AU2001267151A1 - Hose holder - Google Patents

Description

HOSE HOLDER TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention pertains to hose accessories and more particularly to a stand for supporting a hose and having means of vertical adjustment. BACKGROUND ART

There is a wide variety of hose holders in the prior art but none provides for easy adjustment of the angle of the hose. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a hose holder comprises a base which removably supports a vertical rod which in turn supports a rotating joint adjustment mechanism. The joint is capable of rotating adjustment with respect to the rod and supports a second rod. The second rod has a distal end which has a resilient hose clamp.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first rod is demountable from the base.

In other embodiments of the invention, the joint has a positive locking engagement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a hose holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the base of the holder shown in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a cross section through lines A-A of Fig 1 ; Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partially crossed sectioned, of the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through A-A of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through line B-B of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a third embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 8a is a top plan view of a modified hose clamp of the hose holder shown in Fig. 7, and Fig. 8b is a top plan view of another modified hose clamp of the hose holder shown in Fig. 7.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As shown in Fig 1 , a hose holder and according to the present invention comprise a base 11 , a first vertical rod 12, a vertical adjustment mechanism 13, a second rod holder 14, a second rod 15 and one or more clamps 16. As shown in Fig. 2, the base 11 may be constructed from cast iron. It may also be formed, for example, from hot dipped galvanised mild steel rod of about 13 mm diameter which has been formed into a circular surround 20. The surround 20 may be approximately 400 mm in diameter. Radial supports 21 such as 10 mm diameter bar may be used to affix a vertical tube 22 in the centre of the base 11. Additional gussets 23 may be used to stabilise the vertical tube 22. The vertical tube 22 may include a slot 24 for engaging an anti-rotation pin on the vertical rod 12 which is supports. It will be appreciated that the base may also be formed from a concrete lower portion into which the vertical tube 22 is cast in place as shown in Fig. 4. The vertical tube 22 supports the first rod 12 which is, for example, a 25 mm diameter timber rod, approximately 500-1500 mm long. The lower extremity of the timber rod 12 may have a nylon coarse pitched screw 25 which fits within the vertical tube 22. The vertical rod 12 may also include a screw or pin 26 for engaging the slot 24. The vertical adjustment mechanism 13 includes a central bore which surrounds the vertical rod 12. A locking screw 27 allows the adjustment mechanism 13 to be locked into any number of positions along the length of the vertical rod 12. The adjustment mechanism 13 also forms one half of a joint 28, the other half serving to hold the second rod 15.

The joint formed by the adjustment mechanism 13, 14 allows a second pole 15 to be rotated about the vertical rod 12 in the direction of the arrow 30 shown in Fig. 1. A central set screw 31 allows the two halves of the joint to be locked together into a stable arrangement. Optional teeth 32 formed on the contacting surfaces of each of the halves of the joint 28 permit the positive locking of the two halves of the joint 28.

The joint portion 14 includes a bore which receives the second rod 15. The second rod 15 may be approximately 500-600 mm long and supports, at each end, a resilient clamp 16. As shown in Figure 3, the clamps 16 include a "C" shaped portion 35 which is adapted to receive a garden hose 36. Accordingly, the "C" shaped portion 35 is preferably sized to removably receive a 15-19 mm hose. Like all of he hose clamps disclosed in this specification, this arrangement insures that, the hose end, when inserted, remains in axial alignment with the second rod 15 to which it is attached.

As shown in Fig. 4, a second embodiment of the invention includes a concrete base 41. The base preferably has a height of about 200 mm, a bottom diameter of about 250 mm and a top diameter of about 200 mm. the base may include a cast in handle, for example, formed from galvanised bar 70. A square tube 42 is cast into the base and serves as a supporting bore for the primary or vertical rod 43. The primary rod 43 is reinforced by a square tube 60 which is affixed to the rod 43 by a set screw 61. The square tube 60 prevents the rod 43 from rotating within the base 41. In this embodiment, the vertical rod 43 supports a vertically adjustable adaptor 44. The adaptor 44 frictionally engages the post 53 with a locking screw 45. The adaptor 44 further includes a second parallel through opening or bore 46 which receives a stub 47 which is received by or affixed to the joint 50. The joint 50 provides angular, adjustable support for the second rod 51. The second rod supports a first hose clamp of the type disclosed with reference to figure 1 and a second hose clamp 52. The second clamp 52, as shown in figure 6, comprises a skirted cap 53 which is integral with a "C" shaped clamp 54. The clamp portion 54 is adapted to accommodate 30-35 mm diameter hose nozzle 55, as shown.

The lower extremity of the rod 43 is fitted with a screw tip 25 which preferably comprises a nylon or other polymer corse pitched screw which affixes to the bottom of the rod 43.

As shown in Fig. 7, a second embodiment of the invention 70 comprises a cast concrete base 71 into which is permanently cast the vertical tube 72. The vertical tube may be aluminium and incorporate a flange 73 at the lower end to secure it within the casting 71. An optional drain hole 74 may be provided. For compactness and stability, the side walls 75 of the base are preferably tapered. The upper end of the vertical tube 72 incorporates a joint 76 which provides angular, adjustable support for the second rod 77.

The terminal end of the second rod 77 supports a hose clamp 78. In one embodiment, the hose clamp 78 is a generally tube-like structure into which has been formed a helical groove 79. The resiliency of the clamp 78 combined with the helical groove 79 allows a hose to be releaseably secured by the clamp 78. In some embodiments, the clamp 78 is affixed to the tube 77 by rivets 78. In other embodiments, the hose clamp 78 may be affixed to the tube 77 by other means such as by clamps or loops which are integrally moulded with the clamp 78. In other embodiments, the second tube 77 and hose clamp 78 can be injection moulded as single piece. It will also be appreciated that the helical groove 79 may be routed into a tube or formed during the injection moulding process.

As shown in Fig. 8, the resilient hose clamp 78 can be formed with grooves having geometries other than the helical one depicted in Fig. 7. As shown in figure 8a the groove may be formed as a longitudinal wave or synocuidal structure 81. In the alternative and as shown in Fig. 8b the groove may simply be a straight slot 82. In any event, the groove (79, 81 or 82) must extend from one end of the tube 78 to the other so that the hose can be inserted and removed. The wall thickness and material must be selected so that a conventional garden hose can be easily and manually inserted and withdrawn without coming out owing to forces imposed on the hose during use, such as by the changes in water pressure. In one embodiment, the hose clamp 78 has a diameter of about 20mm and a wall thickness of about 2mm. The width of the groove is approximately 15mm and the overall length of the hose clamp 78 is about 200-400mm.

While the present invention has been described with reference to particular details of construction and with reference to particular materials of construction, this should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1 . A hose holder comprising: a base which supports a vertical rod and a second rod; the first and second rods connected by a joint; the second rod being supported at one end by the joint and having, at its other end, a hose clamp.

2. The hose holder of claim 1 , wherein: the base is cast concrete.

3. The hose holder of claim 2, wherein: the joint comprises two halves held together by a set screw, the joint providing vertical adjustment of the second rod.

4. The hose holder of claim 3, wherein: the joint is itself vertically adjustable with respect to the vertical rod.

5. The hose holder of any one of claims 1 -4, wherein: the hose clamp comprises a tubular structure having two ends into which is formed a groove which extends from one end to the other.

6. The hose holder of claim 5, wherein: the groove is helical.

7. The hose holder of claim 5, wherein: the hose clamp is injection moulded with the groove in place.

8. The hose holder of claim 7, wherein: the second rod of hose clamp are moulded as one piece. The hose holder of any one of claims 1 -8, wherein: the vertical rod is removable from the base.