TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a coupling sleeve for a hose coupling. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an elastomer-based coupling sleeve which overcomes major demerits, such as for applications with indoor taps.

BACKGROUND

Conventional hose couplers generally make use of a means to allow coupling of the hose connector with another connector associated with a water source say a tap. The hose connectors comprise a movable coupling sleeve that control the engagement and disengagement of locking elements that look the hose connector to the connector associated with the water source. In many cases, a stainless steel spring is used as the means to hold a ring of the coupling sleeve in its final position, however, this leads to an undesirable operation because of various reasons. Firstly, this increases cost of the hose coupling substantially. Further, due to the metal-plastic mix there is limited potential of recycling of the hose coupling.

There have been efforts in the past to address such issues. As such the patent document US 4 903 942 describes a coupling sleeve with a hose connector that has locking elements integrally formed with the hose connector’s body that allow the coupling of the hose connector to another connector associated to a water source. The locking elements are formed on the coupling sleeve that in there relaxed position they pass through slots in the body of the hose connector to couple to the connector associated with the water source. To uncouple it, the sleeve has to be moved causing the locking elements to move their positional relation to the slots. This movement generates sort of spring force on the locking elements that due to the integral formation also acts onto the coupling sleeve and thus move it back to its original position. Thus the so constructed coupling ring is not of need for an additional, separate spring to assist the movement. SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the drawbacks discussed above. The objective is at least partially achieved by a coupling sleeve for a quick-acting hose coupling having a base body. The coupling sleeve is fixed onto the base body, with the base body having at least one opening defining a slot through which at least part of a locking element is able to pass. The coupling sleeve is adapted to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the base body of the hose coupling. In the engaged position at least part of the locking element is held in a position where at least part of it is passed through the slot defined by the base body; and in the disengaged position at least part of the locking element moves its positional relation to the slot.

The coupling sleeve is characterized in that the coupling sleeve further includes at least one elastomeric, rubber like element adapted to bias the coupling sleeve in the engaged position. Thus, the present disclosure provides a simple, convenient, and efficient coupling sleeve relying on elastomeric properties to provide desired benefits in applications of the hose coupling.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one elastomeric element is manufactured using a 2-component (2K) injection molding process. Choice of the molding process material for the elastomeric element may depend on application dynamics and other factors based on the coupling sleeve.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling sleeve exhibits the base body of a relatively hard plastics material on an inner side and an auxiliary element of a flexible elastomeric, rubber-like material on an outer side of the coupling sleeve. This may allow better ergonomic and handling convenience for a user engaging with the rubber-like material of the auxiliary element.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary element is on the outer side of the coupling sleeve and the at least one elastomeric element is on the inner side of the coupling sleeve. Further, the auxiliary element and the at least one elastomeric element are manufactured using a 2-component or multi- component injection molding process. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary element and the at least one elastomeric element are coupled via a channel within the coupling sleeve and are thus manufactured in a single processing step. Role of the elastomeric element is crucial for a safe and risk-free operation of the connector assembly, and their number/material/dimensions will also generally depend on such safety factors among others.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a hose connector can include a coupling sleeve as mentioned in different embodiments of the present disclosure.

Other features and aspects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a conventional hose coupling;

FIG. 2 shows a front partial cross-sectional view of the conventional hose coupling of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a front partial cross-sectional view of a hose coupling along with a coupling sleeve before engagement, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG.4 shows a front perspective view of the coupling sleeve, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG.5 shows a front partial cross-sectional view of the hose coupling when the coupling sleeve is being engaged, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows front partial cross-sectional views of the hose coupling when the coupling sleeve is partially engaged and in an engaged position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward", "sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle", "intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown in the Figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional hose coupling 100’ for connecting a hose (not shown) to a water tap (not shown). The conventional hose coupling 100’ is attached to the water tap, the present disclosure can be readily implemented with any indoor/outdoor water tap although the present disclosure is not to be limited by the water tap in any manner. The hose can be any universal pipe as used or known in the art. Further, the hose may be generally connected to a connecting tool such as a sprayer, although other connecting tools have been contemplated and are well within the scope of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the conventional hose coupling 100’ is generally a cylindrical- shaped component with two-ends for input and output of a fluid, generally water. Other shape variations of the conventional hose coupling 100’ are possible and contemplated, however, the present disclosure has a preference for the cylindrical- shape due to aesthetic and ergonomic considerations.

The conventional hose coupling 100’ includes a base body 120 adapted to receive an adapter element (not shown) which is generally used for connection to the water tap. Further, the base body 120, is in turn, received by a coupling sleeve 110. The coupling sleeve 110 is provided concentrically around the base body 120 such that the coupling sleeve 110 and the base body 120 define an annular space (around a biasing member 210 as shown in FIG. 2) in between. The coupling sleeve 110 is adapted to slide between an engaged position and a disengaged position. Further, the base body 120 may have threads (not shown) to threadably engage a nut 130 for assembling the hose. The base body 120 further has a water outlet 226 to concentrically engage the hose, and then the nut 130 may be securely threaded with the base body 120 over the hose.

FIG. 2 illustrates the conventional hose coupling 100’, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The conventional hose coupling 100’ includes the biasing member 210 (generally stainless steel springs) provided in the annular space between the base body 120 and the coupling sleeve 110. The biasing member 210 biases the coupling sleeve 110 in the engaged position such that at least one slot 240 receives at least one locking element 230 and retains the coupling sleeve 110 as well as the adapter. Moreover, the at least one locking element 230 is adapted to disengage with the at least one slot 240 when the coupling sleeve 110 is in the disengaged position (refer FIG. 3).

