Garden Hose With Metal Sheath And Fabric Cover
Patent No. US11732826 (titled "Garden Hose With Metal Sheath And Fabric Cover") was filed by E Mishan & Sons Inc on Nov 8, 2021.
What is this patent about?
’826 is related to the field of garden hoses, specifically addressing improvements to hoses that incorporate a flexible metal sheath. These metal sheaths, while providing durability, can scratch surfaces and become slippery when wet, creating usability issues for consumers.
The underlying idea behind ’826 is to improve the user experience of metal-sheathed garden hoses by adding a fabric sheath over the metal. This fabric layer provides a softer, more grippable exterior, mitigating the scratching and slipperiness problems associated with bare metal.
The claims of ’826 focus on a garden hose comprising an inner polymer tube for water transport, a metal sheath providing structural support and protection, and a fabric sheath covering the metal sheath. The fabric sheath is secured to the metal sheath using constricting bands positioned near shoulders on the metal sheath near each end of the hose.
In practice, the hose functions by having the inner tube carry water under pressure, while the metal sheath protects the inner tube from damage and allows the hose to flex without kinking. The fabric sheath then provides a tactile and protective outer layer. The constricting bands ensure the fabric sheath remains in place, preventing it from sliding or bunching up along the length of the hose.
This design differentiates itself from prior art by adding the fabric sheath to address the specific problems of scratching and slipperiness. Unlike hoses with bare metal sheaths, this design offers a more user-friendly experience. The fabric is not directly attached to the metal sheath, allowing for some relative movement and maintaining flexibility, while the constricting bands provide securement without hindering the hose's overall bendability.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2020s when ’826 was filed, garden hoses were typically constructed with inner tubes made of flexible polymer materials. At a time when metal sheaths were commonly used to protect these inner tubes, the metal sheaths themselves could pose problems such as scratching surfaces or becoming slippery. When hardware or software constraints made adding an additional protective layer non-trivial, alternative solutions were needed to address these issues.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because they believed the claimed garden hose was novel and non-obvious. No prior art disclosed a hose with a polymer inner tube for conveying water between couplers, a metal sheath with shoulders near the couplers, and a fabric sheath fixed to the metal sheath by constricting bands at those shoulders.
Claims
The patent has 12 claims, with claim 1 being independent. Independent claim 1 is directed to a garden hose with a specific layered construction including an inner tube, metal sheath, and fabric sheath. The dependent claims elaborate on the features of the garden hose described in claim 1, such as the materials of the sheaths, the burst pressure, and the construction of the couplers.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11732826
- Application Number
- US17521376
- Filing Date
- Nov 8, 2021
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Apr 13, 2042
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents