DEVICE FOR WINDING A HOSE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for winding a flexible tube. By flexible tube is meant, for example, pipes, ropes, electric wires or cables.

[0002] Generally, it is difficult to wind garden hoses, pool vacuum hoses or electrical cables because they twist and kink in all directions and therefore deteriorate quickly. It is very difficult to wind them satisfactorily.

[0003] The present invention has the function of facilitating the winding of a flexible tube.

[0004] In very different technical fields, document US 321,554 is known, which shows a means of connecting chains, and document JP 2007 126931 A, which teaches a means of inserting a cable to prevent a panel from falling. US 7,841,571 B1 shows a device for holding a fiber optic cable.

[0005] The latter document relates to a device comprising two blades pressed against each other and pivoting together along their respective axes of axial symmetry which constitute a pivot axis, one of these blades having on its left edge a notch open upwards which is formed by a first arc of a circle whose origin is a connection point located on the right edge of this notch and on the longitudinal axis of this blade, a diameter of the first arc of a circle being supported by this longitudinal axis, this first arc of a circle having a central angle at least equal to 180°.

[0006] It appears that it is not possible to introduce into the devices referred to above an element with a diameter equal to that of the arc of a circle. This element must have a significantly smaller size, so that it is impossible to hold it in place or to immobilize it.

[0007] The present invention thus relates to a device designed to hold a flexible tube in order to be able to roll it up easily.

[0008] According to the invention, a device for winding a flexible tube comprises two identical blades pressed head to tail against each other and pivoting together along their respective axes of axial symmetry which constitute a pivot axis, defined as follows: one of these blades has on its left edge a notch open upwards which is formed by a first arc of a circle whose origin is a connection point located on the right edge of this notch and on the longitudinal axis of this blade, a diameter of the first arc of a circle which corresponds to the diameter of the flexible tube is supported by the longitudinal axis, and the first arc of a circle has an angle at the center at least equal to 180°; furthermore, when this device is open, that is to say when the blades are separated, said flexible tube can be introduced into one of the notches.

[0009] This creates a first loop on the pipe, which has two strands. The device is opened to insert the two strands into the corresponding notches. Finally, the device is closed to trap the two strands, which are thus immobilized. The loop is then simply turned to wind the pipe.

[0010] Advantageously, the notch projects upwards from the connection point of a second arc of a circle of the same diameter as that of the first arc of a circle and tangent to this first arc of a circle at this connection point, the center of the second arc of a circle appearing to the right of the connection point on the longitudinal axis.

[0011] By doing this, the circle formed by the two blades is ensured that it is not obstructed in any way when the device is operated.

[0012] Preferably, the central angle of the first arc of the circle is between 180° and 230°.

[0013] It is indeed preferable that this angle at the center exceeds 180° to slightly pinch the pipe when it is introduced into the device.

[0014] For example, the central angle is 225°.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, a spacer is arranged on the pivot axis between the two blades.

[0016] For convenience, holding means are provided which are attached to the pivot axis.

[0017] Finally, we can provide a stop on one of these blades, a stop which is perpendicular to this blade.

[0018] The present invention will now appear in more detail in the context of the following description of an exemplary embodiment given by way of illustration with reference to the appended figures which represent: there figure 1 , a diagram of a blade according to the invention, the figure 2 , a diagram of the open device, and the figure 3 , a diagram of the closed device.

[0019] Elements present in several figures are assigned a single reference.

[0020] In reference to the figure 1 , a blade LA appears as an elongated rectangular plate with rounded short sides, this plate having a longitudinal axis LG. It has axial symmetry with respect to its center PIV which forms a pivot axis.

[0021] The blade LA has on its left edge a notch EC open upwards. A connection point PR is defined as the point of intersection of the right edge of the notch EC and the longitudinal axis LG.

[0022] This notch takes the form of a first arc of a circle ARC1 which originates at the connection point PR and which develops in a clockwise direction, it being understood that the center C of this arc of a circle ARC1 is located to the left of the connection point PR on the longitudinal axis LG.

