EP4114775B1

EP4114775B1 - Storage assembly

Info

Publication number: EP4114775B1
Application number: EP20803886.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tobias Schlegel
Original assignee: Husqvarna AB
Current assignee: Husqvarna AB
Priority date: 2020-03-02
Filing date: 2020-11-16
Publication date: 2024-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2040-11-16
Also published as: CN115210160A; EP4114775A1; EP3875412A1; WO2021175467A1; TW202134162A

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a storage assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to the storage assembly with improvements allowing handling of higher loads.

BACKGROUND

A storage assembly may be any housing which allows storage of a component. The component may be any material such as a hose, a rope, a thread and the like. For example, the storage assembly may be a hose box. The hose box allows sitting of a reel to which a hose is wound. The reel may be provided with one or more bearings.
However, there may be instances which may prevent a bearing from sitting directly at the housing. It may happen that during the bearing movements such as towards inside or away from the storage box or by positioning a spring, may wind the reel or may create a bending moment. Such issues are associated with conventional storage assemblies and need to be addressed to suit user expectations.
An example of a storage assembly-like arrangement is provided in GB patent application GB 2,256,632 (hereinafter referred to as '632 reference). The '632 reference discloses a reel for the storage, paying out and winding in of flexible items such as hoses, conduits and cables. A metal axle or shaft is integrally moulded into the reel. The axle or shaft may include at least one transverse projection which is also moulded into the reel. The axle or shaft can be hollow, and the transverse projection is also hollow so as to be in communication with the hollow interior of the axle or shaft to form a passageway for liquid or a hose, cable or conduit. The axle or shaft may be supported at either end. However, '632 reference discloses obtaining a bond between the axle and encasing plastic, which involves that the axle is preferably heated prior to being placed in the mould or the moulding operation being commenced. This may limit the applicability and usability of the reel, and may make it more cumbersome and costly to manufacture and maintain. Further, the reference seems short of providing a removal and/or user-friendly arrangement between the metal axle or shaft and the plastic. Moreover, the reel of the reference seems silent on length, arrangement, assembly of the metal axle or shaft with respect to the plastic.
US5238201 reference discloses a mobile hand-held apparatus for feedout, and uptake of a line. The apparatus includes a base member, an axle extending from the base member, a spool rotably mounted on the axle. The spool is rotably mounted on the axle by means of a first bushing and a second bushing. The bushings, including flanges are made of a nylon material in some embodiments. Moreover, the spool of the reference seems silent on details regarding length, arrangement, assembly of the axle with respect to the bushings. Moreover, the present reference seems silent on locking and safeguarding of a connection (say a snap connection) between the spool and the bushings.
Thus, there is a need for an improved storage assembly which provides a rigid, adjustable reel which may suit loading requirements of the storage assembly.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the drawbacks discussed above. The objective is achieved by a storage assembly according to claim 1. The storage assembly is for a flexible tubular component. The storage assembly includes an axle. The axle is configured with one or more axle stubs. Further, the storage assembly includes a reel. The reel is rotatably mounted around the axle to allow winding of the tubular component on the reel. The reel is manufactured of a plastic material. The one or more axle stubs are two axle stubs and at least partially enclose at least one cylindrical metal element therein. The cylindrical metal element has a length which is longer than a total length of the two axle stubs. The storage assembly is characterized in that the cylindrical metal element is locking and safeguarding the snap connection between the reel and the axle stubs. Thus, the present invention provides a simple storage assembly which allows the reel to withstand heavy loads or forces and thereby stay unbent during adjustment of the reel in the storage assembly.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage assembly is a hose box. The hose box allows ease of handling and storage of the hose.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tubular component is one or more of a hose, an electrical cable, an electric fence wire, a power flex, a rope etc. The flexible tubular component allows an effective winding on the reel.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage assembly further includes one or more bearings at each end of the axle. The one or more bearings allow to retain the wound tubular component within the storage assembly.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical metal element is one or more of a tube, a rod, and a pipe. This provides desired strength to the reel as per the requirements of the user.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the axle stubs are connected to the cylindrical metal element. This provides a firm connection between the cylindrical metal element and the two axle stubs.
The cylindrical metal element and the two axle stubs are connected by a snap connection. The snap connection helps to avoid inadvertent movement of the reel relative to the two axle stubs.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a material of the cylindrical metal element is having higher toughness than a material of the axle stubs. The helps the cylindrical metal element in taking up some of the forces and reduces the bending moment being borne by the reel.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical metal element is fixed with the reel. This prevents bending of the reel even on winding of heavy tubular component.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical metal element is removably assembled with the reel. This allows a user to select suitable material of cylindrical metal element as per application requirements.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tubular component is made of a material selected from one or more of polymers, plastics, and metals. This provides the tubular component with characteristic features such as flexibility, cost efficiency, heat resistant properties, vibration resistant properties.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage assembly is mounted on a wall surface. This makes the storage assembly widely usable in outdoor and indoor applications such as gardens, parks, buildings etc.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage assembly is mounted on a ground surface. This also makes the storage assembly widely usable in outdoor and indoor applications such as gardens, parks, buildings.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the axle stubs are detachable from the reel. This allows to remove the cylindrical metal element as per the requirements.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the axle stubs are fixed to the reel. The fixed one or more axle stubs provides stability to the reel even on introducing heavy loads.
Other features and aspects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a storage assembly, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 shows a semi cross-sectional view of one or more axle stubs within the storage assembly, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 3 shows a semi cross-sectional view of the one or more axle stubs with a snap connection, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

