Patent Publication Number: US-2022235554-A1

Title: Couplings for tubing

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to couplings for tubing, and, more particularly, to couplings for tubing allowing the swiveling of the tubing within the couplings. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Gutters are conventionally cleaned by getting on a ladder and manually removing the debris. Unfortunately, falls from ladders are quite common, and hundreds of injuries and deaths result every year. Solutions that do not require accessing a gutter by ladder typically involve attaching long tubular flexible-tube attachments to leaf blowers, dry vacuums, or pressure washers. 
     A solution for making gutter cleaning easier and safer is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 10,760,276 to J. R. Lindl, entitled “Apparatus and Methods for Cleaning Gutters.” In this solution, a leaf blower is first attached to flexible tubing, which later transitions into rigid tubing. The rigid tubing terminates in a specialized tubular nozzle design. In use, high-velocity air is sent through the tubing and ultimately propelled through the nozzle into the gutter. Debris in the gutter is swept away by this high-velocity air. 
     Nevertheless, while advances have been made to the nozzle design for such applications, less attention has been paid to the tubing and couplings that support the nozzle. It is beneficial, for example, that the couplings for the tubing allow the tubing to swivel therein so that the nozzle can be precisely placed into the gutter being cleaned. There is, as a result, a need for new couplings for tubing allowing swiveling of the tubing within the couplings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention address the above-identified needs by providing couplings for tubing allowing swiveling of the tubing within the couplings. 
     Aspects of the invention are directed to an apparatus comprising a tube, an attachment, and a housing. The attachment is attached to the tube and defines a barrel-shaped exterior surface portion centered about a longitudinal axis. The housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber with the second chamber being separate from the first chamber. The first chamber contains the barrel-shape exterior surface portion such that the barrel-shaped exterior surface portion is rotatable in the first chamber about the longitudinal axis while not being removable from the first chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a user using an apparatus in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention to remove debris from a gutter attached to a two-story building; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a portion of the  FIG. 1  apparatus alone without other added elements; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the  FIG. 2  elements in the region indicated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the  FIG. 3  elements with the bellow tube separated from the remainder; 
         FIG. 5  shows an exploded perspective view of the  FIG. 3  elements without the bellow tube and clamps; 
         FIG. 6  shows a sectional view of the  FIG. 3  elements along the cleave plane indicated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the  FIG. 2  elements in the region indicated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the  FIG. 7  elements in the region indicated in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the  FIG. 7  elements with the rigid tube and the first attachment portion separated from the remainder; 
         FIG. 10  shows an exploded perspective view of the  FIG. 7  elements; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a sectional view of the  FIG. 7  elements along the cleave plane indicated in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will be described with reference to illustrative embodiments. For this reason, numerous modifications can be made to these embodiments and the results will still come within the scope of the invention. No limitations with respect to the specific embodiments described herein are intended or should be inferred. 
     As used herein and in the appended claims, a “barrel-shaped” surface is cylindrical with a radius that gradually increases and then gradually decreases. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the invention involves an apparatus for removing leaves and other debris from rain gutters associated with buildings.  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a user  1000  using an apparatus  100  to remove debris  2000  from a gutter  3000  attached to a two-story building  4000 . The apparatus  100  allows the user  1000  to propel high-velocity air into the gutter  3000  to cause the debris  2000  therein to be expelled from the gutter  3000  and to fall to the ground. There, the debris  2000  can be safely collected and discarded. The gutter  3000  is thereby cleaned while the user  1000  stays safely on the ground, and issues associated with blockages are avoided by effectively cleaning the gutter  3000 . 
