Garden hose reel

Abstract

A hose reel includes various improvements including features to enable improved stacking of hose reels, an improved locking mechanism to allow the hose reel to be selectively locked in open and/or closed positions, an improved handle to facilitate winding of the hose on the hose reel and prevent tangling, and an improved water supply.

1 . A stackable hose reel, comprising: 
 a pair of outer legs;    a pair of inner legs, said inner legs being connected to said outer legs and structured to move between a first, open position and a second, closed position;    a first connecting member coupled to and extending between said outer legs, said first connecting member having a first outer surface having a first shape; and    a second connecting member coupled to and extending between said inner legs, said second connecting member having a second outer surface having a second shape, said first shape being complementary to said second shape;    wherein when said inner legs are in said closed position, said second outer surface is structured to engage at least partially within an additional first outer surface of an additional stackable hose reel, said additional first outer surface being substantially identical to said first outer surface, such that said stackable hose reel may be stacked on top of said additional stackable hose reel.    
     
     
         2 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 1 , wherein said first shape and said second shape are each an arcuate shape.  
     
     
         3 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 2 , wherein said first outer surface includes a ledge portion and a scalloped portion.  
     
     
         4 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 1 , further comprising a basket assembly structured to support a hose, said basket assembly extending between said inner legs, said basket assembly having a first protrusion and a first depression, wherein said first protrusion is structured to be received in an additional first depression of an additional basket assembly of said additional stackable hose reel and wherein an additional first protrusion of said additional basket assembly of said additional stackable hose reel is structured to be received in said first depression when said stackable hose reel is stacked on top of said additional stackable hose reel.  
     
     
         5 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 4 , wherein said basket assembly has a second protrusion and a second depression, wherein said second protrusion is structured to be received in an additional second depression of said additional basket assembly of said additional stackable hose reel and wherein an additional second protrusion of said additional basket assembly of said additional stackable hose reel is structured to be received in said second depression when said stackable hose reel is stacked on top of said additional stackable hose reel.  
     
     
         6 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 4 , wherein said basket assembly has an oblong flange, said first protrusion and said first depression being located on said oblong flange, and wherein said additional basket assembly has an additional oblong flange, said additional first protrusion and said additional first depression being located on said additional oblong flange.  
     
     
         7 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 5 , wherein said basket assembly has first and second oblong flanges located on opposite ends of said basket assembly, said first protrusion and said first depression being located on said first oblong flange and said second protrusion and said second depression being located on said second oblong flange, and wherein said additional basket assembly has additional first and second oblong flanges located on opposite ends of said additional basket assembly, said additional first protrusion and said additional first depression being located on said additional first oblong flange and said additional second protrusion and said additional second depression being located on said additional second oblong flange.  
     
     
         8 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 4 , wherein said first depression includes a first interior ledge for engaging said additional first protrusion and said additional first depression includes an additional first interior ledge for engaging said first protrusion to resist relative side to side movement of said stackable hose reel and said additional stackable hose reel when said stackable hose reel is stacked on top of said additional stackable hose reel.  
     
     
         9 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 5 , wherein said first depression includes a first interior ledge for engaging said additional first protrusion, said additional first depression includes an additional first interior ledge for engaging said first protrusion, said second depression includes a second interior ledge for engaging said additional second protrusion, and said additional second depression includes an additional second interior ledge for engaging said second protrusion to resist relative side to side movement of said stackable hose reel and said additional stackable hose reel when said stackable hose reel is stacked on top of said additional stackable hose reel.  
     
     
         10 . A stackable hose reel, comprising: 
 a pair of outer legs;    a pair of inner legs, said inner legs connected to said outer legs and structured to move between a first, open position and a second, closed position; and    a basket assembly structured to support a hose, said basket assembly extending between said inner legs, said basket assembly having a first protrusion and a first depression, wherein said first protrusion is structured to be received in an additional first depression of an additional basket assembly of an additional stackable hose reel and wherein an additional first protrusion of said additional basket assembly of said additional stackable hose reel is structured to be received in said first depression when said inner legs are in said closed position and when said stackable hose reel is stacked on top of said additional stackable hose reel.    
     
     
         11 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 10 , wherein said basket assembly has a second protrusion and a second depression, wherein said second protrusion is structured to be received in an additional second depression of said additional basket assembly of said additional stackable hose reel and wherein an additional second protrusion of said additional basket assembly of said additional stackable hose reel is structured to be received in said second depression when said stackable hose reel is stacked on top of said additional stackable hose reel.  
     
     
         12 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 10 , wherein said basket assembly has an oblong flange, said first protrusion and said first depression being located on said oblong flange, and wherein said additional basket assembly has an additional oblong flange, said additional first protrusion and said additional first depression being located on said additional oblong flange.  
     
     
         13 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 11 , wherein said basket assembly has first and second oblong flanges located on opposite ends of said basket assembly, said first protrusion and said first depression being located on said first oblong flange and said second protrusion and said second depression being located on said second oblong flange, and wherein said additional basket assembly has additional first and second oblong flanges located on opposite ends of said additional basket assembly, said additional first protrusion and said additional first depression being located on said additional first oblong flange and said additional second protrusion and said additional second depression being located on said additional second oblong flange.  
     
     
         14 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 10 , wherein said first depression includes a first interior ledge for engaging said additional first protrusion and said additional first depression includes an additional first interior ledge for engaging said first protrusion to resist relative side to side movement of said stackable hose reel and said additional stackable hose reel when said stackable hose reel is stacked on top of said additional stackable hose reel.  
     
     
         15 . The stackable hose reel according to  claim 11 , wherein said first depression includes a first interior ledge for engaging said additional first protrusion, said additional first depression includes an additional first interior ledge for engaging said first protrusion, said second depression includes a second interior ledge for engaging said additional second protrusion, and said additional second depression includes an additional second interior ledge for engaging said second protrusion to resist relative side to side movement of said stackable hose reel and said additional stackable hose reel when said stackable hose reel is stacked on top of said additional stackable hose reel.  
     
     
         16 . A hose reel, comprising: 
 a main frame;    a basket assembly supported by said main frame and structured to support a hose;    a handle extending from said main frame in a first direction, said handle having a top portion having a first surface in a first plane and a second surface in second plane, said first and second planes being substantially perpendicular to said first direction, said top portion having a hole extending from said first surface to said second surface for receiving said hose therethrough.    
     
     
         17 . The hose reel according to  claim 16 , wherein said main frame has a pair of first legs and a pair of second legs, said first legs being connected to said second legs.  
     
     
         18 . The hose reel according to  claim 17 , wherein said handle extends from said first legs.  
     
     
         19 . The hose reel according to  claim 18 , wherein first legs are outer legs and said second legs are inner legs, and wherein said inner legs are structured to move between a first, open position and second, closed position.  
     
     
         20 . The hose reel according to  claim 16 , wherein said basket assembly is rotatable about a first axis, and wherein said first direction is substantially perpendicular to said first axis.  
     
     
         21 . A hose reel, comprising: 
 a pair of outer legs;    a pair of inner legs, said inner legs being rotatably connected to said outer legs and structured to move between a first, open position and a second, closed position;    a basket assembly structured to support a hose, said basket assembly being coupled to said inner legs; and    a locking mechanism for selectively preventing said inner legs from being moved from said open position to said closed position.    
     
     
         22 . The hose reel according to  claim 21 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a selectively displaceable tooth, said second portion having a locking ring with an open position opening, wherein when said inner legs are in said open position, said tooth is received in said open position opening and prevents said inner legs from being moved from said open position to said closed position, and wherein said tooth must be displaced from said open position opening to move said inner legs to said closed position.  
     
     
         23 . The hose reel according to  claim 22 , wherein said locking mechanism also selectively prevents said inner legs from being moved from said closed position to said open position, wherein said locking ring includes a closed position opening, wherein when said inner legs are in said closed position, said tooth is received in said closed position opening, and wherein said tooth must be displaced from said closed position opening to move said inner legs to said open position.  
     
     
         24 . The hose reel according to  claim 22 , wherein said second portion comprises a generally circular frame received in one of said outer legs, said tooth being located on an interior of said generally circular frame, said generally circular frame being selectively displaceable within said one of said outer legs.  
     
     
         25 . The hose reel according to  claim 24 , wherein said generally circular frame includes first and second tabs received in first and second openings, respectively, provided in said one of said outer legs, wherein a pressure applied to said generally circular frame causes said first and second tabs to bend, thereby enabling said generally circular frame to be displaced within said one of said outer legs.  
     
     
         26 . The hose reel according to  claim 24 , wherein said generally circular frame includes a button portion that extends out of said one of said outer legs, and wherein said pressure may be applied to said button portion.  
     
     
         27 . A hose reel, comprising: 
 a main frame;    a basket assembly supported by said main frame and structured to support a hose;    a water supply assembly supported by said basket assembly, said water supply assembly including a first portion having a groove, a second portion having one or more radial openings, said first portion being inserted within said second portion such that said one or more radial openings are aligned with said groove, and a clip inserted at least partially through said one or more radial openings, said clip being received in and engaging said groove.    
     
     
         28 . The hose reel according to  claim 27 , wherein said first portion is a water inlet portion and said second portion is a water outlet portion.  
     
     
         29 . The hose reel according to  claim 27 , wherein said clip is a hairpin clip and said one or more openings include first and second radial openings.