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 may be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.
Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward", "sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle", "intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown in the Figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.
FIG. 1 illustrates a storage assembly 100. The storage assembly 100 of the present disclosure may be any device which finds application in outdoor or garden installations to retain any object such as hose, rope and the like wound to a reel. The storage assembly 100 is a hose box. The hose box allows easy handling and storage of the hose. The storage assembly 100 may be mounted on a wall surface or on a ground surface. The mounting of the storage assembly 100 on a wall/ ground surface provides wide range of usage in outdoor and indoor applications such as gardens, parks, buildings.
The storage assembly 100 is for a flexible tubular component 106 such as a hose, an electrical cable, an electric fence wire, a power flex, a rope and the like. The storage assembly 100 includes an axle 102. The storage assembly 100 further includes a reel 104. Moreover, the reel 104 is rotatably mounted around the axle 102 to allow winding of the tubular component 106 on the reel 104. The reel 104 is used for storing, paying out and winding in of a wide variety of flexible tubular components 106. The reel 104 is manufactured of a plastic material.
As illustrated in FIG.1 , the axle 102 includes one or more bearings i.e. a first bearing 108 and a second bearing 110 one at each end of the axle 102. The first bearing 108 is towards a first housing side 112. Similarly, the second bearing 110 is towards a second housing side 114. Hereinafter, the first bearing 108 and the second bearing 110 are referred to as one or more bearings 108, 110. The one or more bearings 108, 110 allow to retain the wound tubular component 106 within the storage assembly 100. The one or more bearings 108, 110 may be ball bearings, roller bearings, ball thrust bearings, roller thrust bearings, tapered roller thrust bearings and the like.
In some embodiments, the tubular component 106 such as hoses, electrical cables, electric fence wires, power flexes, ropes and the like may be made up of materials such as, need not necessarily nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, poly vinyl chloride, synthetic or natural rubbers, cotton, manila, jute, metal. The tubular component 106 may be flexible, light weight, cost effective, heat-resistant, vibration-resistant. These properties provide an effective winding of the tubular component 106 around the reel 104.
The reel 104 may be manufactured in multiple parts from a suitable plastic material and the multiple parts may then be assembled. The reel 104 may be located on a separate axle. Additionally, or alternatively, the reel 104 may be manufactured in a molded form from a plastic material and substantially in one piece. In the preferred form, the axle 102 is integrally molded into the reel 104. The reel 104 may even be manufactured from materials such as wood, fiberglass or metal like heavy-gauge steel, stainless steel, aluminum and the like.
In some embodiments, the reel 104 may be a spinning reel, a baitcasting reel, a spin casting reel, a surf fishing reel, a trolling reel, an offshore reel, a flyfishing reel. The reel 104 may have a straight axle, a double drop axle, a full drop axle, or any other arrangement as known or used in the art. Alternatively, or additionally, the reel 104 may be a stationary reel, a mobile reel, a reel cart, a hideaway, a spring-loaded reel, an air hose reel. The reel 104 may be chosen according to fitting properties of the reel 104 during housing of the reel 104 such that the reel 104 itself may allow to avoid bending.
In some embodiments, the one or more bearings 108, 110 may be difficult to assemble in a direct sitting at the storage assembly 100. The one or more bearings 108, 110 may be moved towards, or away from the storage assembly 100. These movements may cause a bending moment. To overcome this bending moment, a spring (not shown) may be provided to make the one or more bearings 108, 110 fit into the storage assembly 100. Further, the spring may allow benefits known in the relevant art such as ease of winding up of the reel 104.
FIG. 2 illustrates the axle 102 configured with one or more axle stubs i.e. a first axle stub 116 and a second axle stub 122. Hereinafter, the first axle stub 116 and the second axle stub 122 are referred to as the one or more axle stubs 116, 122. The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 at least partially enclose at least one cylindrical metal element 118 within. The cylindrical metal element 118 has a length which is longer than a total length of the one or more axle stubs 116, 122. This helps to customize the total length of the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 enclosing the cylindrical metal element 118. Further, a material of the cylindrical metal element 118 may have a higher toughness than a material of the one or more axle stubs 116, 122. The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be made up of a material such as plastic, rubber, and the cylindrical metal element 118 may be made up of copper, aluminum, nickel, iron or any other such material used or known in art. The cylindrical metal element 118 helps in taking up some of the forces and reduces the bending moment being borne by the reel 104.
The cylindrical metal element 118 helps in taking up some of the forces and reduces the bending moment being borne by the reel 104. The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 are connected to the cylindrical metal element 118. This provides a firm connection between the cylindrical metal element 118 and the one or more axle stubs 116, 122. Moreover, the cylindrical metal element 118 helps the reel 104 to bear high forces and retain its natural shape/arrangement. In some embodiments, the cylindrical metal element 118 is one or more of a tube, a rod, and a pipe. This provides desired strength to the reel 104 as per the requirements of the user.
