U.S. patent application number 10/279544 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-29 for hose swivel connection apparatus.
Invention is credited to Rief, Dieter J..
Application Number | 20040080160 10/279544 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32106740 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040080160 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rief, Dieter J. |
April 29, 2004 |
HOSE SWIVEL CONNECTION APPARATUS
Abstract
A hose swivel connection apparatus for connecting a pair of hose
sections, the swivel member having male and female swivel members
with underlap and overlap portions, respectively, forming
radially-facing annular ball grooves between which bearing balls
are captured to provide swiveling and to hold the swivel device
together, and a seal between the swivel members, preferably a ring
seal positioned between a pair of axially-facing opposed
seal-abutment surfaces. The invention also involves hose-end
couplings on swivel members of a swivel device, the couplings each
having a sleeve member over and permanently secured to a hose
section and being adapted for snap-engagement with one of the
swivel members.
Inventors: |
Rief, Dieter J.; (Santa
Rosa, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JANSSON, SHUPE & MUNGER, LTD
245 MAIN STREET
RACINE
WI
53403
US
|
Family ID: |
32106740 |
Appl. No.: |
10/279544 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
285/276 ;
285/319; 285/903 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 285/921 20130101;
E04H 4/1654 20130101; Y10S 285/903 20130101; E04H 4/1672 20130101;
F16L 27/0828 20130101; F16L 25/0045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
285/276 ;
285/903; 285/319 |
International
Class: |
F16L 039/00 |
Claims
1. In hose swivel connection apparatus for connecting a pair of
hose sections along an axis, including hose-end couplings and a
swivel device to which the hose sections are removably attached by
the couplings, the improvement comprising: a male swivel member
adapted for removable attachment of one of the couplings and
including an underlap portion having an outer surface with a
radially-outwardly-facing first annular ball groove and an
axially-facing annular first seal-abutment surface; a female swivel
member adapted for removable attachment of the other coupling and
including an annular second seal-abutment surface facing the first
seal-abutment surface and an overlap portion which overlaps the
underlap portion and has an inner surface with a
radially-inwardly-facing second annular ball groove aligned with
the first ball groove; bearing balls captured in and between the
first and second ball grooves; and a ring seal between the first
and second seal-abutment surfaces.
2. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least
one of the hose-end couplings comprises a sleeve member which is
sleeved over a hose section near the end thereof and has a distal
portion permanently secured to the end of the hose and a proximal
portion adapted for snap-engagement with one of the swivel members,
whereby such coupling is easily attached to and detached from such
swivel member.
3. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the
proximal portion of such coupling sleeve member has at least one
detent biased radially outwardly and depressible radially inwardly;
and such swivel member has a coupling engagement portion which is
sized to receive the sleeve member with the detent depressed and
has at least one catch aperture receiving and engaging the detent
by its outward bias.
4. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of
the hose-end couplings comprises a sleeve member which is sleeved
over a hose section near the end thereof and has a distal portion
permanently secured to the end of the hose and a proximal portion
adapted for snap-engagement with one of the swivel members, whereby
each coupling is easily attached to and detached from such swivel
member.
5. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of
the swivel members has a coupling engagement portion which is sized
to receive the sleeve member with the detent depressed and has at
least one catch aperture receiving and engaging the detent by its
outward bias, whereby either of the couplings is easily attached to
and removed from either of the swivel members.
6. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 5 wherein the male
and female swivel members have inside surfaces defining
cross-sectional areas which are substantially congruent to the
cross-sectional area of the hose, whereby flow through the
couplings and the swivel device are substantially unrestricted.
7. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 2 wherein the
distal portion of the coupling sleeve member is permanently secured
to the end of the hose by an adhesive.
8. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 7 wherein the
adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive.
9. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the male
and female swivel members have inside surfaces defining
cross-sectional areas which are substantially congruent to the
cross-sectional area of the hose.
