HOSE COUPLING

Abstract

A hose coupling is disclosed utilizing a main hollow body and an expandable inner sleeve and an intermediate end of a hose which is securely held in place upon radially outward expansion of the sleeve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of the invention may be readily understood by one skilled in the art from reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the main body of a male hose coupling incorporating the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the expandable sleeve insert for use with the main body of a male coupling as illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a male hose coupling utilizing the main body and the associated expandable sleeve insert illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively coupled to one end of a hose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a male hose coupling embodying the features of the present invention and is generally noted by reference numeral 10.

The male hose coupling 10 includes a main hollow body 12 formed of a plastic material such as nylon, for example. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 1, the main body 12 has a first end 14, a spaced apart second end 16, an inner surface 18, an outer surface 20, a male threaded section 22 extending outwardly from the outer surface 20 adjacent the first end 14, and a hollow cylindrical section 24 extending axially from the second end 16 toward the first end 14 and terminating in a radially inwardly projecting annular shoulder 26.

While it has been found that the hollow body 12 will incorporate satisfactory structural characteristics by being molded from a nylon plastic material, the body 12 could be fabricated from other plastic materials such as polyolefins such as polypropylene or polyethylene, for example; polyamide, such as nylon; polyester; polyvinylalcohol; or polyacrylate.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cooperating hollow expandable sleeve 30 having a first end 32, and a spaced apart second end 34. The sleeve 30 is typically substantially cylindrical and fabricated from a brass material. The sleeve 30 is provided with an outer surface 36 which extends from the first end 32 to the second end 34. If desired, the outer surface 36 may contain undulations if found necessary. It has been found that satisfactory results may be achieved by slightly flaring the second end 34.

In assembling the hose coupling 10, the main body 12, and the hollow expandable sleeve 30 to a hose end, the following installation steps may be followed: Initially a garden-type hose 40 is provided. One free end 42 of the hose 40 is provided with the expandable sleeve 30 which is inserted into the hose 40. The insertion is accomplished by sliding or moving the first end 32 of the sleeve 30 into the interior of the hose 40 until the second end 34 is flush with the end of the hose 40.

Next, the free end 42 of the hose 40 containing the sleeve 30 is inserted into the hollow cylindrical section 24 of the main body 12. The insertion is complete when the free end of hose 40 and the second end 34 of the sleeve 30 abut against the ledge 26 of the main body 12.

Finally, the assembly described above is properly supported and expansion tooling is employed to effect radial outward expansion of the sleeve 30. Since the hollow cylindrical section 14 remains static and the sleeve 30 is radially expanded, the section of the hose 40 residing therebetween is snugly retained completing the fabrication of the hose coupling.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and described as a male hose coupling, it will be understood that satisfactory results may be achieved by repositioning the threaded section to the interior surface of the main body, for example, to produce a female coupling.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be understood that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.

Claims

1. A hose coupling comprising: a main hollow body formed of plastic material having a first end, a second end, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a hollow cylindrical section extending axially from the second end toward the first end and terminating in a radially inwardly projecting shoulder; anda hollow expandable sleeve having a first end and a second end and disposed coaxially within the hollow cylindrical section of the main body with the first end abutting the inwardly projecting shoulder of the main body and an outer surface spaced from the inner surface of the main body defining a cylindrical zone therebetween of a first thickness; wherebya hollow flexible and resilient hose having a wall of a thickness greater than the first thickness of the zone between the outer surface of the expandable sleeve and the inner surface of the main body may be snugly received therebetween.

2. A hose coupling as defined in claim 1 including a threaded section adjacent the first end of the main body.

3. A hose coupling as defined in claim 1 including a threaded section extending outwardly from the outer surface adjacent the first end of the main body.

4. A hose coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein the first end of the expandable sleeve is outwardly flared.