Extensible Hose With Smooth Protective Covering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extensible hoses for gardening and similar applications face issues with dirt accumulation, inadequate resistance to external agents, and complex assembly processes, leading to difficulties in cleaning, durability, and user customization.
Innovation Solution
An extensible hose design featuring a first tubular element made of elastically extensible material and a second tubular element made of non-elastic material, configured in a bellow-like fashion, with air chambers between them, providing enhanced resistance and ease of cleaning, and allowing user assembly and customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a protective sheath made of fabric with curls is used, then the hose provides resistance against perforation and laceration, but the curls accumulate dirt and mud in an uncontrolled manner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fabric with curls with a smooth, continuous protective covering (such as a thermoplastic elastomer layer or smooth fabric) that prevents dirt accumulation while maintaining mechanical protection. The smooth surface allows dirt to be easily washed off and prevents the uncontrolled accumulation that occurs with curled seams.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a structured, curled fabric surface that traps dirt, the invention inverts the approach by using a smooth, continuous surface that repels dirt accumulation. The protective function is maintained not through the curl structure but through the material properties and continuous coverage.
2Strength
If a protective sheath made of fabric is used, then the hose provides resistance against external agents, but the poor consistency of the fabric does not offer sufficient guarantee in terms of resistance against laceration or perforation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction by combining an inner elastic tubular element with an outer protective covering made of different materials (such as thermoplastic elastomer or reinforced fabric). This composite structure integrates the elasticity needed for extension with the durability and tear resistance of the outer protective layer, achieving both protection and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters of the protective covering from standard fabric to materials with superior mechanical properties, such as thermoplastic elastomers or heavily reinforced fabrics with specific tensile and tear strength ratings, thereby achieving reliable resistance against laceration and perforation.
3Ease of manufacture
If a protective sheath made of fabric is used, then the hose can be constructed, but the assembly operation is not simple and has to be preferably carried out by the manufacturer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective sheath and the hose body into a more integrated structure where the outer protective covering is directly associated with the inner elastic element through methods such as adhesive bonding, heat sealing, or direct extrusion. This integration eliminates separate assembly steps and allows for simpler construction that can be performed by end users.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the hose into modular components (inner elastic element, outer protective covering, connectors) that can be independently manufactured and then easily assembled by users through simple connection mechanisms, reducing the complexity of the overall assembly operation.
4Ease of manufacture
If the protective sheath is made of fabric, then the hose can be constructed, but the poor consistency prevents the safe and reliable locking thereof with a normal hydraulic ring nut fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a smooth, continuous outer protective covering made of material suitable for hydraulic applications (such as thermoplastic elastomer) that provides a consistent surface for reliable engagement with hydraulic ring nut fittings, replacing the inconsistent fabric surface that prevented safe locking.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hose maintains high resistance against perforation and laceration, is easy to clean, and can be assembled and customized by users, with a compact design for storage and reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a inner core usually made of elastically extendable material, for example made of natural or synthetic rubber, thermoplastic rubber (TPR) and the like, which increases the length thereof under the action of the fluid pressure that traverses it
Implementation Method 2
air chambers sealingly obtained between said first tubular element made of elastically extensible material and said second tubular element made of non-elastic material
Data Source
AI summary
The extensible hose (1) comprises a first elastically extensible tubular element (2) and a second tubular element (3) extendable and coaxial to said first tubular element (2). The second extendable tubular element (3) is inserted into said first elastically extensible tubular element (2). Herein proposed is also an extensible hose unit (G) comprising the hose (1) and at least one fitting (11) associable to at least one end of the hose (1), for connecting to liquid dispensing structure and/or a user device.