10. In hose swivel connection apparatus for connecting a pair of
hose sections along an axis, including hose-end couplings and a
swivel device to which the hose sections are removably attached by
the couplings, the improvement wherein the swivel device comprises:
a male swivel member including an underlap portion having an outer
surface with a radially-outwardly-facing first annular ball groove;
a female swivel member including an overlap portion which overlaps
the underlap portion and has an inner surface with a
radially-inwardly-facing second annular ball groove aligned with
the first ball groove; bearing balls captured in and between the
first and second ball grooves; and a seal between the swivel
members.
11. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 10 wherein: the
male swivel member has an axially-facing annular first
seal-abutment surface; the female swivel member has an annular
second seal-abutment surface facing the first seal-abutment
surface; and the seal is a ring seal between the seal-abutment
surfaces.
12. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 10 wherein each
of the hose-end couplings comprises a sleeve member which is
sleeved over a hose section near the end thereof and has a distal
portion permanently secured to the end of the hose and a proximal
portion adapted for snap-engagement with one of the swivel members,
whereby such coupling is easily attached to and detached from such
swivel member.
13. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 12 wherein each
of the swivel members has a coupling engagement portion which is
sized to receive the sleeve member with the detent depressed and
has at least one catch aperture receiving and engaging the detent
by its outward bias, whereby either of the couplings is easily
attached to and removed from either of the swivel members.
14. In hose swivel connection apparatus for connecting a pair of
hose sections along an axis, including hose-end couplings and a
swivel device to which the hose sections are removably attached by
the couplings, the improvement wherein: the swivel device includes
first and second swivel members swivelable with respect to one
another; and at least one of the hose-end couplings comprises a
sleeve member which is sleeved over a hose section near the end
thereof and has a distal portion permanently secured to the end of
the hose and a proximal portion adapted for snap-engagement with
one of the swivel members, whereby such coupling is easily attached
to and detached from such swivel member.
15. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 14 wherein: the
proximal portion of such coupling sleeve member has at least one
detent biased radially outwardly and depressible radially inwardly;
and such swivel member has a coupling engagement portion which is
sized to receive the sleeve member with the detent depressed and
has at least one catch aperture receiving and engaging the detent
by its outward bias.
16. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 15 wherein each
of the hose-end couplings comprises a sleeve member which is
sleeved over a hose section near the end thereof and has a distal
portion permanently secured to the end of the hose and a proximal
portion adapted for snap-engagement with one of the swivel members,
whereby each coupling is easily attached to and detached from such
swivel member.
17. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 16 wherein each
of the swivel members has a coupling engagement portion which is
sized to receive the sleeve member with the detent depressed and
has at least one catch aperture receiving and engaging the detent
by its outward bias, whereby either of the couplings is easily
attached to and removed from either of the swivel members.
18. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 17 wherein the
male and female swivel members have inside surfaces defining
cross-sectional areas which are substantially congruent to the
cross-sectional area of the hose, whereby flow through the
couplings and the swivel device are substantially unrestricted.
19. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 14 wherein the
distal portion of the coupling sleeve member is permanently secured
to the end of the hose by an adhesive.
20. The hose swivel connection apparatus of claim 19 wherein the
adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to connections between
adjacent hose sections and, more particularly, to hose swivel
connections usable with apparatus such as automatic swimming pool
cleaners that move freely along the underwater surfaces of swimming
pools while tethered at the end of a hose.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Automatic swimming pool cleaners of the type that
automatically move along underwater surfaces of swimming pool are
widely used for dislodging and collecting debris and sediment from
swimming pools. Each pool cleaner of this type typically moves
about underwater pool surfaces, propelled in one way or another by
the flow of water either from or to the pool cleaner through a long
hose line by which the pool cleaner is tethered to a port along the
swimming pool wall.
[0003] When the water flow through the hose line is from the pool
cleaner, the pool cleaner is often referred to as a vacuum cleaner,
and the debris is typically collected in a filter remote from the
swimming pool. Excellent examples of such vacuum pool cleaners
include those disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,659
(Rief et al.), entitled "Automatic Swimming Pool Cleaner," and U.S.
