A hose management system

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a hose management system (10) for a mixer tap, the hose management system (10) comprising: a housing (15) adapted to be mounted to a surface; a hose drum (35) mounted within the housing (15) and having a central axis (38), the hose drum (35) being rotatable about the central axis (38); a hose connector assembly (45) associated with the hose drum (35) and adapted to provide a fluid connection between an entry hose (50) and an exit hose (55); and a resiliently deformable member (110) operably associated with the hose drum (35) to drive rotation of the hose drum (35) and to facilitate extension and retraction of the exit hose (55) relative to the housing (15).

Description

A HOSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2023900445, filed on 21 February 2023. The entire disclosure of Australian Patent Application No. 2023900445is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a hose management system for a kitchen mixer faucet. In particular, the present invention relates to a hose management system for a kitchen mixer faucet having a pull-out hose for spraying purposes.

[0003] The invention has been developed primarily for use with kitchen faucets or taps, and will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use, and may also be employed in other applications or devices involving pull-out or retractable hoses.BACKGROUND

[0004] Kitchen mixer faucets may include a pull-out (retractable) hose for spraying purposes, for example, to wash vegetables or to clean the extremities of the kitchen basin. In such systems, the pull-out hose is movable between a storage or retracted position, in which the hose length is contained in an enclosure located below the basin in the bench / cupboard space, and an extended position, in which the hose length is located externally of the enclosure. Such systems typically rely on gravity weights attached to the hose to facilitate movement of the hose into the storage or retracted position.

[0005] However, systems that use gravity weights typically rely on the full height of the kitchen cabinet space to allow for an appropriate extension of the pull-out hose, therefore making such systems tall and bulky in size. Such systems are therefore unsuitable for most kitchen cabinet spaces below a basin, which typically have a very limited area due to the presence of other fittings or appliance services such as dishwasher power cords, mains water supply hoses andwaste pipes, food waste disposal unit power cords and waste attachments, mains water stopcock points, and / or hot water storage tanks with associated piping. Some fittings are also required to be positioned as close as possible to the kitchen mixer faucet, and preferably directly below. Accordingly, when such fittings are already installed (or are required to be installed), this adds to the complexity of locating a system for managing a pull-out hose in the vertical space below the faucet.

[0006] The gravity weights that are attached to a hose are also typically susceptible to snagging or catching on features within the kitchen cabinet space. The frequency of snagging events may be dependent on how the other fittings or appliance services are positioned within the cupboard. Additionally, the movement and contact of the hose and gravity weights within the enclosure in such systems typically result in undesirable contact noises during operation of the pull-out hose.

[0007] Other forms of systems for managing retractable hoses may rely on various types of mechanisms (such as ratchet mechanisms) to facilitate extension and retraction of the hose, and such systems may lead to a poor overall user experience.SUMMARY

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the disadvantages of existing arrangements, or at least provide a useful alternative to existing arrangements.

[0009] There is disclosed herein a hose management system for a mixer tap, the hose management system comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a surface; a hose drum mounted within the housing and having a central axis, the hose drum being rotatable about the central axis; a hose connector assembly associated with the hose drum and adapted to provide a fluid connection between an entry hose and an exit hose; and a resiliently deformable member operably associated with the hose drum to drive rotation of the hose drum and to facilitate extension and retraction of the exit hose relative to the housing.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, the resiliently deformable member facilitates extension or retraction of the exit hose at a constant force.

[0011] In one or more embodiments, the resiliently deformable member is a coil spring or power spring having a first end portion mounted to the hose drum and a second end portion mounted to the housing.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, a tension of the coil spring or power spring is user- adjustable to increase or decrease an extension or retraction force of the exit hose relative to the housing.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the hose connector assembly is disposed along the central axis and includes a first connector having an opening for connection with the exit hose, a second connector coupled to the first connector and extending through an aperture of the hose drum, and a third connector having an opening for connection with the entry hose.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the first connector and the second connector are integrally formed.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, a fluid channel is provided between the opening of the third connector for the entry hose, through the second connector, and the opening of the first connector for the exit hose.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, the second connector includes a body that projects substantially outwardly from the housing, with the third connector being mounted thereto to provide a connection point for the entry hose.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, the body of the second connector projects substantially outwardly from the front wall portion of the housing along the central axis, and the opening in the third connector for the entry hose extends in a direction transverse to the central axis.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, the opening in the first connector body for the exit hose extends in a direction transverse to the central axis.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the housing includes a plurality of wall portions defining a cavity to receive the hose drum, the plurality of wall portions including a front wall portion, a rear wall portion, a pair of side wall portions, a top wall portion, and a bottom wall portion.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, the hose management system further includes a swivel bracket to mount the housing to the surface, the swivel bracket having a top portion and a bottom portion that engages the respective top wall portion and bottom wall portion of the housing.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the top wall portion includes an opening for the exit hose to extend upwardly therethrough from the hose drum towards a kitchen mixer faucet.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the hose management system further includes a brush wiper disposed at the opening for the exit hose.

