cart is placed to facilitate pushing movement of the hose cart.

[0017] The hose cart may have an operational configuration for use in winding and / or unwinding a hose onto and / or from the drum.

[0018] Having these two configurations can help the user propel the cart into motion when desired and prevent undesired motion at other times.

[0019] The hose trolley may include at least one frame portion by which the hose trolley is supported when in the operating configuration.

[0020] The cart body may include at least one bracket portion. The at least one bracket portion may be mounted on the cart body and may be mounted to move relative to the cart body. The hose cart may include a first bracket portion and a second bracket portion. The cart body may include the first bracket portion. The second bracket portion may be mounted on the cart body to move relative to the cart body.

[0021] The at least one bracket portion is pivotally mounted on the stroller body.The second bracket portion is pivotally mounted on the stroller body.

[0022] The ballast device may be positioned toward the rear of the cart body. During use, the rear of the cart body may be considered to be an area of ​​the cart body away from where the hose is pulled from the roller. The rear of the cart body may be considered to be an area of ​​the cart body where the main wheel device is positioned.

[0023] This can help resist tilting during rewind and / or deployment.

[0024] The ballast means may be arranged in the region of the main wheel means. There may be a pair of main wheel means and the ballast may be arranged between the pair of main wheel means. The ballast may be arranged below the height of the axles of the main wheel means.

[0025] The ballast device may be positioned below the center of mass of the hose trolley. The ballast device may be positioned behind the center of mass of the hose trolley. Here, "behind" means on the side of the drum opposite the side where the hose is pulled from the drum and / or on the side closest to the main wheel assembly. "Below" means closer to the ground on which the hose trolley stands during normal use.

[0026] This may aid stability and prevent tilting as the hose is pulled from and / or reeled back onto the drum.

[0027] The ballast device may be provided on the cart body above the first bracket portion. This may help ensure that the first bracket portion grips the ground. This in turn may help prevent the cart from moving forward in a direction in which the hose is pulled from the cart.

[0028] The mass and position of the ballast means may be selected such that when the hose trolley is in the pushing configuration the centre of mass of the hose trolley is above the axle of the main wheel means.

[0029] The hose trolley may include a hose outlet through which the hose may pass when leaving or engaging the drum. The hose outlet may be located at the front of the hose trolley. The hose outlet may be located toward the top of the trolley body when the hose trolley is standing in its normal orientation.

[0030] The cart body can be thought of as having four quadrants, two lower quadrants closest to the ground when the cart is standing in its normal orientation, and two upper quadrants above the two lower quadrants. The first two quadrants are those located at the end of the cart body where the hose is pulled from the drum, and the second two quadrants are the remaining two quadrants.

[0031] In this case, at least one of the following must be true: i) where applicable, the hose outlet is normally located in the upper front quadrant; ii) the main wheel arrangement is typically located in the lower rear quadrant; iii) the ballast means is preferably provided in the lower rear quadrant; iv) where applicable, the first support portion is preferably disposed in the lower posterior quadrant; v) Where applicable, the second support portion preferably extends from the lower anterior quadrant.

[0032] The at least one support portion may include a gripping portion configured to grip the ground on which the hose cart stands to help resist translational movement of the cart relative to the ground. The gripping portion may be a more flexible material than the remainder of the cart body. The gripping portion may be elastomeric. The first support portion may include the gripping portion.

[0033] At least one frame portion, such as the second frame portion, may be mounted on the cart body for movement between an operative position for supporting the hose cart and a stowed position such that the stowed frame portion is clear of the ground when the hose cart is standing on the ground in its normal orientation.

[0034] When the at least one bracket portion, such as the second bracket portion, is in the working position, the bracket portion may extend beyond the stroller body in a direction in which the hose is pulled out from the drum.

[0035] This can provide stronger support for the hose trolley when the user pulls the hose out of the drum.This can help resist tilting of the hose trolley and / or translational movement of the hose trolley in the direction in which the hose is pulled.

[0036] The operating configuration may be such that the at least one main wheel arrangement is lifted off the ground on which the hose cart is positioned when in the operating configuration.

[0037] When supported via the at least one bracket portion, the at least one main wheel arrangement may be lifted off the ground on which the hose cart is positioned.

[0038] When supported by the first frame portion and the second frame portion, the at least one main wheel arrangement may be lifted off the ground on which the hose cart is positioned.