Pat. No. 6,292,970 (Rief et al.), entitled "Turbine-Driven
Automatic Swimming Pool Cleaners." In the latter patent, the
primary embodiments relate to swimming pool vacuum cleaners
manufactured by Poolvergneugen, of Santa Rosa, Calif.
[0004] When the water flow through the hose line is to the pool
cleaner, the pool cleaner is often referred to as a pressure
cleaner, and the debris is typically collected in a bag secured to
the pool cleaner. An excellent example of such pressure cleaners is
disclosed in PCT International Publication No. WO 01/92663 (Rief et
al.), entitled "Swimming Pool Pressure Cleaner with Internal
Steering Mechanism," owned by the aforementioned Poolvergneugen, of
Santa Rosa, Calif., and in U.S. Pat. No. ______, one of the granted
patents resulting from the patent application of such international
publication.
[0005] In both types of automatic swimming pool cleaners, the hose
lines, depending upon overall hose line length, are frequently each
made up of two or more hose sections coupled to one another in
end-to-end fashion. In many cases, the movement of the automatic
pool cleaner tends to have a "pretzeling" or kinking effect on the
hose line. This can be particularly aggravated in the absence of a
swivel device at some point along the hose line and, as has been
appreciated in connection with development of this invention, in
the absence of sufficient swivel devices along the hose line.
[0006] Various types of hose swivel apparatus have been developed
in the prior art. Some examples of such prior apparatus are those
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,741 (Rice et al.) and U.S. Pat.
No. 6,279,961 (Stoltz), and devices marketed by Polaris and Letro
swivel. Various hose swivel devices of the prior art, however, have
a number of problems and disadvantages, some of which are described
below.
[0007] Prior hose swivel connection apparatus frequently involve
what are referred to as "hose nuts" that are used to couple hose
ends to swivel devices. The flexible hose typically used with
automatic swimming pool cleaners includes on its outer surface a
continuous tight spiral projection which is in a thread-like form.
When the rigid tubular projecting end of a hose swivel device is
inserted into the open end of the hose, a hose nut which is around
such tubular end and has internal threading sized to engage a
portion of the spiral projection on the outer surface of the hose,
thereby to firmly engage the hose to the swivel device.
[0008] Coupling a hose to a swivel device using such hose-nut
couplings is a difficult and time-consuming operation. For many,
particularly persons with rather limited wrist strength, the use of
such devices is problematic. In this connection, it is known that
women form the majority of persons involved in swimming pool care;
therefore, the above-noted problems of coupling hoses to swivel
devices are particularly troublesome and important. Regardless of
limitations in wrist strength, however, the coupling of hose ends
to hose swivel devices is time-consuming process.
[0009] Certain other kinds of hose swivel connection apparatus
involve use of clamps of various kinds to couple hose ends onto
hose swivel devices. Clamping devices typically involve some sort
of ring clamp about a hose for the purpose of assuring that the
inside surface of the end portion of a hose section is firmly
engaged with the outer surface of the rigid tubular projecting end
of a hose swivel device which was inserted into the end of the hose
section. Such hose coupling devices may be even more difficult and
time-consuming to use that the problematic hose nuts referred to
above.
[0010] Each hose swivel engaged with the ends of two adjacent hose
sections requires, of course, the attaching of two hose
couplings--one on each end, and this obviously involves a
substantial effort. Since it may be highly preferred to have a
plurality of hose swivel devices along the length of a hose line
tethering an automatic swimming pool cleaner in its operational
mode, the problems and difficulties of providing a suitable
kink-resistant (or "pretzeling-resistant") hose line are
multiplied, and this discourages efforts to create pool cleaner
hose lines which minimize the possibility of kinking problems.
[0011] Another problem of certain hose swivel connection apparatus
of the prior art is a problem of line constriction. If, for
example, the apparatus includes a swivel device with rigid tubular
projecting ends which are inserted inside the ends of hose
sections, then such apparatus involves flow constrictions. Flow
constrictions along hose lines used with automatic swimming pool
vacuum cleaners are problematic, because such constrictions slow
down the flow of water and debris to a remote filter.
