Hose fixture device

A hose fixture device has a cylindrical wall with projections thereon, which projections engage a corresponding mounting projection of a hose. Normally that mounting projection is a helix, so that there is a screw engagement. The projections are arranged circumferentially around the cylindrical wall with gaps therebetween. There are also gripper members, again spaced circumferentially with gaps therebetween, which grip an end of the hose. The gaps make is easy to see such engagement. The gripper members are aligned with the gaps between those projections. This provides a secure fixing of the hose to the hose fixture device. Furthermore, the device may be moulded easily. Such a hose fixture device may be used to attache a hose joint component (e.g. a suction tool) to a hose of an electric vacuum cleaner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a hose fixture device for attachment to a 
hose having a mounting projection thereon. 
2. Summary of the Prior Art 
It is well known to connect the body of a vacuum cleaner to a suction tool 
using a flexible hose. One known example of such a hose has a helical 
projection thereon, so that an appropriate suction tool can be mounted on 
the hose simply by providing a threaded fitting on the suction tool, and 
threading that fitting on to the helical projection of the hose. However, 
although such an arrangement makes it easy to mount the suction tool on 
the hose, it is also easy for the suction tool to become detached during 
use as the suction tool can rotate relative to the hose. 
Therefore, attempts have been made to mount the suction tool in a way that 
permits it to rotate relative to the hose, but does not permit it to 
become detached. In Japanese utility model publication number 59-2753, 
there is the proposal of forming a shaped end to the hose, with a 
circumferential projection thereon. Then, a two-part locking ring is 
fitted around that shaped end, with the two-part locking ring having a 
groove on the inner surface thereof which engages the projection to permit 
relative rotation of the locking ring and the shaped end. Then, the 
suction tool is clipped to the locking ring. 
In a further development, it has been proposed to provide a hose fixture 
device with a threaded surface which engages the helical projection on the 
hose. In order to prevent the hose fixture device from becoming 
unthreaded, it is securely fixed to the end of the hose with glue. Prior 
to mounting the hose fixture device on the hose, a retaining ring is 
fitted on the hose to be freely rotatable thereon. The hose fixture device 
prevents that retaining ring from sliding off the hose. Then, the suction 
tool is shaped so as to have a cylindrically projecting wall which extends 
around the hose fixture device and engages the retaining ring. The hose 
fixture device is held between parts of the suction tool and the retaining 
ring, but since it is not fixed thereto the suction tool is free to rotate 
relative to the hose retaining device, and hence relative to the hose 
itself. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A problem arises when a hose fixture device is fixedly mounted on the end 
of the hose since it is not uncommon for the hose to crack during use, and 
such cracking is most likely to occur immediately adjacent the hose 
fixture device, as bending at that point may cause kinks in the hose. 
However, if such a crack develops, it is difficult to repair the hose and 
a new hose fixture device will have to be provided and glued to an new end 
of the hose, which new end is being formed by cutting off the old end of 
the hose and the attached hose fixture device. 
This problem is even more acute for the arrangement disclosed in Japanese 
utility model publication number 59-2753 referred to above, since it then 
becomes necessary to completely replace the hose if a crack develops 
therein, because the end of the hose has to be specially shaped. 
Therefore, the present invention seeks to provide a hose fixture device 
which can be securely mounted on the hose, without the risk of becoming 
accidentally detached, but which may be detached if necessary. 
At its simplest, the present invention proposes that a plurality of 
projections be formed on a wall of the hose fixture device for engaging 
the hose. Those projections are spaced apart in a circumferential 
direction so that there are gaps therebetween. The present invention may 
also provide gripping members on the walls for gripping an end of the 
hose. Again, those gripping members are spaced apart in a circumferential 
direction. This has the advantage that, when the hose fixture device is 
threaded onto the end of the hose, the user can see the end of the hose 
between the gripping members and can therefore determine when the hose 
fixture device is fully threaded onto the end of the hose. 
