Hose assemblies

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner hose assembly has a corrugated, flexible hose 1, 1' with fittings 2 and 3 at opposite ends for connection to the vacuum cleaner suction inlet and to a cleaning head. A tube 7 or cable 7' extends along the assembly for supply of cleaning fluid or electrical power to the cleaning head. The tube 7 or cable 7' is retained with the hose 1, 1' by means of a U-shape channel 4, 4' bonded to the outside of the hose. The tube 7 or cable 7' extends within the channel 4, 4' as a loose fit so that it can move along the channel on flexing of the hose, thereby helping maintain flexibility of the assembly.

Description: This invention relates to hose assemblies of the kind comprising a flexible hose and an elongate member extending along the length of the hose, the hose being corrugated on an external surface, and the assembly including a flexible channel member extending externally longitudinally along substantially the length of the hose, and the elongate member extending within the channel member and projecting from the channel member at both ends, the elongate member being displaceable along the channel member on flexing of the hose assembly. Such an assembly is known for example from US-A-4 064 355. However, in this assembly the channel member is bonded to the hose as part of the extrusion process. Thus conventional hoses can not be used. Hose assemblies used with wet and dry vacuum cleaners often include a small-bore tube extending along their length by which cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning head. The cleaning liquid tubing is usually attached to the outside of a hose by means of an outer sleeve that is shrunk about the hose and tube, trapping the tube onto the outside of the hose. The problem with this arrangement is that, because the tube is fixed in position, it creates a spine along the hose, restricting its flexibility in some directions. A similar problem also exists with hose assemblies having electrical wires incorporated in a similar way, such as for use in providing electrical power to a beater head. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hose assembly. According to the present invention there is provided a hose assembly of the above-specified kind, characterised in that the hose is preformed and that channel member is of U-shape and has opposite edges bonded to an external surface of the hose after formation of the hose. The channel member may be bonded to the outside of the hose by a heat bond. The hose may have a fitting at one end adapted for connection to a vacuum cleaner, and a fitting at its opposite end adapted for connection to a cleaning head. The elongate member may be a tube for supply of liquid, or an electrical cable. Hose assemblies for a vacuum cleaner, according to the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of one form of assembly; Figure 2 is a transverse sectional side elevation view along the line II-II of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side elevation view of an alternative assembly. With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, the hose assembly is for use with a wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner and comprises a conventional hose 1 corrugated externally and internally to improve its flexibility. The hose 1 is preferably of a plastics material, such as PVC, but may be of any conventional material. Typically, the external diameter of the hose is about 40mm. At opposite ends, the hose has moulded-on end fittings 2 and 3, for connection respectively to a vacuum cleaner suction inlet and to cleaning head (neither shown). Alternatively, the fittings could be screwed onto the hose, or otherwise attached. The hose assembly also includes a channel member 4 attached to the outer surface of the hose 1 and extending longitudinally along the hose, terminating just short of the end fittings 2 and 3. The channel 4 is made from a strip of PVC about 30mm wide (when flattened) and 1.5mm thick with a hardness of 65 to 75 Shore A. The strip forming the channel 4 is extruded with a U-shape profile having outwardly-projecting edges 5. The edges 5 of the strip are bonded to the outside of the hose 1 by means of a hot air gun. The channel 4 provides a recess 6 along the outside of the hose 1 in which a flexible tube 7 extends and from which it projects at opposite ends. The tube 7 is of a rubber or plastics material having an external diameter slightly less than the internal dimensions of the recess 6. The tube 7 is not bonded to, or gripped by, the channel member 4, so that it is free to slide along the channel member. In use, the left-hand end of the tube 7 is attached to an outlet spigot of a cleaning fluid pump in the vacuum cleaner, the right-hand end of the tube being attached to the cleaning head, so that cleaning fluid is supplied to the cleaning head. When the hose assembly is flexed, the channel 4 flexes with it, and the tube 7 is free to move along the channel 4. In this way, the reduction in flexibility of the assembly as a result of the tube, is substantially less than in conventional assemblies where the tube is fixed relative to the hose. The invention also has application in hose assemblies including alternative elongate members. As shown in Figure 3, the assembly could include an electrical cable 8 of the kind used to supply power to a vacuum cleaner beater head, the cable extending within the channel member 4'. It will be appreciated that the invention is not confined to vacuum cleaner hose assemblies but could be used with other hose assemblies.

Claims: A hose assembly comprising a flexible hose (1, 1') and an elongate member (7, 7') extending along the length of the hose, the hose (1, 1') being corrugated on an external surface, and the assembly including a flexible channel member (4, 4') extending externally longitudinally along substantially the length of the hose (1, 1'), and the elongate member (7, 7') extending within the channel member (4, 4') and projecting from the channel member at both ends, the elongate member (7, 7') being displaceable along the channel member (4, 4') on flexing of the hose assembly, characterised in that the hose (1, 1') is preformed and that the channel member (4, 4') is of U-shape and has opposite edges (5) bonded to the external surface of the hose (1, 1') after formation of the hose. A hose assembly according to Claim 1, characterised in that the channel member (4, 4') is bonded to the outside of the hose (1, 1') by a heat bond. A hose assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the hose (1, 1') has a fitting (2) at one end adapted for connection to a vacuum cleaner, and a fitting (3) at its opposite end adapted for connection to a cleaning head. A hose assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the elongate member is a tube (7) for supply of liquid. A hose assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the elongate member is an electrical cable (7').

Inventors: KEITH GORDON, KEITH, GORDON
Applicants: SMITHS GROUP PLC
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A47L9
IPC codes: A47L9, F16L11