Abstract:
A hose having clamps secured at opposing ends is disclosed. The clamps provide a compressive force to secure the hose to an appropriately sized tube. A portion of the clamp is disposed between an inner surface and an outer surface of the hose to help prevent accidental removal. A portion of the clamp may extend out an opening expending from a passageway formed between the inner and outer surface. The openings at the opposing end of the hose may be rotational aligned relative to each other and optionally to curves in the hose itself.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of copending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/334,725 filed Nov. 15, 2001, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to hoses and hose clamps for automotive, residential and industrial application, and more particularly to a hose with an integral clamp. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hoses have been used by automotive manufacturers for years to provide a fluid path from one location to another. These manufacturers have relied upon hose clamps to secure the hose at each end to a cooperating inlet or outlet. For example, radiator hoses have been use to connect a radiator to an engine block. Several varieties of removable clamps have been developed over the years. Some clamps require a screwdriver, socket, or nut driver to rotate a screw coupled to a band having serrations. As the screw is rotated, the screw threads advance the serrations causing a reduction in the inside diameter of the band. Other clamps require the use of a pair of pliers or a special tool to operate. These clamps are made from an elastically deformable material. When a compressive force is applied to tabs extending from the clamp, the inside diameter of the clamp is increased. Removal of the compressive force causes the inside diameter of the clamp to decrease, thereby applying a compressive force to a hose inserted therein 
     There are problems associated with separate hoses and hose clamp. One problem is the higher installed cost associated with having to combine and assemble the components on an automotive assembly line versus receiving the combination ready to install. A second problem associated with separate components is the clamps may not be rotational aligned for the vehicle being assembled. Fixing the clamp to the hose in a predetermined alignment may reduce assembly time and errors. A third problem is the related overhead cost associated with inventorying and tracking separate components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a length of hose having a first clamp secured at a first end of the hose and a second clamp secured at a second end of the hose. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a hose clamp having a thumbscrew for adjusting the length of a coupled band. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a hose and clamp combination comprising a hose having an inner surface and an outer surface, the hose further comprising a passageway formed between the inner surface and the outer surface, a band at least partially enclosed in the passageway, the band having a first end, a second end and a plurality of serrations, and a worm gear coupled to the serrations, whereby rotation of the worm gear adjusts the length of band between the worm gear and the first end. 
     The above and other objects, feature, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary hose clamp consistent with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary hose consistent with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of an exemplary hose and hose clamp assembly consistent with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the hose and hose clamp assembly of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4A is a profile view of a fuseable or removable core useful in forming a hose consistent with present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second hose consistent with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second exemplary hose and hose clamp assembly consistent with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a section view of another exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a hose clamp  100  including a band  104  and an enclosure  102  for housing a worm gear. The band  104  having a first end  110  and a second end  112 . The enclosure  102  is coupled to the first end  110  of the band  104 . The second end  112  of the band  104  is free to move relative to the enclosure  102 . The band  104  has a plurality of spaced serrations  106 . Extending from the enclosure may be a thumbscrew  108  for causing rotation of the worm gear. Alternatively, a driver receptacle may replace the thumbscrew. As the thumbscrew  108  is rotated by hand or with the help of a pair of pliers, screw threads on the worm gear cause the inside diameter or the band to increase or decrease. 
     FIG. 2 shows a section of hose  200  having a first end  202  and a second end  204  (not shown). The hose can be any length or diameter and may be formed in a predetermined shape. The hose has an inner surface  214  and an outer surface  216 . The hose  200  may include one or more openings  206  located in proximity to the ends  202  and  204  of the hose  200 . The opening  206  extending from the outer surface  216  to a circumferential passageway  208 . The opening  206  may allow a hose clamp enclosure  102  to extend there through. 
     The circumferential passageway  208  may be formed by a variety of processes. In one embodiment, the hose  200  may be formed by injection molding. The circumferential passageway  208  may be formed by using a fuseable or removable core. The core  250  (See FIG. 4A) may be insert molded with the hose. After the molding process is completed, the core is removed. A fuseable core may be removed by the addition of heat and a removable cover may be removed through the use of chemicals. A hose and clamp assembly  300  may be formed by threading the second end  112  of the band  104  through the circumferential passageway  208 . 
     In another embodiment, the hose is made in layers. The inner layer may be made by an extrusion process. A clamp  100  may then be coupled to each end of a section of hose and then the hose and clamp may be insert molded. Prior to insertion in the molding machine, the inner and outer surfaces of the band may be coated with a spray or tape to allow the band  104  to slide relative to the hose  200  after molding. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show a hose  500  having a longitudinal axis LA extending from a first end  502  to a second end  504 . The hose  500  has an inner surface  514  and an outer surface  516 . A circumferential passageway  508  may be formed in between the inner surface  514  and the outer surface  516 . The circumferential passageway  508  defining an inner hose section  532  having an intermediate surface  510  and an outer hose section  530 . The circumferential passageway  508  may extend from the end  502  of the hose  500  a predetermined distance D P  towards the opposite end  504  of the hose  500 . 
     The outer hose section  530  may have one or more openings  506  located in proximity to the end  502 . The opening  506  extending from the circumferential passageway to the outer surface  516 . The opening  506  may be “L” shaped having a generally rectangular first leg portion  534  contiguous with a generally rectangular second leg portion  536 . The first rectangular leg portion  534  having a first end  542  aligned with the first end  502  of the hose  500 . A longer side  538  of the rectangular first leg portion  534  aligned parallel with the longitudinal axis LA of the hose  500  and a longer side  540  of the rectangular second leg portion disposed generally radially about the longitudinal axis LA. The rectangular first leg portion  534  having a width W O  sufficient to allow a width W C  of a clamp  100  to extend therein and the rectangular second leg portion  536  having a length L O  sufficient to allow a length L C  of the clamp  100  to extend therein. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the clamp  100  includes the band  104  and the enclosure  102  for housing a worm gear. The worm gear may be rotated by the thumbscrew  108 . The enclosure  102  and the band  104  may be axially inserted into the opening  506  and the passageway  508  respectively along the longitudinal axis LA of the hose  500 . After being inserted, the enclosure  102  and the band  104  may be rotated (counterclockwise shown) about the longitudinal axis LA to “lock” the clamp  100  in place. In the “locked” position the clamp  100  cannot be axially removed, i.e. removed from the end of the hose without being first radially rotated about the longitudinal axis of the hose  500 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7, a self-tightening elastic hose clamp may be used in place of the clamp  100  without departing from the present invention. 
     The circumferential passage way may be formed by a variety of processes. In one embodiment, the hose  500  may be formed by injection molding. In another embodiment, the hose is made in layers. The inner layer being made by an extrusion process and the outer layer made by insert molding. In another embodiment, the hose may be extruded using known processes and the passageway is formed during a secondary step, for example a routing step. 
     FIG. 7 shows an end view of a hose and clamp assembly  700 . At least a portion of a self-tightening elastic hose clamp  702  may be enclosed within a circumferential passageway  708  disposed between an inner surface  714  and an outer surface  716 . A suitable hose clamp is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,298. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,298 patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     It should be understood that, while the present invention has been described in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claim(s).