1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hose couplers, and more particularly it relates to an improved vacuum hose coupling device and method of connecting hoses useful to carpet cleaners.
2. Description of Prior Art
Various coupling devices are known in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,998 to Donald A. Draudt (1986) discloses a swivel hose ‘end piece connector’ but there is no locking, sealing, or release mechanism provided in association with the connection of two hoses. U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,836 to Peter J. Smith (1993) provides a quick and easy pipe coupling for field workers but it uses an ‘elastomeric’ sealing means of which are known in the art to degrade and leak over time, especially in the presence of water based chemicals commonly used in carpet cleaning. U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,236 to Ernst Schwartz, et al. (1995) discloses an innovative hose coupling which could be modified for use by carpet cleaners but the coupling can only be disengaged with the aid of an auxiliary tool.
For carpet cleaners, coupling devices for releasably connecting sections of vacuum hose have evolved from single insert to multi-component types. The three most common coupling devices in use by carpet cleaners are:
There are numerous problems with these prior art couplings:
Single insert coupler: Vacuum hoses are typically made of hardened plastic with little elasticity and the insert is typically made of an even more rigid material; this makes for a physically trying experience wedging the insert into each hose end. During use, hot fluids and air passing thru the sections of hose cause differential swelling between the hose and insert and this swelling can result in leakage of air and fluid around the hose end and insert. Eventually, this coupling device fails as the swelling becomes so extreme that the insert slips out of the hose end and may even never to seal properly again. Another problem with ‘insert’ couplings is that since the insert is of smaller inner diameter (“ID”) than that of the hose itself, flow is restricted. Strands of hair and other debris accumulate at these restrictions over time and create a physical blockage in the hose. The jagged hose ends being fully exposed, detract from the appearance of this coupling device.
Three part coupler: The two end piece connectors hide the jagged hose ends and thus improve the appearance of the coupler plus the two end pieces connectors provide a more secure attachment to the hose ends by means of threads along their interior surface whereby each end piece connector engages circumferential grooves along the perimeter surface of its respective hose end. Unfortunately, the same insert as described above is typically used to couple the two end pieces connectors and this weak connection allows this coupling device to pull apart under tension just like the single insert coupling device. Plus, the insert restricts flow, and accumulates debris. Manufacturers seem to have added parts, expense, and complexity yet still have not solved the problems—flow restriction, leakage, and hose separation.
Four part coupler: This style of coupling device solves the ‘separation’ problem by using two straps that are secured to vacuum hose beyond the coupler itself then buckled together. However, these straps add girth to the hose causing it to ‘hang-up’ on obstacles along its path. The straps also add complexity, labor, parts, and expense. And the insert is still required, so leakage still occurs; especially as the hoses heat and swell with age. Even with the straps, the insert still restricts flow and collects debris.
With the advancements in the art, it seems that coupling devices have become:
And they still haven't solved the two main functional problems of:
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above identified problems by providing a simpler and more functional coupling device. Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are to disclose a coupler which is:
The proposed coupling device also solves the two main functional problems by providing an:
A new and improved coupling device and method of engagement and disengagement is disclosed for coupling various tubular elongate members with improved efficiency.
The present invention may be more readily described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of reference,
In the preferred embodiment, end piece threads 23 and 24 line the interior surface of each end piece connector 2, 3 respectively and extend along the lengths 17, 18 of end piece connector 2, 3 respectively from their ends 19, 20 to their midpoints 25, 26, respectively.
Coupling threads 29, line the exterior surface of first end piece connector 2 and extend along the length 17 from about midpoint 25 to about three fourths of the distance from first end 19 to second end 21. Coupling threads 30 line the interior surface of second end piece connector 3 and extend along the length 18 from about three fourths of the distance from first end 20 to second end 22 to about the second end 22 of end piece connector 3. As shown in
Tapered surface 31 of first end piece connector 2, lines the exterior surface forming the approximate final quarter of the length 17, extending from about three fourths of the distance from first end 19 to second end 21 of end piece connector 2.
Tapered surface 32 of second end piece connector 3, lines the interior surface extending along the length 18 from about three fourths of the distance from first end 20 to second end 22 of end piece connector 3.
As shown in
In the preferred embodiment, end piece threads 23, 24 (
From the above description, a number of advantages of my coupling device 1 become evident:
Functionally;
Operation:
User of coupling device 1 determines the correct end piece connectors 2, 3 to match the chosen tubular elongate members 4, 5. In the case of carpet cleaning, vacuum hoses are typically used which have semi-rigid circumferential grooves 27, 28 (
To engage the coupling device 1 of the present invention, the user simultaneously grasps end piece connector 2 in one hand between its midpoints 25 and first end 19 and grasps end piece connector 3 in the other hand between its midpoint 26 and its first end 20 then aligns tapered surface 31 of end piece connector 2 with mating tapered surface 32 of end piece connector 3. Having thus contacted mating threads of each body, the user then simply rotates both end piece connectors 2, 3 in opposite directions relative to each other, in the case of the preferred embodiment, clockwise relative to each other as shown in (
To disengage the coupling device 1, the user simply grasps each end piece connectors 2, 3 as described above and rotates both end piece connectors 2, 3 in opposite directions, the direction or rotation being opposite that required for securement, in the case of the preferred embodiment, approximately one-quarter of a revolution counterclockwise, thus disengaging the two end piece connectors 2, 3 of coupling device 1.
Variously sized and shaped end piece connectors 2, 3 can be specifically manufactured or modified to fit various sized tubular elongate member 4, 5 in accordance with the coupling device 1 of the present invention. First and second end piece connectors 2, 3 may be threadably secured or the endpiece threads 23, 24 may be omitted and end piece connectors 2, 3 may be fixedly glued or otherwise secured to the outer surface of connection ends 6, 7 of first and second tubular elongate members 4, 5. The relative shapes, lengths, styles, thread directions, and positioning of the coupling threads 29, 30 and tapers 31, 32 may be rearranged or reversed without effecting the essence of the ‘thread and taper’ engagement of the coupling device 1 without changing the scope of the invention.
The preceding specific embodiments are illustrative of the practice of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that other expedients known to those skilled in the art or disclosed herein, may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
176796 | Martin | May 1876 | A |
1080674 | Berg | Dec 1913 | A |
1089650 | Kile | Mar 1914 | A |
1096690 | Derbyshire | May 1914 | A |
1300365 | Fletcher | Apr 1919 | A |
1316153 | Gagne | Sep 1919 | A |
1386210 | Thomas | Aug 1921 | A |
1603721 | Sorensen | Oct 1926 | A |
1947909 | Hollander | Feb 1934 | A |
1993257 | Bettis | Mar 1935 | A |
2107716 | Singleton | Feb 1938 | A |
2205697 | Scharpenberg | Jun 1940 | A |
2783809 | Haines | Mar 1957 | A |
3336054 | Blount et al. | Aug 1967 | A |
4625998 | Draudt et al. | Dec 1986 | A |
5257836 | Smith | Nov 1993 | A |
5407236 | Schwarz et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
6070912 | Latham | Jun 2000 | A |