     Additional details of the illustrative apparatus  100  are shown in  FIG. 2 , which shows a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus  100  alone without other added elements. The apparatus  100  comprises: a blower  105 , a bellow tube  110 , a bellow-to-flexible coupling  115 , a flexible tube  120 , a flexible-to-rigid coupling  125 , a rigid tube  130 , and a nozzle assembly  135 . A proximal end of the bellow tube  110  is attached to an output of the blower  105 , and a distal end of the bellow tube  110  is attached to the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115 . A proximal end of the flexible tube  120  is attached to the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115 , and a distal end of the flexible tube  120  is attached to the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125 . Finally, a proximal end of the rigid tube  130  is attached to the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125 , and a distal end of the rigid tube  130  is attached to the nozzle assembly  135 . So configured, an interior of the nozzle assembly  135  is in gaseous communication with an interior of the rigid tube  130 , an interior of the flexible tube  120 , and an interior of the bellow tube  110 . The blower  105  is thereby able to propel high-velocity air through the series of tubes  110 ,  120 ,  130  and out the nozzle assembly  135 . 
     As is conventional in many forms of flexible tubing, the flexible tube  120  defines a helical set of ribs  140  on its exterior (i.e., the flexible tube  120  describes an external helix). These ribs  140  maintain the flexibility of the flexible tube  120  while reducing its vulnerability to punctures, tears, and abrasions. While the rigid tube  130  is provided in a single span in the apparatus  100 , a plurality of spans of rigid tubing may be strung together if so desired to give the apparatus  100  adjustability with respect to its reach. Compression collars or other fixation means may be utilized to attach one span to another. 
     The bellow-to-flexible coupling  115  attaches the bellow tube  110  to the flexible tube  120  while allowing the flexible tube  120  to rotate within the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115 . The bellow-to-flexible coupling  115  comprises a flexible-tube attachment  305 , a bellow-to-flexible housing  310 , a bellow-tube clamp  315 , and a housing clamp  320 .  FIGS. 3-6  show aspects of these elements, with:  FIG. 3  showing a perspective view of the region indicated in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4  showing a perspective view of the  FIG. 3  elements with the bellow tube  110  separated from the remainder,  FIG. 5  showing an exploded perspective view of the  FIG. 3  elements without the bellow tube  110  and the clamps  315 ,  320 , and  FIG. 6  showing a sectional view of the  FIG. 3  elements along the cleave plane indicated in  FIG. 3 . A longitudinal axis about which the flexible tube  120  can rotate (i.e., swivel) is indicated in  FIG. 3  as a longitudinal axis  325 . 
     The flexible-tube attachment  305  attaches to the flexible tube  120  and is contained inside the bellow-to-flexible housing  310 . Internally, the flexible-tube attachment  305  defines internal threads  327 , which threadably engage the ribs  140  on the proximal end of the flexible tube  120 . Externally, the flexible-tube attachment  305  defines a barrel-shaped exterior surface portion  330  that is centered about the longitudinal axis  325 . That is, in accordance with the express definition of “barrel-shaped” set forth above, the barrel-shaped exterior surface portion  330  is cylindrical with a radius that gradually increases and then decreases. The radius is measured transverse to the longitudinal axis  325 . 
     The bellow-to-flexible housing  310  is provided in two separable bellow-to-flexible housing halves  335 , which, when mated to each other, are held together by the housing clamp  320  (e.g., a hose clamp). When intact, the bellow-to-flexible housing  310  defines two separate chambers: a flexible-tube chamber  340  and a bellow-tube chamber  345 . The flexible-tube chamber  340  is separated from the bellow-tube chamber  345  by a partition  350 . The flexible-tube chamber  340  defines an internal volume with a shape essentially inverse to the barrel shape of the flexible-tube attachment  305 . The bellow-tube chamber  345  defines a straight-walled cylindrical outer surface  355  and a tapered cylindrical interior surface  360 . The flexible-tube chamber  340  is in gaseous communication with the bellow-tube chamber  345  within the bellow-to-flexible housing  310 . 
