Patent Publication Number: US-6698694-B2

Title: Tube position limiter

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to tube position limiters, and particularly to a tube position limiter wherein a curl lip of the positioning cylinder has a round opening so that the tube can be taken out easily. When it is desired to wind the tube, the tube is wound easily and conveniently. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the present invention, the tube position limiter serves to contain a long water tube which can be connected to a faucet. By the tube position limiter of the present invention, the tube can be stored easily and placed in order. 
     In the prior art tube position limiter, referring to FIG. 1, a positioning post  5  is locked to a wall. A tube  3  is arranged on the post  5 . The post  5  is arranged vertically. A bottom of the stud has an L shape locking piece  51  which is locked to a wall by studs P so that the tube is wound around the post  5 . 
     However this prior art is not an ideal device. The tube will deform with it is used for a longer time. As a result, the tube can not be easily wound around the post. Moreover, since the post is made of metal, it is heavy and thus can not be transferred easily. Thereby, the tube wound around the post exposes out and therefore it is easily damaged due to bad whether. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a tube position limiter which comprises a supporting frame for locking to a wall and a positioning cylinder for receiving a tube. A center of the supporting frame is formed with a receiving hole for receiving the positioning cylinder. A lateral side of the supporting frame is bent to form a vertical surface. The vertical surface of supporting frame is locked to a wall by studs. A top of the positioning cylinder is formed with a curl lip for receiving the tube. The positioning cylinder is placed into the receiving hole at the center of the supporting frame so that the curl lip of the positioning cylinder exactly places on the supporting frame. The helical wound tube is placed in a bottom of the positioning cylinder. A water inlet end of the tube exactly protrudes from a via hole at a bottom of the positioning cylinder. In use of the tube, the curl lip of the positioning cylinder has a round opening so that the tube is taken out easily without being buckled; when it is desired to wind the tube, the tube is wound easily and conveniently. 
    
    
     The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows the operation of the prior art tube position limiter. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of, the tube position limiter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows the operation of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows another operation of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the tube position limiter of the present invention is illustrated. The tube position limiter includes a supporting frame  1  for locking to a wall and a positioning cylinder  2  for receiving a tube  3 . 
     A center of the supporting frame  1  is formed with a receiving hole  11  for being inserted by the positioning cylinder  2 . A lateral side of the supporting frame  1  is bent to form a vertical surface  12 . The vertical surface  12  of supporting frame  1  is locked to a wall by studs. Each of two sides of the supporting frame  1  is formed with a groove  13  for buckling a nozzle of a tube  3  so as to position the nozzle. 
     A top of the positioning cylinder  2  is formed with a curl lip  21 .for receiving the tube  3 . The positioning cylinder  2  is placed into the receiving hole  11  at the center of the supporting frame  1  so that the curl lip  21  of the positioning cylinder  2  exactly places on the supporting frame  1 . The helical wound tube  3  is placed in a bottom of the positioning cylinder  2 . A water inlet end  31  of the tube  3  exactly protrudes from a via hole  22  at a bottom of the positioning cylinder  2 . An inward cambered sheet  23  is formed around the via hole  22  so as to enhance the structure. 
     With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the operation of the present invention will be described here. In use of the tube  3 , the curl lip  21  of the positioning cylinder  2  has a round opening so that the tube  3  can be taken out easily without being buckled. When it is desired to wind the tube  3 , the tube  3  can still be wound easily and conveniently. 
     Moreover, since the positioning cylinder  2  is placed in the receiving hole  11  of the supporting frame  1 , it is a detachable structure. Thereby, when the tube  3  is not used, the tube  3  and the positioning cylinder  2  can be stored for preventing from damage due to bad whether. 
     With reference to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The positioning cylinder  2  of the present invention is formed as a snake shape tube so that the positioning cylinder  2  is telescopic for use or storage. 
     The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.