Abstract:
Disclosed is an improved handle for a clothing steamer which solves the problem of steam delivery hose working free of a barbed fitting. The handle is fitted with a plurality of protrusions that impinge the outer diameter of the hose, thereby securing it in place through friction with the protrusions and also by forcing the inner diameter of the hose against the barbs of the barbed interference fitting.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention is related to the coupling of hoses to metal or hard plastic fittings for a variety of purposes and for the carrying of a variety of substances, such as air, water, steam, hydraulic fluid, etc.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Many methods are well known in the art for the coupling of a flexible rubber or plastic hose to a metal or hard plastic fitting. One typical method involves the use of a barbed, interference-type fitting, wherein the metal or hard plastic fitting is formed, at the end to which the hose is to be attached, with a plurality of annular barbs which taper toward the hose end of the fitting. In such a fitting, the diameter of the barbed end of the fitting is typically of a slightly larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the hose, such that the hose is deformed outwardly as the fitting is inserted into the open end of the hose, thereby creating the interference fit. Such fittings are well known in the prior art and are disclosed, in various configurations, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,453,746 (Keenan), 4,958,861 (Hamilton), 5,947,386 (Dick, et al.) and 6,270,126 B1 (uedes) and many others.  
           [0003]    In the Applicant&#39;s device, a portable clothing steamer of the type shown in FIG. 1, the interference fit is used to couple the handpiece of the steamer to the hose which delivers the steam from the steam-generating unit. The handpiece is composed of a hard plastic, while the hose is composed of flexible rubber. The fitting is covered by a hard plastic molding shaped to fit the hand of a typical user, to ease the use of the handpiece. It has been found that, after period of time, the interference fitting between the hose and the tube of the handpiece becomes loose, causing the handpiece to slip off of the end of the hose. This is most likely due the stretching of the rubber hose at the interference fitting due to the movement of the handpiece as it is used by the user, or by the rubber hose losing elasticity due to the movement of high-temperature steam therethrough.  
           [0004]    This problem can be solved through the use of a clamp which fits around the outer diameter of the hose and which is tightened, thereby clamping the hose to the plurality of annular barbs present on the piece to which the hose is coupled. Such a solution is shown in FIG. 5 of Keenan, as reference number  80 . One drawback to the use of the clamp is the added cost during the manufacturing process associated with adding and tightening the clamp. The cost of adding the clamp not only includes that actual cost of the clamp, but the cost of the added time in fitting and tightening the clamp, and the cost of any tools or machinery needed to install the clamp. It would therefore be desirable to find another method of preventing the hose from slipping off of the end of the interference fit.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The solution to the problem presented herein is the addition of a plurality of protrusions present on the inner surface of the covering of the steamer handpiece. These protrusions extend in from the inner surface of the covering of the handpiece and impinge on the outer surface of the hose at the point where the hose overlays the annular barbs on the coupling. The protrusions serve to hold the hose in place by dimpling the outer surface of the hose and by pushing the hose tighter against the annular barbs of the coupling. Because the covering of the handpiece is already being installed, this solution adds no additional cost to the manufacturing process. It has been found that, for this application, the optimal configuration is six barbs arranged in two groups of thee such that they contact the outer surface of the hose on opposite sides thereof. Preferably, the barbs are staggered and contact the hose at a spacing equivalent to the spacing of the barbs of the interference fitting, such that the protrusions serve to push the inner surface of the hose into contact with the shoulders of the individual barbs of the interference fitting. Other configurations may be more optimal for other applications, and the placement and number of protrusions may be varied within the scope of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 shows a portable clothing steamer of the type for which the disclosed invention can be used.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 shows prior art hand piece of the steamer shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the handpiece of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 shows an inverted exploded view of the handpiece of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that steamer handpiece  10  includes steam head  12 , steam delivery tube  13 , barbed fitting  18  and stabilizing rings  16 . Hose  20  is secured to the end of steam delivery tube  13  by sliding hose  20  over barbed fitting  18 . Handpiece  10  is then assembled by joining handle pieces  14  and  16  around steam delivery tube  13  and hose  20 , whereupon rings  16  fit into slots  17  to provide spacing and stabilization. Hose  20  will extend from opening  19  formed when handle pieces  14  and  16  are joined. The invention itself consists of protrusions  22  shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Protrusions  22  extend from both parts of the handle pieces  14  and  16  and thereby impinge on hose  20  on opposite ends of the outer diameter thereof. This causes the formation of dimples in hose  20 , making it difficult to slide hose  20  off of barbed fitting  18  and also causes the inner diameter of hose  20  to come in contact with the shoulders of the individual barbs of barbed fitting  18 , thereby further making it difficult to remove hose  20  from barbed fitting  18 .  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is shown to illustrate the inner diameter of handle piece  16 , which is a mirror image of handle piece  14  shown in FIG. 3. A cross-sectional view is shown in FIG. 5. It can be seen that hose  20  becomes stretched or widened in area  21  to fit over a barbed fitting  18 , thereby forming the interference fit. Protrusions  22  extend just far enough from handle pieces  14  and  16  such that the surface of hose  20  is dimpled. As shown, protrusions  22  are preferably spaced with the approximate spacing of the individual barbs in barbed fitting  18 , such that the inner diameter of hose  22  will be pressed into the shoulders of the individual barbs. Protrusions  24  add further stabilization to the outer end of the hose, and are positioned to contact the hose at a point away from stretched or widened area  21  of hose  20 . As such, protrusions  24  must be slightly longer than protrusions  22 .  
         [0013]    Handle pieces  14  and  16  comprise the handle for the handpiece, having indentations on the outside thereof for the user&#39;s fingers, and a separate indentation for the user&#39;s thumb, to allow precise control of the steam head. Handle pieces  14  and  16  must be secured around handle  10  with some amount of force, because protrusions  22  are dimpling hose  20  as handle pieces  14  and  16  are put into place. In the preferred embodiment, handle pieces  14  and  16  are held into place with a snap fitting comprising snaps  23  and recesses  25  which receive snaps  23 , however, any method known in the art of securing handle pieces  14  and  16  may be used.  
         [0014]    Although a particular application is shown, the invention disclosed herein can be used for any fitting where a hose is being mated with a barbed interference fitting by simply providing a cover over the portion where the hose joins the fitting having the protrusions on the inner surface thereof. Preferably, protrusions  22  are of the same material as and are formed integrally with the outer covering, in this case, handle pieces  14  and  16 . It is not necessary that the application be for a handpiece for any particular instrument, but may be for any application requiring the joining of a hose to a barb fitting where a covering can be applied thereover.  
         [0015]    Also, the invention is not meant to be limited to the configuration of protrusions disclosed herein. Specifically, it is not necessary to have the same number of protrusions nor is it necessary to have the protrusions spaced with spacing equivalent to that of the individual barbs in barbed fitting  18  to remain within the spirit of the invention. Further, it is not necessary that protrusions  22  be arranged in two sets spaced on opposite sides of barbed fitting  18 ; for example, protrusions  22  could be arranged in four sets which are offset 90 degrees around the outer diameter of hose  20 . The addition of protrusions  24  is optional and are added for this particular configuration to add stability to hose  20 .  
         [0016]    Therefore, the intended scope of the invention is covered by the claims which follow, and is not meant to be limited by exemplary configurations used herein as illustrations of the invention.