Granted Patent B2

US 12,366,313 · App. 18/551,413 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

Inventors: Jun Wu (Zhejiang, CN); Haiming Liu (Zhejiang, CN); Michael John Kornegay (Marietta, GA); Clayton Pierce Boardman, IV (Atlanta, GA)

Assignee: Reliance Worldwide Corporation

F16L27/0804F16L33/223

Abstract

Claims (72)

1. A hose assembly configured to be communicated with a tankless water heater, the hose assembly comprising:

a flexible hose;

a first connector assembly fluidly coupled with the flexible hose;

a first fitting including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the third portion being a flange positioned between the first and second portions, wherein the first and second portions are aligned along a center axis, the first portion of the first fitting configured to be received by an end of the first connector assembly, the second portion of the first fitting configured to be fluidly coupled with a plumbing fitting, and the first fitting being rotatably coupled with the first connector assembly such that the first fitting is rotatable 360 degrees about the center axis relative to the first connector assembly while maintaining a water tight engagement between the first fitting and the first connector assembly, wherein the first fitting is independently rotatable relative to the flexible hose; and

a second connector assembly fluidly coupled with the flexible hose opposite to the first connector assembly;

wherein the flexible hose includes a first hose flange extending radially away from an end of the flexible hose; and

the first connector assembly further comprises:

a first adapter positioned at least partially about the flexible hose;

a second adapter having threads that threadably couple the second adapter with the first adapter such that the first hose flange is positioned between the first adapter and the second adapter, the second adapter having an outer stepped surface adjacent to the threads; and

a first sealing member compressed between the first adapter and the second adapter and configured to provide a watertight engagement between the flexible hose and the first connector assembly.

2. The hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second connector assembly includes a push-to-connect fitting.

3. The hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is an externally threaded fitting configured for coupling with a threaded female fitting.

4. The hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is rotatably and fluidly coupled with the second adapter such that the first fitting and the second adapter are independently rotatable while maintaining the watertight engagement between the first fitting and the second adapter.

5. The hose assembly claim 1 , wherein:

the second adapter includes an adapter groove;

the first fitting includes a fitting groove; and

the hose assembly further comprises:

a retainer positioned within both the adapter groove and the fitting groove, the retainer preventing axial movement of the first fitting relative to the second adapter.

6. The hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first connector assembly further comprises:

a first connector fluidly coupled to the flexible hose such that rotation of the first connector relative to the flexible hose is prevented,

wherein the first fitting is rotatably coupled with the first connector such that the first fitting is rotatable relative to both the first connector and the flexible hose while maintaining a watertight engagement with the first connector.

7. The hose assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a retainer coupled with both the first fitting and the first connector, the retainer extending circumferentially about the first fitting and preventing axial movement of the first fitting relative to the first connector.

8. A plumbing assembly comprising:

a conduit and a first conduit end; and

a first connector assembly fluidly coupled to the conduit and defining a first axis, both of the first connector assembly and at least a portion of the conduit being centered on the first axis, the first connector assembly comprising:

a first connector fluidly coupled with the conduit such that rotation of the conduit about the first axis relative to the first connector is prevented; and

a first fitting including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the third portion being a flange positioned between the first and second portions, wherein the first and second portions are aligned along the first axis, the first portion of the first fitting configured to be received by an end of the first connector, the second portion of the first fitting configured to be fluidly coupled with a plumbing fitting, and the first fitting being rotatably coupled with the first connector such that rotation of the first fitting about the first axis relative to the first conduit end does not cause axial translation of the first fitting relative to the first connector along the first axis, wherein the first fitting is rotatable 360 degrees about the first axis relative to the first connector while maintaining a water tight engagement between the first fitting and the first connector

wherein the first connector assembly further comprises:

a first adapter positioned at least partially about a flexible hose;

a second adapter having threads that threadably couple the second adapter with the first adapter such that a first hose flange of the flexible hose is positioned between the first adapter and the second adapter, the second adapter having an outer stepped surface adjacent to the threads; and

a first sealing member compressed between the first adapter and the second adapter and configured to provide a watertight engagement between the flexible hose and the first connector assembly.

