Housing stiffener for hose reel deck box
AssigneeThe Ames Companies, Inc.
InventorsGregory J. Blaszczak, Peter Arcati
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stiffener structured to support a unitary housing component comprised of substantially flat sidewalls is provided. A unitary housing comprised of substantially flat sidewalls, e.g. a housing for a hose reel, is a housing component that is substantially free of support ribs and other contoured surfaces. The stiffener is molded separately from the unitary housing component and coupled thereto. Preferably, the stiffener is a band extending under, or about, the perimeter of the lower side of the unitary housing component. Use of the stiffener allows the unitary housing component to remain free of substantial support ribs and other contoured surfaces thereby allowing for less expensive molds and a reduced failure rate of produced elements.
Claims18
A stiffener for a hose reel, said hose reel including a housing assembly and a basket assembly, said housing assembly including a unitary housing component with a unitary sidewall defining an enclosed space with a perimeter, said unitary housing component being in a first configuration but capable of being twisted into a skewed configuration, said unitary sidewall having a plurality of substantially planar members, said planar members further being disposed in generally vertical planes, said stiffener comprising:
- a body having a plurality of elongated, substantially rigid members and a number of socketed coupling first components;
- said rigid members structured to be bracingly coupled to said unitary sidewall at said socketed coupling first components;
- said plurality of rigid members are disposed in a shape generally corresponding to said housing assembly perimeter;
- each said rigid member having a length substantially corresponding to the length of an associated housing assembly planar member;
- and
- each said rigid member being bracingly coupled to an associated housing assembly planar member.
A stiffener for a hose reel, said hose reel including a housing assembly and a basket assembly, said housing assembly including a unitary housing component with a unitary sidewall defining an enclosed space with a perimeter, said unitary housing component being in a first configuration but capable of being twisted into a skewed configuration, said unitary sidewall having a plurality of substantially planar members, said planar members further being disposed in generally vertical planes, said stiffener comprising:
- a body having a plurality of elongated, substantially rigid members and a number of socketed coupling first components;
- said rigid members structured to be bracingly coupled to said unitary sidewall at said socketed coupling first components;
- said plurality of rigid members are disposed in a shape generally corresponding to said housing assembly perimeter, said shape being a loop with a greater cross-sectional area than said unitary sidewall at a selected elevation, said selected elevation being proximate or above the lower side of said unitary sidewall;
- and
- said body structured to be placed about the outer perimeter of said unitary sidewall and disposed at said selected elevation.
A hose reel comprising:
- a housing assembly, a basket assembly, and a stiffener;
- said housing assembly including a unitary housing component with a unitary sidewall defining an enclosed space, said unitary housing component being in a first configuration but capable of being twisted into a skewed configuration, said unitary sidewall having a plurality of substantially planar members, said housing assembly defining an enclosed space with a perimeter, said planar members further being disposed in generally vertical planes;
- said basket assembly rotatably disposed in said unitary sidewall enclosed space;
- said stiffener having a body with a plurality of elongated, substantially rigid members;
- and
- said rigid members structured to be bracingly coupled to said unitary sidewall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.