Hose reel apparatus and method

Abstract

A portable fire hose reel apparatus, and a method for its use, is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a support frame having a lower portion and an upper portion, a reel shaft having first and second ends, and a crank attached to the second end of the reel shaft. The reel shaft is attached to the upper portion of the support frame. The first end of the reel shaft defines a slot running radially through a cross-section of the reel shaft, which extends axially from the first end of the reel shaft towards the second end of the reel shaft. In another embodiment, the reel shaft extends through an aperture running radially through a cross section of the upper portion from a first to second side. The first end of the reel shaft projects out of the aperture on the first side of the upper portion, while the second end of the reel shaft projects out of the aperture on the second side of the upper portion. To couple a fire hose to the reel shaft, the slot is adapted to allow an end portion of a fire hose to be slid into the slot at the first end of the reel shaft. The crank is then rotated to wind the fire hose around the reel shaft. In other embodiments, the fire hose apparatus is adapted to be attached to an automobile hitch, or to a base support stationed on the ground.

1 . A fire hose apparatus comprising: 
 a support frame having a lower portion and an upper portion;    a reel shaft having first and second ends, wherein said reel shaft is attached to the upper portion of said support frame, the first end of said reel shaft defines a slot running radially through a cross-section of said reel shaft, said slot extending axially from the first end of said reel shaft towards the second end of said reel shaft; and    a crank attached to said second end of said reel shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said support frame is one-piece.  
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said support frame is metal.  
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said lower portion extends generally horizontally, and said upper portion extends generally vertically.  
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein a cross section of said support frame is rectangular.  
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said lower portion is welded to said upper portion.  
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said lower portion is adapted to be attached to an automobile hitch.  
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 7  wherein said lower portion defines an aperture extending from a first side of said lower portion to a second side of said lower portion, a cross section of said lower portion is rectangular, an end of said lower portion is adapted to be slid into a rectangular automobile hitch, and a locking pin is provided to extend into said aperture in said lower portion to lock said support frame to the automobile hitch.  
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising a base support adapted to stand on the ground, wherein the base support defines a pocket, wherein an end of said lower portion of said support frame is adapted to be slid into the pocket to attach said support frame to said base support.  
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 9  wherein said base support comprises a plurality of members welded to form a one-piece base support.  
     
     
         11 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said reel shaft is cylindrical.  
     
     
         12 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said reel shaft is metal.  
     
     
         13 . The invention of  claim 12  wherein said reel shaft extends perpendicularly away from said upper portion of said support frame in a horizontal direction.  
     
     
         14 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said upper portion of said support frame defines an aperture running radially through a cross section of said upper portion from a first to second side of said upper portion.  
     
     
         15 . The invention of  claim 14  wherein said reel shaft extends through said aperture in said upper portion of said support frame, said first end of said reel shaft projects out of said aperture on said first side of said upper portion, and said second end of said reel shaft projects out of said aperture on said second side of said upper portion.  
     
     
         16 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said reel shaft is attached to the upper portion of said support frame using at least one bearing.  
     
     
         17 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein said reel shaft is attached to the upper portion of said support frame using first and second bearings, wherein said first bearing is aligned along a first side of said upper portion, said second bearing is aligned along a second side of said upper portion, and said first and second bearings are attached to said upper portion of said support frame using one or more bolts.  
     
     
         18 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said slot is adapted to allow an end portion of a fire hose to be slid into said slot at the first end of said reel shaft to couple the fire hose to said reel shaft.  
     
     
         19 . The invention of  claim 18  wherein an end of the fire hose has a rim larger in diameter than said slot, said rim preventing the end of said fire hose from slipping through said slot.  
     
     
         20 . The invention of  claim 19  wherein said fire hose winds around said reel shaft as said crank is rotated.  
     
     
         21 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said crank has a first end and a second end, said first end of said crank is attached to said second end of said reel shaft, and said second end of said crank contains a handle for turning the crank.  
     
     
         22 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said crank is metal, and said crank contains a plastic handle.  
     
     
         23 . A fire hose apparatus comprising: 
 a support frame having a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein said upper portion defines an aperture running radially through a cross section of said upper portion from a first to second side of said upper portion;    a reel shaft having first and second ends, wherein said reel shaft extends through said aperture in said upper portion of said support frame, said first end of said reel shaft projects out of said aperture on said first side of said upper portion, said second end of said reel shaft projects out of said aperture on said second side of said upper portion, said first end of said reel shaft defines a slot running radially through a cross-section of said reel shaft, said slot extends axially along at least a portion of said reel shaft; and    a crank attached to said second end of said reel shaft.    
     
     
         24 . The invention of  claim 23  wherein said slot extends axially from the first end of said reel shaft towards the second end of said reel shaft, said slot being adapted to allow an end portion of a fire hose to be slid into said slot at the first end of said reel shaft to couple the fire hose to said reel shaft.  
     
     
         25 . A method of winding a fire hose comprising: 
 providing a fire hose apparatus comprising a support frame having a lower portion and an upper portion, a reel shaft having first and second ends, wherein said reel shaft is attached to the upper portion of said support frame, the first end of said reel shaft defines a slot running radially through a cross-section of said reel shaft, said slot extending axially from the first end of said reel shaft towards the second end of said reel shaft, and a crank attached to said second end of said reel shaft;    sliding an end portion of a fire hose into said slot at the first end of said reel shaft; and    rotating said crank thereby winding said fire hose around said reel shaft.    
     
     
         26 . The invention of  claim 25  wherein an end of the fire hose has a rim larger in diameter than said slot, said rim preventing the end of said fire hose from slipping through said slot after said end portion of said fire hose is slid into said slot at the first end of said reel shaft.  
     
     
         27 . The invention of  claim 25  further comprising the step of attaching an end of said lower portion of said support frame to an automobile hitch.  
     
     
         28 . The invention of  claim 27  wherein said lower portion defines an aperture extending from a first side of said lower portion to a second side of said lower portion, a cross section of said lower portion is rectangular, and the step of attaching an end of said lower portion of said support frame to an automobile hitch comprises sliding an end of said lower portion into a rectangular automobile hitch, and extending a locking pin into said aperture in said lower portion to lock said support frame to said automobile hitch.  
     
     
         29 . The invention of  claim 25  further comprising a base support adapted to stand on the ground, wherein said base support defines a pocket, and further comprising the step of sliding an end of said lower portion of said support frame into said pocket to attach said support frame to said base support.  
     
     
         30 . The invention of  claim 29  wherein said base support comprises a plurality of members welded to form a one-piece base support.  
     
     
         31 . The invention of  claim 25  further comprising the step of pulling the wound hose off said reel shaft.  
     
     
         32 . The invention of  claim 25  further comprising the step of rotating said crank in an opposite direction to unwind said fire hose from said reel shaft.