The biasing member 210 can be selected from one or more of a spring, elastomer, and a damper. The choice of the biasing member 210 will be dependent upon a multitude of factors such as, but need not necessarily, liquid (water) flow requirements, type or size or life of the conventional hose coupling 100’, water tap or water hose. As will be appreciated by a person having knowledge in the art, the biasing member 210 may, at times, allow the coupling sleeve 110 to disassemble even in case of any small external force disturbing the coupling sleeve 110. Such instances may lead to inadvertent disassembly of the coupling sleeve 110, which is a concern in case of the conventional hose coupling 100’ which make application of the biasing member 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates a hose coupling 100 along with the coupling sleeve 110 before engagement, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The coupling sleeve 110 has a base body 250 on an inner side and an auxiliary element 220 on an outer side. The coupling sleeve 110 of the present disclosure further includes at least one elastomeric, rubber like element 310 adapted to bias the coupling sleeve 110 in the engaged position. The elastomeric, rubber like element 310 are generally flat rectangular elements, although other shapes/size/dimensions have been contemplated and well within the scope, and remain as such in a free state for the disengaged state of the coupling sleeve 110. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one elastomeric element 310 may be manufactured using a 2-component (2K) injection molding process. Choice of the molding process material for the elastomeric component may depend on application dynamics and other factors based on the coupling sleeve 110. In in alternative embodiment the at least on element 310 might be fixed onto the coupling sleeve 110 by gluing, soldering or any other fastening method.

In some embodiments, the coupling sleeve 110 may exhibit the base body 250 of a relatively hard plastics material on the inner side and the auxiliary element 220 of a flexible rubber-like material on the outer side of the coupling sleeve 110. This may allow better ergonomic and handling convenience for a user engaging due to benefit of the rubber-like material of the auxiliary element 220 during processes such as assembly/disassembly of the coupling sleeve 110.

In an embodiment, the base body 120 is made up of a flexible material such that the base body 120 is reversibly angled. This takes prominence for cases where the hose is more prone to kink or bend-forming as could be expected for hoses of longer lengths. Further, flexibility of the base body 120 allows convenience for fitting the hose with the base body 120 in a user-friendly manner. Likewise, the coupling sleeve 110 can be made of any rigid or flexible such as, but not limited to, plastic, polymers, metals, as used or known in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiment, the at least one slot 240 can include three slots 240. Number of the slots 240 may be decided while taking into account different factors related to one or more of the hose coupling 100, liquid flow requirements, operating life etc. Likewise, from symmetry and safety considerations, the at least one locking element 230 can include three slots 240. However, the present disclosure is not to be limited by the slot(s) 240 and locking element(s) 230 of the hose coupling 100 in any manner.

FIG. 4 illustrates the coupling sleeve 110, while FIG. 5 shows the hose coupling 100 when the coupling sleeve 110 is being engaged, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As will be appreciated by the present figures, the coupling sleeve 110 is adapted to move between the engaged position and the disengaged position relative to the base body 120 of the hose coupling 100. Also, in the disengaged position the locking element 230 gets disengaged with the slot 240 defined by the base body 120 allowing easy removal of the coupling sleeve 110. Further, these figures illustrate how the conventional hose coupling 100’ may be converted to the hose coupling 100 of the present disclosure by first, removal of the coupling sleeve 110 from the conventional hose coupling 100’, and then replacement of the biasing member 210, where role of the biasing member 210 is performed by the elastomeric element 310 of the coupling sleeve 110.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the auxiliary element 220 is on the outer side of the coupling sleeve 110 and the at least one elastomeric element 310 is on the inner side of the coupling sleeve 110. Further, the present disclosure shows two number of the auxiliary element 220 but actual implementations may have more or less numbers of the auxiliary element 220. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary element 220 and the at least one elastomeric element 310 are manufactured using a 2-component or multi-component injection molding process.

FIG. 6 illustrates two configurations of the hose coupling 100 when the coupling sleeve 110 is in the engaged and in the disengaged position, respectively. In the engaged position shown by the top figure, the coupling sleeve 110 can be moved towards an end 610 of the base body 120. The elastomeric element 310 has a C-shaped deformation leading to a slight preload force on the base body 250. In the disengaged position shown by the bottom figure, the coupling sleeve 110 abuts the end 610 of the base body 120 and thus the elastomeric element 310 undergoes a S-shaped deformation associated with a high restoring force on the base body 250. Moreover, in the disengaged position at least part of the locking element (230) is able to move its positional relation to the slot (240)defined in the base body 120. Moreover, the C, and S-shaped deformation are mere illustrative and will depend on many factors relating to the coupling sleeve 110, and the base body 120, such as the annular space between them among other implementations factors.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary element 220 and the at least one elastomeric element 310 are coupled via a channel 510 within the coupling sleeve 110 and are thus manufactured in a single processing step. Role of the elastomeric element 310 is crucial for a safe and risk-free operation of the connector assembly, and their number/material/dimensions will also generally depend on such safety factors among others. Moreover, the present disclosure allows that a hose connector, not shown since any general hose connector may include the coupling sleeve 110 which has the elastomeric element(s) 310 to benefit from the various advantages evident from different embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims. LIST OF ELEMENTS

100’ Conventional Hose Coupling 100 Hose Coupling

110 Coupling Sleeve

120 Base Body

130 Nut

210 Biasing Member

220 Auxiliary Element

226 Water Outlet

230 Locking Element

240 Slot

250 Base Body

310 Elastomeric Element 510 Channel

610 End