Conductive hose and ends

A conductive hose having dual connections disposed in the internal spiral groove formed in an air carrying hose includes plastic molded couplers on its ends which provide the fluidic and electrical connection to members that may be coupled thereto. Each of the molded couplers consists of inner and outer telescoped members that are glued together at their mating peripheries with the inner member including ribbed portions at the junction of the two mating parts. A strain relief is mounted between the members and retained by them so that electrical flow may be securely had through the hose and its couplers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention generally relates to electrically conductive fluidic hoses 
and, more particularly, relates to an electrically conductive hose for the 
powering of a remote vacuum cleaner motorized nozzle. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Although electrical conducting hoses that include coupling members have 
existed in the art for many years, with most of the more modern couplers 
having at least a pair of molded, telescoping members utilized to form one 
of the couplers, these couplers have generally been readily disassembable 
and thus not absolutely secure as to their electrical connection 
arrangement, or have been more desirably glued together in an attempt to 
insure structural fidelity. 
Glued configurations raise secural problems, however, since the inner 
member of the coupling, in order to receive the pneumatic hose and strain 
relief, is normally of a heavier molded section relative to the outer 
tubular member, sufficient abutting face-to-face contact is difficult to 
obtain in molding of it because of the tendency of the relatively 
thickened inner member to dish (go slightly concave) on its outer face 
upon cooling. Thus, insufficient, opposed facing area of the confronting 
surfaces of the coupler members may be the result, with a poor bond that 
achieved upon gluing. 
Additionally, during actual assembly of the two telescoping parts in 
manufacture, a larger quantity of glue than required may be placed as a 
coating on the inner member or accommodatable between the two coupling 
parts even with the natural reservoir afforded by the "dish" of the inner 
part. Accordingly, glue escapes from the confronting internal face areas 
of the two telescoping parts and must either be wiped away from the 
exterior, exposed portions of these parts or left as an unattractive 
residue lessening customer appeal and salability of the entire assemblage 
of conductive hose and coupler ends. 
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a two-part 
coupling assembly which may be securely glued to insure structural 
integrity. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide an effective reservoir 
for the reception and retention of any excess glue that may be squeezed 
from the abutting jointure between the two coupling parts when they are 
telescoped together. 
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a coupling 
structure in which the mechanism that insures face-to-face contact between 
the parts and a reservoir for the excess glue also provides the radial 
spacing between the coupling parts to permit insertion and retention of 
the pneumatic hose therebetween. 
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a coupling arrangement 
for pneumatic hose ends which is both secure, attractive and yet provides 
efficient fastening means on its ends for outward confluent connection and 
electrical attachment. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pneumatic cleaner hose having 
an internal wire reinforcement is provided with couplers on its distal 
ends. The wire reinforcement acts as a conductor for the passage of 
electric current and is connected to the coupler ends to permit ease in 
connection of electrical supply and electrical demand plugs outwardly of 
the hose coupler ends. 
In furtherance of this aim, the hose conductors, at one end, are connected 
to a female plug mounted, essentially, rigid or fixed to its respective 
coupler. At the other end the hose conductors are attached to a male plug 
that is disposed at the end of a short cord lead extending from one of the 
coupler ends. 
A strain relief is interposed into the conducting path at this coupler end 
by being mounted fixed relative to the parts making up the coupler. 
The couplers, at each end, generally comprise two-part inner and outer 
telescoping members which are joined at abutting faces by the use of a 
glue or other adhesive substance so as to provide a pair of hose coupler 
ends not easily disassembled. To this end, each of the outer members of 
the coupler includes adjacent its outer end, a generally continuous 
tubular section providing a uniform bore. The inner coupler parts, 
confronting these bores, are of generally cylindrical ribbed shape, the 
outer radial dimensioning of the ribbing providing light abutting contact 
with the bores of the outer coupler parts. The ribs are axially separated 
by radially inwardly disposed lands so that the equivalent of grooves are 
formed between the ribs. 