9. The plumbing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second portion is an externally threaded nipple.

10. The plumbing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first portion comprises:

a sealing groove extending circumferentially about the first portion; and

the first sealing member being disposed within the sealing groove and configured to interface with the first connector to form a watertight seal, the first sealing member rotatable about the first axis such that the watertight seal is maintained when the first fitting is rotated relative to the first connector.

11. The plumbing assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a retainer extending radially into both the first fitting and the first connector, the retainer configured to facilitate rotational movement of the first fitting about the first axis relative to the first connector while inhibiting axial movement of the first fitting along the first axis relative to the first connector.

12. The plumbing assembly of claim 11 , wherein the retainer is an external retaining ring.

13. The plumbing assembly of claim 11 , wherein the retainer is formed of metallic material.

14. The plumbing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the conduit is a corrugated metal hose.

15. A method of assembling a plumbing assembly, the method comprising:

fluidly coupling a first connector with a first end of a conduit such that rotation of the conduit relative to the first connector is prevented:

positioning a retainer circumferentially within a coupling groove of a first fitting; and

inserting the first fitting into the first connector until the retainer expands into a connector groove of the first connector, the retainer configured to allow rotation of the first fitting relative to the first connector without causing axial translation of the first fitting relative to the first connector;

wherein the first fitting includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the third portion being a flange positioned between the first and second portions, wherein the first and second portions are aligned along a center axis, the first portion of the first fitting configured to be received by an end of the first connector, the second portion of the first fitting configured to be fluidly coupled with a plumbing fitting; and

wherein the first fitting is rotatable 360 degrees about the center axis relative to the first connector while maintaining a water tight engagement between the first fitting and the first connector;

wherein:

the conduit includes a conduit flange extending radially away from the first end;

the first connector includes:

a first adapter having and first adapter flange;

a second adapter coupled with the first adapter; and

a gasket;

fluidly coupling the first connector with the conduit comprises the steps of:

positioning a ring member and a sleeve about the first end of the conduit in confronting relation to the conduit flange;

positioning the first adapter about the sleeve such that the ring member is interposed between the first adapter flange and the conduit flange; and

coupling the second adapter with the first adapter to compress the gasket between the first adapter and the second adapter to form a watertight seal.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

positioning a sealing member within a sealing groove of the first fitting, and

engaging the sealing member with a sealing surface of the first connector such that the first fitting is rotatable relative to the first connector while maintaining a watertight seal between all of the sealing member, the sealing groove, and the sealing surface.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising fluidly coupling a push-to-connect fitting to a second end of the conduit.

18. A method of assembling a plumbing assembly, the method comprising:

fluidly coupling a first connector with a first end of a conduit such that rotation of the conduit relative to the first connector is prevented:

positioning a retainer circumferentially within a coupling groove of a first fitting; and

inserting the first fitting into the first connector until the retainer expands into a connector groove of the first connector, the retainer configured to allow rotation of the first fitting relative to the first connector without causing axial translation of the first fitting relative to the first connector;

wherein the conduit includes a conduit flange extending radially away from the first end;

the first connector includes:

a first adapter having and first adapter flange;

a second adapter coupled with the first adapter; and

a gasket;

fluidly coupling the first connector with the conduit comprises the steps of:

positioning a ring member and a sleeve about the first end of the conduit in confronting relation to the conduit flange;

positioning the first adapter about the sleeve such that the ring member is interposed between the first adapter flange and the conduit flange; and

coupling the second adapter with the first adapter to compress the gasket between the first adapter and the second adapter to form a watertight seal.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (28)

Cited By (3)

US 1,100,146 US 1,120,235 US 12,516,760