[0023] In one or more embodiments, the hose drum includes a plurality of radially projecting fins providing one or more hose tracks therebetween to guide the exit hose as the exit hose is wound or coiled around the hose drum.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, the one or more hose tracks guides the exit hose to be wound or coiled around the hose drum such that coil sections of the hose are separated and positioned side-by-side.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the housing has a height of between 200 to 210 mm, a width of between 200 to 210 mm, and a depth of between 60 to 70 mm.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, the housing has a height of about 206 mm, a width of about 207 mm, and a depth of about 66 mm.

[0027] There is also disclosed herein a hose management system for a mixer tap, the hose management system comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a surface; a hose drum mounted within the housing and having a central axis, the hose drum being rotatable about the central axis;a hose connector assembly associated with the hose drum; an entry hose extending from a fluid supply to the hose connector assembly and an exit hose extending from the hose connector assembly to the mixer tap, whereby the hose connector assembly is adapted to provide a fluid connection between the entry hose and the exit hose; and a resiliently deformable member operably associated with the hose drum to drive rotation of the hose drum and to facilitate extension and retraction of the exit hose relative to the housing.

[0028] In one or more embodiments, the exit hose is extendable to a length of between 500 to 850 mm relative to the mixer tap.

[0029] In one or more embodiments, a centre line of the hose management system and a centre line of the kitchen mixer faucet is spaced by a distance of up to 100 mm.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference signs designate like parts and in which:

[0031] Figure l is a schematic perspective view of a hose management system according to one embodiment;

[0032] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the hose management system shown in Figure 1 with a front housing portion removed;

[0033] Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the hose management system shown in Figure 1 with the front and side housing portions removed;

[0034] Figure 4 is a schematic sectioned side view of the hose management system shown in Figure 1;

[0035] Figure 5 is an enlarged schematic sectioned perspective view of a hose connector assembly of the hose management system shown in Figure 1;

[0036] Figure 6 is a schematic exploded front perspective view of the hose management system shown in Figure 1;

[0037] Figure 7 is a schematic exploded rear perspective view of the hose management system shown in Figure 1;

[0038] Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a hose management system;

[0039] Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of the hose management system shown in Figure 8 with a front housing portion removed;

[0040] Figure 10 is a schematic side view of the hose management system shown in Figure 8 with the front and side housing portions removed;

[0041] Figure 11 is a schematic sectioned side view of the hose management system shown in Figure 8;

[0042] Figure 12 is an enlarged schematic sectioned perspective view of a hose connector assembly of the hose management system shown in Figure 8;

[0043] Figure 13 is a schematic isometric view of a hose management system shown installed in a kitchen cabinet, with the front doors of the cabinet removed; and

[0044] Figure 14 is a further schematic isometric view of a hose management system shown installed in a kitchen cabinet, with the backing wall of the cabinet removed.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] In Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a hose management system 10 for use with a mixer tap or mixer faucet (for example, kitchen mixer faucet 300 as shown in Figures 13 and 14). For the purpose of this specification, the hose management system 10 will be described in relation to kitchen mixers, such as those involving a pull-out or retractable vegetable washer hose. It will, however, be understood that the hosemanagement system 10 may be suitable for any other types of faucets or taps or other water supply devices involving pull-out or retractable hoses, in both residential and commercial areas.

[0046] The hose management system 10 includes a housing 15 that is mountable to a surface (for example, backing wall 305 of kitchen cabinet 310 as shown in Figures 13 and 14), and will be described as such for the purpose of this specification. In the example shown, the housing 15 is mounted below a basin (for example, basin 315 as shown in Figures 13 and 14) so as to receive one or more hoses from above, although it will be understood that the housing 15 is not limited to the particular orientation or configuration shown in the drawings, and may be customised or adjusted depending on the design requirements of the system 10.

