Motorised hose reel

Abstract

A motorised hose reel (100) including a housing chassis (110), a housing bottom (130) secured to the housing chassis; and a housing top cover (120) removably connected to the housing chassis (110) and adapted to permit access to a central receptacle (180) located within the motorised hose reel (100). A motor is mounted on the housing chassis (110) and a spool (160) is located in the receptacle (180), the spool (160) being coupled to the motor and rotatable about a spool shaft assembly (200). The motor is configured to selectively drive the spool (160) to wind a length of hose onto the spool (160) within the receptacle (180). Each end of the spool shaft assembly (200) includes a first engagement formation configured to engage with a corresponding second engagement formation of the housing chassis (110).

1 . A motorised hose reel including:
 a housing chassis,   a housing bottom secured to the housing chassis;   a housing top cover removably connected to the housing chassis and adapted to permit access to a central receptacle located within the motorised hose reel;   a motor mounted on the housing chassis;   a spool located in the receptacle, the spool being coupled to the motor and rotatable about a spool shaft assembly,   wherein the motor is configured to selectively drive the spool to wind a length of hose onto the spool within the receptacle,   further wherein each end of the spool shaft assembly includes a first engagement formation configured to engage with a corresponding second engagement formation of the housing chassis.   
     
     
         2 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 1 , wherein the second engagement formation includes two support members located near each end of the shaft assembly, the support members engaging a flange of the spool shaft assembly to hold a portion of the flange relative to an inner wall of the housing chassis. 
     
     
         3 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 2 , wherein the spool shaft includes a first axle and a second axle, the first axle and the second axle being coaxial and longitudinally connected. 
     
     
         4 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 2 , wherein the flange of the spool shaft includes a generally rectangular projection, the projection being seated in a corresponding recess located on the inner wall of the housing bottom. 
     
     
         5 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 1 , wherein an outer perimeter region of the housing chassis includes an upper perimeter seal for engaging with the housing top cover, and a lower perimeter seal for engaging with the housing bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 5 , wherein the housing chassis outer perimeter region is externally visible when the housing top cover and the housing bottom are secured to the chassis. 
     
     
         7 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 1 , further comprising an auto retraction guide mechanism having:
 a rod having a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to an axis of rotation of the spool, the rod having overlaid right and left hand threads;   a hose carriage assembly including:
 an opening configured for receiving a hose; and 
 a direction change member having a tooth configured to engage with the right and left hand threads, 
   wherein the tooth is adapted to follow one of the right and left hand threads to a longitudinal end portion of the thread, at which point the tooth changes direction, such that the hose carriage assembly reciprocates relative to the rod.   
     
     
         8 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 7 , wherein the tooth is mounted to a cartridge, further wherein the cartridge is selectively removable from the direction change member. 
     
     
         9 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 8 , wherein the cartridge includes a bayonet type engagement formation adapted to engage with a corresponding formation formed on the direction change member. 
     
     
         10 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 1 , wherein an end portion of a length of hose includes an outlet stem which is attached to the spool with a first clip. 
     
     
         11 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 10 , wherein the first clip includes a body and two elastically deformable arms configured to fit in a circumferential channel formed on a rotational outlet, wherein a portion of each arm projects through a wall of the rotational outlet and engages with a circumferential channel formed in the outlet stem. 
     
     
         12 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 11  further comprising a second clip, for connecting the spool to a water outlet, wherein the first and second clips are identical. 
     
     
         13 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 7 , wherein a leading end of the tooth is arcuate, and configured to follow a circumferential curvature of the threads. 
     
     
         14 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 8 , wherein the tooth is pivotal relative to the cartridge about a pivot axis which extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rod. 
     
     
         15 . The motorised hose reel of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is seated on a cradle formed in the housing and housing chassis.