Patent ID: 7178836

Claim:
A fluid coupling in combination with hydraulic brake hose of a selected outside diameter for coupling the hose to a device, wherein the hose comprises: a deformable, resilient inner layer made of a polymeric material; a reinforcement layer over the inner layer, and a deformable resilient outer layer over the reinforcement layer, and wherein the fluid coupling comprises: an eyelet having first and second portions; the first portion having a bore adapted to communicate with the device and the second portion having a projecting nipple adapted for receipt in the hose, the eyelet further having an annular exterior groove therein; a crimping cup having first and second ends, the crimping cup being disposed around the projecting nipple and initially having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the hose, the crimping cup further having an inwardly projecting lip aligned with the annular exterior groove in the eyelet and a bell-shaped pocket adapted to be disposed adjacent to an end portion of the hose which has been stripped of the outer layer, and a coaxial strain-relief element configured as an annular ring made of a cross-linked polymeric material and having a contoured exterior surface with a bulge disposed in the bell-shaped pocket, the coaxial strain relief element being heat shrunk about the outer layer to form a hermetic seal therewith and being further urged against the reinforcement when the crimping cup is deformed radially inwardly to press the inner layer of the hose against the nipple and to press the inwardly projecting lip into the exterior groove in the eyelet.