阅读说明：本技术 具有斜向布置夹持元件的软管连接器 (Hose connector with obliquely arranged clamping elements ) 是由 托马斯·伦纳 于 2019-07-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种软管连接器包括主体,该主体包括沿着纵向轴线延伸的第一主体部分和围绕第一主体部分同心设置的第二主体部分。在第一主体部分和第二主体部分之间限定间隙,使得该间隙适于在那里接收软管。软管连接器还包括螺纹连接到第二主体部分的夹持螺母。此外,软管连接器包括与第二主体部分相关联的多个夹爪。多个夹爪相对于纵向轴线以大于0度的角度(α)定向。因此,软管连接器提供了简单、有效且用户友好的夹爪,夹爪确保软管与软管连接器的自增强。(A hose connector includes a body including a first body portion extending along a longitudinal axis and a second body portion concentrically disposed about the first body portion. A gap is defined between the first body portion and the second body portion such that the gap is adapted to receive a hose therein. The hose connector further comprises a clamping nut threadedly connected to the second body portion. Further, the hose connector comprises a plurality of jaws associated with the second body portion. The plurality of jaws are oriented at an angle (a) greater than 0 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. Thus, the hose connector provides a simple, effective and user friendly clamping jaw ensuring self-reinforcement of the hose to the hose connector.)

1. A hose connector (100) comprising:

a body (102) comprising:

a first body portion (106) extending along a longitudinal axis (A1); and

a second body portion (112) concentrically disposed about the first body portion (106);

wherein a gap (114) is defined between the first body portion (106) and the second body portion (112) such that the gap (114) is adapted to receive a hose (108) therein;

a clamping nut (140) threadably connected to the second body portion (112); and

a plurality of jaws (126) associated with the second body portion (112); and is

The method is characterized in that:

the plurality of jaws (126) are oriented at an angle (a) greater than 0 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis (a 1).

2. The hose connector (100) according to claim 1, wherein the angle (a) is in the range of 10 to 60 degrees.

3. The hose connector (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of clamping jaws (126) are arranged in a helical manner with respect to the longitudinal axis (a 1).

4. The hose connector (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of clamping jaws (126) are integrally formed with the second body portion (112).

5. The hose connector (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of clamping jaws (126) are adapted to move (D1) radially with respect to the first body portion (106).

6. The hose connector (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of clamping jaws (126) are adapted to move axially (D3) relative to the first body portion (106).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hose connector, and more particularly, to a self-reinforcing apparatus for properly holding a hose by a hose connector.

Background

People are increasingly turning to outdoor activities (e.g. gardening) to avoid the growing technological intrusion in everyday life. This trend has led to various improvements in garden equipment to the most basic level of common hoses and related equipment. In practice, the hose is connected to a water supply source, such as a faucet or pump, so that water can be delivered through the hose. The hose connector allows the hose to be quickly coupled to a water supply source. Hose connectors typically include a body, a clamping nut, and a clamping element. To couple the hose with the hose connector, the hose is pushed so that the hose is received by the body of the hose connector. In some cases, the hose is not received in the proper length or there is no proper reinforcement within the hose connector. This may often be due to friction between the main body and the hose, or the hose may wear out over time, which may require periodic disassembly and then proper securing of the hose to the main body.

