Patent ID: 7785514

Claim:
A method for improving a flexible tube member, comprising (a) providing a predetermined body having an internal passageway and a tube receiving portion; (b) providing a flexible tube member having a connection portion made with an elastic thermoplastic material arranged to experience coupling with said receiving portion with a predetermined mechanical bond, said connecting portion is arranged to experience expansion and retraction during said coupling and form a water tight seal around said receiving portion when said coupling has occurred said flexible tube member having a tube member internal passageway; (c) connecting at least one stiffer to said connection portion, said stiffer member being made with a predetermined harder thermoplastic material that is relatively harder than said elastic thermoplastic material, at least one portion of said stiffer member being arranged to extend around a predetermined portion of the circumference of said tube member in a radial direction so as to form at least one gap in said stiffer member along said circumference, said connection member having at least one complementary circumference portion that is made with said elastic thermoplastic material and is arranged to fill said gap, said stiffer member and said flexible tube member forming a reinforced tube member; and (d) providing a U-shaped mouthpiece having a mouthpiece internal passageway, said U-shaped mouthpiece being connected to said reinforced tube member wherein said mouthpiece internal passageway is arranged to be in fluid communication with said tube member internal passageway and said internal passageway.