Because of the lessened, molded cross section afforded by such rib 
structure, the inner coupler part, in the area of the ribs, is of 
generally uniform radial cross section in contrast to a solid molded part 
providing a dished outer periphery. This insures that all the ribs furnish 
an active, positive area for the application of glue or adhesive which 
will adhere to the corresponding inner peripheral areas on the outer 
tubular member. At the same time, excess glue, which is applied to this 
inner piece may be scruffed off the periphery of the ribs, upon 
telescoping insertion of the inner coupling part to lodge in the grooves 
between the ribs so that none of the adhesive is squeezed out between the 
coupler parts to be deposited on the exterior surface of the couplers. 
The ribs also are of sufficient radial extent and the inner coupler part of 
such lessened radial extent behind the ribs that the volume between the 
two coupler parts, at their inner end, permits lodging of the conductive 
hose therebetween. A series of spherical ribs on the inner part, at these 
inner locations, permits the conductive hose to be screwed on the inner 
part so as to be lockingly maintained in the volume described. 
Each of the inner coupling parts, in the rib area includes, essentially, a 
cutout for the locking lodgement of a strain relief or a female plug. This 
cutout is formed in the bottom side of the inner coupler part, on each 
end, and includes locking tabs in opposed relation which extend into 
locking grooves of the female plug and strain relief to maintain them 
axially, while the outer coupler part prevents radial displacement of 
these two elements. 
To provide additional securement between the two coupler parts on each end 
of the conductive hose, a rivet or similar element extending through the 
sidewalls of the respective inner and outer coupler part walls may be 
utilized. 
The general assemblage of each coupler is completed by the provision of a 
connecting structure for outward connection of the conducting hose. In the 
coupler and having the strain relief, this connecting structure takes the 
form of an integral extension on the inner coupler part which includes 
three radially extending tabs disposed on the outer circumference of the 
extension. These tabs, as is obviously conventional, may provide for a 
bayonet type connection to a canister cleaner or the like, with the 
extension angled at its termination to insure easy connection to such a 
canister cleaner. 
The opposite coupler includes, as an integral extension of the inner part, 
a peripherally, annularly grooved tubular section. Mounted in this 
peripherally grooved area is a connecting ring capable of partial 
circumferential manipulation within the peripheral groove. A locking 
groove within the tubular section occasions capture of a properly 
configured wand end or the like connect this remote end of the conductive 
hose to a powered nozzle (not shown) or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
With particular attention directed to FIG. 1, it can be seen that an 
electrically conductive hose 10 having couplers 12 and 14 is provided in 
furtherance of the inventive concept. The conductive hose 10 may take many 
forms but it is preferred that a hose having a corrugation formed by a 
continuous spiral groove 16, separated by a radially outwardly extending 
continuous spiral rib 18 be utilized. 
As is seen in one of the cut away portions of FIG. 1, the spiral rib 18 
provides an internal peripheral groove 20 in which is lodged a pair of 
insulated conductors 22, 24, these conductors normally being bonded to the 
wall of the hose 10 and forming a support structure for it. The conductors 
22, 24 are generally formed as an integral cord structure 26, similar to a 
lamp cord, so that a standard, easily obtainable conductor insulated 
configuration may be utilized in the conducting hose 10. 
At each end of the conductor hose 10, the conductors 22, 24 terminate in 
pigtails which are spliced to leads 28, 30 extending from a strain relief 
32 and leads 34, 36 extending from a female plug 38. A pair of small 
elastomeric, tubular sleeves 39, 41 may be utilized to cover the spliced 
connection between the pigtails formed by the termination of hose 
conductors 22, 24 and the leads 28, 30, or the leads 34, 36. Alternately, 
splices having their own integral insulating sleeves may be used. A rib 
(not shown) may be utilized to separate the tubular sleeves 39, 41, the 
said rib being integral with an inner coupling member. 
Each of the leads 28 and 30 and each of the leads 34 and 36 extend inwardly 
of the strain relief 32 and female plug 38, respectively, to be held 
therein, conventionally, by molding of the plug and strain relief. These 
elements are conventional and commercially obtainable, with the strain 
relief 32 including a cord 40 and molded-on plug 42 and with the female 
plug including prong-receiving receptacles 44, 46. In view of the 
commercial availability or substantial conventiality of strain relief 32 
and female plug 38 no further discussion of them will be had save to 
indicate that each includes a pair of vertically extending grooves 47, 49, 
disposed on opposite sides of the strain relief 32 or female plug 38 and 
aligned with each other. The purpose of these grooves will appear more 
clearly at a later point in the description. 
