Safety device for quick disconnect couplings

The present invention relates to a safety device which finds particular application in association with the quick disconnect assembly of a pneumatic hose. In its broadest context, the present invention includes a first hose clamp which is adapted to be removably secured to a first segment of pneumatic hose. The present invention also includes a similar second hose clamp which is adapted to be removably secured to a second segment of pneumatic hose. These two hose clamps are interconnected by way of a length of cord. When in use, the two clamps and cord prevent the first and second segments of hose from falling away from each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a safety device and more particularly 
pertains to such a device for use upon a quick disconnect assembly. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of connectors is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
connectors are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and 
obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,465 to Elliott et al discloses an 
electrical plug connector lock. U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,243 to Carmo discloses 
a releasable cord connecting lock. U.S. Design Pat. No. 353,578 to Johnson 
discloses an electrical plug and connection holder. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,206,961 to Cifalde discloses an extension cord clip. U.S. Pat. No. 
5,336,106 to Osten discloses a cord connector. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 
5,336,107 to Sheryll discloses a plug retention device. 
In this respect, the safety device of the present invention substantially 
departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and 
in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of 
preventing the two ends of a quick disconnect from separating after 
uncoupling. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
improved safety devices for interconnections. In this regard, the present 
invention substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
connectors now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a 
safety device for a quick disconnect assembly. As such, the general 
purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in 
greater detail, is to provide a means to prevent the ends of a quick 
disconnect from falling away from one another after becomming uncoupled. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a safety device 
for a pneumatic hose quick disconnect assembly. The device includes a 
first hose serving to transport a supply of air, wherein the first hose 
has a terminal end. The hose includes a first quick disconnect assembly 
secured to the terminal end of the first hose. A second hose serves to 
transport a supply of air, the second hose has a terminal end. A second 
disconnect assembly is secured to the terminal end of the second hose, 
with the second disconnect assembly being removably interconnected to the 
first disconnect assembly by way of a quick disconnect means. This quick 
disconnect means causes the disconnection of the first and second 
disconnects when the supply of air traveling from the first hose to the 
second hose reaches a predetermined value. A first hose clamp is formed of 
a first c-shaped half interconnected to a second s-shaped half by way of a 
hinge. A ring is formed proximate the hinge, and a screw guard is integral 
with the first c-shaped half. A screw housing is integral with the second 
c-shaped half, with the screw housing and screw guard being in axial 
alignment with one another. A screw is adapted to engage the screw housing 
and the screw guard, with the screw having a distal end formed into a flat 
finger engaging portion. The first hose clamp is adapted to be secured 
about the first hose by way of the screw. A second hose clamp is formed of 
a first c-shaped half interconnected to a second c-shaped half by way of a 
hinge, a ring formed proximate the hinge, with a screw guard integral with 
the first c-shaped half. A screw housing is integral with the second 
c-shaped half. The screw housing and screw guard are in axial alignment 
with one another. A screw is adapted to engage the screw housing and the 
screw guard,with the screw having a distal end formed into a flat finger 
engaging portion. The second hose clamp is adapted to be secured about the 
second hose by way of the screw. An interconnecting cord has a first end 
secured to the ring of the first hose clamp, and a second end secured to 
the ring of the second hose clamp. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved safety device which prevents the ends of a quick disconnect from 
coming apart or otherwise creating a dangerous situation. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple device 
for keeping the ends of a hose together. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that 
can be retrofitted onto existing hoses. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a safety 
device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to 
both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low 
prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such safety device 
economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to a safety device 
which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the 
advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the 
disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safety device 
which finds particular application in association with the quick 
disconnect assembly of a pneumatic hose. In its broadest context, the 
present invention includes a first hose clamp which is adapted to be 
removably secured to a first segment of pneumatic hose. The present 
invention also includes a similar second hose clamp which is adapted to be 
removably secured to a second segment of pneumatic hose. These two hose 
clamps are interconnected by way of a length of cord. When in use, the two 
clamps and cord prevent the first and second segments of hose from falling 
away from each other.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several 
views of the drawings. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention relates to a safety device which finds particular 
application in association with the quick disconnect assembly of a 
pneumatic hose. In its broadest context, the present invention includes a 
first hose clamp which is adapted to be removably secured to a first 
segment of pneumatic hose. The present invention also includes a similar 
second hose clamp which is adapted to be removably secured to a second 
segment of pneumatic hose. These two hose clamps are interconnected by way 
of a length of cord. When in use, the two clamps and cord prevent the 
first and second segments of hose from falling away from each other. The 
various details of the present invention, and the manner in which they 
interrelate, will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
The pneumatic assembly in which the present invention finds application 
generally includes a first hose 22 serving to transport a supply of air. 
Typically, this is a pressurized source of air. The first hose 22 includes 
a terminal end 24 as depicted in FIG. 1. Additionally, a first quick 
disconnect assembly 26 is secured to the terminal end 24 of the first hose 
22. Likewise, the assembly includes a second hose 28 which also serves to 
transport a supply of air. In this manner a source of pressurized air 
travels from the first hose 22 to the second hose 28. As depicted in FIG. 
1, the second hose 28 has a terminal end 32. 
The second quick disconnect assembly 34 is secured to the terminal end 32 
of the second hose 28. The second quick disconnect assembly 34 is 
removably interconnected to the first disconnect assembly 26 by way of a 
quick disconnect means. This quick disconnect means functions to cause the 
disconnection of the first and second disconnects when the supply of air 
traveling from the first hose 22 to the second hose 28 reaches a 
predetermined value. 
The safety device 20 for use upon the quick disconnection assembly will 
next be described. Generally, the safety device 20 includes a first hose 
clamp 36 which is formed of a first c-shaped half 38 interconnected to a 
second c-shaped half 42 by way of a hinge 44. The arrangement of the first 
hose clamp 36 is depicted in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment, a ring 
46 is formed proximate the hinge 44. The function of this ring 46 will be 
described in greater detail hereinafter. 
The first hose clamp 36 further includes a screw guard 48 formed integral 
with the first c-shaped half 38, and a screw housing 52 integral with the 
second c-shaped half 42. The screw housing 52 and screw guard 48 are in 
axial alignment with one another. When joined, the housing 52 and guard 48 
provide an internally threaded passage which is adapted to receive an 
externally threaded screw 54. Specifically, the screw 54 is adapted to 
engage the screw housing 52 and the screw guard 48. In the preferred 
embodiment, the screw 54 has a distal end formed into a flat finger 
engaging portion 56. Such a configuration allows the screw to be 
manipulated by hand. The first hose clamp 36 is thus adapted to be secured 
about the first hose 22 by way of the screw 54. 
The second hose clamp is of similar construction, thus the references 
numbers for the second hose clamp have been omitted. Specifically, the 
second hose clamp is formed of a first c-shaped half interconnected to a 
second c-shaped half by way of a hinge. In the preferred embodiment a ring 
is formed proximate the hinge. 
Additionally, a screw guard is formed integrally with the first c-shaped 
half,and a screw housing is formed integrally with the second c-shaped 
half. The screw housing and screw guard being in axial alignment with one 
another. When joined the guard and housing form an internally threaded 
passage. An externally threaded screw is adapted to engage the screw 
housing and the screw guard to thereby secure the second hose clamp about 
a length of hose. In the preferred embodiment, the screw has a distal end 
which is formed into a flat finger engaging portion. The second hose clamp 
is thus adapted to be secured about the second hose by way of the screw. 
With reference to FIG. 1, an interconnecting cord 58 serves to connect to 
first and second hose clamps. Specifically, the cord has a first end 62 
secured to the ring of the first hose clamp, and a second end 64 secured 
to the ring of the second hose clamp. 
In use, the first hose clamp is secured about the first length of hose by 
placing each c-shaped half about the hose and then securing the screw into 
the screw guard and screw housing. The second hose clamp is similarly 
situated upon the second length of hose. So positioned, the device 
prevents the two lengths of the hose from falling away from one another 
after becoming disconnected. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.