The gripping members are preferably arranged so that they are 
circumferentially aligned with the circumferential gaps between the 
projections. In this way, a series of three-point fixings are provided 
between one gripping member and a pair of projections, or a pair of 
gripping members and one projection. The hose can deform in each 
three-point fixing, so that it is gripped securely thereby. However, it is 
also possible to remove the hose fixing device from the end of the hose by 
application of sufficient force to release the grip between this 
three-point fixing and the mounting projection of the hose. 
The gripping action of the gripping members may further be improved by 
providing one or more ribs thereon. It has been found that, in some cases, 
the friction between a planar gripping member and the end of the hose is 
excessively high, so that it is difficult to unthread the hose fixture 
device from the hose. The use of one or more ribs facilitates gripping 
without causing excessive friction. Indeeed, the presence of the one or 
more ribs assists further to deform the hose at the gripping member, 
thereby improving the three-point fixing of the hose between gripping 
member or members and the projections. 
It should be noted that the circumferential gaps between the projections 
for engaging the mounting projection of the hose, and the gap between the 
gripping members simplifies the moulding of a hose fixture device 
according to the present invention. If either the projections or the 
gripping members extended completely around the cylindrical wall of the 
hose fixture device, a complicated moulding technique is needed to remove 
an inner part of the mould from the interior of the moulded hose fixture 
device. The gaps between the projections, and the gaps between the 
gripping members, means that the inner parts of the mould for forming the 
hose fixture device may be removed straightforwardly in axial directions. 
This simplification of moulding is further assisted by the off-set 
circumferential spacing of the projections and the gripping members 
respectively. 
Normally, hoses are used in which the mounting member is in the form of a 
helical projection along the length of the hose. In this case, as 
described above, the hose fixture device according to the present 
invention is threaded onto the end of that hose, and the projections may 
then be positioned so that they form a broken helix. However, the present 
invention may also be applied to a hose in which the mounting projection 
of the hose is one of a plurality of circumferential projections, in which 
case the projection of the hose is one of a plurality of projections of 
the hose fixture device must deform when the end of the hose is pushed 
onto the hose fixture device. As described above, gripping members may 
also be provided on such a hose fixture device, to give the three-point 
gripping also described above. 
A hose fixture device according to the present invention may be used to 
retain a retaining ring on the hose. Then, a suction tool is used which 
has a cylindrical projection which fits around the hose fixture device and 
engages the retaining ring. There is abutment between the retaining ring 
and the hose fixture device, and between the hose fixture device and the 
suction tool, but this abutment does not result in engagement, so that the 
suction tool is free to rotate relative to the hose fixture device, and 
hence relative to the hose itself. 
In such a structure, if a crack develops in the hose it is easy to repair 
the vacuum cleaner. The suction tool is released from the retaining ring, 
and then the hose fixture device according to the present invention is 
unthreaded from the end of the hose. Then, the length of the hose 
containing a crack is cut off. It is subsequently a straightforward matter 
to fit the hose fixture device onto the cut end of the hose, and re-mount 
the suction tool on the end of the hose, by engagement with the retaining 
ring. As was mentioned above, the engagement of the hose with the hose 
fixture device of the present invention is releasable if sufficient force 
is applied without damaging the hose fixture device for the hose itself. 
As can be understood, this facility also permits the user of the vacuum 
cleaner to adjust the length of the hose to a shorter length than supplied 
by the manufacturer, if necessary. 
There is a further feature of the present invention, involving the 
engagement of the hose fixture device with the suction tool. The hose 
fixture device has an annular projecting wall, which abuts against a 
corresponding cylindrical projection of the suction tool. Then, one or 
both of the annular projecting wall and the cylindrical projection are 
tapered. This ensures a good seal therebetween, because under the pressure 
exerted by the suction of the vacuum cleaner, one or both of the annular 
projecting wall and the cylindrical projection will deform slightly to 
conform to the other, thereby ensuring that leakage does not occur. 
Furthermore, in order to prevent leakage, the hose fixture device according 
to the present invention may have a further cylindrical wall. Normally, a 
hose is used with the mounting projection being on an outer surface 
thereof. Then, the first cylindrical wall of the present invention, with 
the projections thereon, is located outwardly of the hose, with the 
projecting projection inwardly. Preferably, there is then an inner 
cylindrical wall which is positioned so that the hose fits between the 
outer and inner walls. If this fitting is a close fitting, leakage between 
the hose fixture device according to the present invention and the hose 
will further be reduced. 
In the present specification, the term suction tool includes a wide range 
of devices which may be used with a vacuum cleaner, such as brushes, etc., 
and further includes an extension pipe. Such components are referred to 
generally as hose joint components. Such suction tools may be made 
interchangeable by suitable design of the engagement between the suction 
tool and the retaining ring, e.g. by engagement of a projection and a 
bore. 
It should also be made clear that the present invention is not restricted 
to a hose fixture device for a hose for a vacuum cleaner, and may be used 
for attachment to other types of hoses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, a connection between a dust suctioning hose 
of an electric vacuum cleaner (hereinafter called a hose) and a suction 
tool, extension pipe or mounting to connect the hose to the vacuum cleaner 
body (hereinafter called a hose joint) is exchangably inserted into and 
removed from various kinds of nozzles e.g. for floor use, for rug use, for 
curtain use. 
In this embodiment a cylindrical hose fixture device 2 is attached to a 
flexible hose 1. The hose 1 has an axially extending helical projection 1a 
which engages the hose fixture device 2 via four projections 2a, 2b, 2c 
and 2d which couple with the projections 1a of the hose 1. The assembly of 
the hose 1 and the hose fixture device 2 is inserted into a hose joint 3. 
The hose joint 3 has stopper bores 3a and 3b, and a retaining ring 4 has 
projections 4a and 4b so that the retaining ring 4 is attached to the hose 
joint 3 by engagement of the projections 4a and 4b with the stopper bores 
3a and 3b. Before attaching the hose 1 to the hose fixture device 2, the 
retaining ring 4 is first loosely engaged with the hose 1. Then after 
inserting the hose fixture device 2 (with the hose 1 attached) into the 
hose joint 3, the retaining ring 4 is also inserted into the hose joint 3 
to cause the projections 4a and 4b to engage the stopper bores 3a and 3b 
of the hose joint 3. With this arrangement, when a pulling force is 
applied to the hose 1, the hose fixture device 2 contacts the retaining 
ring 4 attached to the hose joint 3. Then the hose fixture device 2 acts 
as a stopper member of the hose 1 against the hose joint 3, and therefore 
easy removal is prevented. It can be seen that the connection of the hose 
1 and hose joint 3 is not via bonding or threading but via a rotatable 
support due to the combination of the cylindrical hose fixture device 2 
and the retaining ring 4. Therefore, during use, for example, during 
cleaning using the electric vacuum cleaner, even if a twisting force is 
applied to the hose 1, the connection between the hose 1 and the hose 
joint 3 rotates, so that no twisting of the hose 1 is caused. 
The hose fixture device 2 is provided with a cylindrical outer ring 2m and 
a cylindrical inner wall of ring 2e disposed concentrically with respect 
to the outer ring 2m. The inner ring or wall 2e is connected through four 
connecting members or walls 2f to the outer ring 2m, with the connecting 
members or walls 2f contacting an end face of the hose 1 as shown most 
clearly in FIG. 1. The four connecting members or walls 2f are disposed 
symmetrically between the outer ring 2n and the inner ring 2e. Gaps 2g, 
2h, 2i, 2j are formed between adjacent connecting members or walls 2f, 
with the gaps being disposed in opposition to projections 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d 
provided on the outer wall or ring 2m. Each of the four projections 2a, 
2b, 2c, 2d forms a part of a screw thread and, as shown in FIG. 2, 
disposed respectively midway between two adjacent connecting members or 
walls 2f. 
Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the walls or connecting members 2f engage the end 
of the hose 1. The cylindrical inner wall 2e prevents deflection of the 
hose 1. Therefore, when a pulling force is applied to the hose 1, and the 
hose 1 deflects due to the flexibility of the hose 1, release of the 
engagement between the projections 1a of the hose 1 and the projections 
2a, 2b, 2c and 2d of the hose fixture device 2 is prevented. Hence, the 
interconnection of the hose 1 and the hose fixture device 2 is ensured. 
The inner cylindrical wall 2e of the hose fixture device 2 also helps to 
prevent a leakage at the fixing part between the hose fixture device 2 and 
the hose 1. 
With the cylindrical wall 2e being integral with the outer ring 2m of the 
hose fixture device 2 via the wall 2f, the advantages discussed above are 
obtained without increasing the number of parts in the assembly. 
Furthermore, the assembly operation is made easier due to the small number 
of parts. By inserting the hose end face sufficiently far into the hose 
fixture device 2 so that it engages the walls or connecting members 2f 
and, by noting that the end of the hose 1 touches part of the wall 2f (by 
looking axially at the end of the hose through gaps 2g, 2h, 2i, 2j), it 
can be detected that the hose 1 is engagably inserted fully into the hose 
fixture device 2. This eliminates defective attachment of the hose 1 to 
the hose fixture device 2. In addition, by providing gaps 2g, 2h, 2i and 
2j between adjacent walls or connecting members 2f, contact of the end of 
the hose 1 with the walls or connecting members 2f is visually ensured, so 
that it is easy to check that the engagement of the hose 1 and the hose 
fixture device 2 has occurred. The efficiency of such an inspection is 
thus enhanced. The gaps 2g, 2h, 2i and 2j are aligned with the projections 
2a, 2b, 2c and 2d in the axial direction of the hose fixture device 2. 
Therefore the moulding of the hose fixture device 2 may be carried out by 
a metal die for mould use which is divided in the axial direction of the 
hose 1. This eliminates any need to divide the metal die and twisting 
thereof is eliminated, so that the production and processing of the hose 
fixture device 2 is enhanced as will be described in more detail 
hereinbelow. 
According to the first embodiment, the hose fixture device 2 engages the 
spiral projection 1a provided on the hose 1 in the axial direction. 
Therefore even when it is necessary to cut the hose 1 to a different 
length, which may be necessary depending on the circumstances, it is easy 
to re-attach a renewed hose end to the hose fixture device 2 via the 
projections 1a provided on the hose 1. There are a number of cases where 
it is necessary to cut the hose into an arbitrary length. For example, it 
is usual for the manufacturer of a vacuum cleaner to produce a long hose. 
Then the purchaser of the vacuum cleaner may decide that a shorter length 
of the hose is needed depending on the conditions of use (such as a room 
size). Also during use of the vacuum cleaner, a crack may occur in part of 
the hose because of fatigue due to repeated bending. Then, instead of 
purchasing a new vacuum cleaner or at least a whole new hose, the old hose 
is used by cutting off the cracked part of the hose then reattaching the 
adapter to the renewed end of the hose top. 
In this embodiment the hose joint 3 is provided with a taper shaped 
cylindrical projection 3c on a surface 2l opposite the hose fixture device 
2 in the innermost part of the hose joint 3. An annular wall 2k which 
contacts and engages this cylindrical projection 3c is provided on the 
wall 2f of the hose fixture device 2 opposite the innermost surface 3d at 
the hose joint 3. The hose fixture device 2 is provided with a cylindrical 
projection 2k which contacts the innermost surface 3d of the hose joint 3. 
The entire circumferential end of the annular wall 2k contacts the tubular 
projection 3c formed on the hose joint 3, so that leakage at the point of 
attachment is prevented. 
In this embodiment, the hose joint 3 is made of a hard ABS resin, the hose 
fixture device 2 is made of polypropylene which is flexible. Therefore, 
when the electric vacuum cleaner is operated and the inside of the hose 
attachment device (that is, the inside of the hose 1) is subject to a 
negative pressure, the annular wall 2k of the hose fixture device 2 
deforms at its end portion so as to fasten to the cylindrical projection 
3c of the hose joint 3. Hence a good sealing effect is obtained and thus 
the hose attachment device is satisfactory in preventing leakage. As can 
be seen from FIG. 6, the thickness t of the annular wall 2k of the hose 
fixture device 2 is preferably as thin as possible so that it can be 
deformed easily by the negative pressure inside the hose attachment 
device. The cylindrical projection 2l decreases the contacting area 
between the hose joint 3 and the hose fixture device 2 and reduces the 
friction of the hose fixture device 2 in the hose joint 3 during rotation 
thereof. Thus, the hose fixture device 2 freely rotates in the hose joint 
3. 