[0012] Reduced flow caused by flow constrictions tend to reduce the
effectiveness of a automatic pool cleaner in moving along
underwater surfaces of a pool, regardless of the exact nature of
the flow-driven propulsion system used in the pool cleaner. This
applies to both vacuum cleaners and pressure cleaners. Furthermore,
such flow constrictions can result in clogging of the hose line
used with swimming pool vacuum cleaners, particularly on those
occasions when major amounts of debris (e.g., leaves in the fall)
are passing through the hose line. Any partial or complete clogging
of the hose line also reduce or stop pool cleaner movement.
[0013] Still another shortcoming of the prior art is that certain
prior hose swivel connection apparatus includes swivel devices made
of many parts, a factor involving cost and assembly disadvantages.
Having simple, easy-to-assemble apparatus would have
advantages--both in initial assembly and in connection with any
necessary repair. It is important that hose swivel connection
apparatus be free of leaks, and part count reduction and
simplification are factors tending to result in a greater proneness
to leakage.
[0014] While multi-section hose lines and prior hose swivel
connection apparatus has been discussed in connection with
particular reference to automatic swimming pool cleaners, hose
swivel connection apparatus of various types are used in a wide
variety of other applications, including other applications in
which the ability of such couplings to freely swivel and to be
quickly, easily and reliably coupled to hose sections is a matter
of importance.
[0015] This invention addresses such the problems and shortcomings
in prior hose swivel connection apparatus.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0016] It is a primary object of this invention to provide improved
hose swivel connection apparatus overcoming some of the problems
and shortcomings of the prior art, including those mentioned
above.
[0017] Another object of this invention is to provide an improved
hose swivel connection apparatus for use with automatic swimming
pool cleaners--both vacuum cleaners or pressure cleaners.
[0018] Another object of this invention is to provide an improved
hose swivel connection apparatus allowing quick and easy coupling
of hose sections to a swivel device.
[0019] Another object of this invention is to provide an improved
hose swivel connection apparatus allowing coupling of hose sections
to a swivel device by persons without great wrist strength.
[0020] Another object of this invention is to provide an improved
hose swivel connection apparatus allowing coupling of hose sections
to a swivel device without the need for tools.
[0021] Another object of this invention is to provide an improved
hose swivel connection apparatus which is substantially free of
flow-constricting structure.
[0022] Another object of this invention is to provide an improved
hose swivel connection apparatus which allows unrestricted flow of
water and debris through a swimming pool cleaner hose line even
when such hose line is formed of more than one hose section.
[0023] Another object of this invention is to provide an improved
hose swivel connection apparatus which allows unrestricted flow of
water and debris through a swimming pool cleaner hose line
regardless of the presence of one or more swivel devices along the
hose line.
[0024] Still another object of this invention is to provide an
improved hose swivel connection apparatus which facilitates
consistent operation of automatic swimming pool cleaners at full
power by avoiding clogging in hose lines.
[0025] Another object of this invention is to provide an improved
hose swivel connection apparatus which facilitates trouble-free
operation of automatic swimming pool cleaners (both vacuum cleaners
and pressure cleaners) by avoiding or minimizing any tendency for
hose line to kink as the pool cleaner is propelled about underwater
pool surfaces.
[0026] Yet another object of this invention is to provide an
improved hose swivel device which is easy to assemble and simple to
repair.
[0027] Yet another object of this invention is to provide an
improved hose swivel device of only a few part and a simple, but
highly reliable design.
[0028] These and other objects of the invention will be apparent
from the following descriptions and from the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0029] This invention involves improvements in hose swivel
connection apparatus of the type for connecting a pair of hose
sections end-to-end along an axis, i.e., the type of swivel
connection apparatus which includes hose-end couplings for the ends
of the hose sections to be joined and a swivel device to which the
hose sections are removably attached by the couplings. The
improvements of this invention particularly relate to hose swivel
connection apparatus for pool cleaners--either vacuum cleaners or
pressure cleaners.
