Hose Restraint Apparatus

• US 20080017731A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CNH Canada Limited (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Canada Limited (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Kowalchuk, Trevor
• Application Number:
  US11/832,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20080017731A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/195
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/084 Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/00 Arrangements for connecting hoses to rigid members; Rigid hose connectors, i.e. single members engaging both hoses
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0844 by means of a ring pivoting so as to lie against the tube

Abstract

A restraint apparatus configured to selectively attach a flexible hose at an outlet structure of a manifold of an air conveyance system is provided. The restraint apparatus includes a restraint member having a flat, planar shape. The restraint member includes a first opening located at a first end and a second opening located at a second end opposite the first end. The first and second ends of the restraint member are configured to be biased toward each other such that the first opening is operable to receive the outlet port therethrough and the second opening is operable to receive the hose therethrough. Upon release of the first and second ends of the restraint member, the first and second ends are operable to exert a bias force against the outlet structure and the hose, respectively, in a manner that resists removal of the hose from the outlet structure.

Claims

1. A method of restraining a hose at an outlet structure of a low-pressure air distribution system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a restraint member having an original shape that is generally flat, the restraint apparatus comprising a material composition characterized with a shape memory such that the retainer element reverts substantially back to the original shape from release in a distorted position;

receiving the outlet structure through a first opening of the retainer element;

distorting the restraint apparatus in a generally U-shaped configuration; and

receiving an end of a hose through a second opening of the retainer element, the second opening located opposite the first opening of the retainer element;

inserting hose into the outlet structure; and

releasing the restraint apparatus from the biased U-shaped configuration such that the restraint apparatus applies a bias force operable to restrain the flexible hose at the outlet structure.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an edge that defines the first opening engages the outlet structure and at least a portion of an edge portion that defines the second opening engages the hose so as to restrain the hose in the outlet structure.