Collapsible reel cart

Abstract

A reel cart apparatus which comprises: a reel for winding a hose or the like, at least one support element adapted for rotatably mounting said reel thereon, a base, and a rotating means, characterized in that said base, said reel, and said rotating means are adapted for selectively alternating between collapsed and expanded configurations, thereby providing a storage position and an in-use position respectively, wherein the overall volume of said cart in said storage position is substantially smaller than that in the in-use position.

1 . A reel cart apparatus comprising a reel for winding a hose or the like, at least one support element adapted for rotatably mounting said reel thereon, a base and a rotating means, characterized in that said base, said reel and said rotating means are adapted for selectively alternating between collapsed and expanded configurations, thereby providing a storage position and an in-use position respectively, wherein the overall volume of said cart in said storage position is substantially smaller than that in the in-use position.  
   
   
       2 . The reel cart according to  claim 1 , wherein said reel comprises a pair of laterally spaced side elements.  
   
   
       3 . The reel cart according to  claim 2 , wherein said side elements comprise at least one side wall.  
   
   
       4 . The reel cart according to  claim 3 , wherein said side wall may be essentially a disc-shaped member.  
   
   
       5 . The reel cart according to  claim 4 , wherein said disc-shaped member has at least one pair of truncated opposite edges.  
   
   
       6 . The reel cart according to  claim 2 , wherein said laterally spaced elements comprise a plurality of finger elements at at least one lateral end.  
   
   
       7 . The reel cart according to  claim 1 , wherein the central portion of one side wall comprises an aperture and a connecter to which one end of a hose may be threaded or suitably connected.  
   
   
       8 . The reel cart according to  claim 2 , wherein said side elements are separated by a spool.  
   
   
       9 . The reel cart according to  claim 8 , wherein said spool comprises two corresponding halves.  
   
   
       10 . The reel cart according to  claim 9 , wherein each of said halves comprise at least one and preferably a pair of corresponding flaps.  
   
   
       11 . The reel cart according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said halves comprises upper flaps and lower flaps.  
   
   
       12 . The reel cart according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said flaps is coupled to said respective side element at said flap's outer end, with slide rails that extend radially outward along the plane of said respective side element.  
   
   
       13 . The reel cart according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said flaps is pivotally coupled to said corresponding flap of said corresponding half at said flap's inner end.  
   
   
       14 . The reel cart according to  claim 8 , wherein said spool comprises telescopically collapsible members.  
   
   
       15 . The reel cart according to  claim 1 , wherein said cart comprises two laterally spaced support elements.  
   
   
       16 . The reel cart according to  claim 15 , wherein each of said support elements may be comprised of a tri-flanged element.  
   
   
       17 . The reel cart according to  claim 16 , wherein said tri-flanged element comprises two lower flanges and an upper flange.  
   
   
       18 . The reel cart according to  claim 17 , wherein said lower flanges extend arcuately downward thereby forming the outer corners of the base.  
   
   
       19 . The reel cart according to  claim 17 , wherein said upper flange extends arcuately upward toward the back side of the apparatus, thereby joining the ends of an upper handle.  
   
   
       20 . The reel cart according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotating means comprises any suitable rotating means such as a handle, a motor or a spring.  
   
   
       21 . The reel cart according to  claim 20 , wherein said handle comprises a central portion, an arm and a gripping member.  
   
   
       22 . The reel cart according to  claim 21 , wherein said arm extends from said central portion coplanar thereto.  
   
   
       23 . The reel cart according to  claim 21 , wherein said gripping member extends outward from the arm, orthogonal to its axis of rotation, when in its in-use position.  
   
   
       24 . The reel cart according to  claim 23 , wherein said gripping member may be pivotally joined with said arm such said gripping member can alternately rotate between its fully retracted position, whereby said gripping member is lodged coaxially with the arm, and its in-use position whereby said gripping member is situated at a 90 degree angle to said arm.  
   
   
       25 . The reel cart according to  claim 23 , wherein said gripping member may be pivotally joined with said arm such that said gripping member may be rotatable about its own axis.  
   
   
       26 . The reel cart according to  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises at least one member whose ends are connected, thereby forming a frame.  
   
   
       27 . The reel cart according to  claim 26 , wherein said frame may form any geometric shape such as a rectangle or a circle.  
   
   
       28 . The reel cart according to  claim 27 , wherein said base comprises two transverse and two longitudinal members whose ends are connected.  
   
   
       29 . The reel cart according to  claim 28 , wherein said longitudinal members comprise two corresponding member halves.  
   
   
       30 . The reel cart according to  claim 29 , wherein each of said member halves is interlocked at its inner end with the inner end of the corresponding member half, by interlocking teeth.  
   
   
       31 . The reel cart according to  claim 26 , wherein said frame may comprise telescopically collapsible members.  
   
   
       32 . The reel cart according to  claim 26 , wherein wheels are provided at one or more suitable locations at the base.  
   
   
       33 . The reel cart according to  claim 19 , wherein said upper handle comprises two bar halves.  
   
   
       34 . The reel cart according to  claim 33 , wherein the outer ends of each half of said upper handle are coupled to end elements by sliding links.  
   
   
       35 . The reel cart according to  claim 34 , wherein said end elements are joined to the ends of the upper flanges.  
   
   
       36 . The reel cart according to  claim 33 , wherein the inner ends of each half of said upper handle are pivotally joined to each other.  
   
   
       37 . The reel cart according to  claim 33 , wherein said upper handle comprises at least one telescopically collapsible member.