[0030] One aspect of this invention is an improvement in the swivel
device, the swivel device including a male swivel member which is
adapted for removable attachment of one of the couplings and
includes an "underlap" portion having a particular relationship to
an overlap portion of a female swivel member. More specifically,
the underlap portion of the male swivel member has an outer surface
with a radially-outwardly-facing first annular ball groove, and the
overlap portion of the female swivel member has an inner surface
with a radially-inwardly-facing second annular ball groove aligned
with the first ball groove, and a multiplicity of bearing balls are
captured in and between the first and second radially-facing ball
grooves. A seal, preferably a ring seal provides substantially
fluid-tight inter-engagement of the male and female swivel
members.
[0031] In this configuration, the bearing balls serve to provide
free swiveling motion between the male and female swivel members,
but also serve to reliably secure the male and female swivel
members to one another. This eliminates the need for other parts in
order to secure hold the swivel device together, and simplifies the
structure of the swivel device.
[0032] In highly preferred embodiments, the male swivel member
includes an axially-facing annular first seal-abutment surface, and
the female swivel member includes an annular second seal-abutment
surface facing the annular first seal-abutment surface. The
aforementioned seal, preferably a ring seal, is positioned between
the first and second axially-facing seal-abutment surfaces. The
overall simple structure provides an excellent swivel device which
is strong, reliable, well-sealed and free-wheeling, and therefore
provides excellent hose swivel connection apparatus between hose
sections of a hose line to which an automatic swimming pool cleaner
is tethered.
[0033] In highly preferred embodiments, one hose-end coupling, but
most preferably each of the hose-end couplings, includes a sleeve
member that is sleeved over a hose section near the end of the hose
section. The sleeve member has a distal portion which is
permanently secured to the end of the hose and a proximal portion
that is adapted for snap-engagement with one of the swivel members.
This allows the coupling, and thus the hose with it, to be easily
attached to and detached from the swivel member of the hose swivel
connection apparatus.
[0034] In such embodiments, the proximal portion of such coupling
sleeve member preferably has at least one detent which is biased
radially outwardly and depressible radially inwardly, and the
swivel member has a coupling engagement portion to receive the
sleeve member. Such coupling engagement portion of the swivel
member is sized to receive the sleeve member when the sleeve-member
detent is manually depressed, and the coupling engagement portion
has at least one lateral catch aperture which is positioned and
sized to receive and engage the detent, the engagement being by
virtue of the outward bias of the detent.
[0035] In other words, a hose-end coupling Oust described) comes
into engagement with one of the swivel members Oust described) of
the swivel device when the detent, by virtue of its outward bias,
snaps into the aperture at that time in the insertion process (of
sleeve member into coupling engagement portion) when the position
of full engagement of coupling and swivel member is achieved. This
highly preferred embodiment facilitates attachment of a hose
section to a swivel member.
[0036] In such embodiments, the coupling engagement portion of the
swivel member preferably has a pair of lateral apertures for
engagement with a corresponding pair of detents of the sleeve
member. Most preferably, such detents and lateral apertures are
spaced about 180.degree. apart, a configuration which facilitates
manual depression. Other arrangements, however, are possible.
[0037] The proximal portion of the sleeve member is preferably
large enough such that its inner surface, which is substantially
cylindrical, has a diameter somewhat greater than the outer
diameter of the hose. This facilitates manual depression of the
detents; i.e., depression is allowed without squeezing the hose
wall inwardly.
[0038] In highly preferred embodiments of the type described above,
each of the hose-end couplings has a sleeve member as described and
each of the swivel members of the swivel device has a coupling
engagement portion as described. This allows each of the couplings
which engage the swivel device to be easily attached to and
detached from the swivel member.