[0039] The hose trolley may include the first support portion, the second support portion and an auxiliary support portion, wherein the trolley body includes the first support portion and the auxiliary support portion, wherein the second support portion is mounted on the trolley body so as to be movable between a working position and a stowed position, the working position being used to support the hose trolley, and when the second support portion is in the stowed position, the hose trolley can be supported on the ground by the first support portion and the auxiliary support portion.

[0040] The above configuration with the second bracket portion folded away can be considered a storage configuration. This configuration can facilitate the hose cart to be stably supported in a convenient upright orientation while minimizing the floor space it occupies.

[0041] The storage configuration may be such that the at least one main wheel arrangement is clear of a surface on which the hose trolley is positioned when in the storage configuration. The storage configuration may be such that the second bracket portion is clear of a surface on which the hose trolley is positioned when in the storage configuration.

[0042] The hose trolley may include a pushing handle portion for use by a user when causing translational movement of the hose trolley by pushing the hose trolley on the at least one main wheel arrangement.

[0043] The cart body may include the pushing handle portion. The pushing handle portion may be mounted on the cart body. The pushing handle portion may be removably mounted on the cart body. This may facilitate storage and / or transportation of the hose cart by allowing the cubic space occupied by the cart components to be reduced.

[0044] The hose trolley may be arranged so that the hose trolley is moveable into the pushing configuration by a user pulling on the pushing handle portion so as to bring the main wheel arrangement into contact with the ground on which the trolley stands.

[0045] Typically, the pulling required is in a rearward direction, ie opposite to the direction in which the hose is pulled from the drum.

[0046] The hose trolley may be arranged such that the hose trolley is movable from the storage configuration and / or the operating configuration to the pushing configuration by a user pulling the pushing handle portion so as to bring the main wheel arrangement into contact with the ground on which the trolley stands.

[0047] The pushing handle portion may be oriented such that the pushing handle portion tilts forward on the hose drum when the hose cart is in the storage configuration and / or the operating configuration.

[0048] This assists the user in moving the hose cart from the storage configuration and / or the operating configuration to the pushing configuration in terms of ease of movement and / or indicating / hinting the user the desired direction of movement.

[0049] This forward inclination of the pushing handle portion may also be defined by, for example, an angle of less than 90 degrees formed between i) the pushing handle portion when extended away from the base of the hose trolley and ii) the ground on which the hose trolley stands during normal use.

[0050] At least one of the support portions may include rotational movement means to facilitate rotation of the hose cart about an axis transverse to the ground on which the cart stands.

[0051] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hose trolley, comprising: Cart body; a hose drum for carrying a hose, the hose drum being mounted for rotation relative to the cart body to allow the hose to be wound onto and unwound from the drum; an automatic hose rewinding mechanism, configured to drive the drum to rotate so as to rewind the hose onto the drum; and At least one main wheel assembly is rotatably mounted on the cart body to facilitate a user to push and translate the hose cart relative to the ground.

[0052] The hose trolley has an operating configuration for use when winding a hose onto and / or unwinding a hose from the drum, and the hose trolley comprises at least one support portion, the hose trolley being supported by the at least one support portion when in the operating configuration, the support portion comprising a rotational movement device, the rotational movement device facilitating rotation of the hose trolley about an axis transverse to the ground on which the trolley stands.

[0053] The rotational movement mechanism facilitates turning the hose cart in the direction a user is pulling the hose from the cart's drum during use. Ideally, when the hose is pulled from the drum, translational movement of the hose cart toward the user is prevented, while angular movement of the cart is facilitated. With these features, the cart can be considered to be positioned to follow the user as the hose is withdrawn from the drum. This helps counteract the tendency of the hose cart to tilt if the hose is pulled out at an angle that deviates from straight ahead.

[0054] The rotational movement means may comprise an anti-slip portion, the sliding portion being arranged to facilitate sliding movement of the sliding portion on the ground on which the pushchair stands. This provides a simple construction but has been found to be less effective on rough ground, particularly grass surfaces.

[0055] The rotational movement means may comprise a rolling ball that is captured to rotate about its centre. Such a ball need not be restricted to rotation about a single axis. This may be useful in assisting angular movement but may be less effective in inhibiting translational movement.