[0047] The housing 15 preferably has a compact form and may have a height of between approximately 200 to 210 mm, a width of between approximately 200 to 210 mm, and a depth of between 60 to 70 mm. In one form, the housing has a height of about 206 mm, a width of about 207 mm, a depth of about 66 mm. The compact form of the housing 15 may at least allow for the hose management system 10 to be installed in an area of the kitchen cabinet (for example) below the basin, which may have limited space. It will be understood that the dimensions provided above are merely exemplary and the housing 15 may have any height, width, and depth measurements to suit the design and installation requirements of the hose management system 10 or the area to which the system 10 is being installed (such as the kitchen cabinet space).

[0048] In the depicted embodiment, and as best shown in Figures 6 and 7, the housing 15 includes a number of separately formed wall portions defining a cavity or receiving space. The housing 15 may include a front wall portion 20, a rear wall portion 22, a pair of side wall portions 24, a top wall portion 26, and a bottom wall portion 28. In other embodiments (not shown), two or more of the wall portions described above may be integrally formed to reduce the number of parts required for manufacture or assembly.

[0049] In some embodiments, and as shown in the Figures, the housing 15 may be mounted to the cabinet wall (or any other suitable wall or structure) via a swivel mounting bracket 30 that moveably engages the top and bottom wall portions 26, 28. In this example, the use of the swivel mounting bracket 30 may allow for ease of alignment of the hose management system 10relative to the kitchen mixer faucet during installation, and may also allow for movement of the hose management system 10 during use. Conventional mechanical fasteners such as butterfly nuts or the like may be used to secure the housing to the swivel mounting bracket 30 once suitable alignment with the kitchen mixer faucet is achieved. It will, however, be appreciated that, in other embodiments (not shown), the housing 15 may alternatively be directly mounted to the cabinet wall (or any other suitable wall or structure) via any one or more of the wall portions, such as the rear wall portion 22. It will also be appreciated that the housing 15 may be mounted to the cabinet wall using other types of mounting brackets or devices which, depending on the design requirements of the hose management system 10, may not necessarily be required to have a swivel function. The housing 15 may further include a removable water tray having a rotational seal. The water tray may be provided to allow a user to easily remove water that may collect in the system 10 and clean or maintain the housing 15 accordingly.

[0050] The hose management system 10 further includes a hose drum 35 mounted in the cavity or receiving space of the housing 15. The hose drum 35 has a central axis 38 and in use, the hose drum 35 is rotatable about the central axis 38 relative to the housing 15. It will be appreciated that, in typical installations, the hose drum 35 may be installed centrally within the housing 15 such that the central axis 38 of the hose drum 35 also becomes (or aligns with) the central axis of the hose management system 10. For example, in the depicted embodiment, the hose drum 35 may be installed such that the central axis 38 is aligned with a centrepoint of the front and rear wall portions 20 and 22. The hose drum 35 may accommodate the coiling of a hose in one or more planes, and which may or may not be guided by tracks. In a preferred form, and as will be described in further detail below, the hose drum 35 allows for the turns or coil sections of a hose to be separated and positioned side-by side.

[0051] In some embodiments, and as shown in the Figures, the hose management system 10 may include a drum axle 40 to facilitate the mounting of the hose drum 35 within the housing 15. The hose drum 35 may have a central aperture to receive a hose connector assembly 45 which is in turn mounted to the drum axle 40. In the depicted embodiment, the drum axle 40 is formed separately from the housing 15 and may be secured to the rear wall portion 22 by way of conventional mechanical fasteners. In other embodiments (not shown), the drum axle 40 may be an integrally formed part of the housing 15 such that the hose drum 35 may be rotatably mounted directly to the housing 15. The drum axle 40 may include an inner ring wall 42 and anouter ring wall 44, with the inner ring wall 42 defining an opening to receive a portion of the hose connector assembly 45. It will be appreciated that the configuration of the drum axle 40 is not necessarily limited to the features of the inner ring wall 42 and outer ring wall 44 as described above, and may include other projections or recesses suitable for engaging the hose connector assembly 45 and / or the housing 15.