     In use, the flexible-tube attachment  305  is contained inside the flexible-tube chamber  340  of the bellow-to-flexible housing  310 . When contained in the flexible-tube chamber  340 , the barrel-shaped exterior surface portion  330  is rotatable in the flexible-tube chamber  340  about the longitudinal axis  325  while not being removable from the flexible-tube chamber  340 . At the same time, the bellow tube  110  is attached to the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115  by overlapping the straight-walled cylindrical outer surface  355  of the bellow-tube chamber  345  and being fixed thereto by the bellow-tube clamp  315 . The bellow-to-flexible housing  310  of the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115  thereby places an interior of the bellow tube  110  into gaseous communication with an interior of the flexible tube  120 , while allowing the flexible tube  120  to be rotated about the longitudinal axis  325 . 
     So configured, the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115  provides several notable advantages in regard to robustness and strength when compared to other designs. More particularly, the barrel shape of the flexible-tube attachment  305  in combination with the inverse-barrel-shape of the flexible-tube chamber  340  tends to distribute forces in a manner unique to this design. Because of the curvature provided by the matching barrel shapes, a force trying to pull or push the flexible-tube attachment  305  out of or into the bellow-to-flexible housing  310  along the longitudinal axis  325  is distributed over a relatively large area of the flexible-tube attachment  305  and the bellow-to-flexible housing  310  rather than being concentrated on smaller areas of each element. At the same time, sideways forces transverse to the longitudinal axis  325  on these same elements are likewise more broadly distributed. Stresses at the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115  are thereby more evenly distributed therein, and the possibility of failures such as cracks and breaks are reduced, even in demanding applications such as that shown in  FIG. 1  and even when the parts are made of conventional plastic rather than something more robust. 
     The flexible-to-rigid coupling  125  attaches the flexible tube  120  to the rigid tube  130 . In so doing, the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125  allows the flexible tube  120  and the rigid tube  130  to both rotate (i.e., swivel) independently within the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125 . The flexible-to-rigid coupling  125  includes: a flexible-tube attachment  705 , a rigid-tube attachment  710  (comprising a first attachment portion  715  and a second attachment portion  720 ), a flexible-to-rigid housing  725 , and housing clamps  730 .  FIGS. 7-11  show aspects of these elements, with:  FIG. 7  showing a perspective view of the region indicated in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 8  showing a perspective view of the  FIG. 7  elements in the region indicated in  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 9  showing a perspective view of the  FIG. 7  elements with the rigid tube  130  and the first attachment portion  715  separated from the remainder,  FIG. 10  showing an exploded perspective view of the  FIG. 7  elements, and  FIG. 11  showing a sectional view of the FIG.  7  elements along the cleave plane indicated in  FIG. 7 . The longitudinal axis about which the flexible tube  120  and the rigid tube  130  can independently rotate (i.e., swivel) is indicated in  FIG. 7  as a longitudinal axis  735 . 
     There are many similarities between the manner in which the flexible tube  120  cooperates with the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125  in  FIGS. 7-11  and the manner in which the flexible tube  120  cooperates with the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115  in  FIGS. 3-6 . The flexible-tube attachment  705  couples to the distal end of the flexible tube  120  and is contained inside the flexible-to-rigid housing  725 . Internally, the flexible-tube attachment  705  defines internal threads  740  that threadably engage the ribs  140  on the flexible tube  120 . Externally, the flexible-tube attachment  705  defines a barrel-shaped surface portion  745  that is centered about the longitudinal axis  735 . 
     The flexible-to-rigid housing  725  is provided in two separable flexible-to-rigid housing halves  750 , which, when mated, are held together by the housing clamps  730  (e.g., hose clamps). When intact, the flexible-to-rigid housing  725  defines two separate chambers: a flexible-tube chamber  755  and a rigid-tube chamber  760 . The flexible-tube chamber  755  is separated from the rigid-tube chamber  760  by a partition  765 . The flexible-tube chamber  755  is largely identical to the flexible-tube chamber  340  and defines an internal volume with a shape essentially inverse to the barrel shape of the flexible-tube attachment  705 . When contained in the flexible-tube chamber  755 , the barrel-shaped surface portion  745  is rotatable in the flexible-tube chamber  755  about the longitudinal axis  735  while not being removable from the flexible-tube chamber  755 . 
