TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hollow tube and mounting frame assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a hollow tube and mounting frame assembly used in a hose reel or hose trolley.

BACKGROUND

Hose reels for storing garden hoses are well known in the art. Typically, a hose reel includes a windable reel rotatably supported by two mounting frames. The mounting frames are attached to each other by one or more tubes for strength, support and/or manual transportation of the hose reel.

Typically, the windable reel and the mounting frames are made of plastic whereas the tubes are made of a metal alloy. The tubes are attached with the mounting frames by using fasteners. For example, US Pat. No. 5,381,981 issued on January 17, 1995 and assigned to The Specialty Mfg. Co., titled "Garden hose reel", discloses a hose reel wherein the mounting frames are connected by two metal tubes. Each mounting frame contains two sockets for receiving the two tubes and each tube has slots at the ends for mounting a rectangular metal plate. The sockets in the mounting frames and the metal plates have corresponding apertures for receiving fastening screws. Such a connection between the tubes and the mounting frames requires multiple components and is difficult to assemble. Further, structural modifications required in the tubes and the mounting frames are complicated and expensive.

In light of the foregoing, there is a need for a simple and cost efficient connection between a tube and a mounting frame.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the problems discussed above. In particular, the objective is to provide an improved connection between a tube and a mounting frame. The objective is at least partially achieved according to a novel hollow tube and mounting frame assembly described in claim 1. The hollow tube includes a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A socket, formed in the mounting frame, is configured to receive the tube. Further, the socket has an inner surface that substantially corresponds to the outer surface of the tube. Moreover, a receiving aperture, formed in the mounting frame, is configured to receive a screw that fastens the tube to the mounting frame. A kernel extends into the socket forming a collet between an outer surface of the kernel and the inner surface of the socket. Further, the kernel is positioned such that the inner surface of the tube is in contact with the outer surface of the kernel at at least one contact position. Additionally, a guide channel, formed in the receiving aperture, is configured to align the screw substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of that part of the tube that extends into the collet. The guide channel opens into the collet proximate the contact position such that the guide channel overlaps with the space occupied by the wall of the tube. Therefore, the screw, on insertion into the guide channel, is pressed against the outer surface of the kernel. Further, the threads of the screw cut into the wall of the tube and deform the wall such that the tube is held firmly against the outer surface of the kernel. Thus, the tube is securely fixed to the mounting frame and cannot be pulled out of the socket easily. Thus, the assembly may provide a cost efficient, simple and reliable connection between the tube and the mounting frame. Moreover, the assembly does not involve any major structural modification to the tube or the mounting frame.

According to claim 2, a cross-section of the kernel extending into the tube is smaller in dimension than a cross-section of the tube. This facilitates the insertion of the tube into the socket. Further, according to claim 3, the tube has a circular cross- section.

According to claim 4, the tube is made of a metal alloy. Further, according to claim 5, the wall of the tube is thin and deformable. This aids deformation by the threads of the screw. Moreover, according to claim 6, the mounting frame is made of plastic material.

According to claim 7, the assembly is used in a garden tool. Further, the garden tool is one of a hose reel or a hose trolley. Claim 8 discloses a method for assembling a hollow tube and a mounting frame. The hollow tube includes a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. According to the method, the tube is received in a socket formed in the mounting frame. The socket has an inner surface that substantially corresponds to the outer surface of the tube. Further, a collet is formed between an outer surface of a kernel extending into the socket and the inner surface of the socket. Moreover, the kernel is positioned such that an inner surface of the tube is in contact with the outer surface of the kernel at at least one contact position. Subsequently, a screw is inserted into a receiving aperture formed in the mounting frame. The screw is inserted in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of that part of the tube that extends into the collet. Additionally, the screw is pressed against the kernel and the threads of the screw cut into the wall of the tube such that the tube is held against the outer surface of the kernel at the contact position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will in the following be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hose reel, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a hollow tube and mounting frame assembly along a section A-A, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of devices. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hose reel 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hose reel may be used for storage and winding of any type of flexible hose. Moreover, the hose reel 100 may be used in various applications, such as, gardening, fire fighting etc. In addition, any suitable size, shape, or type of elements or materials could be used.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the hose reel 100 includes a windable reel 102 mounted between two mounting frames 104 and 106. The windable reel 102 is rotatable with respect to the mounting frames 104 and 106 for winding and unwinding of a garden hose (not illustrated in the figures). The garden hose is connected to an internal hose connection (not illustrated in the figures). The windable reel 102 may be rotated manually via a hand crank or by any other means (E.g., an electric motor) within the scope of the present invention. An external hose connection 108 is also provided for connection with a supply hose. The external hose connection 108 may be static when the windable reel 102 is rotated to prevent twisting of the supply hose. The internal hose connection and the external hose connection may be in fluid communication to provide liquid supply to the garden hose during operation.

