IE79675B1 - Tubing with incorporated measuring scale - Google Patents

Description

Tubing with Incorporated Measuring Scale Field of the Invention The present invention relates to flexible tubing marked with a measuring scale. In particular the invention relates to an electrical extension cable or a water hose which may also be used as a measuring device.

Background of the Invention Water hoses and electrical extension cables are known. In 25 particular electrical extension cables are used to effectively change the location of electrical output, e.g. for a domestic electrical supply an extension cable consists of a plug which fits the domestic socket, an insulated electrical cable, and an outlet socket on that end of the cable opposite to the plug. Normally the extension cable also has provided a reel around which the cable may be wound. This provides a neat and convenient way of storing the cable.

Extension cables are also known for industrial applications where various types of extension cable are used for differing electrical voltages whereby different sizes and shapes of electrical fittings may be used as plugs and sockets. These cables can be quite varied in length.

Similarly, water hoses are used to change the location of water - 2 output e.g. in a domestic situation for watering plants in the garden, washing cars and the like. Water hoses also find industrial application. Like electrical cables, water hoses may be provided with reels around which the hose may be wound.

Object of the Invention I It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible tubing which operates in the normal manner either for domestic or industrial applications and which also incorporates a measuring device.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a windable, flexible tubing characterised in that the outer surface of the tubing is marked with a linear scale or scales, the scale starting at zero at one end of the tubing and reaching a maximum value at the other end of the tubing, such that the tubing may be used as a measuring device.

The flexible tubing may be a water hose or an electrical extension cable.

The electrical extension cable may comprise a plug, an insulated electrical wire and a socket characterised in that the insulating cover of the insulated electrical wire is marked with the linear scale or scales.

In a preferred embodiment said scale or scales is a metric and/or imperial scale.

The tubing may be either round or flattened in cross-section.

Suitably said scale or scales are printed on the outer surface of the tubing using a bubble jet printer, laser etching techniques, heated typesetters, a roller or shrink sleeve or a combination thereof, * adhesive labelling printing, coating, thermoplastic printing, ordinary printing using a variety of inks or by magnetic encoding.

The socket and the plug of the electrical extension cable are those fittings which are standard for various voltages. - 3 Preferably the electrical extension cable or the water hose further comprises a reel.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of an electrical extension cable device in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 2 shows a side view of one embodiment of a water hose in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments As shown in Figure 1 the electrical extension cable 1 consists of a plug 2, an insulated electrical wire 3, a socket 4, and a reel 5.

The plug 2 and the socket 4 shown are for a typical domestic supply.

The plug 2 and the socket 4 could alternatively be a plug and socket used for higher or lower voltages and/or for waterproof fitting.

The socket 4 is incorporated in the reel 5. The insulating cover 6 of the insulated electrical wire 3 has markings 7. The markings 7 define a numerical scale 8. The numerical scale 8 is a metric scale indicating metres and centimetres. This scale could equally be an imperial scale in for example feet and inches. A second scale may be incorporated on the insulating cover 6 if so desired.

The scale 8 starts at zero at that end closest to the plug 2 and reaches its maximum value at that end of the insulated electrical wire closest to the socket 4.

The scale 8 may be printed on the insulating cover 6 using a variety of state of the art printing methods.

Figure 2 shows a water hose in acordance with the invention. The water hose 11 is made of a flexible tubing and is wound about a reel 12. The hose 11 has an adjustable nozzle 13 at one end. The outer surface 14 of the hose 11 has markings 15 which define a numerical scale 16. The scale 16 is similar to the scale 8 of the electrical extension cable shown in Figure 1 and described above.

Claims (8)

1. Flexible tubing characterised in that the outer surface thereof is marked with a linear scale or scales, the scale starting at zero at one end of the tubing and reaching a maximum value at the other end of the tubing, such that the tubing may be used as a measuring device.

2. Flexible tubing as claimed in claim 1 selected from a water hose or electrical extension cable.

3. Flexible tubing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the electrical extension cable comprises a plug, an insulated electrical wire and a socket and the insulating cover of the insulated electrical wire is marked with a linear scale or scales.

4. Flexible tubing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the linear scale or scales is a metric and/or linear scale.

5. Flexible tubing as claimed in any preceding claim selected from round or flattened cross-section tubing.

6. Flexible tubing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scale or scales are printed on the outer surface of the tubing using a bubble jet printer, laser etching techniques, heated typesetters, a roller or shrink sleeve or a combination thereof, adhesive labelling printing, coating, thermoplastic printing, ordinary printing using a variety of inks or by magnetic encoding.

7. Flexible tubing as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a reel about which the tubing may be wound.

8. Flexible tubing substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.