The electrically conductive hose 10 is mounted between the couplers 12, 14 
by the use of integral, spirally oriented ribs 48, 50, e.g., extending 
radially outward from one of the inner members 52, 54 of the couplers 12, 
14. The conductive hose is mounted by a screwing, telescoping movement 
utilizing the ribs 48, 50 as screw threads guiding the conductive hose 10 
onto the inner members 52, 54. 
The electrically conductive hose 10 may further be conventionally retained 
to the coupler inner members by a cement or glue (not shown) which is 
applied to the inner periphery of the hose ends prior to their screwing 
assembly over the inner coupler members. 
A layer of tape 56 may then be wound around each of the inner members 52, 
54 enveloping the hose ends and each of the inner members in the area of 
the ribs 48, 50, and also enveloping the splices between the hose 
electrical conductors 22, 24 and the leads extending from the strain 
relief 32 or female plug 38, thus covering the elastomeric, tubular 
sleeves 39 and 41 and unitizing, to a degree, the hose ends, required wire 
splices and inner members 52, 54 of the couplers 12 and 14. 
Outwardly of the telescoping jointure of the inner members 52, 54 of the 
couplers 12, 14 and a pair of respective outer members 58, 60, the inner 
members 52, 54 differ. Inner member 52, at this location, includes an 
integral tubular extension 62 having an annular groove 64 in which is 
mounted a split ring 66. An L-shaped groove 68, including a lead in 
axially extending portion 69 in tubular extension 62 may be aligned with 
an axially extending groove 70 in split ring 66 to permit insertion of a 
pin carrying member (not shown) which is to be coupled to the conducting 
hose 10 at this end. As is conventional in this type of connection 
arrangement, after simultaneous pin insertion (not shown) into aligned 
groove 70 and axially extending portion 69 of L-shaped groove 68, the 
split ring 66 is rotated placing the pin into the other, nonaxially 
extending portion of the L-shaped groove to lockingly couple the 
pin-carrying member (not shown) to the coupler 12. 
The coupler 14 outwardly of the telescopic jointure of its inner and outer 
members 52, 58, respectively, includes a tubular extension 72 having an 
angulated peripheral flange 74 and a series of three radially extending, 
equally spaced, lugs 76, 76, 76 mounted integral with an angularly 
disposed integral end portion 78. Such an arrangement is generally 
conventional but because of the recited angular disposition of some of the 
described parts, lends itself to an upwardly angled disposition of the 
conductor hose 10 relative to, for example, a canister cleaner (not 
shown). 
Inwardly of the tubular extensions 62, 72, couplers 12, 14 are 
substantially similar. More specifically, outer coupling members 58, 60 
are generally tubular in configuration, each having an inner tubular, 
cylindrical section 80, within which one end of conductor hose 10 is 
mounted and an outer shell section 82, also generally tubular and 
cylindrical, but including an angled pocket 84 within which is captured 
the strain relief or female plug. This outer shell section also covers a 
correspondingly shaped arrangement (to be described) on each of the inner 
members 52, 54 of the couplers 12, 14. 
Inner members 52, 54 of couplings 12, 14, respectively, are also 
substantially similar. As was set out previously, they include spiral ribs 
48, 50, with these ribs mounted integrally on innermost tubular, 
cylindrical section 86 of slightly smaller outer diameter than a secondary 
tubular, cylindrical section 88 to which it is joined integrally. A 
shoulder 90 formed between these two sections limits the telescoping 
action of conductor hose 10 over the inner members 52, 54 by acting as a 
stop therefor. 
Outwardly disposed, relative to secondary tubular, cylindrical section 88 
is a generally ribbed section 91, with the individual ribs 92, 95, 97, 99 
of this section being of generally circular disc shape for substantially 
two thirds of the outer peripheral extent of their inner member, and being 
angulated from the opposite end terminations of the disc shape so as to 
fit within the angled pocket 84. Each rib 92, then, is comprised of a disc 
portion 94 and two angled portions 96, 96 which smoothly merge into the 
disc portion 94. Each of the other ribs 95, 97, 99 is similarly shaped. 
