Granted Patent B2

US 8,245,985 · App. 12/429,304 · Granted Aug 21, 2012

Abstract

Claims (37)

1. A hose hanger device for use in combination with a water timer including a base assembly having a conduit structure defining an inlet with an inlet fitting, an outlet with an outlet fitting and a valve mechanism therebetween operable to prevent or enable water flow through the conduit structure, and an input and display module removably mounted on the base assembly and having an input and display panel configured to provide input signals to timer circuitry for controlling the valve mechanism in response to user actuation and to display indicia relating to an operating state of the water timer, said hose hanger device comprising:

a housing defining a hose support surface for supporting a hose coiled thereon, said housing including a front face and an opposite back face, and further including a wall extending between said front face and said back face;

a receptacle between said front and back faces and said wall, said receptacle sized to receive the base assembly of the water timer therein and said wall arranged to support the base assembly of the water timer, said receptacle further defining receptacle openings corresponding to the inlet and outlet of the base assembly when the base assembly is disposed within said receptacle, one of said receptacle openings defined in said wall; and

an opening defined in said front face and communicating with said receptacle, said opening sized to permit passage of the base assembly therethrough for placement within said receptacle, wherein said receptacle is sized to support the base assembly of the water timer so that the input and display module may be removably mounted on the base assembly with the module substantially flush with said front face of said housing.

2. The hose hanger device of claim 1 , wherein said receptacle includes

a tab extending across said one of said receptacle openings, said tab defining a hole sized to receive one of the inlet fitting and outlet fitting of the base assembly of the water timer therethrough when the base assembly is disposed within said receptacle.

3. The hose hanger device of claim 2 , wherein said tab is resiliently deflectable relative to said receptacle opening.

4. The hose hanger device of claim 1 , wherein:

the other of said receptacle openings is sized to receive a top portion of the base assembly of the water timer, including a fitting of the base assembly, therethrough; and

said front face of said housing includes a front panel arranged to conceal the top portion of the base assembly behind said front panel.

5. The hose hanger device of claim 1 , wherein:

the other of said receptacle openings is sized to receive a top portion of the base assembly of the water timer, including a fitting of the base assembly, therethrough; and

said hose hanger device further comprises a water conduit having a first fitting adapted to engage a fitting of the base assembly, a second fitting configured for fluid engagement with a hose, and a flow passageway between said first and second fittings and defining a non-linear angle therebetween.

6. The hose hanger device of claim 5 , wherein said non-linear angle is about 60 degrees.

7. The hose hanger device of claim 5 , wherein said housing defines a notch beneath said hose support surface, said notch sized to receive a hose therethrough when the hose is engaged to said second fitting of said water conduit.

8. The hose hanger device of claim 5 , wherein:

said front face of said housing includes a front panel arranged to conceal said water conduit behind said front panel; and

said housing defines a bracket extending rearward from a rear surface of said front panel toward said water conduit to support said conduit.

9. The hose hanger device of claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a lattice between said hose support surface and said receptacle.

10. A hose hanger device for use with a water timer including a base assembly having a conduit structure defining an inlet, an outlet and a valve mechanism therebetween operable to prevent or enable water flow through the conduit structure, and an input and display module removably mounted on the base assembly with a user interface panel, said hose hanger device comprising:

a housing defining a hose support surface for supporting a hose coiled thereon, said housing including a front face and an opposite back face, and further including a wall extending between said front face and said back face;

a receptacle between said front and back faces and said wall, said receptacle sized to receive the base assembly of the water timer therein and said wall arranged to support the base assembly of the water timer, said receptacle further defining receptacle openings corresponding to the inlet and outlet of the base assembly when the base assembly is disposed within said receptacle, one of said receptacle openings defined in said wall; and

an opening defined in said front face and communicating with said receptacle, said opening sized to permit passage of the base assembly therethrough for placement within said receptacle, wherein said receptacle is sized to support the base assembly of the water timer so that the input and display module may be removably mounted on the base assembly with the module substantially flush with said front face of said housing.

11. The hose hanger device of claim 10 in which one of the inlet and outlet of the water timer base assembly includes a fitting, wherein said receptacle includes a tab extending across said one of said receptacle openings, said tab defining a hole sized to receive the fitting of the base assembly therethrough when the base assembly is disposed within said receptacle.

12. The hose hanger device of claim 11 , wherein said tab is resiliently deflectable relative to said receptacle opening.

13. The hose hanger device of claim 10 , wherein:

the other of said receptacle openings is sized to receive a top portion of the base assembly of the water timer therethrough; and

said front face of said housing includes a front panel arranged to conceal the top portion of the base assembly behind said front panel.

14. The hose hanger device of claim 10 , wherein:

the other of said receptacle openings is sized to receive a top portion of the base assembly of the water timer therethrough; and

said hose hanger device further comprises a water conduit having a first fitting adapted to engage one of the inlet or outlet of the base assembly, a second fitting configured for fluid engagement with a hose, and a flow passageway between said first and second fittings and defining a non-linear angle therebetween.

15. The hose hanger device of claim 14 , wherein said non-linear angle is about 60 degrees.

16. The hose hanger device of claim 14 , wherein said housing defines a notch beneath said hose support surface, said notch sized to receive a hose therethrough when the hose is engaged to said second fitting of said water conduit.

17. The hose hanger device of claim 16 , wherein:

said front face of said housing includes a front panel arranged to conceal said water conduit behind said front panel; and

said housing defines a bracket extending rearward from a rear surface of said front panel toward said water conduit to support said conduit.

18. The hose hanger device of claim 10 , wherein said housing includes a lattice between said hose support surface and said receptacle.

Assignments (10)