AU729238B2

AU729238B2 - Protective device for the clamping collar of a flexible hose

Info

Publication number: AU729238B2
Application number: AU56334/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gerard Marbach
Original assignee: Zodiac European Pools SAS
Current assignee: Zodiac European Pools SAS
Priority date: 1997-02-25
Filing date: 1998-02-25
Publication date: 2001-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-25
Also published as: AU5633498A; ZA981573B; FR2760066A1; EP0860641A1; FR2760066B1; CA2230381A1

Description

tb 4 MU I1 28/W/S Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: 5 6334/9 8 Lodged: 25 FEBRUARY 1998 Invention Title: PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR THE CLAMPING COLLAR OF A FLEXIBLE HOSE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us iA Protective-device for the clamping collar of a flexible hose The present invention relates to a protective device for a metal clamping collar of a flexible hose; the said collar comprising a flexible metal band which is equipped, towards a first of its ends, with a clamping member, particularly of the screw type, projecting radially relative to the band and capable of co-operating with the second free end of the band in order to displace the latter and thus clamp the collar around the hose.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates highly diagrammatically a side view of an example of a clamping collar currently available in the trade. The metal collar 1 comprises a flexible metal band 2 equipped, at a first end, with a clamping member designated as a whole by the reference numeral 3. The clamping member 3 consists of a cap-shaped metal yoke 4 which internally supports a drive screw 5 forming an endless screw capable of engaging with transverse notches or slots (not visible in Figure 1) provided in the band 2, the second end of the band 2 being engaged in a tunnel provided at the base of the yoke 3, so as 25 to form a loop having a diameter adjustable by means of i: the screw Such clamping collars have been known for a long time and are entirely satisfactory in their many embodiments.

30 However, these collars have projecting roughnesses which are angular (yoke 3; ends of the screw 5 projecting from the yoke: head 5a, but 51) or cutting (second end 6 of the metal band 2, the said S:.second end projecting from the yoke 2 without being 35 laid against the wound part of the said band) This may result in injuries, particularly when the flexible hose thus equipped rests on the ground in a place where persons, especially children, walk around barefoot: this is the case, for example, as regards -2hoses for feeding or discharging water for garden swimming-pools.

The object of the invention is, therefore, essentially to overcome this disadvantage in such a way that the metal clamping collars can no longer cause injuries, without this resulting in any modification of The structure of the collar or in its operating efficiency.

For this purpose, a protective device is provided, which, being designed according to the invention, is characterized essentially in that it comprises a protective cap formed without sharp angles and shaped to cover the said clamping member and at least that zone of the metal band which is adjacent to the said clamping member and where the second band end emerging from the yoke of the clamping member extends, as a result of which the protective cap overlaps the member and the second end of the metal band, the said second end projecting from the said clamping member when the collar is clamped to the hose.

Such a device may economically consist of semi-rigid synthetic material: produced by injection moulding, it may have rounded or at least softened angles, and its semi-rigidity makes it less aggressive.

This device may be fastened to the collar by any suitable means, for example by snapping, with appropriate studs being provided.

However, it appears that, in a much more advantageous embodiment, the protective cap belongs to 30 a ring suitable for closely surrounding the clamping collar. In this case, the entire ring consists of the said semi-rigid synthetic material and this material may advantageously have a characteristic of elastic deformability.

This ring or bracelet can, admittedly, be formed integrally and be fitted over the collar clamped on the hose by being elastically deformed radially.

However, this makes it necessary to fit it to the hose previously before the latter is fastened to its 1 3 receiving connector and then, after the clamping collar has been mounted, to position the said ring over the latter by means of a somewhat difficult manipulation.

It thus seems more advantageous if the protective device, as well as the clamping collar, is in the form of an elongate strip, a first end of which is provided with the aforesaid projecting protective cap. Preferably, the second end of the elongate strip is equipped with a slot suitable for covering the clamping member of the collar in order to anchor the said second end of the elongate strip to the collar, so that the strip is first anchored at its second end to the clamping member of the collar and then wound and clamped around the clamping collar and, finally, the protective cap is fitted onto the clamping member of the collar. In order to complete this attachment and prevent them from coming apart unintentionally, it is possible for the protective cap to be equipped internally with turn-down tongues suitable for bearing on the ends of the clamping member of the collar and for frictionally retaining the cap in the position fitted to the clamping member.

In order to make it easier to manipulate the device, such as has just been described, there may advantageously be provision for equipping the first end of the elongate strip with a gripping cap at the front of the protective cap.

By means of the arrangements according to the invention which are mentioned above, a protective S: 30 device is formed which guards against the risks of injuries liable to be caused by the aggressive roughnesses of the clamping collar, the said protective device is easy and inexpensive to produce and easy to *e position and is not bulky.

The invention will be understood better from a reading of the following detailed description of some embodiments given purely as non-limiting examples. This description refers to the accompanying drawings in which 0 -4- Figure 2 is a partially sectional diagrammatic view of a protective device designed according to the invention, shown in its operative position on a clamping collar; Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a protective device according to the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment, which is preferred, of a protective device according to the invention, shown in the inoperative position; Figures 5A and 5B are respectively a partial sectional view and a partial bottom view of the protective device of Figure 4, illustrating an especially advantageous production detail; and Figure 6 is a partial view, partially in section, of the protective device of Figure 4, equipped with the improvement of Figure 5 and shown, in section, in the operating position on a clamping collar.

Referring first of all to Figure 2, provision is made for combining with the collar 1 a protective cap 7 shaped to cover the clamping member 3 and a zone of the metal band 2 adjacent to the said clamping member, namely the zone in which the free end 6 of the said band, said free end emerging from the clamping member 3, is liable to extend.

