Garden hose with backbone

Abstract

An improved garden hose including an elongated generally cylindrical inner core being made of a first material, the inner core having an integrally formed backbone being made of a second material.

1 . A garden hose including an inner core having an elongated generally cylindrical inner core member with an integrally formed backbone. 
     
     
         2 . The garden hose of  claim 1  wherein said backbone is a single, longitudinally extending member structured to act as a primary support for said inner core. 
     
     
         3 . The garden hose of  claim 1  wherein:
 said inner core is a first material; and 
 said backbone is a second material. 
 
     
     
         4 . The garden hose of  claim 3  wherein said first material is PVC and said second material is a PVC with a different hardness than said first material. 
     
     
         5 . The garden hose of  claim 1  wherein said inner core and said backbone are co-extruded. 
     
     
         6 . The garden hose of  claim 1  wherein said backbone is disposed generally the entire length of said inner core member. 
     
     
         7 . The garden hose of  claim 6  wherein said backbone terminates before reaching an inlet end of said inner core member. 
     
     
         8 . The garden hose of  claim 6  wherein said backbone terminates before reaching an outlet end of said inner core member. 
     
     
         9 . An elongated inner core for a garden hose, said inner core being generally cylindrical and including an integrally formed backbone. 
     
     
         10 . The inner core of  claim 9  wherein said backbone is a single, longitudinally extending member structured to act as a primary support for said inner core. 
     
     
         11 . The inner core of  claim 9  wherein:
 said inner core is a first material; and 
 said backbone is a second material. 
 
     
     
         12 . The inner core of  claim 11  wherein said first material is PVC and said second material is a PVC with a different hardness than said first material. 
     
     
         13 . The inner core of  claim 11  wherein said inner core and said backbone are co-extruded. 
     
     
         14 . An improved kinking-resistant garden hose comprising:
 an outlet end adapted to be connected to a flow-restricting device;   an inlet end adapted to be connected to a water source; and   a hose portion, said hose portion having an outer covering and an elongated inner core, said inner core being generally cylindrical and including an integrally formed backbone, said inner core being made of a first material and said backbone being made of a second material.   
     
     
         15 . The garden hose of  claim 14  wherein said first material is PVC and said second material is a PVC with a different hardness than said first material. 
     
     
         16 . A garden hose comprising:
 a deformable, hollow, generally cylindrical inner core; and   a backbone extending substantially the entire length of said inner core, said backbone disposed on said inner core and extending into the hollow space of said inner core.   
     
     
         17 . The garden hose of  claim 16  wherein, when said hose is kinked, said backbone allows for at least one fluid passage within said inner core. 
     
     
         18 . The garden hose of  claim 17  wherein, said at least one fluid passage is disposed adjacent to said backbone and extends substantially parallel to said backbone. 
     
     
         19 . The garden hose of  claim 16  wherein said backbone extends generally radially into said hollow space of said inner core. 
     
     
         20 . The garden hose of  claim 16  wherein said backbone is a single, longitudinally extending member structured to act as a primary support for said inner core.