TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a hose box. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the hose box which provides an ergonomic profile of ease of handling of a hose.

BACKGROUND

A hose box is a device fitted outdoors or indoors to hold a hose. The wound hose may be taken out of the hose box as per the requirements. Generally, the hose box includes an apparatus to allow mechanical winding or unwinding of the hose. The hose box may have some additional sources to provide mechanical assistance for the adjustments of the hose.

However, there may be instances where the apparatus for mechanical winding or unwinding of the hose may be bulky or uncompacted. Working with the hose box may include unrequired length of a belt (necessary) to drive a hose guide. Generally, placing of a gear to the central axis of the hose may require long belt to drive the hose guide.

An example of a hose box is provided in WO patent application 2018,075,365 (hereinafter referred to as ’365 reference). The ’365 reference provides a reel assembly which includes a motor. The motor can cause a motor shaft to rotate, which in turn can cause a first gear to rotate. Rotation of the first gear can cause a second gear to rotate, which in turn can cause a third gear to rotate. The third gear can be a ring gear with teeth on an inner surface thereof. Rotation of the third gear (induced by the motor ) can cause the first end piece and the spool drum to rotate about a rotational axis to cause the linear element to spool and/or unspool. However, the ’365 reference provides a complex, bulky arrangement of gears to allow the linear element for spooling. Further, the reel assembly of the present reference may lead to a non-compact arrangement due to position of some gears such as the second gear around a rotational axis of the reel assembly. This location of the second gear may lead to improper space utilization, less scope for design freedom and axle stability around the rotational axis. Moreover, WO patent application 2018,213,878 provides a motorized hose reel which includes a central, toothed wheel seated on a spool. The toothed wheel is configured to drive the belt, which in turn rotates a rod. In this way, the rod rotates in response to the spool rotation, and the rotational direction (forward/rearward) of the rod corresponds with the rotational direction of the spool. However, this arrangement of the toothed wheel around a rotational axis of the spool may lead to a non-compact arrangement and leave less scope for design improvement. Further, presence of the toother wheel around the rotational axis may lead to hindrances in utilizing the area around the rotational axis for deign upgrades and location of other rotational accessories for different applications of the hose reel.

Thus, there is a need of an improved hose box which allows an ease of handling a hose. Further, it would be an added benefit if the hose box allows compact arrangement of all components required to drive a hose guide.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the drawbacks discussed above. The objective is at least partially achieved by a hose box. The hose box includes a hose guide pulley. The hose guide pulley allows a lateral movement of a hose guide to wind a hose within the hose box. A first pulley is drivingly coupled to the hose box. The hose box further includes a belt-drive. An annular gear rotates during winding of the hose around a central axis and operatively coupled to the first pulley. The belt-drive is operatively coupled with the first pulley and the hose guide pulley. The hose box is characterized in that the first pulley is disposed at a radial offset from the central axis of the hose box. Thus, the present disclosure provides a compact and user- friendly hose box.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first pulley is located between the hose guide pulley and the central axis of the hose box. The positioning of the first pulley may allow reduction of length of the belt-drive. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the hose box includes a control unit. This may allow an automatic check on motion of the belt- drive.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the belt-drive is made of a material selected from one or more of polymers, plastics, and metals. This may provide the belt-drive with characteristic features such as flexibility, cost efficiency, and heat resistant properties.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the belt-drive is one or more of a toothed belt, a V-belt, a round belt, and a flat belt. This may allow better delivery of power necessary for proper functioning of the hose guide.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the hose guide pulley is constructed to deflect and guide the hose to the direction of the hose guide moves. This may provide an efficient pulling out of the hose out of the hose box.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the hose box further includes a stopper. This may allow the user to hold the hose.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a belt-drive of a hose box is provided. This may allow to transmit power more efficiently. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the belt-drive is manufactured by three-dimensional printing. Use of three-dimensional printing (alternatively, 3D printing) provides versatility of using different materials along with reduced lead-time in manufacturing and design of the belt-drive.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a data file is provided having pre-stored instructions to print the belt-drive using a three- dimensional (3-D) printer. This may allow to manufacture the belt-drive using three-dimensional printing.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the belt-drive is presented in digital format. This may help in customization of the belt-drive.

Other features and aspects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a conventional hose box;

FIG. 2 shows a partial side cross-sectional view of some relevant part of the spooling mechanics of the conventional hose box;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a belt-drive system of the hose box, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a first pulley of the belt-drive system of the hose box, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention may be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward", "sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle", "intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown in the Figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional hose box 100 as per the present disclosure. The conventional hose box 100 may be fitted outdoor or indoor, especially in gardens, hospitals, malls to bring folded hose into function as per the requirements. The conventional hose box 100 may be fixed or attached to a wall or a ground surface. This makes the conventional hose box 100 widely usable in outdoor and indoor applications. The conventional hose box 100 includes a housing 102. The conventional hose box 100 further includes a hose 104 wound on a reel 107 (shown in FIG. 2). In the depicted example the hose 104 is connected to a nozzle 110. To supply water to the conventional hose box 100 and thus the hose 104, a water supply hose 106 with a connector 105 is provided at the other extreme end of the conventional hose box 100. The connector 105 may be connected to any water source such as, but not limited to a tap, a hose, or a tank. The hose 104 is further connected to a stopper 122 that limits the automatic winding of the hose 104 onto the reel 107. Moreover, the conventional hose box 100 includes a hose guide 108.

