Hose structure

Claim 2

A material transporting hose of integral construction comprising a body of flexible resilient material including at least one ply of reinforcing material extending generally circumferentially thereof to provide reinforcement against radial forces within the hose and an outer cover surrounding said reinforcing material, a pair of circumferentially spaced longitudinally reinforced portions providing primary resistance to elongation of the hose and constriction of the hose opening caused by excessive end loads, said portions surrounded by said cover so as to be disposed completely within said body on opposite sides of the cross section thereof, said portions each having at least one elongated stress-resisting reinforcing member embedded therein with said member extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hose and capable of withstanding substantial longitudinal tensile stresses applied to the end of the hose to provide the hose with longitudinal strength, and remaining portions free of said reinforcing members disposed adjacent to said longitudinally reinforced portions on each side thereof with said longitudinally reinforced portions having a total combined perImeter equal to or less than the total combined perimeter of the remaining portions of the cross-section of said body therebetween to provide a hose construction in which at least one-half of the hose remains flexible in a longitudinal direction thereby enabling the hose to be more easily reeled upon itself and less likely to develop kinks.

Claim 3

The hose as claimed in claim 1 wherein said longitudinally reinforced portions include a plurality of said members with substantially an equal number of said members in each portion to provide a balanced symmetrical hose construction.

Claim 4

The hose as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said longitudinally reinforced portion comprises at least two parallel layers of said members.

Claim 5

The hose as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body comprises a plurality of plies of reinforcing material therein and said members are interposed between any two said plies.

Claim 6

The hose as claimed in claim 1 wherein said members are reinforcing cords comprised of at least one material selected from the group consisting of nylon, rayon, polyester, fiber glass and metal.

Claim 7

The hose as claimed in claim 1 wherein said portions are disposed substantially at the neutral axis of said hose.

Claim 8

The hose as claimed in claim 5 wherein said reinforcing material extends in a biased relationship to said cords with said members being comprised of polyester and said reinforcing material being comprised of nylon.

Claim 9

The hose as claimed in claim 6 wherein said hose has a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration and said longitudinally reinforced portions define a total combined arc of 180* or less.

Claim 10

The hose as claimed in claim 8 wherein said longitudinally reinforced portions define a total combined arc of 120* or less.

Claim 11

The hose as claimed in claim 8 wherein each said portion extends in an arc of about 45* or less on each side of the neutral axis of the hose.

Claim 12

The hose as claimed in claim 9 wherein each said portion extends in an arc of about 30* or less on each side of the neutral axis of the hose.

Claim 13

A fluid transporting hose of a generally circular cross-sectional configuration having a reinforced body of flexible elastomeric material including an inner tube and an outer cover of elastomeric material and at least one ply of reinforcing material disposed between said tube and cover extending generally circumferentially about said body to provide reinforcement against radial forces within the hose, a pair of spaced longitudinally reinforced strips providing primary resistance to elongation of the hose and constriction of the hose opening caused by excessive end loads, said strips surrounded by said cover so as to be disposed completely within said body on diametrically opposite sides of the cross-section thereof, said cover having a substantially uniform thickness with no substantial protuberances therein, said strips including a plurality of elongated stress-resisting reinforcing cords embedded therein and disposed in at least one layer and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hose with said cords capable of withstanding substantial longitudinal tensile stresses applied to the end of the hose to provide the hose with longitudinal strength with the remainder of the cross section of said body being free of said cords, said strips having a total combined circumferential dimension substantially less than the circumferential dimension of the remainder of the cross section of said body to provide an integral hose construction in which a majority of the hose remains flexible in a longitudinal direction thereby enabling the hose to be more easily reeled upon itself and less likely to develop kinks.

Claim 14

A fluid transporting hose of a generally circular cross-sectional configuration having a reinforced body of flexible elastomeric material including an inner tube and an outer cover of elastomeric material and at least one ply of reinforcing material disposed between said tube and cover extending generally circumferentially about said body to provide reinforcement against radial forces within the hose, a pair of spaced longitudinally reinforced strips providing primary resistance to elongation of the hose and constriction of the hose opening caused by excessive end loads, said strips surrounded by said cover so as to be disposed completely within said body on diametrically opposite sides of the cross-section thereof, said cover having a substantially uniform thickness with no substantial protuberances therein, said strips including a plurality of elongated stress-resisting reinforcing cords embedded therein and disposed in at least one layer and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hose with said cords capable of withstanding substantial longitudinal tensile stresses applied to the end of the hose to provide the hose with longitudinal strength with the remainder of the cross section of said body being free of said cords, said strips having a total combined circumferential dimension substantially less than the circumferential dimension of the remainder of the cross section of said body to provide an integral hose construction in which a majority of the hose remains flexible in a longitudinal direction thereby enabling the hose to be more easily reeled upon itself and less likely to develop kinks.

Claim 15

The hose as claimed in claim 12 wherein said body comprises a plurality of plies of reinforcing material therein and said strips are interposed between any two said plies substantially at the neutral axis of said hose.

Claim 16

The hose as claimed in clAim 13 wherein said strips define a total combined arc of 180* or less.

Claim 17

The hose as claimed in claim 14 wherein said strips define a total combined arc of 120* or less.

Claim 18

The hose as claimed in claim 14 wherein each said strip extends in an arc of about 45* or less on each side of the neutral axis of the hose.

Claim 19

The hose as claimed in claim 16 wherein each said strip extends in an arc of about 30* or less on each side of the neutral axis of the hose.