[0056] The rotational movement device may include a foot member rotatably mounted on the base of the hose cart so as to facilitate rotation of the cart body relative to the foot member when the foot member is placed on the ground. This can effectively provide angular movement of the hose cart relative to the ground, similar to a turntable or rotating platform ("Lazy Susan"). However, this configuration is relatively complex and may render the cart unstable, particularly on uneven ground.

[0057] Preferably, the rotational movement means comprises at least one auxiliary wheel means arranged to rotate about an axis. The axis may be defined by a wheel axle. The auxiliary wheel means may rotate with or relative to the wheel axle.

[0058] Preferably, the hose trolley comprises a first support portion and a second support portion as described above, and the rotational movement device is provided on the second support portion.

[0059] As mentioned above, the stroller body may include the first bracket portion. In addition, as mentioned above, the second bracket portion may be mounted on the stroller body to move relative to the stroller body.

[0060] Furthermore, the second bracket portion is pivotally mounted on the stroller body.

[0061] At least one bracket portion, such as the second bracket portion, may extend beyond the stroller body in a direction in which the hose is pulled from the drum.

[0062] As also described above, at least one frame portion, such as the second frame portion, can be mounted on the cart body for movement between an operative position for supporting the hose cart and a stowed position such that the stowed frame portion is clear of the ground when the hose cart is standing on the ground in its normal orientation.

[0063] When the at least one bracket portion, such as the second bracket portion, is in the working position, the bracket portion may extend beyond the stroller body in a direction in which the hose is pulled out from the drum.

[0064] This can provide stronger support for the hose trolley when the user pulls the hose out of the drum.This can help resist tilting of the hose trolley and / or translational movement of the hose trolley in the direction in which the hose is pulled.

[0065] Providing a rotational movement device on the second support portion is particularly useful when the second support portion extends beyond the main body of the trolley in the direction in which the hose is pulled from the drum, such as when in the operating position. In this case, angular movement of the hose trolley can occur with a relatively small amount of sliding at the first support portion, such as under the main body of the trolley, while the larger "sideways" movement facilitated by the movement device occurs at the second support portion. Without the rotational movement device, the provision of the second support portion can serve to significantly resist any rotation of the hose trolley, and it may be desirable to make the support wider to reduce the risk of tilting when the hose is pulled at an angle. Increasing the width of the support is undesirable because, among other things, it increases the space occupied by the hose trolley, particularly when, for example, in the storage configuration. Further increasing the support width is not necessarily the best way to avoid lateral tilting in all circumstances.

[0066] The auxiliary wheel assembly may include a hub portion and may include an outer rim. At least one ground-engaging gripping portion may be disposed on the outer rim. The gripping portion may help resist translational movement of the hose cart when in contact with the ground.

[0067] The material of the gripping portion may be softer than the material of the main body of the training wheel, the main body of the training wheel including the hub portion and the rim. The gripping portion may be an elastomer.

[0068] The training wheel arrangement may be relatively flat, ie disc-shaped, or may include a pusher portion or a ball portion arranged to rotate about an axis.

[0069] The rotation axis of the auxiliary wheel arrangement may be transverse to the rotation axis of the main wheel arrangement.

[0070] The axis of rotation of the auxiliary wheel assembly may be parallel to the ground on which the hose trolley stands when the hose trolley is supported by the frame portion of which the auxiliary wheel assembly is part.

[0071] The rotation axis of the auxiliary wheel arrangement may be directed toward a base area of ​​the hose trolley.

[0072] The rotational movement device may include a plurality of auxiliary wheel devices, such as two auxiliary wheel devices.

[0073] The respective axes of rotation of the auxiliary wheel assemblies may lie in a common plane, the common plane may be parallel to the ground on which the hose trolley stands when the hose trolley is supported by the stand portion, the auxiliary wheel assemblies being part of the stand portion, and the respective axes of rotation of the auxiliary wheel assemblies may be inclined relative to each other within the plane. The respective axes may be inclined relative to each other and may move closer together as they approach the center of the hose trolley.

[0074] The respective rotation axes of the training wheel arrangements may intersect each other at a location within or below the boundary of the hose cart.

[0075] The training wheel arrangements may be arranged along an arc, and their respective rotation axes may point toward the interior of the arc, such as toward the center of the arc.

