Hose protection device

Abstract

A device is provided that is adapted for selective interconnection to a conduit, thereby providing protection to cleaning hoses. More specifically, a mechanism that employs a plurality of rollers, and roller support arms, which act as stand-offs on which the hose may freely travel while being protected from damage potentially imparted by the lip of the conduit is provided.

1 . A hose protection device, comprising: 
 a clamping mechanism that is adapted for selective interconnection to an end of a conduit, the clamp including an upper portion, which is adapted to be positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the conduit, and a lower portion, which is adapted to be positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the conduit;    a first upper support arm interconnected to the upper portion of said clamp;    a second upper support arm interconnected to the upper portion generally parallel to said first upper support arm;    a first lower support arm interconnected to the lower portion;    a second lower support arm interconnected to the lower portion generally parallel to said first lower support arm;    an upper roller rotatably interconnected to said first upper support arm and to said second upper support arm;    a lower roller rotatably interconnected to said first lower support arm and to said second lower support arm; and    wherein said upper roller and said lower roller are adapted to receive and support a hose a predetermined distance from the opening of the conduit thereby substantially preventing damage to the hose when it is moved into and extracted from the conduit.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first middle support arm interconnected to a portion of said clamp that interconnects the upper portion to the lower portion;    a second middle support arm interconnected of said clamp that interconnects the upper portion to the lower portion generally parallel to said first middle support arm; and    a middle roller rotatably interconnected to said first middle support arm and to said second middle support arm.    
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first upper support arm and said second upper support arm each include an outer edge that are interconnected by a member to define a passage for a hose and prevent the hose from being moved away from said device in a radial direction relative thereto.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said upper roller and said lower roller include a compliant material positioned around at least a portion thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first upper support member and said second upper support member defines an upper support pair and said first lower support member and said second lower support member define a lower support pair, said upper support pair and said lower support pair being positioned at an angle relative to each other.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said angle is less than 180 degrees.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a securing mechanism integrated into said upper portion of said clamp, said securing mechanism being adapted to engage the outside surface of the conduit.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said securing mechanism is a threaded bolt.  
   
   
       9 . A hose protection device, comprising: 
 a clamping mechanism that is adapted for selective interconnection proximate to an opening of a conduit;    at least one support arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is interconnected to said clamping mechanism at a predetermined location and said second end extend beyond the opening of the conduit; and    an offset member interconnected to said t least one support arm between said first end and said second end that is adapted to receive and support the hose at a predetermined distance from the opening of the conduit.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one support arm comprises a first support arm and second support arm that each include an outer edges that are interconnected by a member thereby defining a passage that is adapted to receive the hose and prevent the hose from being moved away from said device in a radial direction related thereto.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the offset member is a roller rotatably interconnected to said at least one support arm.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the offset member includes a compliant material.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one support member includes 
 a first upper support arm interconnected to the upper portion;    a second upper support arm interconnected to the upper portion generally parallel to said first upper support arm;    a first lower support arm interconnected to the lower portion;    a second lower support arm interconnected to the lower portion generally parallel to said first lower support arm; and    wherein said first upper support arm and said second upper support arm define an upper support member pair and said first lower support member and said second lower support member define a lower member support pair, said upper support member pair and said lower support member pair being positioned at an angle relative to each other.    
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said angle is less than 180 degrees.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a securing mechanism integrated into said clamping mechanism, said securing mechanism being adapted to interface with an outside surface of the conduit.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said securing mechanism is a screw.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said offset member is a friction reducing means operably interconnected to said at least one support arm that is spaced at predetermined locations thereon, wherein said friction reducing means are adapted for engagement with a hose positioned within the conduit, and wherein the hose is adapted to travel on said plurality of friction reducing means and is substantially prevented from engaging an opening lip of the conduit.  
   
   
       18 . A hose protection device adapted to orient a position of flexible hose during removal from a conduit, comprising: 
 a clamping means adapted for selective interconnection to an opening of the conduit;    at least one guide means having a first end and a second end, said first end interconnected to said clamping means while said second end extends beyond the opening of the conduit;    a hose engagement means operably interconnected to said at least one guide means that is adapted to receive and support the flexible hose a predetermined distance from the opening of the conduit.    
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said clamping means includes: 
 an upper portion, which is adapted to be positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the conduit, and a lower portion, which is adapted to be positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the conduit.    
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one guide means is a first upper support arm interconnected to an upper portion of the clamping means; 
 a second upper support arm interconnected to the upper portion of the clamping means generally parallel to said first upper support arm;    a first lower support arm interconnected to a lower portion of the clamping means; and    a second lower support arm interconnected to the lower portion of the clamping means generally parallel to said first lower support arm.    
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said hose engagement means is a roller.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said roller includes a compliant material.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said clamping means further comprises a securing means that is adapted for engagement with the outside of the conduit.