The invention provides an extendible member which is configurable between a coiled form and an extended form. The extendible member comprises: a primary member comprising a sheet of material resiliently biased in a slit tube form, wherein the slit tube can be opened out at the slit to assume an open form in which it has a flattened cross section; at least one resilient secondary member having first and second connections to the primary member at respective different circumferential positions on the primary member, wherein in the extended form, the primary member is in its slit tube form and the resiliency of the secondary member causes at least part of the secondary member to displace towards the slit in the primary member to provide torsional and axial stiffness to the primary member, and wherein in the coiled form, the primary member is in its open form and the secondary member conforms to the flattened cross section of the primary member so that primary and secondary member can be co-coiled. Corresponding methods are also provided.

A hose roller is described. An input shaft is coupled to a handle to be rotatably drivable by rotation thereof. A sun sprocket is drivably coupled to the input shaft. A chain is engaged with the sun sprocket and a planetary sprocket, offset from the sun sprocket, to drivably couple the planetary sprocket to the sun sprocket. An intermediate shaft is drivably coupled to the planetary sprocket. A universal joint is connected to the intermediate shaft and an output shaft, angled relative to the intermediate shaft, to drivably couple the output shaft to the intermediate shaft. An output support is offset from and drivably coupled to the input shaft. An output shaft bearing is disposed between the output shaft and the output support to support and to allow rotation of the output shaft. A spool is coupled to the output shaft to be rotataby driven by the output shaft.

A device wherein a flat hose can be rolled up around two arms. The device consists of two U-Shaped rollers that correct the orientation of the hose as it is rolled into the two arms. As the two arms are rotated by the user rotating a crank handle, the hose travels over the two U-shaped rollers and over the drum. The hose is released by the device by laying it on the ground and stepping onto a handle, the hose is released with an orifice in the centre allowing someone to easily carry it.

A portable mechanical firehose winder is described. The firehose winder comprises a foldable structure which can be stored and readily transported in a compact, stowed configuration, but can be unfolded in the field to place the firehose winder into a deployed configuration. The firehose winder has a winder mechanism having two pins for securing a firehose connector is mounted on a plate that can be rotated by hand with a crank arm. The firehose winder also has a firehose hold-down mechanism for holding down a firehose as it traverses the winder as well as an adjustable width mechanism for laterally guiding the firehose into the firehose winder mechanism.

An apparatus for recovering hose comprising a drive roller and a motor for actuating rotation of the drive roller. A drive roller assembly supports the drive roller and the motor in fixed positions. A pinch roller assembly having a first end pivotally connected to the drive roller assembly and a second end moveable between a first position that engages a hose between a pinch roller and the drive roller enables movement of the hose therebetween responsive to rotation of the drive roller and a second position provides that places the pinch roller in a position to define an opening between the pinch roller and the drive roller to enable passage of a coupling connecting the hose to another hose to pass between the pinch roller and the drive roller. Actuation of the motor while the second end of the pinch roller assembly is in the first position drives the hose in a first direction between the drive roller and the pinch roller. Actuation of the motor while the second end of the pinch roller assembly in in the second position drives the coupling past the drive roller through the opening between the pinch roller and the drive roller.