Garden hose storage apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for storing a garden hose is disclosed. The apparatus consists of an elongated tube which is at least as long as the garden hose that is to be stored in it, and the cross section of the tube is large enough for a hose to fit in it. The elongated tube can be mounted under the floor of the building with its end extending through the wall or it may be mounted external to the building. End caps can be used to seal the tube to keep it clean and protect the hose when it is in the tube. The tube protects the hose without requiring the hose to be stored in a coil.

1 . A garden hose storage apparatus comprising: 
 an elongated tube at least as long as said hose,    said tube having internal dimensions large enough to allow insertion of a garden hose.    
   
   
       2 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said tube is normally closed on at least one end.    
   
   
       3 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 2  wherein: 
 at least one of said ends has a means of opening and closing.    
   
   
       4 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said tube is mounted beneath the floor of a building.    
   
   
       5 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 at least one end of said tube protrudes from the wall of a building.    
   
   
       6 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said tube is affixed to an external wall of a building.    
   
   
       7 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 a rod is anchored in the end opposite of the end into which the hose is fed, said rod being long enough to extend to the end into which the hose is fed and of a diameter such that a hose will fit over said rod.    
   
   
       8 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 7  wherein: 
 the exposed end of said rod is rounded.    
   
   
       9 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 8  wherein: 
 said rounded exposed end has a radius equal to that of said rod.    
   
   
       10 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 8  wherein: 
 said rounded exposed end has a radius greater than that of said rod.    
   
   
       11 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 8  wherein: 
 said rounded exposed end has a multiple radii blending the said exposed end to said rod's side.    
   
   
       12 . The garden hose storage apparatus of  claim 7  wherein: 
 said rod is itself an elongated tube.    
   
   
       13 . A method of storing a garden hose comprising: 
 placing said hose in an elongated tube, said tube being at least as long as said hose, and having internal dimensions sufficient to accommodate said hose.    
   
   
       14 . The method of storing a garden hose of  claim 13  wherein: 
 said tube is normally closed on at least one end.    
   
   
       15 . The method of storing a garden hose of  claim 14  wherein: 
 at least one of said ends has a means of opening and closing.    
   
   
       16 . The method of storing a garden hose of  claim 13  wherein: 
 said elongated tube is mounted beneath the floor of a building structure.    
   
   
       17 . The method of storing a garden hose of  claim 13  wherein: 
 at least one end of said tube protrudes from the wall of a building.    
   
   
       18 . The method of storing a garden hose of  claim 13  wherein: 
 said tube is affixed to an external wall of a building.    
   
   
       19 . The method of storing a garden hose of  claim 13  wherein: 
 an elongated rod is mounted in the end opposite the end into which said hose is fed, said rod being long enough to extend to the end into which said hose is fed, and said rod being of a diameter small enough to allow said hose to be fed over said rod when said hose is fed into said elongated tube.    
   
   
       20 . The method of storing a garden hose of  claim 19  wherein: 
 said elongated rod is itself an elongated tube having its exposed end sealed.    
   
   
       21 . A garden hose storage apparatus comprising: 
 a) an elongated tube, said tube being at least as long as said garden hose and having internal dimensions large enough to accommodate said garden hose;    b) a water faucet proximate to a first end of said elongated tube, said water faucet having a swiveling elbow which is capable of pivoting to align with the center of said first end, and;    c) a cap, said cap being capable of covering said first end of said tube and said cap being pivotally associated with said swiveling elbow so that the outlet of said faucet protrudes through said cap.