[0052] The hose connector assembly 45 may include a number of interconnecting parts that provide a fluid connection between an entry hose 50 and an exit hose 55. The entry hose 50 and the exit hose 55 may be provided with the system 10, or may alternatively be part of an existing mixer faucet installation to which the hose management system 10 may be retrofitted. It will therefore be appreciated that the hose connector assembly 45 may be provided with either unique hose connections for a custom installation or standard hose connections for a standard installation for existing systems. The entry hose 50 may extend from a water supply (for example, water supply 320 as shown in Figures 13 and 14) to the hose management system 10, and the exit hose 55 may extend from the hose management system 10 to a mixer faucet (for example, kitchen mixer faucet 300 as shown in Figures 13 and 14). In the depicted embodiment, and as best shown in Figures 5 to 7, the hose connector assembly 45 may include a first connector 60, a second connector 62 that is coupled to the first connector 60, and a third connector 64 that is coupled to the second connector 62. In other embodiments, and as will be described in further detail below, two or more of the connectors 60, 62, and 64 may be integrally formed.

[0053] The first connector 60 may extend through the central aperture of the hose drum 35 along the central axis 38 and includes a body 70 having a first end portion 72 and an opposing second end portion 74. In the depicted embodiment, the first end portion 72 is received by the opening of the inner ring wall 42 of the drum axle 40 and the second end portion 74 includes an opening 75 to receive the second connector 62. The body 70 may be connectable to the exit hose 55 via an opening at a top or side portion thereof and includes a fluid channel 76 that extends between the opening to the exit hose 55 and the opening 75 of the second end portion 74 so as to provide a fluid connection therebetween.

[0054] The second connector 62 may also extend along the central axis 38 and includes a body 80 having a first end portion 82, a second end portion 84, and a fluid channel 86 extendingbetween the first and second end portions 82, 84. The fluid channel 86 may extend in a first direction along the central axis 38 and then in second direction transverse to the central axis 38. In the depicted embodiment, the first end portion 82 of the second connector body 80 is received by the second end portion 74 of the first connector body 70. Accordingly, a fluid connection between the fluid channel 76 of the first connector body 70 and the fluid channel 86 of the second connector body 80 may be provided.

[0055] The third connector 64 includes a body 90 which may include a first body portion 92 and a second body portion 94. The first body portion 92 may extend in a first direction along the central axis 38 and the second body portion 94 may extend from the first body portion 92 in a second direction transverse to the central axis 38. The first and second body portions 92 and 94 may alternatively extend along the same direction. A fluid channel 96 is provided in the first and second body portions 92, 94. In the depicted embodiment, the second end portion 74 of the second connector body 80 is mounted in the fluid channel 96 of the third connector body 90. A fluid connection between the fluid channel 86 of the second connector body 80 and the fluid channel 96 of the third connector body 90 may thus be provided. The second body portion 94 includes an opening for the fluid channel 96 that is connectable to the entry hose 50.

[0056] The assembly of the first, second, and third connectors 60, 62, and 64 in the manner described above may thereby allow for a connected fluid pathway from the entry hose 50, the fluid channel 96, the fluid channel 86, the fluid channel 76, and the exit hose 55. In the depicted embodiment, the second connector 62 extends from within the housing 15 through an aperture in the front wall portion 20 to the outside of the housing 15. The third connector 64 is mounted to the second connector 62 to provide a connection for the entry hose 50, which is also located outside of the housing 15. Accordingly, in a preferred installed configuration of the hose management system 10, a part of the second connector 62 projects outwardly from the front wall portion 20 of the housing 15, with the third connector 64 and mounted thereto. The entry hose 50 may thus be easily connected to the system 10 via the third connector 64. It will, however, be appreciated that the position of entry hose 50 relative to the housing 15 is not necessarily limited to the features of the configuration described above, and may be customised to suit the design or installation requirements of the system 10.

[0057] The exit hose 55 may extend from the opening in the first connector body 70, around or about the hose drum 35, and through an aperture 27 in the top wall portion 26 to the outside of the housing 15. In the depicted embodiment, the exit hose 55 extends vertically upward through the aperture 27 in the top wall portion 26 to facilitate the connection with the mixer faucet (for example, kitchen mixer faucet 300 as shown in Figures 13 and 14), which would typically be located above the system 10. It will, however, be appreciated that the position of exit hose 55 relative to the housing 15 not necessarily limited to the features of the configuration described above, and may be customised to suit the design or installation requirements of the system 10. It is envisaged that the system 10 may further include a brush wiper (not shown), or other form of protection, at the aperture 27 of the top wall portion 26 (i.e. the exit point of the exit hose 55) to prevent ingress of foreign objects or debris which may jam the system 10.

