Method for manufacturing a hose

1 . A method of manufacturing a cured, non-reinforced hose exhibiting one or more desirable characteristic features molded onto the outer surface of the hose, said method comprising:

providing a raw, non-reinforced polymeric tubular structure having an outer surface, an inner surface, an orifice, and a cylindrical channel extending longitudinally throughout the raw tubular structure defining said inner surface of said raw polymeric tubular structure; providing a mold apparatus having a cavity configuration corresponding to the shape and size of a desired cured, non-reinforced hose;

inserting said raw polymeric tubular structure into said cavity configuration of said mold apparatus;

inserting a first plug means having an aperture therethrough into a first end of said raw polymeric tubular structure;

inserting a second plug means having an aperture therethrough into a second end of said raw polymeric tubular structure;

providing a source of steam under elevated pressure to cure said raw polymeric tubular structure, wherein said first plug means having an aperture therethrough serves as an inlet for said steam and said second plug having an aperture therethrough serves as an outlet for said steam; and

recovering a cured, non-reinforced hose having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said outer surface exhibits one or more desirable characteristic features molded onto the outer surface of said hose.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said raw, non-reinforced tubular structure is inserted into said cavity configuration of said mold apparatus, wherein said mold apparatus is a two-piece mold structure having a first upper half exhibiting a first cavity configuration corresponding to an upper wall structure of said hose, and a second lower half exhibiting a second cavity configuration corresponding to a lower wall structure of said hose, said first half and second half of said mold apparatus being aligned such that the cavity configuration of said mold apparatus conforms to a desired configuration of said hose.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein said mold is heated in a press at a temperature of about 250 to 350 degree. F. at a closed pressure of about 10 to 30 tons.

4 . The method of claim 2 wherein one or both of said first cavity and said second cavity of said mold apparatus further includes one or more die features for providing one or more corresponding desired configurations molded onto said outer surface of said hose.

5 . The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more die features includes a convoluted die feature for providing a corresponding convoluted configuration molded onto the outer surface of said hose.

6 . The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more die features includes an informational indicia die feature for providing a corresponding informational indicia configuration molded onto the outer surface of said hose.

7 . The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more die features includes a uniform groove extending circumferentially around said first cavity and said second cavity for providing a corresponding outwardly extending bead feature molded onto said outer surface at one or both ends of said hose.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein said mold apparatus includes a circumferentially, progressively outward extending configuration at one or both ends of said first cavity and said second cavity for providing a corresponding flared end at one or both ends of said hose.

9 . The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more die features includes a circumferentially progressively inward extending configuration at one or both ends of said first cavity and said second cavity for providing a corresponding beveled or chamfered end at one or both ends of said hose.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein said raw, non-reinforced tubular structure comprises one or more layers of polymeric material.

11 . A method of manufacturing a single or multi-layer, cured, non-reinforced hose exhibiting a convoluted structure molded onto the outer surface of said cured, non-reinforced hose; informational indicia molded onto the outer surface of said cured, non-reinforced hose adjacent one or both ends of said cured, non-reinforced hose; a first bead molded onto the outer surface of said cured, non-reinforced hose and adjacent said first end thereof; and a second bead molded onto the outer surface of said cured, non-reinforced hose and adjacent said second end thereof, said method comprising:

providing a raw, non-reinforced polymeric tubular structure having an outer surface, an inner surface defining the interior of said raw, non-reinforced tubular structure, an orifice, and a cylindrical channel extending longitudinally throughout the raw tubular structure defining said inner surface of said raw polymeric tubular structure;

providing a two-piece mold apparatus having a first upper half exhibiting a first cavity configuration corresponding to an upper wall structure of said cured, non-reinforced hose, and a second lower half exhibiting a second cavity configuration corresponding to a lower wall structure of said cured, non-reinforced hose, said first half and second half of said mold apparatus being aligned such that the cavity configuration of said mold apparatus conforms to a desired configuration of said cured, non-reinforced hose;

inserting said raw polymeric tubular structure into said cavity configuration of said mold apparatus;

inserting a first plug means having an aperture therethrough into a first end of said raw polymeric tubular structure; inserting a second plug means having an aperture therethrough into a second end of said raw polymeric tubular structure;

providing a source of steam under elevated pressure to said interior of said uncured, non-reinforced tubular structure to form and cure said raw polymeric tubular structure, wherein said first plug means having an aperture therethrough serves as an inlet for said steam and said second plug having an aperture therethrough serves as an outlet for said steam; heating said mold apparatus at a closing force of about 10 to 30 tons and at a temperature of about 250 to 350.degree. F. for about 3 to 10 minutes; and

recovering a cured, non-reinforced hose having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said outer surface exhibits a convoluted structure molded onto the outer surface of said cured, non-reinforced hose; informational indicia molded onto the outer surface of said cured, non-reinforced hose adjacent one or both ends of said cured, non-reinforced hose; a first bead molded onto the outer surface of said cured, non-reinforced hose and adjacent said first end thereof; and a second bead molded onto the outer surface of said cured, non-reinforced hose.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein said informational indicia comprises words, logo, numbers and codes.