Hose reel for flat flexible hose

Abstract

A hose reel for a flat flexible hose, for example a garden hose which can be connected with a water-supply system with a fitting, includes a plurality of support elements each having a a contact surface for a wound hose portion. The support elements are rotatable around an axis so as to enable the winding/unwinding of a hose portion. At least one support element moves in a radial direction with respect to the axis so as to pass between a distal and a proximal position, wherein both in the distal position and in the proximal position, the contact surfaces remain mutually spaced so as to prevent the wound hose portion from being compressed therebetween.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A hose reel for a flexible hose configured to be supplied by a water-supply system, the hose reel comprising:
 a fitting (R) having a first male or female coupling (R 1 ) configured to be removably connection with the water-supply system and a second male or female coupling (R 2 ) configured to be removably coupled with the flexible hose (T);   a rotatable element configured to rotate around a first axis (X) to enable a winding and unwinding of at least one portion (P) of the flexible hose (T), the rotatable element ( 100 ) comprising a first and a second support element integrally joined and rotatable around the first axis, the first and the second support element each having a first and respectively a second contact surface ( 23 ′,  23 ″) for the at least one portion (P) of the flexible hose (T),   wherein at least one of the first or the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ) is movable along a radial direction with respect to the first axis (X) between a distal position and a proximal position,   wherein both in the distal position and in the proximal position the first and the second contact surfaces ( 23 ′,  23 ″) remain mutually spaced to prevent the at least one portion (P) of the flexible hose (T) to be compressed therebetween, and   wherein the rotatable element ( 100 ) further includes a compartment ( 25 ) interposed between the first and the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ), the compartment ( 25 ) being accessible by a user both when the he first and the second support element are in the proximal position and in the distal position, the fitting (R) and the rotatable element ( 100 ) being connected so that the second male or female coupling (R 2 ) is inside the compartment ( 25 ) to allow the user to removably connect the second male or female coupling to the flexible hose (T); and   a pair of half-shells ( 49 ′,  49 ″) coupled to the rotatable element ( 100 ) to guide the rotatable element during rotation; and   a spindle disposed in the rotatable element, the spindle being interposed between the first and the second support element and integrally joined with the second support element to be rotatable around the first axis (X),   wherein the spindle ( 10 ″) internally comprises the compartment ( 25 ).   
     
     
         23 . The hose reel according to  claim 22 , wherein the first male or female coupling (R 1 ) is external to the compartment ( 25 ) to enable the user to removably connect the first male or female coupling to the water-supply system. 
     
     
         24 . The hose reel according to  claim 22 , further comprising a pair of laterally extending flanges ( 40 ′,  40 ″) integrally connected with the at least one of the first or the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ) so that the first and the second support element are interposed between the pair of laterally extending flanges to laterally delimit the first and second contact surfaces ( 23 ′,  23 ″) and the compartment ( 25 ), the fitting (R) passing through one of the flanges ( 40 ′,  40 ″) so that the first and the second male or female coupling (R 1 , R 2 ) are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the one of the flanges ( 40 ′,  40 ″). 
     
     
         25 . The hose reel according the  claim 24 , wherein the fitting (R) is arranged along the first axis (X). 
     
     
         26 . The hose reel according to  claim 24 , wherein the pair of half-shells ( 49 ′,  49 ″) are coupled to the pair of laterally extending flanges ( 40 ′,  40 ″) to guide the pair of laterally extending during the rotation. 
     
     
         27 . The hose reel according to  claim 22 , wherein the fitting (R) passes through one of the half-shells ( 49 ′,  49 ″) so that the first and the second male or female coupling (R 1 , R 2 ) are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the one of the half-shells ( 49 ′,  49 ″). 
     
     
         28 . The hose reel according to  claim 22 , wherein the half-shells ( 49 ′,  49 ″) are joined to each other to surround the rotatable element ( 100 ), the half-shells ( 49 ′,  49 ″) including an opening ( 48 ) so as to enable the user to access the compartment ( 25 ). 
     
     
         29 . The hose reel according to  claim 22 , further comprising elastic counteracting means ( 30 ) interacting with the first and the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ) when moving the at least one of the first or the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ). 
     
     
         30 . The hose reel according to  claim 29 , wherein the contact surfaces ( 23 ′,  23 ″) of the first and the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ) are coaxial with the first rotation axis (X), when moving the at least one of the first or the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ), the contact surface ( 23 ′,  23 ″) of the first or the second support element being arranged to be staggered with respect to the first axis (X), further comprising staggering means ( 13 ′,  13 ″;  220 ′,  220 ″) interacting with the elastic counteracting means ( 30 ). 
     
     
         31 . The hose reel according to  claim 30 , wherein the rotatable element ( 100 ) comprises a first pair of cylindrical guide elements ( 13 ′) having a first predetermined average diameter ($ 1 ) interposed between the first and the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ), the elastic counteracting means ( 30 ) including at least one first pair of springs ( 31 ′) fitted on the cylindrical guide elements ( 13 ′) and defining second axes (Y) parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first axis (X), the at least one of the first or the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ) comprising a pair of first abutment portions ( 22 ) interacting with the springs of the first pair of springs ( 31 ′) when moving the at least one of the first or the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ). 
     
     
         32 . The hose reel according to  claim 31 , wherein the staggering means ( 13 ′,  13 ″;  220 ′,  220 ″) include the first pair of cylindrical guide elements ( 13 ′) and a first pair of slots ( 220 ′) having a second predetermined average diameter (ϕ 2 ) greater than the first diameter (ϕ 1 ) obtained at the first abutment portions ( 22 ) of the at least one of the first and the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ), the slots ( 220 ′) and the cylindrical guide elements ( 13 ′) sliding one on the other independently two by two when moving the at least one of the first or the second support element ( 101 ,  102 ) so as to allow a staggering of the contact surface ( 23 ′,  23 ″) of the first or the second support element with respect to the first axis (X). 
     
     
         33 . The hose reel according to  claim 24 , wherein the spindle ( 10 ″) is integrally connected with the pair of laterally extending flanges ( 40 ′,  40 ″). 
     
     
         34 . The hose reel according to  claim 22 , further comprising means for removably fixing the hose reel to a movable or stationary support structure. 
     
     
         35 . The hose reel according to  claim 22 , wherein the rotatable element ( 100 ) is made of one or more polymeric materials. 
     
     
         36 . A hose reel assembly and garden hose configured to be connected yo a water-supply system, comprising:
 a flat flexible hose (T) configured to be connected with a water-supply system;   a hose reel according to  claim 22 .