[0058] The exit hose 55 may be wound or coiled around the hose drum 35 more than once (resulting in one or more turns of the coil, or coil sections) to accommodate for variations in the length of the exit hose 55. The hose drum 35 may include a plurality of radially projecting fins or guides 100 providing one or more hose tracks therebetween to guide the exit hose 55 as the exit hose 55 is wound or coiled around the hose drum 35. In this arrangement, the plurality of radially projecting fins or guides 100 may at least allow for the turns or coil sections of the hose to be separated and positioned side-by-side, which may thereby prevent the turns or coil sections from interfering with one another. This arrangement may thus at least reduce friction and ensure that the turns or coil sections of the hose may not overlap, which would otherwise cause undesirable pinching / snagging issues and potential malfunction of the system itself.

[0059] It will be appreciated that one or more features of the hose drum 35 as described above may at least allow for the turns or coil sections of the hose to have a constant radius or diameter, which may at least ensure that the torque experienced is consistent throughout the extension of the hose. This arrangement may accompany or align with a spring force of a resiliently deformable member or coil spring (as described below) so as to at least provide an even and consistent pull-out force of the hose (as opposed to variable pull-out forces which are characteristic of conventional hose reel systems).

[0060] The hose management system 10 further includes a resiliently deformable member or coil spring 110 operatively associated with the hose drum 35 to drive rotation of the hose drum35 and to facilitate extension and retraction of the exit hose 55 relative to the housing 15. In some embodiments, the coil spring 110 may be a directional power spring to provide for a constant pull-out force of the exit hose 55 from the kitchen mixer faucet. In the depicted embodiment, the coil spring 110 is disposed within a recess of the hose drum 35 adjacent the rear wall portion 22 of the housing 15. The coil spring 110 may have a first end 115 coupled with the hose drum 35 and a second end 120 coupled with the drum axle 40 (or any stationary component of the system 10). The first end 115 may, for example, be mounted to a projection or recess of the hose drum 35 as shown in the drawings, and the second end 120 may be mounted to any stationary component of the system 10 (such as the housing 15). It will, however, be appreciated that the position of coil spring 110 relative to hose drum 35 or other components of the housing 15 is not necessarily limited to the configuration described above or as shown in the drawings, and may be customised to suit the design or installation requirements of the system 10.

[0061] It will be appreciated that the coil spring 110 may operate in conjunction the hose drum 35, whereby a spring force of the coil spring 110 and a diameter of the hose drum 35 may be selected and / or or adjusted to provide an even and consistent pull-out force experienced by the user. Accordingly, one or more of the parameters of the system 10 may be selected and / or adjusted to optimise the user experience, for example, allowing the user to hold the hose comfortably, without excessive force, and for long periods (if required), at any hose pull-out (extended) length. It will be appreciated that the above arrangement may avoid the use of a ratchet hold function, for example, which is common in typical hose reel systems (such as shower hose and garden hose systems) in which the user experience lacks finesse as it is not typically an important design consideration. In contrast, the pull-out force experienced by the user in the arrangement of the hose management system 10 described above may at least be light and comfortable whilst still allowing the slack in the hose to be suitably withdrawn to ensure that only the necessary length of the hose is pulled out or extended at any time (thereby ensuring that no unnecessary hose is cluttering the sink / basin area).

[0062] Depending on where the hose management system 10 is installed relative to the kitchen mixer faucet, the system 10 may accommodate a hose pull-out (extended) length, being the extended length of the exit hose 55 relative to an opening of the kitchen mixer faucet, of up to 1000 mm. In a preferred form, the extended length of the exit hose 55 relative to the opening ofthe kitchen mixer faucet may be between 500 to 850 mm. An exemplary extended length L of the exit hose 55 relative to the opening of the kitchen mixer faucet 300 is shown in Figures 13 and 14. It will, however, be understood that the dimensions provided above are merely exemplary and the hoses may have any length to suit the design and installation requirements of the hose management system 10.

