US 11608915

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US Patent 11608915 Summary

• Title: Expandable and contractible garden hose

• Assignee: Telebrands Corp.

• Inventor: Michael J. Berardi

• Filing Date: January 11, 2021 (for application US17/145,986)

• Issue Date: March 21, 2023

• Abstract: The patent discloses a hose that automatically expands longitudinally and laterally when pressurized liquid is applied, and contracts automatically upon release of the pressurized liquid. The hose can expand up to six times its contracted length. It comprises an elastic inner tube and a separate, non-elastic outer tube. The inner tube is concentrically positioned within the outer tube in both contracted and expanded conditions. The outer tube is secured to the inner tube only at its first and second ends, allowing it to move freely with respect to the inner tube along the length of the hose during expansion and contraction.

• Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

  • Independent Claim 1 (Garden Hose Apparatus): This claim describes an expandable and contractible garden hose. It consists of a flexible outer tube and a flexible elastic inner tube, both having distinct first and second ends. The inner tube, in its relaxed state, is shorter than the maximum length of the outer tube. A first coupler is attached to the first ends of both tubes, designed to connect to a standard faucet for pressurized water. A second coupler is attached to the second ends of both tubes. Crucially, the inner tube is not attached to the outer tube between these end couplers, allowing the outer tube to move freely over the inner tube. A flow restrictor (like a nozzle) attaches to the second coupler. When pressurized water enters the inner tube and the flow restrictor partially blocks its exit, the water pressure causes the inner tube to expand both in length and width, thus expanding the entire hose to its expanded condition. When the water flow is stopped and the internal pressure is released, the elastic inner tube automatically contracts, returning the hose to its shorter, contracted state.

  • Independent Claim 14 (Method of Transporting Water): This claim outlines a method for using the described expandable garden hose. The method involves:

    1. Forming the hose: Creating an expandable hose with a flexible outer tube and an elongated, elastic inner tube positioned inside it.
    2. Securing couplers: Attaching a first coupler to the first ends of both the inner and outer tubes, and a second coupler to the second ends of both tubes. The key is that the inner and outer tubes are secured only at these ends and are otherwise unattached along their length.
    3. Connecting the hose: Connecting the first coupler to a source of pressurized water and the second coupler to a water flow restrictor.
    4. Introducing and restricting water: Introducing pressurized water into the hose through the first coupler and then restricting the water flow exiting the hose.
    5. Hose expansion: This restriction causes water pressure to build up inside the hose, making the elastic inner tube expand longitudinally (in length) and laterally (in width), thereby increasing the overall length and width of the hose to an expanded condition.
    6. Automatic contraction: The hose automatically contracts to its shorter, unpressurized state by stopping the flow of pressurized water and releasing the internal pressure.
    7. Free movement: During this process, the elastic inner tube moves freely relative to the flexible outer tube when there is no significant water pressure difference between the couplers.

• CAFC 2026 Dockets: A direct search for "CAFC 2026 dockets 11608915" and "Federal Circuit 2026 dockets 11608915" did not yield any specific CAFC docket entries for patent 11608915 within 2026. The Google Patents page for US11608915B2 indicates active litigation in various District Courts (Ohio Northern District Court, New Jersey District Court, Delaware District Court) as of the current date, but no specific mention of cases having reached the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 2026. Therefore, based on the performed search, there is no authoritative information confirming specific CAFC 2026 dockets for this patent at this time.