Further, the mounting frames 104 and 106 are connected to each other via a handle 110 at the top, and hollow tubes 112 and 114 (hereinafter referred to as "the tubes 112 and 114") at the bottom. The handle 110 is used for manual transportation of the mounting frames. In an embodiment of the present invention, the mounting frames 104 and 106 are made of plastic. The handle 110 may be integrally formed with the mounting frames 104 and 106 or may be a separate component. The tubes 112 and 114 may be provided for strength and/or support of the hose reel 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tubes 112 and 114 may be made of any metal alloy. The mounting frames 104 and 106 also include hose connections 116 and 118 respectively. Ends of the garden hose and/or supply hose may be connected to the hose connections 116 and 118 to prevent dripping of liquid during non-use of the hose reel 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, a socket 120, formed in the frame 106, is configured to receive an end of the tube 112. A similar socket (illustrated in FIG. 2) is formed in the frame 104 to receive another end of the tube 112. Further, a receiving aperture 122, formed in the mounting frame 104, is configured to receive a screw 124 in order to fasten the tube 112 to the mounting frame 104 (described in detail with reference to FIG. 2). Such a receiving aperture is also provided in the frame 106 to receive another screw. Moreover, sockets (not shown in the figures) are formed in the frames 104 and 106 to receive two ends of the tube 114.

The hose reel 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is for exemplary purposes only, and the hose reel 100 may be of shape and configuration within the scope of the present invention. For example, another tube made of alloy may be used instead of the handle 110. Further, the mounting frames 104 and 106 may be of modular construction. In such case, the parts of the mounting frames 104 and 106, where the tubes 112 and 114 are connected, may be separate components attached to the mounting frames 104 and 106 via adhesives or mechanical fasteners. The hose reel 100 may also include one or more wheels.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a hollow tube and mounting frame assembly 200 (hereinafter referred to as "the assembly 200") along a section A-A, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tube 112 and the mounting frame 104 is illustrated in the assembly 200 for exemplary purposes. However, the assembly 200 may be between any of the tubes 112 or 114, and the mounting frames 104 or 106.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the socket 120 with an inner surface 202, formed in the mounting frame 104, is configured to receive the tube 112. The tube 112 has a wall 204 with an inner surface 206 and an outer surface 208. The inner surface 202 of the socket 120 may substantially correspond to the outer surface 208 of the tube 112 for a close fit. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tube 112 has a circular cross-section. Therefore, the inner surface 202 of the socket 120 also has a circular shape. However, the tube 112 and the socket 120 may be of any shape within the scope of the present invention. For example, the

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a kernel 210 extends into the socket 120 forming a collet 212 between an outer surface 214 of the kernel 210 and the inner surface 202 of the socket 120. The kernel 210 may be integral with the mounting frame 104 or may be a separate component attached to the mounting frame 104. The kernel 210 is positioned such that the inner surface 206 of the tube 112 is in contact with the outer surface 214 of the kernel 210 at at least one contact position 216. Further, a cross- section of the kernel 210 extending into the tube 112 is smaller in dimension than a cross-section of the tube 112 for ease of insertion and assembly. Thus, the inner surface 206 of the tube 112 is not in contact with the outer surface 214 of the kernel 210 at a radially opposite position with respect to the contact position 216. Consequently, a radial clearance exists between the inner surface 206 of the tube and the outer surface 214 of the kernel 210.

Further, the receiving aperture 122, formed in the mounting frame 104, is configured to receive the screw 124 in order to fasten the tube 112 to the mounting frame 104. The screw 124 includes helical threads 218 (hereinafter referred to as "the threads 218") screw and a pointed tip. Moreover, a guide channel 220, formed in the receiving aperture 122, is configured to align the screw 124 substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis L of the part of the tube 112 that extends into the collet 212. The guide channel 220 opens into the collet 212 proximate the contact position 216 such that the guide channel 220 overlaps with the space occupied by the wall 204 of the tube 112. Therefore, the screw 124, on insertion into the guide channel 220, is pressed against the outer surface 214 of the kernel 210. Further, the threads 218 of the screw 124 cut into the wall 204 of the tube 112 and deform the wall 204 such that the tube 112 is held firmly against the outer surface 214 of the kernel 210. Thus, the tube 112 is securely fixed to the mounting frame 104 and cannot be pulled out of the socket 120 easily. The wall 204 of the tube 112 is also thin and deformable, to aid deformation by the threads 218 of the screw 124. Thus, the assembly 200 may provide a cost efficient, simple and reliable connection between the tube 112 and the mounting frame 104. Moreover, the assembly 200 does not involve any major structural modification to the tube 112 or the mounting frame 104.

It may be apparent to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that usage of the assembly 200 is not merely restricted to the hose reel 100 or a hose trolley, but may be used in various other applications.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terns are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.