In this embodiment, the pitch of the projections 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d of the 
hose fixture device 2 is selected to be the same as that of the helical 
projection of the hose 1. Attachment of the hose 1 and the hose fixture 
device 2 is carried out by threading the end of the hose 1 into the hose 
fixture device 2. However, in this embodiment, as stated above, the hose 
fixture device 2 rotates in the hose joint 3. There is thus no loosening 
of the attachment between the hose 1 and the hose fixture device 2 due to 
twisting of the hose 1. Thus, disengagement of the hose fixing device 2 
from the hose due to a defective bonding operation should not occur, as 
may happen if the hose fixture device 2 is bonded to the hose with a 
bonding agent (glue). 
In the first embodiment described above, the connection between the hose 1 
and the hose fixture device 2 is by a threaded engagement of the helical 
projections 1a of the hose 1 with the projections 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d of the 
hose fixture device 2. However, instead of this, as shown in FIG. 7, a 
hose 1' may have many successive ring shaped projections 1b along the 
axial direction. A plurality of projections 2n, inclined in the direction 
of insertion of the hose 1' may be provided on the hose fixture device 2' 
as also shown in FIG. 7. Then when the hose 1' is inserted into the hose 
fixture device 2', the plurality of the projections 2n provided on the 
hose fixture device 2' deform elastically and do not prevent the insertion 
of the hose 1'. On the other hand, when the hose 1 is pulled out of the 
hose fixture device 2', the plurality of projections 2n recover their 
elasticity and hold the hose 1' to prevent removal of the hose 1'. With 
the arrangement of FIG. 7, the projections 2n grip the projections 1b with 
elastic deformation of the hose 1' so as to prevent free rotation of the 
hose 1' and the hose fixture device, forced rotation of the hose 1' and 
hose fixture device 2' above a predetermined loading releasing the grip 
without damage to the hose 1' or the hose fixture device 2', whereby the 
hose fixture device 2' is disengagable from the hose 1'. 
FIG. 8 shows hose fixture devices according to the present invention used 
in connection with a vacuum cleaner. A hose 10 has a first retaining ring 
11 fitted thereon, and then a first hose fixture device 12 according to 
the present invention is engaged with the end 10a of the hose 10. A 
component 13 for connecting the hose 10 to the body of a vacuum cleaner 
(not shown) is then positioned over the hose fixture device 12, to engage 
with the retaining ring 11. The connection of the retaining ring 11, hose 
fixture device 12, and component 13 corresponds to the linking of parts 
hose fixture device 2, hose joint 3, and retaining ring 4 in first 
embodiment of the present invention described above. Then, a second 
retaining ring 14 is fitted on the other end 10b of the hose 10, and 
another hose fixture device 15 according to the present invention is 
mounted on the end of the hose 10. That then permits an extension pipe 16 
to be connected to the retaining ring 14 in the same way as for hose 
fixture device 2, hose joint 3, and retaining ring 4 discussed above. 
Thus, the hose 10 is free to rotate at its connection to the component 13, 
and the extension pipe 16 is free to rotate relative to the end 10b of the 
hose 10, so that twisting of the hose will not occur. 
The third embodiment of FIGS. 9-11 corresponds generally to the first 
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the same reference numerals are used to 
indicate corresponding parts. However, in the embodiment of FIGS. 9-11, 
ribs or projections 30 are provided on the walls or connecting members 2f. 
These ribs or projections 30 improve the gripping of the end of the hose. 
