IP Library Granted Patent US 9,073,730
Granted Patent B2
US 9,073,730 · App. 12/256,770 · Granted Jul 7, 2015

Deck box

Inventor: Peter Arcati (Dillsburg, PA)
Assignee: THE AMES COMPANIES, INC.
B65H75/40B65H75/4407B65H2701/33B65H75/4471
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,073,730
App. No.
12/256,770
Granted
Jul 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hose reel assembly wherein the crank assembly/handle is directly coupled to the basket assembly or barrel is provided. This configuration allows for rotational energy, provided by the user, to be directly transferred to the basket assembly. Thus, energy loss due to friction in the gears is reduced. The hose reel assembly further includes a transfer assembly that couples the crank assembly to the autotrack device. The transfer assembly may include a gear, a belt, a chain or similar devices structured to transfer rotational motion from one component to another.

Claims (50)

1. A direct drive hose reel assembly having an autotrack device, said hose reel assembly comprising:

a housing assembly;

an autotrack device, said autotrack device coupled to said housing assembly;

a basket assembly structured to be rotatably coupled to said housing assembly, said basket assembly having an elongated barrel with two axial hubs;

a crank assembly, said crank assembly fixedly coupled to said barrel and structured to rotate said barrel relative to said housing assembly;

said crank assembly including a crank arm and a transfer assembly;

said crank arm structured to be rotatably coupled to said housing assembly, said crank arm also coupled, and structured to provide rotational motion, to said transfer assembly;

said transfer assembly coupled, and structured to provide rotational motion, to said autotrack device;

said housing assembly includes a front side, back side, first lateral side, and a second lateral side;

said autotrack device includes an elongated retaining edge, a guide rod, and a follower assembly;

said autotrack device follower assembly having a housing assembly with an opening therein sized to allow a hose to pass therethrough;

said autotrack device retaining edge having a distal end;

said autotrack device follower assembly housing assembly having a retaining edge groove structured to enclose a portion of said autotrack device retaining edge distal end;

said guide rod and said retaining edge extending in a spaced parallel relation, both said guide rod and said retaining edge being coupled to, and extending between, said housing assembly first lateral side and said housing assembly second lateral side; and

said autotrack device follower assembly housing assembly extending between said guide rod and said retaining edge.

2. The hose reel assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said guide rod having a bi-directional track groove disposed thereon;

said follower housing assembly structured to be coupled to guide rod and to engage said bi-directional track groove, whereby said follower assembly housing assembly is structured to traverse said guide rod as said guide rod rotates; and

said transfer assembly coupled, and structured to provide rotational motion, to said guide rod.

3. The hose reel assembly of claim 2 wherein said transfer assembly includes at least one gear, said at least one gear disposed between, and operatively engaging both, said autotrack device and said crank assembly.

4. The hose reel assembly of claim 3 wherein:

said crank assembly includes a crank arm having a hub and a radially extending arm;

said crank arm hub rotatably coupled to said housing assembly;

said at least one gear includes at least a hub gear and a guide rod gear;

said hub gear fixed to said crank arm hub; and

said guide rod gear fixed to said autotrack device guide rod.

5. The hose reel assembly of claim 4 wherein said at least one gear includes at least one intermediate gear, said at least one intermediate gear disposed between, and operatively engaging, both said hub gear and a guide rod gear.

6. The hose reel assembly of claim 2 wherein said transfer assembly includes a tension member, said tension member disposed between, and operatively engaging both, said autotrack device and said crank assembly.

7. The hose reel assembly of claim 6 wherein said tension member is a belt.

8. The hose reel assembly of claim 7 wherein:

said crank assembly includes a crank arm having a hub and a radially extending arm;

said crank arm hub rotatably coupled to said housing assembly;

said autotrack device guide rod having a at least one hub;

said autotrack device guide rod hub rotatably coupled to said housing assembly;

said belt structured to extend about, and operatively engage, both said crank arm hub and said autotrack device guide rod hub.

9. The hose reel assembly of claim 8 wherein:

said crank arm hub has a width extending in an axial direction and a groove on the crank arm hub outer surface, said groove extending generally parallel to the crank arm hub axis;

said autotrack device guide rod hub has a plurality of grooves on the autotrack device guide rod hub outer surface, said grooves extending generally parallel to the autotrack device guide rod hub axis;

said belt having an inner surface, said belt inner surface having a plurality of lateral ridges; and

said lateral ridges structured to operatively engage said crank arm hub grooves and said autotrack device guide rod hub grooves.

10. The hose reel assembly of claim 6 wherein said tension member is a roller chain.

11. The hose reel assembly of claim 10 wherein:

said crank assembly includes a crank arm having a sprocket and a radially extending arm;

said crank arm sprocket rotatably coupled to said housing assembly;

said autotrack device guide rod having a at least one sprocket;

said autotrack device guide rod sprocket rotatably coupled to said housing assembly;

said roller chain structured to extend about, and operatively engage, both said crank arm sprocket and said autotrack device guide rod sprocket.

12. The hose reel assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said autotrack device retaining edge includes a plurality of support ribs, said support ribs extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said autotrack device retaining edge; and

said autotrack device follower housing assembly retaining edge groove sized to accommodate said support ribs.

Assignments (6)
PARTIAL RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS AT REEL 048433 FRAME 0051 Recorded Jun 10, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: THE AMES COMPANIES, LLC (FKA THE AMES COMPANIES, INC. (FKA AMES TRUE TEMPER, INC.) (FKA ATT SOUTHERN LLC) (FKA ATT SOUTHERN, INC.))
Reel/Frame 075741/0648 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY Recorded Feb 26, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 048433/0051 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 22, 2014
From: AMES TRUE TEMPER, INC.
To: THE AMES COMPANIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 032982/0963 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 19, 2014
From: AMES TRUE TEMPER, INC.
To: THE AMES COMPANIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 032920/0439 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 21, 2011
From: AMES TRUE TEMPER, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026163/0645 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2008
From: ARCATI, PETER
To: AMES TRUE TEMPER, INC.
Reel/Frame 021726/0026 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100102157A1 · Apr 29, 2010