[0023] The first arc of a circle ARC1 has a central angle denoted α. This central angle α is at least equal to 180°. In practice, it exceeds this value to go up to 230°. Typically, it is around 225°.

[0024] The notch EC extends upwards preferably by a second arc of a circle ARC2 originating at the connection point PR.

[0025] This second arc ARC2 has its center to the right of the connection point PR on the longitudinal axis LG. It has the same diameter as the first arc ARC1 and extends clockwise from its origin PR. It ends when it meets the upper edge of the blade LA.

[0026] In fact, this particular shape of the notch makes it possible to avoid an obstruction of the first arc of the circle ARC1, as will appear later.

[0027] The notch EC can take a different shape to the right of the connection point provided that it extends beyond the second arc of the circle ARC2.

[0028] We note that the two circular arcs ARC1, ARC2 are tangent to the connection point PR along a straight line which is vertical in the figure.

[0029] The LA blade has axial symmetry along the PIV pivot axis. It therefore has another inverted notch on the right edge of the LA blade. This other notch will not be described further since it results from a symmetry.

[0030] In reference to the figure 2 , two blades, the upper blade 21 and the lower blade 22 are assembled head to tail according to their pivot axis PIV which is common. The assembly means (not shown) can be a bolt, a maté axis, a rivet or any other similar means known to those skilled in the art.

[0031] On the first blade 21, there is a stop 23 which projects towards the rear and is therefore perpendicular to the blade. This stop has a dual function: it makes it easier to handle the device, and it limits the rotation of the two blades 21, 22 relative to each other.

[0032] It is possible to provide a spacer (not shown) between the two blades 21, 22 along the PIV pivot axis.

[0033] The device is shown here open, so that a flexible tube can be inserted into one of the notches provided that it has the same diameter as the arcs of the circle.

[0034] In addition, a loop can be formed, thus having two strands, to introduce the first strand into the upper notch of the upper blade 21 and the second strand into the lower notch of this same blade.

[0035] In reference to the figure 3 , the device is shown closed. We can clearly see the two circles formed by the two blades when their longitudinal axes are aligned.

[0036] These two circles each allow one strand of the loop to be trapped. They must not be obstructed when closing the device, hence the shape of the notch which extends beyond the second arc of the circle ARC2.

[0037] There are also holding means 25 intended to trap the flexible tube when it is completely rolled up. This may be a lace or a ribbon with a self-gripping strip. Ideally, it is fixed to the PIV pivot axis.

[0038] The exemplary embodiment of the invention presented above was chosen with regard to its concrete nature. However, it would not be possible to exhaustively list all the embodiments covered by this invention, which is defined in the claims.

Claims

1. Device for winding a flexible tube, comprising two identical blades (LA, 21, 22) placed head-to-tail against each other and pivotally connected along their respective axial symmetry axes, which define a pivot axis (PIV), Here below defined: - one of said blades (LA) has, on its left edge, a notch (EC) open upwards, formed by a first circular arc (ARC1) whose origin is a connection point (PR) located on the right edge of this notch and on the longitudinal axis (LG) of said blade, - a diameter of said first circular arc, corresponding to the diameter of said flexible tube, is supported by said longitudinal axis, and - said first circular arc has a central angle (α) of at least 180°; characterized in that, when open, i.e., when the blades (LA, 21, 22) are spread, said flexible tube can be inserted into one of the notches (EC).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said notch extends upwards from said connection point (PR) by a second circular arc (ARC2) having the same diameter as said first circular arc (ARC1) and tangent to said first circular arc at said connection point, the center of the second circular arc being located to the right of said connection point on said longitudinal axis (LG).

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the central angle (α) of said first circular arc (ARC1) is between 180° and 230°.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said central angle (α) is 225°.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spacer is disposed on said pivot axis (PIV) between the two blades (21, 22).

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that retaining means (25) are provided, which are fixed to said pivot axis (PIV).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a stop (23) is provided on one of said blades (LA, 21, 22), said stop being perpendicular to this blade.