Pipe joints or couplings – Swivel – Pipe in socket type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-24
2004-05-11
Bochna, David (Department: 3679)
Pipe joints or couplings
Swivel
Pipe in socket type
C285S903000, C285S921000, C285S319000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06733046
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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
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.
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.
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. patent application Ser. No. 10/296,779, one of the patent applications resulting from such PCT international publication.
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.
Various types of hose swivel apparatus have been developed in the pnor 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. Various hose swivel devices of the prior art, however, have a number of problems and disadvantages, some of which are described below.
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.
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.
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 than the problematic hose nuts referred to above.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This invention addresses such the problems and shortcomings in prior hose swivel connection apparatus.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
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.
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.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved hose swivel connection apparatus allowing quick and easy coupling of hose s
Bochna David
Jansson Shupe & Munger Ltd
Pollvergnuegen
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