[0039] In highly preferred embodiments of this invention, the male
and female swivel members have inside surfaces defining
cross-sectional areas that are substantially congruent to the
cross-sectional area of the hose. With this configuration, the hose
swivel connection apparatus will not impose any constriction on the
flow of water and debris along the hose line. In other words, the
flow through the couplings and the swivel device will be
substantially unrestricted. With unrestricted flow of water and
debris, an automatic swimming pool cleaner can operate at maximum
power. Thus, there is no diminution in the propulsion or in the
cleaning ability of an automatic swimming pool cleaner utilizing
this invention. Furthermore, there is a significant reduction in
the possibility of clogging with debris during operation, even
under difficult heavy-debris conditions.
[0040] As noted above, the preferred hose-end couplings of this
invention include a coupling sleeve member having a distal portion
which is permanently secured to the end of the hose. Thus, an owner
of an automatic swimming pool cleaner would have hose sections with
permanently mounted hose-end coupling at one or both of the ends
thereof, to facilitate attachment with and detachment from swivel
devices like that described above. It is preferred that such
permanent securement of coupling sleeve member to hose end be by an
adhesive, and it is most preferred that such adhesive be a hot-melt
adhesive.
[0041] Another aspect of this invention involves an improved hose
swivel connection apparatus for connecting a pair of hose sections
along an axis, the apparatus being of the type including hose-end
couplings and a swivel device including first and second swivel
members swivelable with respect to each other and to which the hose
sections are removably attached by such couplings. The improvement
involves at least one, and preferably each, of the hose-end
couplings having a sleeve member as described above--i.e., a sleeve
member which is sleeved over a hose section near the end thereof
and has a distal portion permanently secured to the end of the hose
and a proximal portion adapted for snap-engagement with one of the
swivel members. As already noted, this configuration allows the
hose-end coupling(s) to be easily attached to and detached from the
swivel member(s).
[0042] Still another aspect of this invention involves an automatic
swimming pool cleaner tethered to a hose line which includes the
hose swivel connection apparatus of this invention, preferably a
plurality of such devices spaced along the hose line--depending
upon its length. The inventive hose swivel connection apparatus
facilitates operation of automatic swimming pool cleaners without
kinking of the hose line, thereby reliably allowing proper pool
cleaner orientation with respect to the surface along which it is
traveling. This invention has applicability to automatic pool
cleaners of both the vacuum cleaner type and the pressure cleaner
type.
[0043] As used herein, the term "bearing balls" refers to the
multiplicity of small hard balls between the male and female swivel
members of the device of this invention. Such balls are themselves
sometimes referred to as "ball bearings," even though reference is
only to the balls themselves. As used herein, the term "underlap"
describes one of two concentric overlapping members (or portions of
members), i.e., the radially inner member (or portion), while the
term "overlap," of course, describes the concentric overlapping
member (or portion) which is in the radially outer position.
[0044] As specific embodiment of the invention as discussed above
is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred hose swivel
connection apparatus in accordance with this invention, assembled
and joining two hose sections together.
[0046] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the swivel connection
apparatus of FIG. 1, taken from the reverse side along a plane
which includes the axis of the generally cylindrical apparatus.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a reduced partially exploded side sectional view
of FIG. 2.
[0048] FIGS. 4 and 5 are side sectional views of the male and
female swivel members, respectively, of such apparatus.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of one of the hose-end
couplings of such apparatus, with the hose section removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0050] The figures, particularly FIGS. 1-2, illustrate a hose
swivel connection apparatus 10 which is a preferred embodiment of
this invention, used to connect hose sections 12A and 12B together
to form a hose line 12, a portion of which is illustrated. Hose
line 12 may include one hose swivel connection apparatus 12 or in
some cases two or more such devices joining three or more hose
sections, depending on the length of hose line 12--in order to
minimize the tendency to kink by virtue of the movement of an
automatic swimming pool cleaner tethered at the end of the hose
line.
[0051] Hose swivel connection apparatus 10 is generally cylindrical
in shape and, therefore, defines a central axis. All uses of the
terms "axial" and "radial" in various forms in this document refer
to the central axis extending along hose swivel connection
apparatus 10.