[0063] The tension of the coil spring 110 may also be adjusted to customise the extension or retraction force (or speed) of the exit hose 55 relative to the housing 15 to best suit the design requirements or the requirements of the user, and to overcome any associated weight and friction forces.

[0064] It will be appreciated that, due to the arrangement of the entry and exit locations of the entry and exit hoses 50 and 55 in the embodiment described above, a centre line of the hose management system 10 (for example, centre line 330 of the hose management system 10 as shown in Figures 13 and 14) may be installed at an offset distance D from the centre line of the kitchen faucet (for example, centre line 340 of the kitchen mixer faucet 300 as shown in Figures 13 and 14) and not necessarily directly below. It is envisaged that the centre line of the hose management system 10 may be installed at an offset D of up to 100 mm from the centre line of the kitchen faucet when installed at the base of the kitchen cabinet space. Further, in the example as shown in Figures 13 and 14, the central axis 38 of the hose management system 10 may be installed at a height H from a base portion 350 of the kitchen mixer faucet 300. Due to the arrangement of the hose management system 10 described above, this height H may be adjusted to any desired height, depending on the design requirements of the system, such that the hose management system 10 may be positioned at any suitable location between the base of the kitchen cabinet 310 and the basin 315.

[0065] In Figures 8 to 12 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a further embodiment of a hose management system 200 which operates in generally the same manner as the system 10 described above, with like reference numerals being used to indicate like features. In the interest of clarity, the description of the like features of this embodiment will not be repeated, and it will be understood that any one or more of the like features or functions of the embodiment of the hose management system 10 are applicable to the embodiment of the hose management system 200, and vice versa. In this embodiment, and asdiscussed above, various parts of the hose connector assembly 45 are integrally formed so as to provide a simpler design.

[0066] As best shown in Figure 12, the first connector 60 (including the body 70 and first end portion 72) and the second connector 62 (including the body 80 and the first end portion 82) are formed as a single integrated connector 205 having a fluid channel 210. The fluid channel 210 may be envisaged as a combination of the fluid channel 76 and the fluid channel 86 described above. This integrated connector 205 may then be coupled to the third connector 64 such that a connected fluid pathway may be provided from the entry hose 50, the fluid channel 96, the fluid channel 210, and the exit hose 55. Similar to the embodiment described above, a part of the integrated connector 205 may project outwardly from the front wall portion 20 of the housing 15, with the third connector 64 and mounted thereto. In this embodiment, the third connector 64 substantially encloses the projecting part of the integrated connector 205. The entry hose 50 may thus be easily connected to the system 10 or 200 via the third connector 64.

[0067] Various forms of the hose management system described above may have one or more of the following advantages. The arrangement of the coil spring operatively associated with the hose drum may at least provide for a power-driven extension and retraction of the exit hose without relying on weight-driven gravity forces to drive the same, which would otherwise require the full height of the kitchen cabinet space below the basin. The arrangement of the coil spring operatively associated with the hose drum may also avoid the need for unwieldy mechanisms (such as ratchet mechanisms) which may lead to poor user experience from inconsistent or uneven forces during extension of the hose. The above arrangements may also allow the housing of the hose management system to have a compact form factor, thereby saving space and allowing for flexible (multi-orientational) and easy installation of the hose management system. The ability of the hose management system to facilitate extension and retraction of the exit hose may keep the hose from hanging loose in the kitchen cabinet space, thereby providing a neat and controlled storage for the hose.

[0068] Due to the various arrangements and mechanisms of the hose management system that allow it to have a compact form factor, the hose management system may be positioned at the most convenient height and / or offset from the centre of the kitchen mixer faucet within the kitchen cabinet space below the basin. The use of a coil spring may provide for a more refineduser experience, allowing for a constant or smooth, adjustable pull-out force of the exit hose from the kitchen faucet such that the user may comfortably pull out the hose. The use of a coil spring arrangement operatively associated with a hose drum may also reduce or altogether eliminate contact noises between parts, which would otherwise be present in a conventional weight-driven gravity system. The hose management system may in general provide very few moving parts or surfaces that rub relative to one another, thus reducing operational noises compared to conventional weight-driven gravity systems. The management of the exit hose within the housing may also ensure that the hose is not susceptible to snagging or catching on other physical features within the kitchen cabinet space.

