Hose coupling with a stiffening sleeve

Claim 1

A hose coupling attached to the end of a hose, the hose coupling comprising: a coupling portion attached at one end of the hose, the coupling portion projecting beyond the hose end for joining the hose coupling with an external mateable coupling; and a generally tubular sleeve portion integrally formed with the coupling portion and extending rearward from the coupling portion along the outer surface of the hose, the sleeve portion being molded onto the outer surface and configured and dimensioned so as to provide an elongated handle for griping the hose coupling with the hand, when joining the hose coupling with the external mateable coupling, and to discourage bending of the hose along the length of the sleeve portion, the sleeve portion having an inner surface in contact with the outer surface of the hose; the inner surface of the sleeve portion including a plurality of tabs, and a plurality of through holes being formed in the hose, the plurality of tabs extending from the inner surface of the sleeve portion through the plurality of through holes formed in the hose so as to secure the coupling to the hose, wherein the plurality of tabs are integrally formed by molding the sleeve portion onto the outer surface of the hose.