[0076] The cart body may include a housing that houses the hose drum. This may provide an arrangement sometimes referred to as a hose reel with a housing, and may help keep the hose clean. Such a housing may also protect other components of the hose cart and may help protect the user from injury during automatic rewinding of the hose by the automatic rewind mechanism.

[0077] The housing may include the first support portion. The housing may include the auxiliary support portion. The housing may include a support portion for supporting the stroller when the stroller is moved by a user between the operating configuration and / or the storage configuration and the pushing configuration.

[0078] The housing may include a hose opening through which a hose may pass when disengaging or engaging the drum.

[0079] The automatic hose rewinding mechanism may include a spring for driving the mechanism and arranged so that elastic potential energy is stored in the spring when the hose is pulled from the drum, and the stored energy is used to drive the rotation of the drum during rewinding to automatically rewind the hose onto the drum.

[0080] The spring may be carried in the hose drum.

[0081] The automatic hose rewind mechanism may include a locking device for selectively locking the drum to prevent automatic rewinding. The locking device may be manually operable between a locked state and an unlocked state, for example, by a user control, such as a lever. The locking device may be configured to automatically and releasably lock the drum to prevent automatic rewinding when the user stops pulling the hose away from the drum.

[0082] The hose cart may include a layering mechanism for evenly layering the hose onto the drum as the hose is rewound onto the drum. The layering mechanism may include a hose guiding portion for guiding the hose as it engages and leaves the drum.

[0083] The hose outlet may include the hose guide portion. The hose outlet may include the hose opening.

[0084] According to another aspect of the present invention, a hose trolley device is provided. The hose trolley device comprises the hose trolley as described above and a hose of a certain length disposed on the drum.

[0085] The mass and position of the ballast arrangement may be selected such that the centre of mass of the hose trolley arrangement is above the axle of the main wheel arrangement when the hose trolley arrangement is in the pushing configuration.

[0086] According to another aspect of the present invention, a hose cart is provided.

[0087] Hose Cart Includes: Cart body; a hose drum for carrying a hose, the hose drum being mounted for rotation relative to the cart body to allow the hose to be wound onto and unwound from the drum; an automatic hose rewinding mechanism, configured to drive the drum to rotate so as to rewind the hose onto the drum; and At least one main wheel assembly is rotatably mounted on the trolley body to facilitate a user to push and translate the hose trolley relative to the ground.

[0088] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a hose cart is provided.

[0089] Hose Cart Includes: Cart body; a hose drum for carrying a hose, the hose drum being mounted for rotation relative to the cart body to allow the hose to be wound onto and unwound from the drum; an automatic hose rewinding mechanism, configured to drive the drum to rotate so as to rewind the hose onto the drum; and at least one main wheel assembly rotatably mounted on the trolley body to facilitate a user's pushing translational motion of the hose trolley relative to the ground, The method includes the steps of providing ballast means on the cart body to help resist movement of the hose cart relative to the ground during unwinding of the hose from the drum by a user.

[0090] It should be noted that, generally speaking, all further features of any aspect of the invention described above may be taken as further features of all other aspects of the invention described above, mutatis mutandis, and for the sake of brevity, these further features are not repeated after each aspect of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0091] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the hose cart in an operating configuration.

[0092] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Schematic side view of a hose cart in a storage configuration.

[0093] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic side view of a hose cart in a pushing configuration.

[0094] Figure 4A and Figure 4B yes Figure 1 Schematic front and rear views of a hose cart in an operating configuration.

[0095] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A partial cutaway rear view of the hose cart in the operating configuration.

[0096] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A partially cutaway front perspective view of a hose cart in an operating configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0097] Figure 1 、 Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 The hose trolley is shown, which comprises a main body 1 and a push handle 3. The main body 1 is provided with two main wheels 2 (at Figure 1 In this embodiment, the main body 1 includes a housing 11 in which a roller 4 for carrying a hose is rotatably mounted (see FIG. Figure 5 、 Figure 6 ).

[0098] The accompanying drawings show a hose trolley without any hose. It will be appreciated that the hose will be arranged on the drum 4 in use to provide a hose trolley arrangement comprising a hose trolley as shown and a length of hose.

[0099] The housing 11 is used to house the hose, when present, and the other major components of the hose cart. Thus, the hose cart can be considered a hose cart with a housing. In addition to protecting the hose and the components of the hose cart, the housing 11 can also help prevent the user from being injured by contact with the drum 4 during its rotation. The housing 11 has an opening or port 12 (see Figure 4A and Figure 6 ), the hose passes through the opening 11 or the mouth 12 when it is wound onto the drum 4 and unloaded from the drum 4.