[0069] Although specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternative and / or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

[0070] It will also be appreciated that in this document the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “include”, “including”, “contain”, “containing”, “have”, “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to be understood in an inclusive (i.e. non-exclusive) sense, such that the process, method, device, apparatus or system described herein is not limited to those features or parts or elements or steps recited but may include other elements, features, parts or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, the terms “a” and “an” used herein are intended to be understood as meaning one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise. Moreover, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A hose management system for a mixer tap, the hose management system comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a surface; a hose drum mounted within the housing and having a central axis, the hose drum being rotatable about the central axis; a hose connector assembly associated with the hose drum and adapted to provide a fluid connection between an entry hose and an exit hose; and a resiliently deformable member operably associated with the hose drum to drive rotation of the hose drum and to facilitate extension and retraction of the exit hose relative to the housing.

2. The hose management system of claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable member facilitates extension or retraction of the exit hose at a constant force.

3. The hose management system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the resiliently deformable member is a coil spring or power spring having a first end portion mounted to the hose drum and a second end portion mounted to the housing.

4. The hose management system of claim 3, wherein a tension of the coil spring or power spring is user-adjustable to increase or decrease an extension or retraction force of the exit hose relative to the housing.

5. The hose management system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hose connector assembly is disposed along the central axis and includes a first connector having an opening for connection with the exit hose, a second connector coupled to the first connector and extending through an aperture of the hose drum, and a third connector having an opening for connection with the entry hose.

6. The hose management system of claim 5, wherein the first connector and the second connector are integrally formed.

7. The hose management system of claim 5 or 6, wherein a fluid channel is provided between the opening of the third connector for the entry hose, through the second connector, and the opening of the first connector for the exit hose.

8. The hose management system of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the second connector includes a body that projects substantially outwardly from the housing, with the third connector being mounted thereto to provide a connection point for the entry hose.

9. The hose management system of claim 8, wherein the body of the second connector projects substantially outwardly from the front wall portion of the housing along the central axis, and the opening in the third connector for the entry hose extends in a direction transverse to the central axis.

10. The hose management system of any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the opening in the first connector body for the exit hose extends in a direction transverse to the central axis.

11. The hose management system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing includes a plurality of wall portions defining a cavity to receive the hose drum, the plurality of wall portions including a front wall portion, a rear wall portion, a pair of side wall portions, a top wall portion, and a bottom wall portion.

12. The hose management system of claim 11, further including a swivel bracket to mount the housing to the surface, the swivel bracket having a top portion and a bottom portion that engages the respective top wall portion and bottom wall portion of the housing.

13. The hose management system of claim 12 or 13, wherein the top wall portion includes an opening for the exit hose to extend upwardly therethrough from the hose drum towards a kitchen mixer faucet.

14. The hose management system of claim 13, further including a brush wiper disposed at the opening for the exit hose.

15. The hose management system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hose drum includes a plurality of radially projecting fins providing one or more hose tracks therebetween to guide the exit hose as the exit hose is wound or coiled around the hose drum.

16. The hose management system of claim 15, wherein the one or more hose tracks guides the exit hose to be wound or coiled around the hose drum such that coil sections of the hose are separated and positioned side-by-side.

17. The hose management system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing has a height of between 200 to 210 mm, a width of between 200 to 210 mm, and a depth of between 60 to 70 mm.

18. The hose management system of claim 17, wherein the housing has a height of about 206 mm, a width of about 207 mm, and a depth of about 66 mm.

19. A hose management system for a mixer tap, the hose management system comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted to a surface; a hose drum mounted within the housing and having a central axis, the hose drum being rotatable about the central axis; a hose connector assembly associated with the hose drum; an entry hose extending from a fluid supply to the hose connector assembly and an exit hose extending from the hose connector assembly to the mixer tap, whereby the hose connector assembly is adapted to provide a fluid connection between the entry hose and the exit hose; and a resiliently deformable member operably associated with the hose drum to drive rotation of the hose drum and to facilitate extension and retraction of the exit hose relative to the housing.

20. The hose management system of claim 20, wherein the exit hose is extendable to a length of between 500 to 850 mm relative to the mixer tap.

21. The hose management system of claim 19 or 20, wherein a centre line of the hose management system and a centre line of the kitchen mixer faucet is spaced by a distance of up to 100 mm.

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