GB2258511A

GB2258511A - A guide for an elongate flexible member

Info

Publication number: GB2258511A
Application number: GB9116533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Richard Broome
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-07-31
Filing date: 1991-07-31
Publication date: 1993-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-31
Also published as: GB9116533D0; GB2258511B

Abstract

A guide (10) for an elongate flexible member (11), such as a garden hose, comprises a support member (12), a guide member (13) adapted to locate the flexible member (11) and means (15, 25) for connecting the support member (12) and the guide member (13) one to another so that the guide member (13) is adapted to turn relative to the support member (12) in accordance with changes of direction of the flexible member (11) relative to the support member (12). <IMAGE>

Description

A Guide for an Elongate Flexible Member This invention relates to a guide for an elongate flexible member particularly, but not exclusively, a garden hose.

A problem often associated with watering of plants by means of a garden hose is that the hose extends along ground between a water source and a watering location where plants are being sprayed with water and the hose often encounters obstacles on the ground. In some instances, the obstacles restrict movement of the hose relative to the the ground and in other instances movement of the hose causes damage, such as destroying plants which are embedded in the ground between the water source and the watering location.

It is desirable, therefore, to provide a guide for an elongate flexible member , such as a water hoses in which the disadvantages referred to above are eliminated or reduced to a minimum.

According to the present invention, there is provided a guide for an elongate flexible member comprising a support member, a guide member adapted to locate the flexible member and means for connecting the support member and the guide member one to another so that the guide member is adapted to turn relative to the support member in accordance with change of direction of the flexible member relative to the support member.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings, : Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a guide in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a top plan view of the guide shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the guide shown in Figres 1 to 3 when in operation, Figure 5 is a side elevation of a collar in accordance with the present invention for use with the guide shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 6 is a top plan view of the collar shown in Figure 4, Figure 7 is an end view of the collar shown in Figures 4 and 5, Figure 8 is a cross section on the line VIII - VIII of Figure 5, Figure 9 is a side view of the guide shown in Figures 1 to 3 when provided with the collar shown in Figures 5 to 8 and an extension tube in accordance with the present invention, Figure 10 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 9 Figure 11 is a plan view of a support member of another embodiment of a guide in accordance with the present invention and, Figure 12 is a cross section on the line XII - XII of Figure 11 in combination with a guide member in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 of drawings, there is shown an embodiment of a guide 10 for use with a garden hose 11.

The guide 10 comprises an elongate support member 12 and a substantially annular guide member 13. The support member 12 comprises an elongate tapered portion 14 and a cylindrical portion 15 having a lower circumferential flange 16, an upper circumferential flange 17 and an internal cylindrical cavity 18. The tapered portion 14 of the support member 12 comprises, in transverse cross section, four webs 19 each of which extends in a direction at 90 degrees to an adjacent web 19, the webs 19 tapering in progressively reducing dimension from the lower flange 16 of the cylindrical portion 15 towards a lower pointed tip 20.

The guide member 13 comprises a split ring 21 having a pair of upstanding webs 22, 23 opposite facing surfaces of each of which are each provided with a finger recess 24.

The split ring also is provided with a depending cylindrical member 25 adapted to be received in the internal cavity 18 of the cylindrical portion 15 of the support member 12 so that the guide member 13 is rotatable relative to the support member 12 on a central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member 25 coaxial with a central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion 15 of the support member 12. The cylindrical member 25 is provided with an upper circumferential flange 26 for abutment with an upper surface of the upper circumferential flange 17 of the cylindrical portion 15.

The guide member 13 also comprises a pair of depending spaced parallel webs 27, 28 each having an inwardly projecting lug 29 and a downwardly outwardly sloping lower surface 30.