[0100] The hose trolley includes a hose rewinding mechanism 5 for automatically driving the rotation of the drum 4 relative to the main body 1 of the hose trolley to rewind the hose onto the drum 4. The hose rewinding mechanism 5 is a standard rewinding mechanism available in commercial products of the applicant and others and will not be described in detail herein. The rewinding mechanism 5 includes a coil spring 51 disposed in the drum 4 (see Figure 6 When the hose is pulled from drum 4, the drum 4 is rotated, causing spring 51 to "coil" and store elastic potential energy. When the hose needs to be rewound, the stored elastic potential energy is used to drive the drum 4 to rotate when spring 51 "unwinds." The hose rewind mechanism 5 may also include a lock (not shown) for selectively locking the drum 4 from rotating. The hose rewind mechanism 5 may also include a damper (not shown) for controlling the rotation speed of the drum 4 during rewinding.

[0101] The hose trolley includes a hose layer mechanism 6 (see Figure 6The hose layering mechanism 6 includes a hose guide 61 positioned at the port 12 of the housing 1. As the hose is rewound onto the drum 4, the hose guide 61 is driven by a drive rod 62 in a (slowly) oscillating motion to spread the hose across the drum 4. This oscillating motion moves the hose guide 61 from one side of the port 12 to the other. Drive rod 62 rotates at an appropriate rate under the influence of the rotating drum 4 to achieve uniform layering. Again, the layering mechanism is a standard layering mechanism available in the applicant's commercial products and will not be described in detail here.

[0102] Hose cart in Figure 1 、 Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 4 , which is a configuration suitable for pulling the hose off the drum 4 and allowing the hose to be rewound onto the drum 4 .

[0103] The housing 11 includes a first bracket portion 13 disposed toward the rear of the hose cart. The first bracket portion 13 is disposed between the main wheels 2. In this embodiment, the first bracket portion 13 includes two gripping portions 13a (see FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 4A ), when the hose trolley is in the operating configuration, the gripping portions 13a serve as ground contact points. The gripping portions 13a are each a portion of an elastomeric material provided as an insert in the lower wall of the housing 11.

[0104] It can be seen that by considering e.g. Figure 1 When the hose trolley is in the operating configuration with the first frame portion 13 in contact with the ground, the wheels 2 are spaced apart from the ground. This helps resist undesired movement of the hose trolley during winding and rewinding of the hose.

[0105] The hose trolley comprises a second bracket part 7. The second bracket part 7 is pivotally mounted on the main body 1 of the hose trolley, in particular on the housing 1 ... Figure 1 , and this corresponds to the hose trolley in the operational configuration of this embodiment. A second bracket portion 7 extends forward of the hose trolley's body 1 and helps resist undesirable forward tilting of the hose trolley as the hose is pulled from the drum 4. The second bracket portion 7 also helps resist undesirable forward movement of the hose trolley toward the user as the hose is pulled from the drum 4. The second bracket portion 7 can be considered to "dig" into the ground as the hose is pulled from the drum 4.

[0106] The hose trolley comprises an auxiliary support portion 14. In the present case, the auxiliary support portion 14 is provided by a portion of the housing 11. Figure 1 In the operative configuration shown, the auxiliary support portion 14 is clear of the ground G on which the hose cart stands.

[0107] The second bracket part 7 can be Figure 1 The extended state shown and Figure 2 Move between the stowed states shown. Figure 2 The hose trolley is shown in a storage configuration. This is identical to the operating configuration, except that the second frame portion 7 is in its stowed state and, when standing on the ground G, the auxiliary frame portion 14 supports the hose trolley instead of the second frame portion 7.

[0108] In this state, the rear of the hose trolley is still supported by the first frame part 13, with the main wheels 2 off the ground.

[0109] In this embodiment, ground engaging ribs are provided on the underside of the auxiliary bracket portion 14, although resistance to movement is less of a concern when the hose cart is in the storage configuration.

[0110] In the storage configuration, the space occupied by the hose trolley is reduced.In the storage configuration, the second bracket part 7 is away from the ground G on which the hose trolley stands.

