Flexible hose with wear indicator
OwnerGus Alexander, John J. Pianettoinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a flexible hose that has an outer jacket which includes a continuous layer and a plurality of protrusions connected to and extending radially outward from the continuous layer. The protrusions are in spaced relation to one another and extend along a longitudinal axis of the hose. The continuous layer has a first color and at least one of the plurality of protrusions has a second color that is different from the first color. When one of the at least one protrusions is abraded, the first color of the continuous layer is revealed in an area below the abraded protrusion, indicating that the continuous layer is susceptible to potentially damaging wear.
Claims20
A flexible hose comprising:
- an outer jacket comprising a continuous layer and a plurality of protrusions connected to and extending radially outward from the continuous layer;
- wherein the protrusions are in spaced relation to one another and extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hose;
- and
- wherein the continuous layer has a first color and at least one of the plurality of protrusions has a second color that is different from the first color.
A flexible hose comprising:
- an outer jacket comprising at least one indicator surface area and at least one wear surface area, the at least one indicator and at least one wear surface areas being positioned adjacent one another;
- the indicator surface area being defined by an exposed surface of a continuous layer having a first color;
- the wear surface area being defined by an exposed surface of a protrusion having a second color, wherein the protrusion is connected to and extends radially outward from the continuous layer;
- and
- wherein the indicator surface area provides notice to a user of the first color and wherein the first color will be exposed when at least a portion of the protrusion is worn through to expose the underlying continuous layer.
A method of detecting wear in an outer cover of a hose, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a hose having an outer jacket comprising a continuous layer having a first color and a plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions of a different second color connected to and extending radially outward from the continuous layer with the protrusions being in spaced relation to one another;
- observing the first color of the continuous layer before use of the hose;
- and
- abrading a portion of at least one of the protrusions wherein the first color of the continuous layer is revealed in an area below the at least one protrusion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.