Cuffed hose and method of manufacture

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards an improved flexible hose ( 10 ). The hose ( 10 ) is comprised of at least a flexible material ( 28 ) and a reinforcing rod ( 12 ) positioned externally of the flexible material ( 28 ). Terminal ends ( 16, 18 ) define both the flexible material ( 28 ) and the reinforcing rod ( 12 ). At least one terminal end ( 16 ) of the reinforcing rod ( 12 ) is located short of the terminal ends ( 18 ) of the flexible material ( 28 ), so that the non-reinforced end of the flexible material ( 28 ) forms a soft cuff ( 20 ) adapted to be received by a hose fitting. Also disclosed is an improved method of manufacturing the flexible hose ( 10 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An improved flexible hose ( 10 ) comprising a flexible material ( 14 ) and a reinforcing rod ( 12 ) positioned externally of the flexible material ( 14 ), the flexible material ( 14 ) being formed with terminal ends ( 18 ), the improvement being characterized by: 
 the reinforcing rod ( 12 ) having at least one terminal end ( 16 ) being located short of the terminal ends ( 18 ) of the flexible material ( 14 ), the flexible material ( 14 ) thus becoming a soft cuff ( 20 ) adapted to be received by a hose fitting.    
     
     
         2 . An improved flexible hose ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the hose ( 10 ) is further characterized by an imprinted indent ( 50 ) extending through the soft cuff ( 20 ).  
     
     
         3 . An improved flexible hose ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing rod ( 12 ) is wound at a pitch externally of the flexible material ( 14 ) and the indent ( 50 ) is wound at a pitch greater than the pitch of the reinforcing rod ( 12 ).  
     
     
         4 . An improved method of manufacturing a hose ( 10 ) comprising 
 a) rotating a mandrel ( 30 )    b) feeding a length of material ( 42 ) onto the mandrel ( 30 ) as the mandrel ( 30 ) rotates, to build a hose length ( 32 ) on the mandrel ( 30 ).    c) feeding a second length of material in the form of a reinforcing rod ( 12 ) onto the mandrel ( 30 ) as the mandrel ( 30 ) rotates to form a helical reinforcing rod ( 12 ) on the hose length ( 32 ), and    d) curing the hose length ( 32 ), the improvement being characterized by: 
 prior to feeding the reinforcing rod ( 12 ) onto the mandrel ( 30 ), modifying the  
 hose length ( 32 ) to create non-adhesive regions ( 46 ).  
   
     
     
         5 . An improved method of manufacturing a hose ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 4 , the method being further characterized by applying a third material ( 44 ) to the hose length ( 32 ) to create the non-adhesive regions ( 46 ).  
     
     
         6 . An improved method of manufacturing a hose ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 4 , the method being further characterized by cutting the hose length ( 32 ) in the non-adhesive regions ( 46 ).  
     
     
         7 . An improved method of manufacturing a hose ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 4 , the method being further characterized by varying the speed at which the mandrel ( 30 ) rotates as the reinforcing rod ( 12 ) is feed onto the mandrel ( 30 ) at the non-adhesive regions ( 46 ).  
     
     
         8 . An improved method of manufacturing a hose ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 4 , the method being further characterized by reducing the winding tension of the reinforcing rod ( 12 ) as the reinforcing rod ( 12 ) is feed onto the mandrel ( 30 ) at the non-adhesive regions ( 46 ).  
     
     
         9 . An improved flexible hose ( 10 ) made by any of the methods recited in claims  4 - 8 .  
     
     
         10 . A hose length ( 32 ) comprising at least one elastomeric layer ( 22  or  28 ) and a reinforcing rod ( 12 ) helically wound externally of the elastomeric layer ( 22 ), the improvement being characterized by: 
 non-adhesive regions ( 46 ) periodically spaced along the hose length ( 32 ).  
 
     
     
         11 . A hose length ( 32 ) in accordance with  claim 10 , the hose length ( 32 ) being further characterized by the reinforcing rod ( 12 ) not being adhered to the at least one elastomeric layer ( 22  or  28 ) in the non-adhesive regions ( 46 ).  
     
     
         13 . A hose length ( 32 ) in accordance with  claim 10 , the hose length ( 32 ) being further characterized by a rope ( 48 ) being wound adjacent to the reinforcing rod ( 12 ).  
     
     
         14 . A hose length ( 32 ) in accordance with  claim 10 , the hose length being further characterized by the reinforcing rod ( 12 ) being wound at a greater pitch length in non-adhesive regions ( 46 ).  
     
     
         15 . A hose length ( 32 ) in accordance with  claim 10 , the hose length being further characterized by the reinforcing rod ( 12 ) being wound at a lesser winding tension in the non-adhesive regions ( 46 ).