It has been found that if the hose fixture device according to the first 
embodiment of the present invention is tightly threaded onto the end of 
the hose 1, the friction between the walls or connecting members 2f and 
the end of the hose 1 may be so great that it is difficult subsequently to 
unthread the hose fixture device 2. The provision of the ribs or 
projections 30 controls the friction between the end of the hose 10 and 
the walls or connecting members 2f. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, the 
middle one of the three ribs 30 may project slightly further from the 
walls or connecting members 2f than the other two. This has been found to 
improve the three-point gripping of the hose 10 between the walls or 
connecting members 2f and the adjacent projections 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. 
As was mentioned earlier, a hose fixture device according to the present 
invention may be formed by moulding. This is shown in FIG. 12 in which the 
orientation of the hose fixture device 2 corresponds to that shown in FIG. 
11. As illustrated, the mould has three mould parts, namely, is an outer 
mould part 40 with a cylindrical bore into which fit in opposite axial 
directions two inner mould parts 41, 42. The inner surfaces 40a, 41a, 42a 
of the mould parts 40, 41 and 42 are shaped so as to define a gap 
therebetween, which gap will correspond to the hose fixing device 2. Small 
gaps are shown between other surfaces of the mould parts 40, 41 and 42 in 
FIG. 12; however, the illustrated small gaps are for the sake of clarity 
and normally such gaps would not be provided. Then, the space between the 
mould parts 40, 41 and 42 is charged with moulding material, e.g. a 
thermosetting or thermoplastics material. This material conforms to the 
shape of the mould parts 40, 41 and 42 and thus to the shape of the hose 
fixture device 2, and setting of that material forms the hose fixture 
device 2. 
It can be seen in FIG. 12 that it is then a simple matter to remove the 
inner mould parts 41, 42 in opposite axial directions, and then the hose 
fixture device 2 is releasable. The alignment of walls or connecting 
members 2f with the gaps between projections 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d means that 
the part of e.g. the mould part 42 which is to form a surface of the walls 
or connecting members 2f is readily removable from the hose fixture device 
2, without that removal being affected by the projections 2a, 2b, 2c and 
2d. 
Finally, FIGS. 13a to 13d show in more detail the mounting of a suction 
tool on to a hose. This is the process that has already been described 
with reference to FIG. 1, and also with reference to FIG. 8. Thus, as 
shown in FIG. 13a, the retaining ring 50 is slipped over an end of the 
hose 51 and slid down that hose 51 to be clear of the end 52. As shown, 
there are two mounting lugs 53 on the retaining ring 50, which mounting 
lug 53 correspond to the projection 4a and 4b in FIG. 1. FIG. 13a also 
shows a hose retaining device 54 according to the present invention and a 
suction tool 55, which at this stage are separated. The next step, as 
shown in FIG. 13b, is the engagement of the hose fixture device 54 with 
the end 52 of the hose 51. Such engagement may be by a threaded-fitting as 
described with reference to the first embodiments, or by a clip fitting as 
described with reference to the second embodiment, depending on the nature 
of the hose. The engagement of the hose fixture device 54 onto the hose 51 
retains the retaining ring 50 which may then be slid to a position 
adjacent or abutting the hose fixture device 54 as shown in FIG. 13c. 
The suction tool 55 has an end part 56 which has a cylindrical wall which 
fits over the hose fixture device 54, so that the arrangement shown in 
FIG. 13d is formed. Two bores 57 in the end 56 of the tool 55 engage with 
the mounting lugs 53, thereby securing together the suction tool 55 and 
the retaining ring 50. 
Although described above with reference to connection to a hose of a vacuum 
cleaner, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be used 
whenever it is necessary to connect to an end of a hose. 
With the present invention a hose fixture device may be provided which 
prevents twisting of the hose, for example, during use with an electric 
vacuum cleaner due to independent rotation of the hose and the hose joint 
respectively. This ensures that the hose does not come out and has 
advantages with respect to processing, strength and assembling. Moreover 
when the user needs to cut the hose to a different length, the renewed 
hose end may be reattached easily to the hose joint, so that handling is 
enhanced. In addition leakage of suctioned air may be prevented.