The arrangement is such that the webs 27, 28 and their corresponding lugs 29 provide snap engagement means for assembling a guide member 13 and a support member 12 when the cylindrical member 25 of the guide member 13 is inserted in the cylindrical portion 15 of the support member 12 and moving the guide member 13 is moved towards the lower flange 16 of the cylindrical portion 15 of the support member 12 such that the lower surfaces 30 of the lugs 29 engage the upper flange 17 of the cylindrical portion 15 of the support member 12 and the webs 27, 28 are forced radially outwardly but, as movement of the guide member 13 downwardly of the support member 12 continues, the lugs 29 pass below the flange 17 and, due to an inherent resilient bias of the webs 27, 28 return to an undeflected position below the flange 17 of the cylindrical portion 15 of the support member 12 and thereby restrain upward movement of the guide member 13 relative to the support member 12 while permitting rotation of the guide member 13 relative to a central longitudinal axis of the support member 12.

In use, the guide 10 is located in ground 31 by inserting the tip 20 of the support member 12 into the ground 31 and applying downward pressure to the guide 10 until the lower flange 16 engages the ground 31. The hose 11 then is received in the split ring 21 by grasping the finger recesses 24 of the webs 22, 23 and moving the webs 22, 23 in opposite directions so as to provide access to the ring 21; entering the hose 11 therein and releasing pressure on the webs 22, 23 so that the webs, due to inherent resilient characteristics of the material of the ring 21, return to the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings.

The diameter of the split ring 21 is in excess of the diameter of the hose 11 thereby permitting the hose 11 to be drawn through the ring 21 of the guide 10. Various positions in which the hose 11 may be located relative to the ring 21 in use are indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Each of the webs 22, 23 may be provided with an upper surface 32, 33 which slopes downwardly and inwardly such that the upper surfaces 32, 33 together provide a "V" formation. With such an arrangement the hose 11 may be inserted in the ring 21 by positioning the hose 11 in abutment with the surfaces 32, 33 and applying downward pressure to the hose so as to urge the webs 22, 23 in opposite directions and thereby permit entry of the hose 11 into the ring 21.

Release of the hose 11 from the ring 21 is effected by grasping the webs 22, 23 and moving them in opposite directions, as indicated in Figure 1, so as to provide a gap between the webs 22, 23 of sufficient width to permit the hose 11 to be lifted from the ring 21.

Referring now to Figures 4 - 10 of the drawings, there is shown apparatus for supporting a nozzle portion of the hose 11 in the guide 10. The apparatus comprises a split collar 34 adapted to be received in the split ring 21 and an extension tube 35. The split collar 34 comprises a first cylindrical portion 36 having circumferential end flanges 37, 38 of larger external diameter than the external diameter of the cylindrical portion 36, and a second cylindrical portion 39 of enlarged diameter and slidable axially on the first cylindrical portion 36, the second cylindrical portion 39 having spaced parallel circumferential flanges 40, 41 of enlarged external diameter compared with the external diameter of the portion 39. The split collar 34 is provided with a bridge portion 42 connecting opposite halves of the split collar 34, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.The arrangement is such that the split collar 34 is opened, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 8, to receive a nozzle portion of the hose 11 and the split collar 34 then is released and the resilient characteristics of the collar 34 effect reclosure around the nozzle portion. The assembly of the split collar 34 and the nozzle portion of the hose 11 is then by inserted axially of the split ring 21 of the guide member 13 of the guide 11, after the webs 22, 23 have been urged away from one another to receive the assembly, and the webs 22, 23 subsequently are released to engage the assembly.

The collar 34 is retained in the split ring 21 by means of the flanges 40, 41 and relative axial movement of the first and second cylindrical portions 36 and 39 is restricted by the flanges 37, 38.

The extension tube 35 is provided with an upper flange 43, a lower flange 44, and a lower tubular extension 45 of reduced external diameter compared with the external diameter of the portion of the tube 35 extending between the flanges 43 and 44. The extension tube 35 also is provided with a pair of lower depending webs 46, 47 each having a lug 48 having a configuration similar to the lugs 29 of the webs 27, 28 of the guide member 13.The extension tube 35 is assembled such that the extension 45 is received in the cylindrical cavity 18 of the cylindrical portion 15 of the support member 12 and is secured in snap engagement condition therewith by means of the lugs 48 being located under the upper flange 17 of the cylindrical portion 15 of the support 12 and the cylindrical member 25 of the guide member 13 is received in the upper portion of the extension tube 35, the lugs 29 of the webs 27, 28 of the guide member 13 being located under the upper flange 43 of the extension tube 35 and thereby being retained for rotation relative thereto on a central longitudinal axis.

