Pipe joints or couplings – Both members pliable and nonmetal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-11
2001-09-11
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Pipe joints or couplings
Both members pliable and nonmetal
C138S156000, C024S400000, C285S243000, C285S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286876
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to interconnectable, insulated flexible ventilation ducts. More specifically, the invention relates to preconditioned air ducts.
2. Related Art
During the time an aircraft is located adjacent to an airport gate, preconditioned air can be transported to the aircraft from a ground-based heating or air conditioning system. This is done through the use of insulated flexible duct which connects the heating or air conditioning unit of the airport with the internal ventilation system of the aircraft.
These ducts have been manufactured with various materials and in varying lengths to accommodate different types of aircraft. They are typically formed of several segments connected together through releasable connections. Depending upon the type of the aircraft being serviced, it is necessary to add or delete segments of the duct to establish a suitable and appropriate connection of the aircraft ventilation system with the ground-based unit. The releasable connections can comprise zippers or hook and loop fasteners, such as VELCRO®. An example of a duct assembly employing hook and loop fasteners to interconnect adjacent segments of the ducts shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,341 (Larson), issued Nov. 29, 1994.
The need exists for more durable ventilation duct, given the harsh rigors of its typical use on airport ramps, along with a need for a greater degree of protection for the insulation and for the connections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a hose for delivery of pre-conditioned air between a ground-based heating-ventilating unit and an internal ventilation system of an aircraft. The hose includes at least two hose segments, each hose segment having at least one end provided with a fastener interconnectable with a fastener on an end of an adjacent hose segment. Also, each hose segment has an exterior layer formed of a single piece of flexible material wherein opposing longitudinal sides of the piece of material are joined at a single longitudinal seam. In one aspect of the invention, the fasteners at each end of adjacent hose segments each comprise a rank of teeth, one of the fasteners also having a zipper slide, so that adjacent ranks of teeth are interconnectable by movement of the zipper slide.
In another aspect of the invention, an insulation layer is disposed inwardly of the exterior layer and the insulation layer comprises a closed cell foam material. The insulation layer is preferably bonded to the exterior layer with a hot-melt adhesive.
In another aspect of the invention, the exterior layer is formed from an abrasion-resistant material. The exterior layer is preferably vinyl or coated nylon.
In a further aspect of the invention at least one protective flap is located adjacent the fastener on one hose segment, adapted to cover the fastener and an interconnected fastener when a pair of hose segments are connected to each other.
In a further embodiment, the invention relates to a hose for delivery of preconditioned air between a ground-based heating-ventilating unit and an internal ventilation system of an aircraft. The hose includes at least two hose segments, each hose segment having at least one end provided with a fastener interconnectable with a fastener on an end of an adjacent hose segment. At least two protective flaps, separate from the fastener on one hose segment, are positioned and adapted to cooperate with each other to conceal interconnected fasteners when the at least two hose segments are connected to each other.
In one aspect of this embodiment, the at least two protective flaps cooperate to surround the periphery of the hose. In another aspect, the two protective flaps each have a hook or a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener. The hose segment and the adjacent hose segment have the other portion of a hook and a loop fastener. Thus, the hook and loop fasteners can be interengaged to retain the protective flap against the hose segment or the adjacent hose segment. Preferably, the hook and loop fastener is provided on an interior surface of the two protective flaps.
In yet another aspect of this embodiment of the invention, the interior surface of one protective flap is connected to the exterior surface of an adjacent protective flap by a hook and a loop fastener to fasten the protective flaps to one another.
A further aspect of this embodiment has the protective flaps joined together around the periphery of the hose. Further, each hose segment preferably has an exterior layer formed of a single piece of flexible material wherein opposing longitudinal sides of the piece of material are joined at a single longitudinal seam. The longitudinal sides are joined by welding to form the single seam or, alternatively, by stitching to form the single seam.
In another aspect of this invention, the fasteners at each end of adjacent hose segments each comprise a rank of teeth. One of the fasteners also has a zipper slide, so that adjacent ranks of teeth are interconnectable by movement of the zipper slide. Yet further, each hose segment has an exterior layer with an insulation layer disposed inwardly of the exterior layer. The insulation layer preferably comprises a closed cell foam material. Typically, the insulation layer is bonded to the exterior layer.
The exterior layer is preferably formed from an abrasion-resistant material, either vinyl or coated nylon.
In a further embodiment, the invention relates to a hose for delivery of pre-conditioned air between a ground-based heating-ventilating unit and an internal ventilation system of an aircraft. The hose includes at least two hose segments, each hose segment having at least one end provided with a fastener interconnectable with a fastener on an end of an adjacent hose segment. One protective flap is located on one hose segment and is adapted to cover interconnected fasteners when two hose segments are connected to each other. The protective flap is retained against the hose segment or an adjacent hose segment by a hook and a loop fastener. Also, one protective flap has a pair of opposed ends each of which can be secured to an adjacent protective flap by a hook and a loop fastener, preferably around the periphery of the hose.
In a further embodiment, the invention relates to a hose for delivery of pre-conditioned air between a ground-based heating-ventilating unit and an internal ventilation system of an aircraft. The hose includes at least two hose segments, each hose segment having at least one end provided with a fastener interconnectable with a fastener on an end of an adjacent hose segment. At least one protective flap is located on one hose segment, adapted to cover interconnected fasteners when two hose segments are connected to each other. The fasteners at each end of adjacent hose segments each comprise a rank of teeth, one of the fasteners also having a zipper slide, so that adjacent ranks of teeth are interconnectable by movement of the zipper slide.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5358012 (1994-10-01), Kish
patent: 5368341 (1994-11-01), Larson
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patent: 5859385 (1999-01-01), Nicolai
patent: 5947158 (1999-09-01), Gross et al.
Jones, Douglas W; Jones on Sewing for Bookbinding, “Sewing the Sections to a Cover” [online]. University of Iowa [Retrieved on Jan. 12, 2000 @ 10:53 a.m. EST] Retrieved from the Internet: <http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/book/sew.html>.*
Manual for Singer 221k Featherweight (Part Three) [online]. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2001 @ 11:00 a.m. EST. Retrieved from the Internet:<http://www.demon.co.uk/quinn/manuals/221k/index3.html.*
Advertisement flyer for the LRLPCA Hose by AirTech, Inc., Jamaica, New York.
Gooch Ralph LeRoy
Jasperse Douglas Scott
Ward Roderick K.
Browne Lynne H.
Dunwoody Aaron M.
Flexfab Horizons International, Inc.
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