초록 ▼

A linearly self-actuated hose for use in transporting fluids (liquids, gases, solid particles, and combinations of these three). Hoses (30) and (30b) have a biasing spring (36) extends along the full length, and can comprise single or multiple springs and/or multiple diameter spring coils. Spring (3

A linearly self-actuated hose for use in transporting fluids (liquids, gases, solid particles, and combinations of these three). Hoses (30) and (30b) have a biasing spring (36) extends along the full length, and can comprise single or multiple springs and/or multiple diameter spring coils. Spring (36) is covered with hose cover material (32) on the outside and hose cover material (34) on the inside to form a sealed hose and are bowed inward or outward radially between the individual spring coils depending on the intended use of hose (30) or (30b), respectfully to give the cover materials room to move out of the way when the hose retracts and the coils of spring (36) are forced close together. Hose (30b) is designed with a source end (26) and a output end (68). A pressure control mechanism is used on output end (68) to control the extending and retracting of hose (30b). The Linearly Retractable Hose is operated by changing internal pressure within the hose relative to the ambient pressure on the exterior of the hose. Control of fluid pressure within hose (30b) is what allows the hose to operate as an automatically extendable and retractable hose. The biasing of spring (36) depends on the type of use for the hose. For hose (30b) which will be used as a vacuum hose then the biasing spring (30b) must exert an extending force on the cover material (opposite that for a pressure hose). If the hose is to be used as pressure hose (30) (garden hose, etc.), spring (36) will need to have a bias that exerts a retracting force on cover materials (32) and (34).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hose, comprising:a) a flexible elongated body comprising a first end, a second end, and an interior channel defined along its length for transporting a fluid material from the second end to the first end during use; wherein said flexible elongated body is sufficiently flexible to extend and ret

1. A hose, comprising:a) a flexible elongated body comprising a first end, a second end, and an interior channel defined along its length for transporting a fluid material from the second end to the first end during use; wherein said flexible elongated body is sufficiently flexible to extend and retract linearly along its length between a substantially extended position and a substantially retracted position; b) a biasing means interconnected with said flexible elongated body for generating a first force tending to extend said flexible elongated body longitudinally along its length; c) wherein said first end comprises a connector designed to connect to a vacuum pressure source capable of providing a vacuum pressure substantially below ambient air pressure; d) wherein said second end is adapted to attach to a valve means for selectively allowing and restricting the flow of the fluid material entering said interior channel from the ambient environment, wherein said valve means when restricting the fluid material from entering said second end causes said vacuum pressure source to create a lower pressure within said interior channel, wherein the lower pressure is substantially below ambient pressure, and e) wherein said lower pressure generates a second force opposed to said first force, wherein said second force is sufficiently great to overcome said first force when in the substantially extended position, whereby the second force tends to retract the flexible elongated body longitudinally along its length, and f) a pressure relief valve defined on said hose for bleeding air into said interior channel when the second end is substantially closed-off during use, wherein said pressure relief valve is positioned on the hose between said vacuum pressure source and said valve means. 2. The hose in claim 1, wherein; said pressure relief valve is integrated into said valve means.3. The hose in claim 1, further comprising; a support structure mounted to said flexible elongated body, wherein said support structure is designed to connect and disconnect from said first and/or second ends, wherein said support structure comprises a holding means for securing said flexible elongated body in said substantially retracted position, wherein said support structure comprises a tube designed for conducting the fluid material flowing through the flexible elongated body, wherein said tube is longitudinally slidable with respect to said flexible elongated body and able to extend beyond the end of the flexible elongated body, whereby said tube acts as a hose extension to lengthen the reach of the hose.4. A hose, comprising:a) a flexible elongated body having a first end, a second end, and an interior channel defined along its length for transporting air from the second end to the first end, wherein said first end is designed for attachment to the suction port of a vacuum cleaner, wherein said second end is adapted to receive air from the ambient environment; b) a first biasing means interconnected with said flexible elongated body for generating a first force directed longitudinally along said flexible elongated body and tending to extend said flexible elongated body; c) a valve means attached to said second end for substantially controlling the flow of air through said interior channel, wherein said vacuum cleaner generates a pressure differential between the inside of said interior channel and the ambient environment when said valve means is restricting air flow, wherein said pressure differential causes a second force directed longitudinally along said flexible elongated body and opposed to said first force, wherein said second force magnitude is adjustable between a force greater-than said first force and a force less-than said first force, and d) wherein said flexible elongated body is responsive to said second force and is sufficiently flexible to extend and retract longitudinally along its length in response to said second force; e) wherein said flexible elongated body has a substantially retracted position and a substantially extended position and wherein said flexible elongated body retracts when said second force is greater-than said first force and extends when said second force is less-than said first force; f) a support structure mounted to said flexible elongated body, wherein said support structure is designed to be removably connected to said first and/or second ends, wherein said support structure includes a holding means for holding said flexible elongated body in said substantially retracted position when both said first and second ends are supported by said support structure, and g) wherein said support structure defines a conduit having an air channel connected with said interior channel for transporting the suction air therethrough, wherein said conduit is longitudinally slidable with respect to said flexible elongated body and able to extend beyond at least one end of the flexible elongated body, whereby said conduit acts as a hose extension to lengthen the reach of the hose. 5. The hose in claim 4, wherein said flexible elongated body tends to retract over the outside of said conduit when said second force is greater-than said first force.6. The hose in claim 4, wherein said support structure is defined around the exterior of said flexible elongated body, wherein said flexible elongated body is retractable into said air channel for storage when in said substantially retracted position.7. The hose in claim 4, wherein said support structure is substantially retractable within said interior channel for storage in its substantially retracted position.8. A hose, comprising:a) a flexible elongated body comprising a first end, a second end, and an interior channel defined along its length for transporting air from the second end to the first end during use; wherein the flexible elongated body is sufficiently flexible to extend and retract linearly along its length between a substantially extended position and a substantially retracted position; b) a biasing means interconnected with the flexible elongated body for generating a first force tending to extend the flexible elongated body longitudinally along its length; c) a connector defined on the first end and designed to connect to a vacuum pressure source capable of providing a vacuum pressure substantially below ambient air pressure; d) wherein the second end is adapted to attach to a valve means for selectively allowing and restricting the flow of the air entering the interior channel from the ambient environment, wherein the valve means when restricting the air from entering the second end causes the vacuum pressure source to create a lower pressure substantially below ambient air pressure within the interior channel, and e) wherein the lower pressure generates a second force opposed to the first force wherein the second force is sufficiently great to overcome the first force in the substantially extended position, whereby the second force tends to retract the flexible elongated body longitudinally along its length, and f) a support structure slidably mounted to the flexible elongated body, wherein the support structure comprises a holding means for securing the flexible elongated body in the substantially retracted position, wherein the support structure comprises a tube designed for conducting air flowing through the flexible elongated body, wherein the tube is longitudinally slidable with respect to the flexible elongated body and able to extend beyond the end of the flexible elongated body, whereby the tube acts as a hose extension to lengthen the reach of the hose. 9. The hose in claim 8, wherein; said connector is defined on said support structure, wherein said first end is longitudinally slidable with respect to said support structure.10. The hose in claim 9, wherein said tube is positioned around the exterior of said flexible elongated body for storage in its retracted position.