Apparatus and method for protecting storz fire fighting hose couplings

1. A protected 5-inch to 12-inch fitting for forming a joint for coupling fire fighting hose, the fitting having a coupling end and a hose connecting end, the fitting comprising:

a hose clamp on the hose connecting end;

a two-way Storz coupler with a rotating coupling collar on the coupling end, the rotating coupling collar providing an exterior surface structured to remain exposed upon coupling with another said Storz coupler;

an inner barrel providing an inner barrel portion between the hose clamp and the two-way Storz coupler; and

a bumper including protective material, the bumper:

attached to the inner barrel portion,

structured so as not to fully enclose the coupling end,

having an effective outside diameter at least ¼-inch greater than the effective outside diameter of the rotating coupling collar, and

including an inner ring and an outer ring of elastic material, the inner ring circumferentially attached to and mating with a shoulder of the inner barrel portion.

2. The protected fitting of claim 1 wherein the inner barrel portion, has an effective outside diameter less than the effective outside diameters of the rotating coupling collar and the hose clamp.

3. The protected fitting of claim 1 or 2 wherein the inner ring comprises steel and wherein the outer ring comprises rubber affixed to and substantially enclosing the inner ring from at least three sides.

4. The protected fitting of claim 3 wherein the bumper is comprised of a plurality of portions structured to fixedly interconnect.

5. The protected fitting of claim 3 wherein the outer ring is molded to the inner ring.

6. The protected fitting of claim 3 wherein a bumper channel is formed in the inner barrel portion and the inner ring is inserted in the bumper channel.

7. A protected 5-inch to 12-inch fitting for forming a joint for coupling fire fighting hose, the fitting having a coupling end, the fitting comprising:

a two-way Storz coupler with a rotating coupling collar on the coupling end, the rotating coupling collar having exterior ribs structured to remain exposed upon coupling with another said Storz coupler; and

a bumper including protective material, the bumper

attached to the rotating coupling collar,

having rib slot portions fitting between the rotating coupling collar exterior ribs,

structured so as not to fully enclose the exterior ribs, and,

having an effective outside diameter at least ¼-inch greater than the effective outside diameter of the rotating coupling collar.

8. A protected 5-inch to 12-inch fitting for forming a joint for coupling fire fighting hose, the fitting having a coupling end and hose connecting ends, the fitting comprising:

a hose clamp on the hose connecting end;

a two-way Storz coupler with a rotating coupling collar on the coupling end, the rotating coupling collar providing an exterior surface structured to remain exposed upon coupling with another said Storz coupler; and

a bumper including protective material, the bumper

attached to the hose clamp,

having inner surface protrusions that mate with exterior surface cavities of the hose clamp to resist sliding motion therebetween,

structured so as not to fully enclose the coupling end, and

having an effective outside diameter at least ¼-inch greater than the effective outside diameter of the rotating coupling collar.

9. The fitting of claim 8 wherein the hose clamp cavities include detents in the clamp outer surface and the interior surface protrusions of the bumper include lugs structured to mate with the detents in the outer surface of the hose clamp.

10. The fitting of claim 8 including a steel band fitting within a channel of the bumper to assist to affix the bumper to the hose clamp.

11. The fitting of claim 8 wherein the hose clamp contains a rib in its outer surface and the bumper contains a slot in its inner surface designed to mate over the rib.

12. The fitting of claim 8 wherein the bumper is molded onto a hose clamp containing an exterior circumferential rib.

13. The fitting of claim 1 , 7 or 8 wherein the bumper has an effective outside diameter of at least ¼ inch greater than the effective outside diameter of the rotating coupling collar.