If the hose is not properly received by the main body, the hose may slip out of the connection during operation. For example, if the hose is subjected to alternating loads, the hose is likely to slip out of the connection. It is therefore important for the average user to attach the hose correctly to the main body with minimal effort and expertise. Conventional hose connectors do not provide a user-friendly and simple solution to ensure a tight and self-reinforcing connection between the hose and the hose connector body.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved hose connector that inherently allows for better coupling of the hose to the body of the hose connector.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the above disadvantages. This object is at least partly achieved by a hose connector. The hose connector includes a body including a first body portion extending along a longitudinal axis and a second body portion concentrically disposed about the first body portion. The first body portion and the second body portion define a gap therebetween such that the gap is adapted to receive a hose therein. The hose connector further comprises a clamping nut threadedly connected to the second body portion. Further, the hose connector comprises a plurality of jaws associated with the second body portion. The hose connector is characterized in that the plurality of jaws are oriented at an angle (α) greater than 0 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis. Thus, the present disclosure provides a simple, effective and user-friendly jaw that ensures self-reinforcement of the hose to the hose connector.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the angle (α) is in the range of 10 to 60 degrees. The choice of angle (a) may depend on various factors associated with the hose (e.g., diameter, material, type, thickness, etc.) and/or various factors associated with the hose connector (e.g., service life, fluid capacity, material, size, etc.).

According to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of clamping jaws are arranged in a helical manner with respect to the longitudinal axis. This positioning of the jaws in a helical manner provides the desired self-reinforcing force to hold the hose in place until needed.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of jaws is integrally formed with the second body portion. This can be in line with the convenience and necessary benefits of manufacturing the jaws of the hose connector, or for strength and the like.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of jaws is adapted to move radially with respect to the first body portion. This will provide a self-reinforcing force to cater for any dynamic movement of the hose, ensuring that the hose remains coupled between the first and second body portions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of jaws is adapted to move axially relative to the first body portion. Such a feature would cater for any unwanted loosening of the hose in the longitudinal axis relative to the first body portion.

Other features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a conventional hose connector;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a hose connector and a clamping nut according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a partial side cross-sectional view of a hose connector body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 shows a partial side sectional view of a hose connector and a hose received by the hose connector according to an embodiment of the invention, with the clamping nut again in the engaged state.

Detailed Description

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention may be used in other embodiments, and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upward", "downward", "forward", "rearward", "lateral", "left", "right", "horizontal", "vertical", "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "upper", "middle", "lower", "middle", "upper", "middle", "upper", "middle", "lower", "lateral", "middle", "etc "proximal", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", etc. merely describe the configuration shown in the figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional hose connector 100' known in the prior art. The conventional hose connector 100' may find application in indoor and outdoor environments, which may use a water supply source (not shown) to perform watering operations. For example, the water supply source may include a faucet or a pump outlet. The conventional hose connector 100' includes a body 102. The body 102 defines an end 104 that may be removably coupled to a water supply source. The body 102 includes a first body portion 106. The first body portion 106 allows for coupling of a hose 108 (as shown in fig. 4), the hose 108 being usable to perform desired watering operations as needed. However, in practice, the hose 108 may tend to disengage or loosen from the conventional hose connector 100', which is undesirable and will be addressed by the present disclosure.

The end 104 may be generally tubular. In one example, the end 104 may include internal threads (not shown) that engage external threads on the water supply source for removably coupling the conventional hose connector 100' with the water supply source. In an alternative example, the conventional hose connector 100' may be press-fitted to the water supply source without any limitation.

The conventional hose connector 100' includes a gripping element 124. The gripping member 124 includes a plurality of straight gripping jaws 126'. It is apparent that the straight jaws 126 'of the conventional hose connector 100' are substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis (along a 1). This may cause certain limitations when clamping the hose 108 (as shown in fig. 4) with a desired clamping force and at a desired time without having to disassemble and assemble the conventional hose connector 100'. Further, the straight jaws 126 'include one or more teeth 128 defined on an interior surface of the respective straight jaw 126'. In the illustrated embodiment, each jaw 126' includes two teeth 128. Alternatively, each jaw 126' may include more than two teeth 128, without limitation.

The first body portion 106 defines a fluid passage (not shown) that allows water from a water supply to be introduced into a hose 108 (shown in FIG. 4) connected to the conventional hose connector 100'. The hose 108 is received by the first body portion 106 such that the hose 108 contacts an outer surface 110 of the first body portion 106. Further, the body 102 includes a second body portion 112. The second body portion 112 is concentrically disposed about the first body portion 106. More specifically, the first body portion 106 and the second body portion 112 are arranged such that a gap 114 is defined between the first body portion 106 and the second body portion 112. The hose 108 is received within a gap 114 defined between the first and second body portions 106, 112.