Thus, as shown in Figure 2, the protective cap 7 has a dome-shaped part 8 overlapping the clamping member 3 and protecting, in particular, the sharp-edged 30 parts of the latter (the screw head 5a and the screw S"tip 5b which emerge from the yoke Contiguous with this dome-shaped part 8 is a part in the form of a curved band 9, extending from the base of the domeshaped part 8 and having a width at least equal to that of the underlying band 2, 6. If appropriate, the part in the form of a curved band 9 may have two small lateral wings (not shown) which project radially towards the inside of the curve and which serve as lateral stops for the retention of the underlying bands 2, 6.

The protective cap 7 is formed without sharp angles and may be produced by injection moulding from a semi-flexible plastic, of which the relative flexibility, along with the absence of a sharp angle, contributes to preventing injuries.

A protective cap 7 as described above may be fastened to the clamping collar 1 by snapping, for example by providing studs suitable for co-operating with the yoke and/or the collar. However, such a solution, although being technically feasible, does not appear to be very satisfactory in terms of the firmness of the fastening made in this way.

It therefore seems desirable to design the protective cap 7 in combination with other more efficient means.

In Figure 3, the protective cap 7 is incorporated in a ring or bracelet 10 which is produced from a synthetic material having a characteristic of relative elasticity, so as to make it possible to fit the device to the hose and therefore to the collar 1 which it then grips elastically. In other words, the part in the form of a curved band 9 of the device 7 of 25 Figure 2 is extended in order to meet the base of the dome-shaped part 8 at the other end of the latter.

However, producing the protective device of Figure 3 makes it necessary to use a synthetic material S: which has characteristics of relative elastic 30 deformability for the bracelet 10 and of relative rigidity for the cap 8. Although such a solution is not technically impossible, it may nevertheless prove e relatively costly both as regards the cost of the material used and as regards the cost of the manufacturing process.

In a solution which is much simpler in all respects (manufacture, use) and less complicated and which is therefore a preferred solution at the present time, the device is produced in the form of an open A 6 bracelet or an elongate strip, as illustrated in Figure 4.

The elongate strip 11 is produced from semi-rigid plastic, giving it the relative flexibility which makes it possible for it to be fitted around the clamping collar 1, as explained below. In the vicinity of a first of its ends, the elongate strip 11 is shaped to form the protective cap 7 together with its domeshaped part 8. In order to make it easier to manipulate the device, the elongate strip 11 may advantageously have a gripping end tab 12 beyond the done-shaped part 8.

At its opposite end or second end 14, the elongate strip 11ii is equipped with an oblong slot 13, the dimensions of which are at least equal to the corresponding dimensions of the clamping member 3 of the collar 1 which it is to equip.

In order to install the protective device on the collar i, the second end is first arranged on the clamping member 3 of the collar, the yoke 4 passing through the slot 13, as illustrated in Figure 6. Then, the elongate strip 11 being wound and tensioned around the collar i, thereby trapping the free end 6 of the latter, the cap is arranged on the clamping member 3 so as to cover the latter. The elongate strip 11 may have a dimensional variation in terms of width and/or thickness over some of its length, this being suitable for giving it relative elasticity contributing to S: causing it to fit the contour of the clamping collar closely and blocking the latter elastically on the clamping member of the collar by means of the ends of the said strip.

:In order to prevent the cap 8 from coming apart inopportunely, it is desirable to combine with it retaining means which may advantageously consist, in a simple way and without extra cost, of two foldable tongues 15 extending the elongate strip 11 and under the cap 8, as illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B. When the cap 8 is pressed onto the clamping member 3 (Figure 7 the two tongues 15 are folded inwards and bear elastically against the ends of the clamping member 3, this being sufficient to keep the cap 8 in place by friction.

As is self-evident and as already emerges from the foregoing, the invention is in no way limited to those of its embodiments and modes of use which have been more particularly considered; on the contrary, it embraces all its variants.

*o *o *oo o

Claims

1. A protective device for a metal clamping collar of a flexible hose, the said collar including a flexible metal band which is equipped, towards a first of its ends, with a clamping member, projecting radially relative to the band and capable of co-operating with the second free end of the band in order to displace the latter and thus clamp the collar around the hose, wherein the device includes a protective cap shaped to cover the said clamping member and at least one zone of the metal band which is adjacent to the said clamping member, the said protective cap being formed without sharp angles, as a result of which the protective cap overlaps the member and the second end of the metal band, the said second end projecting from the said clamping member when the collar is S clamped to the hose.

2. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the protective cap belongs to a ring suitable for closely surrounding the clamping collar.

3. The protective device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protective cap oeeo S: consists of a semi-rigid synthetic material. 0 eo

4. The protective device according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the entire ring S* consists of the said semi-rigid synthetic material, and in that this material has a characteristic of elastic deformability.

The protective device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the device is in the form of the elongate strip, a first end of which is provided with the aforesaid projecting protective cap.

6. The protective device according to claim 5, wherein the second end of the elongate strip is equipped with a slot suitable for covering the clamping member of the collar in order to anchor the said second end of the elongate strip to the R ollar. 9

7. The protective device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective cap is equipped internally with turn-down tongues suitable for bearing on the ends of the clamping member of the collar.

8. The protective device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, whereinthe first end of the elongate strip is equipped with a gripping cap at the front of the protective cap.

9. The protective device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping member is of the screw type. DATED this 26 th day of October, 2000. SEVYLOR INTERNATIONAL WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 4TH FLOOR "DURACK CENTRE" 263 ADELAIDE TERRACE PERTH WA 6000 *•o o *o