WO2002061323A1

WO2002061323A1 - Hose coupling

Info

Publication number: WO2002061323A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/000093
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pell Sung
Original assignee: WATEX (AUSTRALIA) Pty Ltd; FLORITE INDUSTRIAL Co Ltd
Current assignee: WATEX (AUSTRALIA) Pty Ltd; FLORITE INDUSTRIAL Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-01-31
Filing date: 2002-01-31
Publication date: 2002-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2003-07-31

Abstract

A hose coupling is described which includes an element (20) connectable into a hose at one end and extending therefrom. A ball at an opposite end of the element (20) enables articulatable coupling of the hose end to a connector (38) in a ball joint. A further kink prevention mechanism (62, 64, 74) can be connected to the element (20).

Description

HOSE COUPLING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to couplings and in particular to hose couplings for connecting two or more hoses or for connecting hoses to faucets, nozzles, sprinkler units and the like, and will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Conventional watering systems typically include a hose, a connector for connecting one end of the hose to a faucet, and a connector for connecting the other end of the hose to a spray nozzle, sprinkler unit, etc. Most watering systems now include releasable snap-lock fittings for releaseably snap-locking the hose connector to a corresponding connector on a faucet and for releasably snap-lockingly connecting the distal end of the hose to a spray nozzle, sprinkler, etc.

Hose construction has also advanced over previous years whereby hoses are generally of a polymeric composition, including inter-woven polymeric layers to increase the hose's flexibility and wear resistance.

One problem with present hose technology is that, over time and with wear, hoses tend to form weak points ^' whereat the hose will easily kink, thereby obstructing the flow of water through the hose. Whereas these weak zones may form anywhere along the hose, a typical point of weakness is close to either end of the hose. For instance, it is not uncommon for hoses to kink near to the end of the hose which is connected to a faucet . This is because the faucet outlet from which the water is released is generally rigid and points toward the ground, whereas when a hose in use is extended, it will generally be positioned parallel to the ground, and normal to the flow of water leaving the faucet. Therefore, if the hose is fully extended, the portion of hose near the faucet will tend to be forced to a 90° angle. Over time, a weak point may form in that portion of hose and thus cause a kink in the hose. Whereas improved hose manufacture technology over the years has aided in reducing these weak points, they still occur.

EP327296 discloses a connection between an air-driven spray gun and an air supply hose providing air to the gun. The gun is designed for high volume, low pressure air flow and thus the hose therein has to be of relatively large diameter. If the hose were rigidly connected to the gun body, an operator would encounter relatively high forces from bending the hose during the operation of paint spraying which would make the gun hard to use. Thus, a connection is provided between the hose and the air delivery tube of the gun handle. The connection of EP327296 is not concerned with the prevention of hose kinking, as hose bending would in fact be desirable for a user of the spray gun. Accordingly, the constructional arrangement of the connector in EP327296 is such as to provide for movement between the hose and the gun in a manner where hose kinking is not at issue. This results in a special constructional arrangement of the connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a coupling for use between a hose and a connector including an elongate element that is connectable to the hose at one end and that has a ball defined at its other end that enables articulatable coupling in a ball joint of the connector. Preferably, the element includes a fluid flow bore extending longitudinally therethrough. In this way, in a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the hose, element and connector may all be connected in series in water communication with a faucet (i.e. the connector can be adapted for attachment to the faucet) .

Preferably, the connector includes a faucet coupling or irrigation unit coupling. Alternatively, the connector can include another hose coupling. In the specification and claims the term "irrigation unit" includes sprinkler units and devices, spray nozzles, faucets, hose reels, etc . Preferably, the connector includes a socket for receipt of and complementary coupling with the ball to define the ball joint.

In one variation the element is insertable into the hose, and a fastener is mountable on the element so as to be located externally on the hose at said one end of the element when inserted in the hose, the fastener assisting with fastening of the element in the hose.

In a second variation the element is adapted to receive the hose and is in the form of a sleeve into which an end of the hose is inserted and is fastened (e.g. clamped) therein.

Preferably the connector includes a further kink prevention mechanism including a short length of hose attached to the element at one end and to an adaptor at the opposite end, with a helical spring surrounding the short length of hose between the element and adaptor that tends to prevent bending of the short hose length.

Preferably one end of the helical spring terminates on and is supported at a sleeve of the element in which one end of the short hose length is received, and the other end of the helical spring terminates on and is supported at a sleeve of the adaptor in which an opposite end of the short hose length is received.

Preferably the adaptor is in turn couplable to a hose via a coupling (such as a hose connector) .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective side elevation of a first hose coupling embodiment according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective side elevation of the hose coupling according to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a prior art connector to which the coupling of Figure 1 can be attached; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a second hose coupling embodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a first preferred coupling embodiment for a hose includes a fastener 10 for fastening to an end of the hose. The fastener 10 includes a clamping bush 12 into which an end of the hose is inserted, and a tightening ring 14 which can be screwed over the outside of the clamping bush 12 to attach a hose therein (described below) . The bush includes resiliently biased fingers 16 which sit outside the hose and are urged inwardly when the ring 14 is screwed onto the bush 12.