It will be appreciated that the provision of the extension tube 35 ensures that the location of the guide member 13, and therefore the location of the nozzle end portion of the tube 11 received therein, is raised above the ground 31 at a height proportional to a longitudinal dimension of the extension tube 35.

It will also be appreciated that a plurality of guides 10 would be inserted in the ground 31 at spaced intervals for supporting the hose 11 in a predetermined path, the path being arranged so as to avoid interference of the hose 11 with any other object.

Referring now to Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings, there is shown another embodiment of a guide 49 which comprises a guide member 50 corresponding with the guide member 13 of the guide 10 and a support member 51. The guide member 50 comprises a depending cylindrical member 52 corresponding to the cylindrical member 25 of the guide member 13 and a pair of depending spaced parallel webs 53, 54 each having an inwardly projecting lug 55 corresponding to the lug 29 of the webs 27, 28 of the guide member 13.

The support member 51 comprises a container 56 having a base wall 57, a circumferential side wall 58, an upper platform 59 and a circumferential upper wall 60 which slopes downwardly from the upper platform 59 towards the circumferential side wall 58. The walls 57, 58 and 60 and the platform 59 may be of rigid material. Alternatively, the walls 57, 58 and 60 may be of flexible material. The circumferential side wall 58 may be provided with a plurality of finger grip recesses 61.

The upper platform 59 is provided with an integral upstanding tubular member 62 having an upper outwardly extending circumferential flange 63. The upper platform 59 also is provided with an aperture 64 which is adapted to be closed by a bung 65.

In preparation for use, the bung 65 is removed, the container 56 is filled with water poured into the container 56 through the aperture 64 and the aperture 64 is re-closed by the bung 65. The guide member 50 then is located on the support member 51 by inserting the depending cylindrical member 52 in the tubular member 62 and lowering the guide 50, the lugs 55 snapping under the outwardly extending circumferential flange 63.

The guide 49 thus is suitable for guiding the hose 11 over solid ground, such as a paved surface, the guide 49 being located such that an outer surface of the base wall 57 is in contact with the surface and the weight of water contained in the container 56 counteracts forces which tend to move the guide 49 during movement of the hose 11 relative to the guide 49.

It will be appreciated that the container may have a liquid other than water poured therein and the liquid may be substituted by a granular substance such as sand.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that a guide in accordance with the present invention may be used to support an elongate flexible member other than a garden hose and may, for example, be used for guiding an electric cable.

Also, it will be appreciated that a guide in accordance with the present invention may be used for guiding a plurality of elongate flexible members.

It will also be appeciated that a guide in accordance with the present invention could be manufactured in plastics material.

Claims

1. A guide for an elongate flexible member comprising a support member, a guide member adapted to locate the flexible member and means for connecting the support member and the guide member one to another so that the guide member is adapted to turn relative to the support member in accordance with changes of direction of the flexible member relative to the support member.

2. A guide as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the guide member comprises a pair of retaining members for retaining the flexible member in the guide member, the retaining members being movable away from one another against a resilient bias so as to permit the flexible member to be received in or removed from the guide member.

3. A guide as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the guide member is of annular construction and the retaining members extend outwardly of the annular configuration.

4. A guide as claimed in Claim 3 wherein each of the retaining members is provided with a surface contained in a plane extending at an angle to a radius of the angular configuration, the surfaces together comprising a "V" formation.

5. A guide as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein each retaining member is provided with finger grip means.

6. A guide as claimed in Claim 5 wherein each finger grip means comprises a pair of opposed recesses.

7. A guide as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the support member comprises a tubular portion and the guide member comprises a tubular portion receivable in the tubular portion of the support member.

8. A guide as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the tubular portion of the support member comprises an outwardly extending flange and the guide member comprises snap engageable means for engaging the flange and retaining the guide member relative to the support member.

9. A guide as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein there is provided a tubular extension portion for cooperating with the tubular portion of the support member and the tubular portion of the guide