[0111] With particular reference Figure 6 The second bracket portion 7 includes a pair of leg portions 71. The first end 71a of each leg portion 71 is pivotally mounted to the housing 11. The second end 71b of the leg portion 71 is connected by a crossbar 72. In this embodiment, the leg portions 71 and the crossbar 72 are tubes, such as aluminum tubes. The leg portions 71 and the crossbar 72 can be integrally formed as a curved U-shaped length of tube.

[0112] Leg sections 71 support a carriage 73. In this embodiment, carriage 73 is mounted to crossbar 72 via clips 731 that receive tubes and retaining screws (not shown) from crossbar 72. The carriage can be supplied to the user separately from the cart and mounted using clips 731 and retaining screws to help minimize product contamination during shipping / transportation.

[0113] The second bracket portion 7 is locked in place in the extended position and / or the stowed position. This is achieved in the present embodiment by providing a suitable recess and / or detent 11a provided in the side wall 11b of the housing 11, which engages with one or both of the leg portions 71. The recess and / or detent 11a is arranged to initially prevent movement from the respective extended position to the stowed position and / or from the stowed position to the extended position, but to allow such movement when the force applied by the user on the bracket portion 7 increases. On the other hand, the recess and / or detent 11a is arranged to prevent, in practice, movement from the respective extended position further away from the stowed position and / or movement from the stowed position further away from the extended position. In other words, the recess and / or detent 11 limits the overall travel of the pivotal movement of the second bracket portion 7.

[0114] Two auxiliary wheels 74 are mounted for rotation in the vehicle frame 73. When the second frame portion 7 contacts the ground to support the hose cart, contact with the ground occurs via the auxiliary wheels 74. The wheels run on shafts 74b received in the vehicle frame 73 and have a hub portion 74b at a wheel axle 74a and an outer rim 74c. The outer rim 74c of each wheel 74 may be provided with a grip portion (or tire).

[0115] The rotational axes of the two auxiliary wheels 41 are transverse to the rotational axis of the main wheels 2. This is because the auxiliary wheels 41 are arranged to assist the angular movement of the hose trolley when the hose is pulled from the drum 4.

[0116] When the hose is pulled from the drum in use, the first bracket portion 13 and the second bracket portion 7 work together to resist forward tilting of the hose cart and forward translation of the hose cart toward the user. However, if the user pulls the hose at an angle to the front (in this embodiment, nominally through the hose channel axis of the hose guide 61 or nominally perpendicular to the drum's axis of rotation), this may result in lateral tilting of the hose cart and / or rewind resistance. Similar problems may arise during rewinding, but to a lesser extent.

[0117] After the second bracket part 7 is provided with wheels of appropriate direction, it is convenient for the user to perform angular "following", at which time the hose trolley can be rotated about the vertical axis to face the direction in which the hose is pulled (or the direction in which it is rewound).

[0118] In this embodiment, the auxiliary wheels 74 are arranged on an arc, with the axes of rotation pointing toward each other and toward the interior of the arc, optionally at the center of the arc. The axes intersect beneath the main body of the cart. When the second support is extended and the hose cart is in contact with the ground G, the axes of rotation lie in the same plane, parallel to the ground.

[0119] For example, Figure 4A and Figure 6 As shown, the points of contact formed by the second frame portion 7 with the ground, via the wheels 74 in this embodiment of the present application, extend outside the width of the hose cart body 1. In fact, they extend beyond the width defined by the outer edges of the main wheels 2. In other words, the center-to-center spacing of the auxiliary wheels 74 is greater than at least one of the following, and in this embodiment, greater than all of the following: i) the spacing between the main wheels 2; ii) the width of the hose trolley body 1; iii) the width of the housing 11; iv) The cart spans the full width of the main wheels 2.

[0120] This helps to resist sideways tilting of the cart, particularly when the hose is pulled from the drum 4 at an angle.

[0121] It will be noted that because the auxiliary wheels 74 of the second frame portion 7 are not in contact with the ground in the stored configuration, the hose cart is less susceptible to angular movement. This can help prevent undesirable movement of the hose cart on the auxiliary wheels 74 during storage. Furthermore, in limited, specific circumstances, the hose cart may also be used for water delivery and / or during winding / rewinding operations in the stored configuration if it is desired to resist angular movement of the hose cart during use.

