KINK RESISTANT HOSE SYSTEM WITH LAYER OF SPACED GEOMETRICAL UNITS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING

摘要

A fluid conduit includes a flexible member having a tubular wall and a plurality of geometric segments located adjacent to the tubular wall. The geometric segments are disposed about a central axis of the conduit and spaced apart relative to each other to define a gap therebetween. The gap is sized to be closed by contact between adjacent geometric segments upon a predetermined flexure of the flexible member. A method of forming the conduit includes forming a flexible member with a tubular wall and forming a plurality of grooves about the central axis in the tubular wall. The geometric segments in one embodiment are formed from the intersections of a first plurality of helical grooves formed at a first angle relative to the central axis and a second plurality of helical grooves formed at a second angle mutually opposite from the first angle.