The second body portion 112 has an annular shape. The second body portion 112 defines a plurality of external threads 116. In addition, the second body portion 112 defines a sliding surface (not shown) disposed on one side of the plurality of external threads 116. Further, the conventional hose connector 100' includes a clamp nut 140 that is threaded to the second body portion 112. The clamp nut 140 may be engaged or disengaged with the second body portion 112 based on rotation of the clamp nut 140 in the threaded direction "a 2".

Fig. 2 illustrates a hose connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The hose connector 100 includes a plurality of jaws 126 oriented at an angle (α) relative to the longitudinal axis (along a 1). The present disclosure allows for the conversion of a conventional hose connector 100 by replacing a straight jaw 126' attached to the gripping element 124 with a jaw 126 oriented at an angle (α) to obtain the hose connector 100 of the present disclosure. For ease of implementation and maintenance, different clamping elements 124 having different jaws 126 oriented at a desired angle (α) may be satisfactory. In a preferred embodiment, the angle (α) may be in the range of 10 to 60 degrees (see, e.g., fig. 3), however, the angle (α) may have any other value to retain the hose 108 between the first and second body portions 106, 112 by the jaws 126 in view of the desired self-energizing force. The selection of the angle (a) may depend on a variety of factors (e.g., diameter, material, type, thickness, etc.) associated with the hose 108 and/or a variety of factors (e.g., service life, fluid capacity, material, size, etc.) associated with the hose connector 100.

Further, the second body portion 112 includes an opening 132, and in embodiments of the present disclosure, a plurality of openings 132 are contemplated and may exist. The opening 132 may be used as a visual guide to check the proper positioning of the hose 108 between the first body portion 106 and the second body portion 112.

In some embodiments, the jaws 126 are integrally formed with the second body portion 112, or even with the clamping element 124 as previously described. This may be consistent with convenience and necessary benefits in manufacturing the jaws 126 of the hose connector 100, or for strength and the like.

The clamping element 124 is coupled to the second body portion 112. In one example, the clamping element 124 is coupled to the second body portion 112 by a snap-fit arrangement. The clamping element 124 is coupled to the second body portion 112 such that the clamping element 124 is slidable relative to the second body portion 112 along the longitudinal axis "a 1". More particularly, the clamping element 124 is slidably received on the sliding surface, thereby allowing the clamping element 124 to move axially. In addition, the clamping element 124 and the second body portion 112 are designed such that the clamping element 124 is radially inclined with respect to the second body portion 112.

In one example, the clamping element 124 is molded onto the body 102. For example, an injection molding process may be used to mold the clamping element 124 onto the hose connector 100. Alternatively, any injection molding process or assembly injection molding process may be used to mold the gripping element 124 onto the hose connector 100. In other examples, the gripping element 124 and the hose connector 100 may be manufactured as separate components that are subsequently coupled to one another. The hose connector 100 does not incur significant component production costs because the clamping element 124 is manufactured using cost-effective techniques. In addition, because the clamping element 124 is molded with the body 102, installation costs and time associated with assembly and disassembly of the clamping element 124 and the body 102 are reduced. Further, the material of the body 102 may be different from the material of the clamping element 124. In an example, the clamping element 124 may be made of polyoxymethylene, while the body 102 may be made of polypropylene, without limitation.