     The rigid-tube attachment  710  (with its first and second attachment portions  715 ,  720 ) and the rigid-tube chamber  760  are new to the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125  and take the place of the bellow-tube-specific portion of the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115  described earlier. The first attachment portion  715  provides the interface between the rigid tube  130  and the second attachment portion  720  and is disposed between the rigid tube  130  and the second attachment portion  720 . In the present illustrative embodiment, the first attachment portion  715  defines a hollow-cylindrical sleeve. The proximal end of the rigid tube  130  is inserted into the first attachment portion  715  at one end of the sleeve and is fixated therein by an adhesive or a fastener so as to fixedly attach the rigid tube  130  to the first attachment portion  715 . The other end of the first attachment portion  715  removably engages a hollow-cylindrical receiving region  780  of the second attachment portion  720 . When inserted into the hollow-cylindrical receiving region  780 , the first attachment portion  715  and the hollow-cylindrical receiving region  780  overlap. 
     In addition to the hollow-cylindrical receiving region  780 , the second attachment portion  720  further defines a housing-engagement region  785 . Internally, the housing-engagement region  785  is hollow cylindrical. Externally, the housing-engagement region  785  defines a barrel-shaped exterior surface portion  790 . An external flange  795  on the second attachment portion  720  is disposed at the transition between the hollow-cylindrical receiving region  780  and the housing-engagement region  785 . 
     To accommodate the second attachment portion  720  of the rigid-tube attachment  710 , the rigid-tube chamber  760  within the flexible-to-rigid housing  725  (while intact) defines an internal volume with a shape essentially inverse to that of the housing-engagement region  785 , including a barrel shape inverse to that of the barrel-shaped exterior surface portion  790 . Once contained within the rigid-tube chamber  760 , the barrel-shaped exterior surface portion  790  may rotate in the rigid-tube chamber  760  while not being removable from the rigid-tube chamber  760 . Moreover, with the barrel-shaped exterior surface portion  790  contained in the rigid-tube chamber  760 , the external flange  795  presses against a face of the flexible-to-rigid housing  725 . 
     Two latches  800  span between the first attachment portion  715  and the second attachment portion  720  and draw the first attachment portion  715  towards the second attachment portion  720 . Each of the two latches  800  is a toggle latch and comprises a respective handle  805 , a respective loop  810 , and a respective catch  815 . The handles  805  and the loops  810  of the latches  800  are attached to corresponding lands on the first attachment portion  715 , while the catches  815  are attached to corresponding lands on the second attachment portion  720 . To use the latches  800 , the loops  810  are made to engage the catches  815  and the handles  805  are actuated into an over-center position to draw the first attachment portion  715  and the second attachment portion  720  together. To manually separate the first attachment portion  715  from the second attachment portion  720 , the handles  805  are actuated in the other direction to relieve the tension on the latches  800  so that the loops  810  may be disengaged from the catches  815 . Attachment and separation of the first and second attachment portions  715 ,  720  in this manner may advantageously be accomplished single-handedly and with gloves. 
     The above-described flexible-to-rigid coupling  125  thereby allows the flexible tube  120  and the rigid tube  130  to independently rotate within the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125 , while allowing the first attachment portion  715  (and the rigid tube  130 ) to be manually attached to and manually separated from the second attachment portion  720  and the remainder of the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125 . When intact, the bellow-to-flexible housing  310  places the interior of the rigid tube  130  in gaseous communication with the interior of the flexible tube  120 . At the same time, the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125  benefits from the use of the barrel shapes in the flexible-tube attachment  705 , the second attachment portion  720 , the flexible-tube chamber  755 , and the rigid-tube chamber  760 . Because of the curvature provided by the matching barrel shapes, a force trying to pull or push the flexible-tube attachment  705  or the rigid-tube attachment  710  into or out of the flexible-to-rigid housing  725  along the longitudinal axis  735  is distributed over a relatively large area of these elements rather than being concentrated on smaller areas of each element. At the same time, sideways forces transverse to the longitudinal axis  735  on these same elements are likewise more broadly distributed, while also being mechanically inhibited by the external flange  795  pressing against the flexible-to-rigid housing  725 . Stress-induced failures are thereby again mitigated. 