The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be manufactured using any material, such as polymers, metals, plastics, and the like. The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be manufactured using any process, such as casting, molding, forging, fabrication, and the like. In some embodiments, the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be manufactured by three-dimensional printing (also known as additive manufacturing or 3D printing). In some embodiments, the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be one or more of an elliot axle stub, a reversed elliot axle stub, a lamoine axle stub, a reversed lamoine axle stub and the like.
In some embodiments, the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be integrally molded into the reel 104. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be manufactured separately. The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may further be connected to the axle.
In some embodiments, the cylindrical metal element 118 may be replaced by numerous smaller cylindrical metal elements. Length, thickness, width, and the like dimensions of the cylindrical metal element 118 may be adjustable. The strength of the cylindrical metal element 118 may be varied by changing these dimensions accordingly.
FIG. 3 illustrates the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 of the storage assembly 100. The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 are connected to the reel 104 using a snap connection (not shown). The snap connection prevents the reel 104 from moving away from the one or more axle stubs 116, 122. The snap connection is positioned on the cylindrical metal element 118. During implementation of the storage assembly 100, the reel 104 locks the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 with the snap connection. The snap connection avoids swiveling even after any attachment or accessory (not shown) associated with the storage assembly 100 or the tubular component 106 is mounted. The cylindrical metal element 118 when inserted into the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 locks and safeguards the snap connection between the reel 104 and the one or more axle stubs 116, 122, refer FIGS. 2 , 3 . In some embodiments, the cylindrical metal element 118 is locking and safeguarding the snap connection between the cylindrical metal element 118 and the one or more axle stubs 116, 122, as shown in FIG. 3 . Additionally, or alternatively, the metal element 118 may be fixed or free to move between the one or more axle stubs 116, 122; such as to better distribute the load between one or more of the metal element 118 and the one or more axle stubs 116, 122. In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be adjusted or moved to enclose/cover over a different length on any end of the metal element 118. Further, the metal element 118 may be removably coupled such that any of the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be removed (refer FIGS. 2 , 3 ) from either left or right of the metal element 118, to easily access and/or remove the metal element 118.
The snap connection the reel 104 and the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 helps to avoid inadvertent movement of the reel 104 with the one or more axle stubs 116, 122. A single snap connection with desired features such as required size, shape, coupling quality and the like may be used individually. Or numerous small snap connections may be used to provide the required strength. The snap connection may be an annular snap fit, a cantilever snap fit, a torsional snap fit, a circle clip. Additionally, or alternatively, in some embodiments, the cylindrical metal element 118 itself and the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 are also connected by a further snap connection. Alternatively, or additionally the cylindrical metal element 118 may be tied, glued to the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 or any such known method may be used. It is also possible that the cylindrical metal element 118 may be screwed to the one or more axle stubs 116, 122.
The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be provided with sockets for receiving the cylindrical metal element 118. The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be provided with some clamping regions. These clamping regions further help to hold the cylindrical metal element 118 firmly. The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may have a peculiar design to receive the cylindrical metal element 118. These features may prevent use of additional sources such as snap connections, circle clips and the like.
The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be detachable from the reel 104. This allows to remove the cylindrical metal element 118 as per the requirements. The one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be removed electromagnetically. A pry bar may be inserted between the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 and the cylindrical metal element 118. The one or more axle stubs 116,122 may be isolated by pulling the pry bar out. The axle stubs may be segregated by removing inserted circle clips (if provided). Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more axle stubs 116, 122 may be fixed to the reel 104. The fixed one or more axle stubs 116, 122 provide stability to the reel 104 even on introducing heavy loads.
In some embodiment, the cylindrical metal element 118 may be fixed with the reel 104. This prevents bending of the reel 104 even on winding of heavy tubular component. The cylindrical metal element 118 may also be removably assembled with the reel 104. The removably assembled cylindrical metal element 118 may be substituted by any other desired cylindrical metal element 118 during service time of the storage assembly 100.
In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