[0052] Hose swivel connection apparatus 10 includes a swivel device
14 and a pair of hose-end couplings 16A and 16B. Hose-end couplings
16A and 16B are permanently secured to hose sections 12A and 12B,
respectively, at the ends thereof and are removably attached to
swivel device 14 on either side thereof. Hose-end couplings 16A and
16B, which are identical to each other, facilitate quick and easy
attachment and detachment of hose sections 12A and 12B to swivel
device 14. Hose sections 12A and 12B are formed of standard hose
stock of the type widely used with automatic swimming pool
cleaners. Such hose has radial projections closely spaced along the
length thereof which tend to enhance the bending flexibility of the
hose, as is well known.
[0053] Swivel device 14, to which the hose-end couplings are
removably attached, includes a male swivel member 14M and a female
swivel member 14F which are held together in free swiveling
relationship by a multiplicity of hard spherical bearing balls l4B.
Swivel device 14 also includes a ring seal 14S positioned between
male swivel member 14M and female swivel member 14F.
[0054] The specific relationships of the parts forming swivel
device 14 are now described in detail:
[0055] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, best in FIG. 4, male swivel member
14M includes an underlap portion 18 and a coupling engagement
portion 20. Male swivel member 14M is a unitary plastic piece
molded of a suitable hard plastic material of a type well known in
field of pool cleaners and the like. Suitable plastics or other
materials are apparent to those skilled in the art who are made
aware of this invention. Underlap portion 18 has an outer surface
18A with a radially-outwardly-facing first annular ball groove 18G
encircling underlap portion 18 at one axial location. Underlap
portion 18 also includes an axially-facing annular first
seal-abutment surface 18S that forms the end of underlap portion
18.
[0056] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, best in FIG. 5, female swivel
member 14F, like male swivel member 14M, is an integral piece
molded of a suitable plastic material. Female swivel member 14F
includes an overlap portion 22 which is concentric with and
overlaps underlap portion 18 of male swivel member 14M. Female
swivel member also includes a coupling engagement portion 24.
Overlap portion 22 has an inner surface 22A with a
radially-inwardly-facing second annular ball groove 22G extending
around the inner surface of overlap portion 22 at an axial location
aligned with, and slightly radially spaced from, first ball groove
18G. Aligned first and second ball grooves 18G and 22G together
define an annular ball-containing area which has a generally round
cross-sectional area at all locations around swivel device 14.
[0057] Bearing balls 14B are captured in such annular
ball-containing area, between first and second ball grooves 18G and
22G. Bearing balls 14B serve to provide free swiveling action
between male and female swivel members 14M and 14F, and also serve
the important function of reliably securing such swivel members
together. Bearing balls 14 need not completely fill the annular
ball-containing area; the number of bearing balls 14B used is a
factor which determines strength of the inter-engagement of the
swivel members.
[0058] Overlap portion 22 of female swivel member 14F also includes
an inward flange 22F which forms a second seal-abutment surface
22S. Second seal-abutment surface faces first seal-abutment 18S.
Inward flange 22F and second seal-abutment 22S are positioned
approximately midway along the length of female swivel member 14F
in position such that, when male and female swivel members 14M and
14F are engaged, first and second seal-abutment members 18S and 22S
are spaced apart by a distance allowing ring seal 14S therebetween
to create an appropriate water-tight seal between male and female
swivel members 14M and 14F. The positioning of first and second
seal-abutment surfaces 18S and 22S and first and second ball groves
18G and 22G are chosen to provide excellent sealing when male and
female swivel members 14M and 14F are reliably engaged with one
another by virtue of the multiplicity of bearing balls 14B in the
aligned ball grooves.
[0059] Details of the two hose-end couplings will now be described
by reference to hose-end coupling 16A, as illustrated best in FIGS.