The coupling further includes an element, typically though not necessarily in the form of a stem 20. The stem includes a shank 22, a neck portion 24 extending from the shank 22 and a ball 26 located on the end of the neck portion 24. The stem 20 has a central bore 28 extending longitudinally completely therethrough. The shank 22 is received in an opening 29 in bush 12 and extends into the bush to define a spigot (described below) for location inside the hose end.

When a hose end is inserted into the clamping bush 12 with the stem located in the bush, the shank 22 defines a central spigot within the bush which is inserted into the hose end. As tightening ring 14 is screwed onto the bush 12, it causes fingers 16 to be progressively forced radially inwardly to clamp the hose between the fingers and the shank 22 (spigot) , thus fastening the hose end to the coupling. The employment of a fastener 10 is desirable though not essential.

However, prior to inserting the shank 22 in opening 29, the shank 22 and neck 24 are inserted through a washer 32 and an opening 30 in a ball retention ring 31. The washer 32 ultimately seats at a lower hemisphere 34 of the ball 26 and is located on a shoulder (not shown) within the retention ring 31, to provide a lower seat for the ball in use.

The retention ring 31 is provided with external threading 52 at an upper end thereof for attaching the ring to a connector 38 (described below) . In this regard, when the ring 31 is attached to connector 38, the ball 26 becomes located within a corresponding socket 36 of connector 38 to define a ball joint. The connector 38 is designed to snap-lockingly engage with a known male connector, e.g. a tap connector 40 (Figure 3) . The tap connector 40 includes a known male snap-locking engagement member 41 which is received in a corresponding recess in the upper end of the connector 38. Tap connector 40 is internally threaded at a faucet engagement end 42 to screw onto an external thread of a faucet (as is known) .

Whilst the connector 38 is adapted for snap-locking engagement to a connector 40, which typically couples to an outlet of a faucet, the connector 38 may also be modified for: direct (e.g. screw) engagement with an outlet portion of a faucet (see Figure 4) ; snap-locking engagement with a corresponding portion of a sprinkler assembly (e.g. a male portion) or of a spray nozzle, hose reel, etc; or for coupling to a hose in a similar manner to the way the fastener 10 is coupled to a hose.

The connector 38 further includes a main body 44, with the socket 36 being defined in one end of the main body. A slidable spring-loaded collar 46 is provided for attaching the connector to the tap connector 40. As is known, collar 46 is captively retained on the main body 44 and is usually biased in a longitudinal direction away from socket 36 by a spring 48. The spring 48 is held captive between an inner portion 50 of collar 46 and the outer surface of the main body 44. When the collar 46 is pushed downwardly on body 44 it can be detached from male member 41 (as is known) .

A second washer 56 ultimately seats at an upper hemisphere 58 of the ball 26 and is located on an inner shoulder (not shown) of the socket 36. The washer 56 provides an upper seat for the ball in use. The ball 26 is held captive within the socket 36 by screw mounting the retention ring 31 thereinto. In this regard, male threading 52 of the retention ring 31 is screwed into a complementary female threaded portion 54. This allows the ring portion 31 to capture the ball 26 in the socket 36 between lower washer 32 and upper washer 56. The washers provide opposing supports to facilitate ease of articulating movement of the ball in socket 36 in use.

In one mode of use, the fastener 10 is coupled to an end of a hose, with the shank 22 being inserted in the hose end. The connector 38 is coupled to an outlet of a faucet via tap connector 40. The valve of the faucet may then be opened to allow water to flow through the coupling via tap connector 40. In other words, water flows in sequence through: tap connector 40; connector 38; stem 20 (fastener 10); and then into and through the hose. The first and second washers 32 and 56 also ensure that minimal, if any, water flows on the outside of the ball 26, and rather that water flows from the connector 38 and into the hose via the central bore 28. The washers at the same time support articulating movement of the ball in the socket .

The ball 26 and socket 36 allow lateral, pivoting and rotational movement at the ball joint, and therefore allow such movement of the fastener 10 and stem 20 with respect to the connector 38. The first and second washers 32 and 56 also ensure that, even when the ball is moved within the socket, water only flows from the connector 38 and into the hose, etc via the central bore 28.

Because the hose coupling allows lateral, pivoting and rotational movement of the ball 26 with respect to socket 36, when a hose connected to the coupling is moved in various positions, such as lateral, pivoting or rotational positions with respect to the faucet, the coupling allows the hose end portion near the first connection to remain substantially straight and not kink. That is, the hose coupling allows an offset position of a hose with respect to the outlet of a faucet without unnecessarily kinking the hose. The coupling therefore alleviates bending, lateral or rotational forces on the hose near its end connected to a faucet and therefore reduces if not completely alleviates kinking at that end of the hose. In embodiments of the coupling where the connector 38 is coupled to a hand spray nozzle, for example, the coupling also allows the hose to be positioned in an offset position with respect to the hand spray nozzle, allowing the hose to position itself such that it will not kink at its end adjacent or near the hand spray nozzle and providing additional lateral movement of the nozzle (eg for awkward to access applications) .

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the stem 20 can be adapted for a second ball joint at the end opposite ball 26. In this embodiment a second ball can take the place of shank 22 and neck 24 can be elongated. Fastener 10 can then include a socket for receiving the second ball and the second ball can be captively coupled within the socket of the fastener in a similar mode to the way ball 26 is held captive within socket 36 as described above^■.

In this alternative embodiment, both ends of the stem are capable of lateral, pivoting and rotational motion relative to their respective connector. The coupling of this embodiment of the invention would therefore afford further degrees of flexibility and movement between, for example, a hose connected to a first connector and a faucet connected to a second connector. In another alternative embodiment, the hose coupling can include a hinge for coupling one end of the stem 20 to one of the fastener 10 and connector 38.

Referring now to Figure 4, where like reference numerals will be used to denote similar or like parts, a second preferred coupling embodiment for a hose is shown in the form of elongate coupling 60. In this embodiment, the coupling 60 includes a further kink prevention mechanism which includes a short length of hose 62. In this embodiment, the fastener 10 is replaced with a clamping sleeve 64 for receiving clampingly therein one end of short hose length 62. Typically sleeve 64 includes a concentric tubular spigot (not shown) insertable into the end of hose length 62 , such that that end of the hose length can be fastened circumferentially around the spigot by sleeve 64. This can be achieved by push fitting the hose end into the sleeve, by adhesive, by crimping or clamping the sleeve using an appropriate tool etc.

As with the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the sleeve 64 is connected via a neck portion 24 to a ball 26. However, in this case the ball 26 is receivable in a socket 66 of a coupling body 68. Coupling body 68 is internally threaded at coupling end 70 for direct screwing onto an externally threaded outlet of a faucet etc. In this regard, and as shown, coupling end 70 can be provided with chamfered faces 71 (e.g. to define a hexagonal cross- sectional end) so that screw fitting to and removal from a faucet etc can be facilitated by a spanner or the like.

The opposite end of short hose length 62 is received in an adaptor sleeve 72 of adaptor 74. In this regard, short hose length end can be received and clamped within the adaptor sleeve in a similar manner to that described above for clamping sleeve 64. The adaptor end 76 is externally threaded to enable it to be coupled to a hose connector, or to a tap connector 40 etc.

Extending for the length of and surrounding the short hose length 62 is a helical spring 80. A first spring end 82 is mounted on and is typically fastened to clamping sleeve 64, and a second spring end 84 is mounted on and is typically fastened to adaptor sleeve 72. The spring 80 externally reinforces the short hose length 62 and prevents it from kinking, but allows it to bend to a reasonable extent. The spring resists kinking by preventing any outward dilation of the hose which would otherwise occur in portions thereof if kinking were to occur. The spring also rigidly couples the clamping sleeve 64 to the adaptor 74, thereby imparting dimensional stability throughout the elongate coupling.

The provision of this further kink prevention mechanism, in combination with the ball joint, enhances the overall kink minimisation and prevention of the coupling according to the prevent invention. It provides an additional degree of freedom, allowing for even further movement beyond the restraints of the ball in the socket, thus taking into account a wide variety of hose angles.

Now that preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the hose coupling has at least the following advantages :

1. the coupling alleviates hose kinking on the portion of hose adjacent or near to its connection with a faucet, sprinkler device, etc; and

2. the coupling is simple to manufacture, cost effective and indirectly extends the life of a hose.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms .

It is to be understood that, any reference made to prior art herein, does not constitute an admission that such prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A coupling for use between a hose and a connector including an elongate element that is connectable to the hose at one end and that has a ball defined at its other end that enables articulatable coupling in a ball joint of the connector.

2. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the element includes a fluid flow bore extending longitudinally therethrough.

3. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the connector includes a socket for receipt of and complementary coupling with the ball to define the ball joint.

4. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the element is insertable into the hose, and a fastener is mountable on the element so as to be located externally on the hose at said one end of the element when inserted in the hose, the fastener assisting with fastening of the element in the hose.

5. A coupling as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein the element is a sleeve into which the hose is received and fastened.

6. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including a kink prevention mechanism that includes a short length of hose attached to the element at one end and to an adaptor at the opposite end, with a helical spring surrounding the short length of hose between the element and adaptor that tends to prevent bending of the short hose length.

7. A coupling as claimed in claim 6 wherein one end of the helical spring terminates on and is supported at a sleeve of the element in which one end of the short hose length is received, and the other end of the helical spring terminates on and is supported at a sleeve of the adaptor in which an opposite end of the short hose length is received.

8. A coupling as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the adaptor is inturn couplable to a hose via a coupling.

9. A coupling according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector includes a faucet coupling, irrigation unit coupling or another hose coupling.