Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With particular drive
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-03-27
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With particular drive
C242S403000, C242S406000, C242S532600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206317
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for efficiently coiling a fire hose for subsequent transport or storage, and more particularly to a completely modular and portable apparatus that allows for ready removal of the coiled fire hose from the apparatus, and that is adapted to be mounted either onto a vehicle or at a remote location in a free-standing configuration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fire hoses are heavy, large articles that are difficult to roll up in a uniform fashion. This operation becomes even more difficult when it is desired to roll the hose at locations remote from where they are stored.
Available fire hose rolling equipment is typically bulky and heavy, and therefore difficult to set up and transport. The components of these systems are typically large and awkward to handle, and require a significant amount of hardware for assembly. One known system includes a plurality of large circular members that include coupling portions that have to be properly aligned prior to sandwiching the fire hose therebetween. The circular members have a large diameter and include a handle that is typically attached to an outer one of the members, near its rim, thus requiring that the user be big enough to comfortably crank the handle. Even so, users often have difficulty ensuring that the hose rolls up in uniform fashion due to the hose having a tendency to unravel when rolling it up.
Further, in addition to being relatively difficult to set up for use, the apparatus must be secured to a mounting bracket attached to, e.g., a vehicle. Typically, the apparatus has no utility separate from its mounting bracket, thus unacceptably limiting its flexibility for use at remote locations. And, once the hose is rolled up, removing the hose from the apparatus becomes at times a difficult task, and more often, an inefficient one. The user must attempt to grab the rolled up hose and then inconveniently pull the outer one of the circular members away from the remainder of the apparatus. This operation can cause the user to drop the hose, or can cause the hose to unravel from its center if the circular member catches a portion of the hose, a problem exacerbated by the fact that the hose is heavy and clumsy. In either case, the operation must be repeated. Overall, known equipment for coiling fire hose has limited flexibility, typically causes the user to suffer fatigue during use and is generally inconvenient to operate, often times being overly time-consuming.
As a result, the field of coiling fire hoses is in need of an apparatus that is easy to use, completely modular for ready storage and transport, permits removal of the hose without difficulty, can be efficiently disassembled with a minimum of hardware, and is readily usable at remote locations.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a fire hose coiling apparatus for efficiently and conveniently coiling a fire hose including a plurality of easy to operate components that can be assembled with a minimum amount of hardware. The apparatus is entirely modular, easy to assembly/disassemble, portable and usable either in a free-standing configuration or as mounted to, for example, a vehicle.
According to one aspect of the invention, the apparatus for coiling a fire hose includes a base and a main support extending generally vertically and having upper and lower opposed ends, the lower end being attached to the base. The upper end includes a hose reel having an axle that is rotatably mounted to the upper end and which has an axle distal end. A crank is coupled to the axle of the hose reel to rotate the hose reel as the crank is correspondingly rotated. The crank has first and second opposed ends, the first end being releasably coupled to the axle distal end and the second end being configured to be gripped by a user. Next, the apparatus includes a retainer for coupling the fire hose to the hose reel, retainer including a handle and a pair of elongated rods that are spaced. To operate the apparatus, a portion of the fire hose near the male hose end is positioned between the elongated rods of the retainer, and then the retainer is coupled to the hose reel. By rotating the crank, the hose reel correspondingly rotates to uniformly coil the fire hose thereon. Notably, the apparatus is elevated such that residual water contained in the hose is dispensed from the hose as the user coils the hose.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a hub attached to the upper end of the main support, the hub being configured to rotatably receive an axle distal end of the axle. Preferably, the hub is mounted at an angle relative to a generally horizontal plane to facilitate even rolling of the hose.
According to a still further aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a catcher releasably attached to the main support below the hose reel, and extending generally horizontally relative to the main support. The catcher operates to support the fire hose once the hose has been coiled and the retainer is decoupled from the hose reel. The catcher preferably includes a horizontal support attached to a main support and a generally U-shaped portion attached to the horizontal support that has a pair of arms mutually spaced from the horizontal support.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base includes a coupler and a plurality of mutually spaced legs attached to the coupler to elevate and stabilize the apparatus in a free-standing configuration. Alternatively, the base includes a bracket having a first base end attached to a vehicle bracket (e.g., a trailer hitch), and a second base end attached to the lower end of the main support.
A method of coiling a fire hose is also disclosed and includes the steps of using a fire hose rolling apparatus as described above. The method also includes the step of placing at least a portion of the fire hose between the pair of elongated rods of the retainer and then inserting the rod distal ends of the pair of spaced rods of the retainer into the pair of spaced openings of the cross support of the hose reel. Thereafter, the user rotates the crank so as to cause the fire hose to coil to create a coiled fire hose. Finally, the user removes the retainer from the pair of spaced openings so as to cause the coiled fire hose to drop onto the catcher for subsequent removal therefrom.
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Lake Area Fire Equipment Company, Inc.
Nilles & Nilles S.C.
Rivera William A.
Walsh Donald P.
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