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial side cross-sectional view of some relevant part of the spooling mechanics of the conventional hose box 100 together with a partial view of the hose 104 to be wound onto the reel 107. The conventional hose box 100 includes a hose guide pulley 112. The hose guide pulley 112 is drivingly coupled with the hose guide 108. The hose guide pulley 112 allows winding of the hose 104 within the conventional hose box 100. In the depicted example, the hose 104 is connected to the nozzle 110 at one end of the hose 104. Further, the conventional hose box 100 includes a first pulley 116 which is drivingly coupled to the reel 107 and parallel to the reel 107 rotates about rotational axis of the first pulley 116. A belt-drive 118 drivingly couples the first pulley 116 with the hose guide pulley 112. In a preferred embodiment the conventional hose box 100 also includes the stopper 122 to limit a length of the hose 104.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial side view inside a hose box 200 according to the present disclosure. The hose box 200 includes a hose guide pulley 212. The hose guide pulley 212 is constructed to be drivingly connected to a hose guide 208 that guides a hose 204. The hose 204 is connected to a nozzle 210. The hose guide pulley 212 allows a lateral movement of the hose guide 208 to wind the hose 204 within the hose box 200. A first pulley 216 is drivingly coupled to a reel 207. The first pulley 216 includes a built-in belt pulley 217. The first pulley 216 and the built-in belt pulley 217 are drivingly coupled with the hose guide pulley 212 via a belt-drive 218. The reel 207 is connected to an annular gear 214. The annular gear 214 rotates during winding of the hose 204 around the rotational axis of the reel 207. The first pulley 216 is disposed at a radial offset from the central axis of the hose box 200 with the first pulley 216 being operatively coupled with the annular gear 214. The hose box 200 of the present disclosure has been shown without any housing in the present figure from clarity and explanation considerations. The hose box 200 may be assembled with any housing such as the housing 102, in accordance with implementation needs of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first pulley 216 is located between the hose guide pulley 212 and the rotational axis of the reel 207. More preferably, the first pulley 216 is meshing with annular teeth 215. The position of the first pulley 216 allows reduction of a belt-drive length. This positioning of the first pulley 216 helps in saving materials and cost required for preparation of the belt-drive 218.

In some embodiments, the belt-drive 218 may be a round belt, a flat belt, a V-belt, a toothed belt. This allows better delivery of power necessary for proper functioning of the hose guide 208. Additionally, or alternatively, the hose guide pulley 212 and the built-in belt pulley 217 may be drivingly coupled by a roller chain, a detachable chain, a pintle chain, a silent chain, a leaf chain, a laminated metal chain and the like.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the first pulley 216 which includes a reel drive geometry 211 and a belt drive geometry 213. The belt drive geometry 213 is provided on the built-in belt pulley 217. The reel drive geometry 211 is engaged or meshed with the annular teeth 215. The reel drive geometry 211 and the annular teeth 215 are drivingly coupled with each other. The belt drive geometry 213 is further drivingly coupled with the belt-drive 218. During operation to wind the hose 204, the annular gear 214 starts to move. The movement generated in the annular gear 214 further provides mechanical assistance to the first pulley 216. The belt-drive 218 provides a link between the built-in belt pulley 217 and the hose guide pulley 212. Movement of the first pulley 216 is in line with the movement of the built-in belt pulley 217, thus corresponding to motion of the hose guide pulley 212.

The belt-drive 218 may be manufactured using any material, such as polymers, metals, plastics, and the like. This provides the belt-drive 218 with characteristic features such as flexibility, cost efficiency, heat resistant properties. These properties eventually aim to move the hose guide pulley 212. The belt-drive 218 may be manufactured using any process, such as casting, molding, forging, fabrication, and the like.

In some embodiments, the belt-drive 218 may be manufactured by three- dimensional printing (also known as additive manufacturing or 3D printing). Use of three-dimensional printing (alternatively, 3D printing) provides versatility of using different materials along with low lead-time in manufacturing and design of the belt-drive 218. A data file is provided having pre- stored instructions to print the belt-drive 218 using a three-dimensional (3D) printer. This allows to manufacture the belt-drive 218 using three-dimensional printing. The belt-drive 218 is presented in digital format. This helps in customization of the belt-drive 218

In some embodiments, a counter may be provided with the hose box 200. The counter indicates the number of feet by which the hose 204 has been extended from the hose box 200. The counter makes the user aware about the length of rest of the hose 204 left in the hose box 200.

A stopper 222 helps to limit the winding of the hose 204 into the hose box 200. The stopper 222 may prevent the complete winding of the hose 204. In particular, the stopper 222 may prevent complete back winding of the hose 204 into the hose box 200.

Additionally, or alternatively, the hose box 200 may be fixed or attached to a wall or a ground surface. This makes the hose box 200 widely usable in outdoor and indoor applications such as gardens, parks, buildings. In an embodiment, the belt-drive 218 may be automatically controllable. The hose box 200 may have a control unit which may be configured to actuate actuators and/or sensors of the hose box 200. The control unit may instruct the actuators and/or sensors to process signal and move the belt-drive 218, thereby moving the hose guide pulley 212. A feedback loop may continuously monitor and adjust a hose length coming out of the hose box 200.

In some embodiments, the belt-drive 218 may be removably assembled to the first pulley 216 and the hose guide pulley 212. This may allow replacement of the belt-drive 218 during service time or as per the application requirements. Additionally, or alternatively, the belt-drive 218 may be rooted to the first pulley 216 and the hose guide pulley 212 which provides mechanical strength to the hose box 200.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

100 Conventional Hose Box

102 Housing

104 Hose

106 Water Supply Hose

107 Reel

108 Hose Guide 110 Nozzle

112 Hose Guide Pulley 116 First pulley 118 Belt- Drive

122 Stopper 200 Hose Box 204 Hose

207 Reel

208 Hose Guide

210 Nozzle

211 Reel Drive Geometry

212 Hose Guide Pulley

213 Belt Drive Geometry

214 Annular Gear

215 Annular Teeth

216 First pulley

217 Built-in Belt Pulley

218 Belt- Drive

222 Stopper