Method and apparatus for connecting a hose to a warming blanket

Abstract

A nozzle is provided for connecting an air hose to an air inlet. In one embodiment, the nozzle includes a tapered region and a plurality of vents. In another embodiment, the nozzle includes a projection configured to facilitate insertion of the nozzle into an air inlet. Warming assemblies comprising heated air blowers and warming blankets connected by the air hose and varying nozzle embodiments are also provided.

1 . A warming assembly, comprising:
 a heated air blower configured to blow heated air;   a warming blanket comprising an air inlet;   a hose configured to connect the heated air blower and the warming blanket;   a tapered nozzle configured to attach at an end of the hose and configured to be inserted into the air inlet, wherein the tapered nozzle comprises a plurality of vents and a clip that is movable between an open and a closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The warming assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vents are disposed radially about the tapered nozzle. 
     
     
         3 . The warming assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered nozzle has substantially the same air flow rate as a nozzle having no taper. 
     
     
         4 . The warming assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered nozzle comprises a projection, the projection being asymmetric with respect to a plane intersecting a central axis of the nozzle. 
     
     
         5 . The warming assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the projection is configured to separate two sheets that form the air inlet of the warming blanket. 
     
     
         6 . The warming assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered nozzle comprises a body, a handle disposed on the body, and a push button disposed on the handle, the push button being operable to move the clip away from the body of the tapered nozzle. 
     
     
         7 . The warming assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the tapered nozzle comprises a biasing mechanism disposed in the handle and configured to bias the clip towards the body of the tapered nozzle. 
     
     
         8 . A nozzle configured for use with an air hose, comprising:
 a tapered region; and   a plurality of vents disposed radially about the tapered region, wherein the tapered region is configured to allow air to flow at substantially the same air flow rate as would be achieved with a nozzle having no tapered region.   
     
     
         9 . The nozzle of  claim 8 , wherein the tapered region is configured to be inserted into an air inlet of a warming blanket. 
     
     
         10 . The nozzle of  claim 9 , wherein the tapered region is configured to separate two sheets that form the air inlet of the warming blanket. 
     
     
         11 . The nozzle of  claim 8 , wherein the tapered region is asymmetric with respect to a plane intersecting a central axis of the nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . A nozzle configured for use with an air hose, comprising:
 a body configured to separate two sheets of an air inlet of a warming blanket;   a handle disposed on the body;   a clip attached to the handle and able to be moved toward and away from the body, the clip being configured to secure at least one of the sheets against the body.   
     
     
         13 . The nozzle of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises a projection configured to separate the two sheets. 
     
     
         14 . The nozzle of  claim 12 , wherein body comprises a tapered region having the projection. 
     
     
         15 . The nozzle of  claim 14 , wherein the projection is asymmetric with respect to a plane intersecting a central axis of the nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The nozzle of  claim 14 , wherein the projection comprises a concave region. 
     
     
         17 . The nozzle of  claim 14 , wherein the tapered region comprises a plurality of vents configured to allow the nozzle to flow air at substantially the same rate as a nozzle having no tapered region. 
     
     
         18 . The nozzle of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of vents are disposed radially about the tapered region. 
     
     
         19 . The nozzle of  claim 12 , comprising a push button disposed on the handle, the push button being operable to move the clip away from the body of the nozzle. 
     
     
         20 . The nozzle of  claim 12 , comprising a biasing mechanism disposed in the handle and configured to bias the clip towards the body of the nozzle.