100: Storage Assembly
102: Axle
104: Reel
106: Tubular Component
108: First Bearing
110: Second Bearing
112: First Housing Side
114: Second Housing Side
116: First Axle Stub
118: Cylindrical metal element
122: Second Axle Stub

Claims

A storage assembly (100) for a flexible tubular component (106), the storage assembly (100) comprising:
an axle (102) configured with one or more axle stubs (116, 122); and

a reel (104) rotatably mounted around the axle (102) to allow winding of the tubular component (106) on the reel (104), wherein the reel (104) is manufactured of a plastic material;

wherein the one or more axle stubs (116, 122) are two axle stubs and at least partially enclose at least one cylindrical metal element (118) therein, wherein the cylindrical metal element (118) has a length which is longer than a total length of the two axle stubs (116, 122),

characterized in that:
the cylindrical metal element (118) is locking and safeguarding a snap connection between the reel (104) and the axle stubs (116, 122).
The storage assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the storage assembly (100) is a hose box.
The storage assembly (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular component (106) is one or more of a hose, electrical cable, electric fence wire, power flex, rope.
The storage assembly (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the storage assembly (100) further comprising one or more bearings (108, 110) at each end of the axle (102).
The storage assembly (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the cylindrical metal element (118) is one or more of a tube, a rod, and a pipe.
The storage assembly (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the axle stubs (116, 122) are connected to the cylindrical metal element (118).
The storage assembly (100) of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical metal element (118) and the two axle stubs (116, 122) are connected by the snap connection.
The storage assembly (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein a material of the cylindrical metal element (118) is having higher toughness than a material of the axle stubs (116, 122).
The storage assembly (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the cylindrical metal element (118) is removably assembled with the reel (104).
The storage assembly (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular component (106) is made of a material selected from one or more of polymers, plastics, and metals.
The storage assembly (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the axle stubs (116, 122) are detachable from the reel (104).
The storage assembly (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the axle stubs (116, 122) are fixed to the reel (104).