Tandem, extendable tubing or hose assembly

Abstract

An tandem tubing assembly for a cleaning machine is disclosed comprising a flexible first tubing having a first diameter and configured as a flexible hose having a helical frame, a relaxed length and an extended length; a flexible second tubing having a second diameter substantially smaller than the first diameter of the first tubing and configured as a helical coil having a relaxed length and an extended length, wherein the second tubing, in its coiled form, is disposed inside the first tubing, and respective ends of the first tubing and the second tubing are coupled together such that the first and second tubings flex together and extend or contract together between the extended and the relaxed lengths.

1 . A tandem tubing assembly for a cleaning machine, comprising: 
 a flexible first tubing having a first diameter and configured as a flexible hose having a resilient helical frame, a first relaxed length and a first extended length;    a flexible second tubing having a second diameter substantially smaller than the first diameter of the first tubing and configured as a helical coil having a second relaxed length and a second extended length; wherein    the second tubing, in its coiled form, is disposed inside the first tubing and respective ends of the first tubing and the second tubing are coupled together such that the first and second tubings flex together and extend or contract together between the respective extended and relaxed lengths.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second relaxed lengths are substantially equal.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second extended lengths are substantially equal.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first tubing is biased in a contracted configuration toward the first relaxed length by the helical frame and resiliently extendable to the first extended length in opposition to a tension force provided in the helical frame of the first tubing.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first tubing comprises a continuous, tubular, flexible membrane attached to the helical frame when the helical frame is extended to the first extended length, wherein the membrane remains attached to the helical frame when the helical frame is allowed to contract to the first relaxed length.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second tubing is disposed entirely within the first tubing.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second tubing is disposed entirely within the first tubing and integrated with the first tubing.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second tubing is formed into a helical coil and biased in a contracted configuration toward the first relaxed length and resiliently extendable to the first extended length in opposition to a tension force provided in the helical coil of the second tubing.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second tubing forms the helical frame of the first tubing and is integrated with the wall of the first tubing.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second tubing is not attached to an inside wall of the first tubing except at a point near an end where the second tubing passes through the wall of the first tubing.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second tubing is attached to a wall of the first tubing at a point near an end where the second tubing passes through the wall of the first tubing at the respective end.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second tubing, being of sufficient strength and resiliency and coiled into an extendable and contractible helix, forms the helical frame of the first tubing.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second tubing forms the helical frame of the first tubing and is integrated with the wall of the first tubing.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tubings are terminated at respective first and second couplings to a cleaning attachment at a first end of the tandem tubing assembly and are terminated at respective third and fourth couplings for connection to the cleaning machine at a second end of the tandem tubing assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first tubing provides passage for air under a vacuum generated within the cleaning machine.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first valve is coupled to a suction head for applying the vacuum in the first tubing to a surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second tubing provides passage for liquid under a pressure generated within the cleaning machine and controlled by a second valve.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second valve is coupled to an attachment to the first end of the tandem tubing assembly for dispensing a liquid material conveyed in the second tubing to a surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the attachment applies a vacuum and dispenses the liquid to a surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning machine is adapted to cleaning a surface of at least one object selected from the group consisting of a floor, a curtain, an upholstery, an item of furniture, a building interior, a building exterior, a vehicle interior, a vehicle exterior, a walkway, a stairway, a roadway, and an athletic playing field.