The opposite angled portions 96 of the rib 92 are terminated at their 
other ends by an integral axially extending wall 98, with the formed 
parallel walls 98 also integral with the ribs 95, 97, 99 and receiving 
therebetween the strain relief 32 or female plug 38. A generally inwardly 
extending integral tab 100 on each wall is provided in opposed confronting 
relationship to axially capture the strain relief 32 or female plug 38 by 
being received in the grooves 47, 49 provided in these parts. The ribbed 
section 90 terminates in a forward flange 93 of generally the same shape 
as the ribs 92. 
The ribs 92, 95, 97 and 99 are dimensioned so that a slight abutting 
contact is had between each of them and a generally uniform internal 
periphery 102 on the concerned outer shell section 82 of either of outer 
coupling members 58, 60. More specifically, because of the generally thin 
wall section and, thus, relatively small mass of the outer members, normal 
plastic molding provides fairly close and uniform tolerances for the 
internal dimensioning of the outer shell section 82 and included angled 
pocket 84, thus providing a generally uniform diameter in its cylindrical 
portions and generally uniform dimensioning in its angled pocket 84. 
At the same time, since the inner members 52, 54 are not molded with a 
continuous surface, in the area of adhesive confrontation with the outer 
members 58, 60, in an attempt to mate these areas throughout their extent, 
a relatively fixed and predictable outer dimensioning of the ribs of inner 
members is obtained. Their diameters, in their circular section, are 
fairly uniform, while the dimensioning obtainable by molding of the 
periphery of the ribs 92, 95, 97 and 99, which fit within the angled 
pocket 84, are also generally uniform so as to provide a fairly close fit 
between the inner and outer members for ease in gluing them together. 
The ribs 92 are also each designed so as to have a generally uniform cross 
section, with this cross section fairly closely approximating the cross 
section of an underlying cylindrical section 104 from which the ribs 92 
jut. This aids in obtaining a close peripheral dimensioning in the 
critical glued area of the inner members 52, 54 of the couplers 12, 14, 
respectively. This uniform design dimensioning and, primarily, the 
aforesaid use of a ribbed structure contrasts strongly to an inner member 
wherein the area comprising the ribs is molded as a solid section. 
Unavoidably, dishing of such a section occurs, with a poor gluing surface 
than provided for adhesive attachment of the inner and outer members of 
the concerned coupling. 
Between each of the ribs 92, a groove 106 is formed which spaces the ribs 
one from the other, limits the total mass of the molded section and 
provides a lodgment or reservoir volume for excess glue 108 which results 
from application of too heavy a coat of glue to the inner member 52, 54 
during the manufacturing process. 
Assembly of one of the couplers 12, 14 to the conducting hose 10 is exactly 
the same and is easily described. The outer coupling member 60, for 
example, is telescoped over one end of the conducting hose 10 and moved 
inwardly away from this end. The inner coupler member 54 is inserted in 
the hose end after the hose end has been coated with glue or cement, if 
desired, by screwing the conductor hose over the spiral ribs 48, 50. The 
requisite splice between the hose conductors 22, 24 and the leads 28, 30 
accomplished, the same being protected by the tubular sleeves 39, 41. The 
strain relief is mounted between the walls 98, 98 and engaged by the tabs 
100, 100. Tape 56 is wrapped over the hose end, spliced connections and 
the inner portion of inner coupling member 54. Glue or adhesive is then 
applied to the periphery of the ribs 92, taking care to not coat front 
flange 93, and the outer coupling member 60 telescoped over the inner 
coupling member. This telescoping action forces excess glue into the 
grooves 106, resulting in an adhesive layer 110 disposed between the rib 
ends and the internal periphery of the outer member to uniformly bond the 
two together and insure a unified, generally non-disassembable structure, 
the radial spacing afforded by the ribs 92, 95, 97 and 99 permitting 
nesting of the hose 10 within its concerned connector. The assembly is 
completed by the riveting of the inner and outer coupler members by a 
rivet 112 or the like. 
It should be clear from the invention described that the same satisfies all 
the objects set out for it at the beginning of the description. It should 
also be clear that many modifications could be made to it which would fall 
within the spirit and purview of the description offered. For example, 
ultrasonic welding could be utilized as the bonding agent, then the rib 
and groove structure would provide thinned sections for the ultrasonic 
welding process.