[0122] As mentioned above, the hose trolley includes a pushing handle 3 , and a user can use the rotating handle 3 to push the hose trolley in different positions. Figure 3 The hose cart is shown in a pushing configuration with the main wheels 2 in contact with the ground G on which the cart stands.

[0123] In order to Figure 1 The operating configuration shown in FIG. 1 is to reach the pushing configuration, and the user pulls the pushing handle 3 backward. Note that when the second bracket 7 is Figure 2 When shown stowed, the hose trolley can also be used in a push configuration, in which case the push configuration is achieved in the same manner.

[0124] When the user removes the hose cart from Figure 1 The direction shown moves to Figure 3 In the illustrated orientation, the hose trolley is supported on the ground G by a support portion 15 arranged behind the housing 1 between the main wheels 2. The trolley can actually be rolled backwards from the first frame portion 13 onto the wheels 2 via the support portion 15.

[0125] Pushing handle 3 includes a user grip portion 31, which is mounted to the hose cart body 1 via at least one support member 32 (two support members 32 in this embodiment). In this embodiment, each support member 32 comprises a length of tubing, such as aluminum tubing. In this embodiment, support members 32 are removably mounted to the hose cart body 1, minimizing the cart's footprint for transport and storage. Support members 32 are secured in place via locknuts 33.

[0126] For example, from Figure 1 As can be seen in FIG, the pushing handle 3 is tilted forward on the housing 11 / drum 4. This can help the user to move the hose trolley from the operating configuration / storage configuration to the pushing configuration and / or to find a comfortable position for pushing.

[0127] Ballast material blocks 8 in the form of bricks (see Figure 5 and 6) are provided on the main body 1 of the hose trolley to increase stability and help resist undesirable translational movement of the hose trolley. Ballast is provided in the housing 11, in this case the ballast being bricks 8. A ballast receiving portion 16 is provided in the housing 11 for receiving the ballast, in this case the ballast being bricks 8.

[0128] The ballast material block 8 is arranged at the rear of the cart between the main wheels 2. It is arranged below the axle 21 that supports the main wheels 2. In the present embodiment, the ballast material block 8 is located just below the axle 21.

[0129] Ballast is provided above the contact portion 13a of the first bracket portion 13, in this case the ballast being bricks 8. This can help increase the resistance to movement of the hose trolley when in the operating configuration. It can also help resist forward tilting.

[0130] Other locations for ballast are less effective in preventing movement and / or forward tilting.

[0131] The ballast material block 8 may be located on supports on the inner wall of the housing 11 in the region of the first bracket portion 13 .

[0132] Another factor to consider is the potential for the hose to tilt backwards during rewinding, particularly if the stop 52 (see Figure 6 ) impacting the housing 1. In this case, weight at the front of the cart is helpful but impractical for other reasons. It has been found that placing the ballast as low as possible at the rear of the cart reduces the risk of an increased tendency to tip backwards during retraction.

[0133] The ballast, in this case a brick 8, is positioned behind and below the center of mass of the hose trolley. When the hose trolley is carrying the hose as a hose trolley arrangement, the ballast is behind the center of mass of the hose trolley arrangement. This also holds true when the hose is fully unwound from the drum 4.

[0134] In this embodiment, the ballast material blocks 8 are concrete blocks / bricks having a mass of 2.8 kg to 3.2 kg and a dry density in the region of 2200 kg / m 3 .

[0135] In this type of product, a mass of 2.5 kg to 7.5 kg may be suitable. A mass less than 7.5 kg will not provide sufficient stabilization, and a mass greater than 7.5 kg may be impractical from a product perspective; the housing required to support the larger mass would have to be sturdy. In addition, a mass of this size would make the cart cumbersome to use / maneuver.

[0136] In the alternative, different forms of ballast may be used, such as metal blocks, water, sand or other aggregate material.

[0137] The position of the ballast and the mass used can be selected so that the resulting centre of mass is above the wheel axle 21 when the hose cart is in an ergonomically suitable position for pushing the handle 3 .

[0138] As the hose is pulled from the drum, the tendency of the hose cart to move forward or to topple over will increase. As the hose is pulled from the drum, the mass of the cart decreases, and the spring force in the reel mechanism 5 increases as the hose is pulled from the drum 4.

