# US 10,865,913 B2 · Flexible hose > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,913 B2 - Document ID: US10865913B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/762,285 - Filed: 2016-10-28 - Published: 2018-10-04 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-30 - Assignees: Euroequipe S.R.L. - Applicants: Euroequipe S.R.L. - Inventors: Paolo De Nora - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865913B2 ## CPC - F16L 11/112: having reinforcements embedded in the wall - B29C 48/0019: {combined with shaping by flattening, folding or bending} - B29C 48/10: flexible, e.g. blown foils - B29C 48/21: the layers being joined at their surfaces - B29C 53/30: of tubes (by blow-moulding B29C49/00) - B32B 1/08: Tubular products - B32B 3/28: characterised by a layer comprising a deformed thin sheet {, i.e. the layer having its entire thickness deformed out of the plane}, e.g. corrugated, crumpled (B32B29/08 takes precedence) - B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin - F16L 11/08: with reinforcements embedded in the wall (F16L11/11 takes precedence) - F16L 11/11: with corrugated wall - F16L 11/115: having reinforcements not embedded in the wall - B32B 2597/00: Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract A flexible hose including a first tubular element of corrugated shape having in longitudinal cross-section a series of outer crests and a second tubular element of lightweight polymeric material externally associated with said first tubular element so as to fill at least partially a corresponding series of troughs alternately shaped by said outer crests. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible hose for gardening, comprising: a first tubular element of rigid polymeric material having corrugated shape and having in longitudinal cross-section a series of outer crests having a triangular profile, to be axially flexible, the first tubular element including a radially exterior surface and a radially interior surface, the radially interior surface defining a flow path for fluid through the flexible hose, a second tubular element of lightweight polymeric material externally associated with said first tubular element to fill at least partially a corresponding series of troughs on the radially exterior surface alternately shaped by said outer crests, wherein the lightweight polymeric material partially fills the series of troughs to define a corresponding series of hollow chambers of annular shape at radially inward bottoms of the series of troughs; wherein the second tubular element has a cell structure having different characteristics in relation to different areas of the flexible hose; wherein the outer crests of the first tubular element have respective troughs aligned to define a groove longitudinal to the first tubular element; a reinforcing thread element housed in the groove, predisposed to be embedded in the lightweight polymeric material of the second tubular element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible hose according to claim 1, wherein said outer crests of said first tubular element have a scalene triangle profile. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flexible hose according to claim 1, wherein said chambers of annular shape are formed by sealing between said first tubular element and said second tubular element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible hose according to claim 1, wherein said second tubular element is externally connected with said first tubular element by coextrusion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flexible hose according to claim 1, wherein said outer crests of said first tubular element have, in an extended configuration, a pitch of a length of an order of one-third of an internal diameter of the first tubular element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flexible hose according to claim 1, and further comprising an external coating layer overlapped to said second tubular element. ### Claim 7 A method for manufacturing a flexible hose, comprising the steps of: providing: a first tubular element of rigid polymeric material having corrugated shape and having in longitudinal cross-section a series of outer crests having a triangular profile, to be axially flexible, the first tubular element including a radially exterior surface and a radially interior surface, the radially interior surface defining a flow path for fluid through the flexible hose, a second tubular element of lightweight polymeric material externally associated with said first tubular element to fill at least partially a corresponding series of troughs on the radially exterior surface alternately shaped by said outer crests, wherein the lightweight polymeric material partially fills the series of troughs to define a corresponding series of hollow chambers of annular shape at radially inward bottoms of the series of troughs; that the second tubular element has a cell structure having different characteristics in relation to different areas of the flexible hose; that the outer crests of the said first tubular element have respective troughs aligned to define a groove longitudinal to the first tubular element; a reinforcing thread element housed in the groove, predisposed to be embedded in the lightweight polymeric material of the second tubular element; a. forming, by an extrusion device and a subsequent corrugation device, the first tubular element; b. arranging, by a compacting device, said first tubular element in a compacted configuration; c. associating externally with said compacted first tubular element, by a coextrusion device, the second tubular element of lightweight polymeric material so as to fill at least partially the corresponding series of troughs alternately shaped by said outer crests; d. cooling the hose obtained by said step of co-extrusion; e. operating a drawing of said hose at one end thereof to obtain a calibrated release of said compacted first tubular element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, and further comprising performing the coextrusion of said second tubular element on said compacted first tubular element in an absence of air. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, and further comprising operating steps a-e in sequence with aid of a calibrated rod longitudinally inserted inside said first tubular element.