     The blower  105  may comprise any type of equipment capable of providing a source of high-velocity air, such as a conventional leaf blower or a shop vacuum that is capable of blowing in addition to providing a vacuum. The exemplary blower  105  in  FIG. 1 , for example, is part of a conventional gas-operated backpack leaf blower, which includes a back unit that provides high-velocity air. 
     In use, the user  1000  may stand safely on the ground next to the building  4000  and place the nozzle assembly  135  into the gutter  3000  to be cleaned. The user  1000  may then command the blower  105  to propel high-velocity air through the nozzle assembly  135  while manipulating the nozzle assembly  135  in the gutter  3000  to cause the debris  2000  therein to be expelled. During use, the user  1000  may grasp the rigid tube  130  in order to manipulate the nozzle assembly  135  while allowing the flexible tube  120  to drape between the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115  and the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125 . The flexible tube  120  may rotate within both the bellow-to-flexible coupling  115  and the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125 . The rigid tube  130  may rotate within the flexible-to-rigid coupling  125 . These various axes of rotation give the user  1000  maximum flexibility in providing the nozzle assembly  135  with the desired orientation and placement. The user  1000  is not fighting against the lay of the tubes  120 ,  130  and their inherent resistance to twisting, as might occur without the specialized couplings  115 ,  125 . 
     Elements of the invention may be sourced from commercial vendors and/or manufactured using conventional manufacturing techniques that will be familiar to one having ordinary skill in the relevant arts. A suitable backpack leaf blower may be sourced from, for example, HUSQVARNA® PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS INC. (Charlotte, N.C., USA). Flexible and rigid tubing are commercially available from, for example, RIDGID® TOOL COMPANY (Elyria, Ohio, USA). Suitable couplings may be formed of polymer such as polyvinylchloride (PVC) or a fiber-reinforced polymer such as carbon-fiber impregnated polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG+CF). Manufacturing techniques for suitable couplings may include, for instance, molding, computer-numerical-control (CNC) machining, three-dimensional (3d) printing, and the like. 
     It should again be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be illustrative only. Other embodiments can use different types and arrangements of elements for implementing the described functionality. These numerous alternative embodiments within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to one skilled in the art. 
     For example, while aspects of the invention are described above with reference to an exemplary gutter-cleaning application, aspects of the invention may be utilized in a myriad of other applications that utilize hoses and/or tubing and that may benefit from the added degrees of rotational freedom provided. Other applications may involve, as just a few non-limiting examples, vacuum cleaning, carpet cleaning, septic system maintenance, dispensing of cement, irrigation, fueling, and many others. 
     Moreover, while the above-described embodiments describe an illustrative coupling that connects a bellow tube to a flexible tube and an illustrative coupling that connects a flexible tube to a rigid tube, other iterations would also fall within the scope of the invention. Additional embodiments falling within the scope of the invention may involve, for example, a coupling that attaches a flexible tube to another flexible tube or a coupling that attaches a rigid tube to another rigid tube. Additional iterations may also involve a coupling that attaches either a flexible tube or a rigid tube to something other than another tube, for example, a tank or vessel. 
     At the same time, where, in the above-described embodiments, a first tubular structure is described as overlying a second tubular structure, an equally viable design might have the second tubular structure overlie the first tubular structure. It is intended that these additional iterations of the invention would also fall within the scope of the invention. 
     All the features disclosed herein may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purposes, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.