[0139] When designing / manufacturing the cart, the ballast can be positioned as far and low as possible in the cart, and the mass used can be selected so as to resist forward movement of the cart and forward tipping of the cart when the cart is placed on flat ground (such as a patio) and the hose is pulled out of the cart to the point where the entrained hose is fully unrolled from the roller 4.

Claims

1. A hose cart comprising: Cart body; a hose drum for carrying a hose, wherein the hose drum is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the cart body to allow the hose to be wound onto and unwound from the drum; an automatic hose rewinding mechanism, configured to drive the drum to rotate so as to rewind the hose onto the drum; and at least one main wheel assembly rotatably mounted on the trolley body to facilitate a user's pushing translational motion of the hose trolley relative to the ground, Wherein, a ballast device is provided on the trolley body so as to resist the movement of the hose trolley relative to the ground when the user unfolds the hose from the drum.

2. The hose cart according to claim 1, wherein: The ballast means comprises blocks of ballast material.

3. The hose trolley according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: The density of the ballast material is at least 1500 kg / m 3 .

4. A hose trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The mass of the ballast means is at least 2 kg, preferably 2.5 kg to 7.5 kg.

5. A hose trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The hose trolley has a pushing configuration in which the at least one main wheel arrangement is in contact with the ground on which the trolley rests to facilitate pushing motion of the hose trolley, and an operating configuration for use when winding a hose onto and / or unwinding the hose from the drum.

6. The hose trolley of claim 5, comprising at least one frame portion by which the hose trolley is supported when in the operating configuration.

7. The hose cart of claim 6, comprising a first frame portion and a second frame portion.

8. The hose cart according to claim 7, wherein: The stroller body includes the first bracket portion, and the second bracket portion is pivotally mounted on the stroller body.

9. A hose trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The ballast device is arranged toward the rear of the cart body.

10. A hose trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The ballast arrangement is arranged in the region of the main wheel arrangement.

11. A hose trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The cart comprises a pair of main wheel arrangements, and the ballast arrangement is disposed between the pair of main wheel arrangements.

12. A hose trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The ballast device is arranged below the axle height of the main wheel device.

13. A hose trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The ballast device is disposed below and behind the center of mass of the hose cart.

14. The hose trolley of claim 7 or any one of claims 8 to 13 when dependent on claim 7, wherein: The ballast device is disposed on the cart body at a position above the first bracket portion.

15. A hose trolley according to claim 5 or any one of claims 6 to 14 when dependent on claim 5, wherein The mass and position of the ballast means are selected such that when the hose trolley is in the pushing configuration, the centre of mass of the hose trolley is above the axle of the main wheel means.

16. A hose trolley according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 15 when dependent on claim 6, wherein The at least one stand portion may include a gripping portion arranged to engage the ground on which the hose cart stands to resist translational movement of the cart relative to the ground.

17. A hose trolley according to claim 7 or any one of claims 8 to 16 when dependent on claim 7, wherein The second bracket portion is mounted on the cart body for movement between an operative position and a stowed position, the operative position being for supporting the hose cart.

18. A hose trolley according to claim 7 or any one of claims 8 to 16 when dependent on claim 7, wherein The hose trolley includes the first frame portion, the second frame portion and the auxiliary frame portion, wherein the trolley body includes the first frame portion and the auxiliary frame portion, wherein the second frame portion is mounted on the trolley body so as to be movable between a working position and a stowed position, the working position being used to support the hose trolley, and when the second frame portion is in the stowed position, the hose trolley can be supported on the ground via the first frame portion and the auxiliary frame portion.

19. A hose trolley according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 18 when dependent on claim 6, wherein At least one of the support sections includes rotational movement means to facilitate rotation of the hose cart about an axis transverse to the ground on which the cart stands.

20. The hose cart of claim 19, wherein: The rotational movement means comprises at least one auxiliary wheel means arranged to rotate about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the main wheel means.

21. The hose cart of claim 20, wherein: The rotational movement device includes a plurality of auxiliary wheel devices, the respective rotation axes of the auxiliary wheel devices being located in a common plane, the common plane being parallel to the ground on which the hose trolley stands when the hose trolley is supported by the frame portion, the auxiliary wheel devices being part of the frame portion, and the respective rotation axes of the auxiliary wheel devices being inclined relative to each other in the plane.

22. A hose trolley assembly comprising a hose trolley according to any preceding claim and a length of hose disposed on the drum.

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