Referring to FIG. 3, the hose connector 100 is shown without the clamp nut 140 to better view and clarify the function and location of the jaws 126. As shown, the jaws 126 are arranged in a helical manner relative to the longitudinal axis. Further, the jaws 126 may be made of a material such that they are capable of undergoing twisting (shown with arrows adjacent the jaws 126) or any such desired movement to grip (or couple) around the hose 108 inserted onto the first body portion 106 for coupling. This positioning of the jaws 126 in a helical fashion provides the self-energizing force required to hold the hose 108 in place as required by the application. In embodiments, the material selection for the jaws 126 may be plastic, polymer (e.g., polyoxymethylene), etc., as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the jaw 126 is adapted to move radially relative to the first body portion 106 (here D1 best shown with an arrow near the jaw 126). This will provide a self-energizing force to cater for any dynamic movement of the hose 108, ensuring that the hose 108 remains coupled between the first and second body portions 106, 112. Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of jaws 126 are adapted to move axially relative to the first body portion 106 (as indicated at jaws 126 by double-headed arrows D3). Such a feature would cater for any unwanted loosening of the hose 108 in the longitudinal axis relative to the first body portion 106. Further, this allows for an adjustment or limited movement of the jaws 126 of about 3 degrees (radial, perpendicular or axial D1, D2 or D3, respectively, as indicated by the arrows in the latest figures) in order to check for any undesired movement of the hose 108 from between the jaws 126 and the first body portion 106.

Fig. 4 shows the hose connector 100 with the clamping nut 140 installed again. When the internal threads 142 of the clamp nut 140 engage the external threads 116 on the second body portion 112, the clamp nut 140 is said to be in the engaged position. The clamp nut 140 defines a clamp surface 144. In the engaged position of clamp nut 140, clamping surface 144 of clamp nut 140 is spaced apart from jaws 126 of clamping member 124.

In an embodiment, the jaw 126 may be designed such that the jaw 126 remains straight along the longitudinal axis a1 until a point before the jaw 126 assumes a helical arrangement according to a desired angle (a). The jaws 126 may take a helical arrangement or any arrangement, such as, but not limited to, "L", "T", or any other shape apparent to one skilled in the art. This may make the jaws 126 more suitable for applications that may require more severe conditions depending on the size/weight/type of hose 108 or any other implementation requirements of the hose connector 100.

Further, the clamp nut 140 includes a tail 143 such that when the clamp nut 140 is in the engaged position, the tail 143 exerts a force on the clamping element 124. As shown in fig. 4, the clamp nut 140 does not exert a force on the clamp element 124 such that when the clamp nut 140 is in the disengaged position, the clamp element 124 is in the retracted position.

During implementation of the clamp nut 140 of the present disclosure, the jaws 126 of the clamp element 124 may also allow self-tightening of the hose 108 based on and using any dynamic movement or pulling force on the hose 108. In short, in the last figure, the hose 108 may be subjected to a pulling or outward force (shown as F) under certain circumstances. However, based on the ability of the jaws 126 to adjust or move (or move in any other plane or direction or angle) radially (D1)/axially (D3)/vertically (D2) on the hose 108 coupled to the first body portion 106, the jaws 126 may act to self-tighten the hose 108 commensurate with the force F experienced by the hose 108. This will ensure that the hose 108 will not experience any undesired or inadvertent withdrawal or loosening from the clutch of the jaws 126 due to the helical arrangement of the jaws 126 (at angle (a)) and the ability of the jaws 126 to adjust along 3 degrees (D1, D2, and D3). Thus, the hose connector 100 of the present disclosure provides self-reinforcement of the hose 108, thereby simplifying assembly and disassembly. More specifically, the components of the hose connector 100 do not require excessive assembly or disassembly, which is typically required for conventional hose connectors 100' to check and/or correct any loose or unchecked movement of the hose 108.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Component list

100' conventional hose connector

100 hose connector

102 main body

104 end portion

106 first body part

108 flexible pipe

110 outer surface

112 second body portion

114 gap

116 external thread

124 clamping element

126' straight clamping jaw

126 clamping jaw

128 tooth

132 opening

140 clamping nut

142 internal thread

143 tail part

144 clamping surface

A1 longitudinal axis

A2 thread direction

Alpha jaw orientation angle D1 radial movement relative to longitudinal axis

D2 vertical movement

D3 radial movement

Force F