2, 3 and 6. Hose-end coupling 16A is a unitary piece of molded
plastic, which, as with swivel members 14F and 14M, may be formed
of plastics such as are well known in field of pool cleaners and
the like. The plastic chosen for hose-end couplings 16A and 16B is
one which exhibits both hardness and resilience, such that when
portions such as tongue-like portions 26T (see description below)
are deflected they spring back to their original molded positions,
to facilitate the snap-engagement referred to above. Suitable
plastics (or other materials) are apparent to those skilled in the
art who are made aware of this invention. The dimensioning,
particularly the wall thickness, of the hose-end couplings is also
chosen to facilitate such snap-engagement, which is described
further below.
[0060] Hose-end coupling 16A includes a sleeve member 26 that is
sleeved over hose section 12A near the end thereof. Sleeve member
26 has a distal portion 26D which is permanently secured to the end
of hose section 12A by a hot-melt adhesive 28. Such hot-melt
attachment is both water-tight and highly reliable. Sleeve member
26 also includes a proximal portion 26P which includes means,
hereafter described, facilitating the easy engagement of hose-end
coupling 16A with female swivel member 14F.
[0061] More specifically, proximal portion 26P of sleeve member 26
has two detents 26E, each on its own axially-parallel tongue-like
portion 26T of sleeve member 26. Tongue-like portions 26T, and thus
detents 26E, are spaced 1800 apart around sleeve member 26. Each
tongue-like portion 26T, which forms a portion of sleeve member 26,
is "hinged" to the remainder of sleeve member 26 at a proximal end
26TP of tongue-like portion 26 and extends to a distal end 26TD.
Detent 26E is a slightly arcuate projection from tongue-like
portion 26T positioned at a fixed axial location midway between
proximal and distal ends 26TP and 26TD. Detent 26E includes an
axially-facing arcuate ledge 26L. Tongue-like portion 26T also
includes a grip portion 26G which projects radially therefrom at
distal end 26TD. There are two tongue-like portions 26T and detents
26E on opposite sides of sleeve member 26, and this allows detents
26E to be radially depressed conveniently by gripping and squeezing
grip portions 26G toward one another.
[0062] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, coupling engagement portion 24
of female swivel member 14F has a pair of catch apertures 24C
therethrough, spaced 180.lambda. apart, which are positioned to
receive and engage detents 26E. Arcuate ledges 26L of detents 26E
engage an arcuate edge surface of catch apertures 24C to restrain
the disengagement of hose-end coupling 16A from female swivel
member 14M, unless detents 26E are again depressed. The locations
of catch apertures 24C are chosen such that detents 26E will be
engaged therein when hose-end coupling 16A is fully engaged with
female swivel member 14F.
[0063] Detents 26E remain securely within catch apertures 24C by
virtue of the outward bias of tongue-like portions 26T, provided by
the nature of the plastic material used for the hose-end coupling.
In other words, this bias is effectuated by appropriate
dimensioning and selection of plastic material for hose-end
coupling 16A. Of course, similar structure exists with respect to
hose-end coupling 16B and coupling engagement portion 20 of male
swivel member 14M. Hose-end couplings 16A and 16B are identical,
and each can be engaged with either male swivel member 14M or
female swivel member 14F.
[0064] Hose-end coupling 16A and 16B have inner surfaces of
somewhat larger diameter than the outer diameter of hose sections
12A and 12B, as illustrated best in FIGS. 2 and 3. Such
dimensioning accommodates the manual depression of the detents,
eliminating any need to compress the outer surfaces of the hose
sections.
[0065] It should be noted that male and female swivel members 14M
and 14F have inside surfaces defining cross-sectional areas
congruent with the cross-sectional area defined by the hose inner
surface. This allows substantially unrestricted flow of water and
debris through hose swivel connection apparatus 10.
[0066] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, ring seal 14S between first and
second seal-abutment surfaces 18S and 22S includes a rubber-like
member 14U with a U-shaped cross-section and an ordinary O-ring
seal 14R therein. Instead of such two-part seal, a simple O-ring
seal of proper dimension is sufficient. A variety of annular seals
can be used.
[0067] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art who are made
aware of this invention, a variety of materials can be used
effectively for various parts and a variety of design variations
are possible.
[0068] While the principles of this invention have been described
in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood
clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and
are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
* * * * *