Pull-Out Hose Guide With Translational Spring Retraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pull-out hose guide devices are limited by their structure, functionality, assembly, and handling, particularly in terms of weight, installation orientation, and user effort required to extend and retract the hose.

Innovation Solution

A pull-out hose guide device with a translational spring retraction unit coupled to a guide roller assembly, allowing adjustable spring preload to reduce user effort and enable installation in any spatial orientation, featuring a lightweight design and compact construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional spring retraction roller or guide weight roller is used, then the hose can be automatically retracted, but the device becomes heavy and limited in installation orientation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation orientationVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical spring retraction roller or guide weight roller with a translational spring retraction unit. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy rollers while maintaining the automatic retraction function, thereby reducing device weight and enabling installation in any spatial orientation without being constrained by gravity-dependent mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the retraction mechanism from rotational (roller-based) to translational (linear spring-based). This parameter change allows the device to function independently of gravitational orientation, improving adaptability while using lighter components compared to traditional roller mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a guide roller arrangement with rotational movement is used, then the hose can be guided smoothly, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose guidance smoothnessVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the complex rotational guide roller mechanism with a simpler translational spring retraction unit. The guide part translates linearly along the hose bend length direction, eliminating the need for rotational joints and complex bearing arrangements, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining smooth hose guidance through the translational movement of the guide roller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the device into distinct functional components: a stationary device part, a translational guide part, and a spring retraction unit. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall structure compared to integrated rotational mechanisms while ensuring smooth hose guidance through the dedicated guide roller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Extent of automation

If a spring retraction roller with winding mechanism is used, then automatic retraction is achieved, but the device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic retractionVSAvoidretrieval device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the winding-based spring retraction roller mechanism with a translational spring retraction unit. Instead of winding the spring around a rotating roller, the spring directly translates linearly, eliminating the winding mechanism and reducing device complexity while maintaining automatic retraction functionality through the translational movement of the guide roller assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary winding mechanism from the spring retraction system. By using a direct translational spring arrangement rather than a winding roller, the invention removes redundant mechanical components, simplifying the retrieval device structure while preserving the automatic retraction capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device provides reduced user effort for extending and retracting the hose, supports installation in any desired position, and maintains a lightweight and compact form factor, enhancing ease of assembly and operation.

Implementation Method 1

The retrieval device (7) includes a spring retraction unit (8), i.e., a unit that provides a spring retraction force, i.e. a spring force for retracting a retractable object coupled to it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The guide roller arrangement (4) has a guide part (5) which is guided on the stationary device part (3) for translational movement, and at least one guide roller (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP4450721B1Pull-out hose guiding device and sanitary shower
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 HANS GROHE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4450721B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4450721B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4450721B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

1. Pull-out hose guide device and sanitary shower. 2.1. The invention relates to a pull-out hose guide device for guiding a pull-out hose (1) with a hose bend (1b) of variable hose bend length, in particular a pull-out hose of a sanitary shower, comprising a stationary device part (3), a guide roller arrangement (4) which is guided translationally on the stationary device part in a hose bend length direction (SLR) and which has a guide element that is guided translationally on the stationary device part, and a guide roller that can be inserted into a bend reversal area of ​​the hose bend (1a), and a retraction device coupled to the guide roller arrangement (4) which includes a spring return unit. 2.2. According to the invention, the retraction device comprises a retraction element (9) which can be wound onto the spring return unit and unwound and wound up with a variable portion of its length.The spring return unit is translationally coupled to the guide roller assembly (4), and the retraction element (9) is fixed to the stationary device part by a fastening section (9a). 2.3. Use e.g. for bathtub hand showers and kitchen pull-out showers. 3. Fig. 4.