Bungee Garden Hose

The bungee hose is another new type of Dynamic Garden Hose. More correctly "RETRACTABLE ELASTIC BUNGEE HOSE"　－ US patent No. 9,182,0587 B2 titled "RETRACTABLE ELASTIC BUNGEE HOSE".

I hit a similar idea before by considering the function of an accordion (a musical instrument) but gave up as the hose is too long. Also I hit an idea of the use of reinforced braided fabric (like a net) tube (sleeve) as a rubber hose cover but gave it up as it becomes shorter (not longer) and the diameter becomes larger when the pressure is applied inside or pushing force is applied in the axial direction.

The document explains well the mechanism of the outer fabric, which may be the very key for this patent. Anyway it is patented like X-Hose. The explanation of his patent document is however better and have more engineering explanations than that of X-Hose.

The points are:

1) The material of the outer tube is generally the fabric like X-Hose but reinforce braided tube unlike X-hose.

2) The outer tube has two stages - one "extended" and two "fully extended".

3) Extension is rather small at least 1.25 times (first stage) x 1.10 times (2nd stage) = 1.375 times although potentially more than 3 times or even more than 6 times under certain conditions.

4) Retention is quite good (maintaining the pressure). (This contradicts with our testing of two hoses from China)

5) Besides the water pressure the pulling force is considered - an additional tension (as a result of pulling by the user). So you can extend it by tension (pulling) force up to the maximum extensibility of the outer tube (not that of the inner tube).

6) Contraction is limited by the outer fabric tube, not the inner tube natural contraction.

7) Existence of the middle cover (fabric or polymer is adapted to be sticky and shifts with the inner tube or the outer tube), which reduces the radially expanding force of the inner hose due to the water pressure against the outer tube. Without the middle cover the axial extension of the outer tube will be restricted. (This middle tube is not seen in our two samples from China)

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The document

a) refers - the patent of spring biased hose and elastic biased hose (X-Hose).

b) shows ＜braided polyester, hollow braided, reinforced＞ besides woven polyester. The details are found in the document. (This technology seems the key.)

c) says (The outer tube) can be coated with a wear resistant material. (I tried some methods before to make it water proof, but only very limited success).

d) says more beautiful than X-Hose when retracted.

e) says that the new outer tube structure reduces the friction between the inner tube and outer tube. (Proof is required).

f) says that smooth operation (to expand and retract) comes form the periodical repetition of the bonds between the inner tube and the outer tube, which may reduce the friction.

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The two samples from China are similar and have a simpler structure to but not the same as the those shown in the patent document. For instance the inner tube is a simple rubber tube like the one found in a X-hose.


For further information please contact

Asnet Dynamic Hoses - a division of 
Asnet Components Ltd
Hong Kong (Wanchai Office / Sales)
23/F , On Hong Commercial Building,
145 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 3578-5372
Fax: (852) 3582-3310
E-mail: sales-1@asnetcomp.com
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