1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hose end connectors and more particularly pertains to a new hose end connector for providing an extension from a spigot to a hose to distance the hose from the spigot.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of hose end connectors is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,711 describes a device for allow a hose to be quickly connected to or disconnected from a spigot. Another type of hose end connector is U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,331 having a connector that is readily coupled to a hose to allow the connector to act as coupler for the hose. Another type of hose end connector is U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,667 having a vertical water conducting component and a horizontal water conducting component for relocating a spigot from a water source.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that includes certain improved features to allow a hose to be in fluid communication with a spigot from remote location when the area below the spigot cannot accommodate the hose.
The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a tube having a first end being configured to be in fluid communication with a spigot and a second end being couplable to a hose. A clamp is coupled to the first end of the tube. The clamp slidably receives a male end of the spigot to align the male end of the spigot with said first end of said tube to permit fluid communication between the tube and the spigot.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A clamp 22 is coupled to the first end 14 of the tube 12. The clamp 22 slidably receives a male end 4 of the spigot 1 to align the male end 4 of the spigot 1 with the first end 14 of the tube 12 to permit fluid communication between the tube 12 and the spigot 1. The clamp 22 includes a sleeve 24 coupled to and extending around the first end 14 of the tube 12. The sleeve 24 slidably receives the male end 4 of the spigot 1. A band 26 is positioned around the sleeve 24. The band 26 has a pair of spaced ends 28. A space 30 between the spaced ends 28 is adjustable to permit a circumference of the band 26 to be adjusted to compress the sleeve 24 around the male end 4 of the spigot 1. The band 26 has a plurality of slots 32 extending along a portion of a width of the band 26 and the slots 32 are arranged between the spaced ends 28.
The clamp 22 also includes a first arcuate plate 34 having a base end 36 hingedly coupled to one of the spaced ends 28 and is extendable over the other of the spaced ends 28. A hook 38 is coupled a free end 40 of the first arcuate plate 34. The hook 38 is selectively inserted into one of the slots 32 of the band 26 to adjust the space 30 between the spaced ends 28 and compress the sleeve 24 around the male end 4 of the spigot 1. The band 26 wants to expand from the compressed state of the band 26 and thus creates tension on the hook 38 which inhibits the hook 38 from sliding out of the associated one of the slots 32. The hook 38 is removed from one of the slots 32 to permit enlargement of the space 30 between the spaced ends 28 to permit expansion of the sleeve 24 and removal of the sleeve 24 from the male end 4 of the spigot 1. A second arcuate plate 42 is hingedly coupled to the free end 40 of the first arcuate plate 34. The second arcuate plate 42 extends back over the first arcuate plate 34. A clip 44 is coupled to a distal end 46 of the second arcuate plate 42 and positioned opposite the first arcuate plate 34. The clip 44 engages the base end 36 of the first arcuate plate 34 when the hook 38 is positioned in one of the slots 32 to inhibit inadvertent removal of the hook 38 from the associated one of the slots 32.
In use, the male end 4 of the spigot 1 is inserted into the sleeve 24. The band 26 is compressed to compress the sleeve 24 around the male end 4 of the spigot 1. The hook 38 is inserted into one of the slots 32 to maintain the band 26 and sleeve 24 in the compressed state. The clip 44 is engaged to the base end 36 of the first arcuate plate 34 to inhibit inadvertent movement of the first arcuate plate 34 which might remove the hook 38 from the associated one of the slots 32 and allow the sleeve 24 to expand and release the male end 4 of the spigot 1. The female end 4 of the hose 2 is then coupled to the second end 16 of the tube 12.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1183285 | Englund | May 1916 | A |
1414731 | Englund | May 1922 | A |
1579719 | Lavender | Apr 1926 | A |
1971438 | Yoder | Aug 1934 | A |
2165926 | Greene | Jul 1939 | A |
3365218 | Denyes | Jan 1968 | A |
3407449 | Tetzlaff et al. | Oct 1968 | A |
3408091 | Zylstra | Oct 1968 | A |
3527485 | Goward et al. | Sep 1970 | A |
3588148 | Barsumian | Jun 1971 | A |
4007650 | Wellman | Feb 1977 | A |
4541657 | Smyth | Sep 1985 | A |
4721331 | Lemelshtrich | Jan 1988 | A |
4763932 | Matz et al. | Aug 1988 | A |
4872711 | Weinhold | Oct 1989 | A |
4969923 | Reeder et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
5028077 | Hurst | Jul 1991 | A |
5230537 | Newman | Jul 1993 | A |
5524667 | Potter | Jun 1996 | A |
5620209 | Sauer | Apr 1997 | A |
6276399 | Fox | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6543812 | Chang | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6824169 | Coffman | Nov 2004 | B2 |