In a connector commonly used in the prior art, the first portion has an internal thread formed by deforming a thin metal tube by rolling and drawing, substantially in the manner used to obtain the threads of light bulbs. Although that solution is advantageous owing to its lightness and its structural simplicity, it has shortcomings from the point of view of the quality of the coupling between the external thread of the connector and the internal thread of the attachment. The coupling is in fact rather inaccurate and is subject to sticking, jamming and also wear on account of the particular environment in which it is used, which is distinguished by the presence of soil.

It has been suggested that the play between the threads should be increased, but that would run the risk of a rather insecure coupling between the garden hose and the attachment.

The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a connector of the type mentioned which has structural and functional characteristics such as to overcome the above- mentioned disadvantages.

The problem is solved by a connector of the mentioned type which is characterised in that the first portion comprises a stout ring which is force-fitted coaxially on a tubular segment of a thin metal tube and which is held axially on that segment by a first flange and by a second flange which are turned outwards by deformation of the thin metal tube.

Other characteristics and the advantages of the connector according to the present invention will become clear from the following description of one of its embodiments which is given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which: -Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector according to the present invention, -Figure 2 is a partially sectional elevation of the connector of Figure 1, -Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a detail of the connector of Figure 1.

Referring to the appended drawings, a connector according to the invention for coupling a garden hose 2 to an attachment 3 of a user device 4, for example a watering device, is generally indicated 1.

The garden hose 2 is of rubber or the like and carries externally, in the region of one end 2a, a tubular sleeve 5 formed from a thin metal tube. A flange 6, which is turned inwards by deformation of the thin metal tube, is arranged at the end of the sleeve 5 and protects the head end 2a of the garden hose 2.

The attachment 3 comprises a cap 7 completed by a seal 7a.

The cap 7 is provided with an internal thread, or female thread, indicated 8 which, in the example, has a nominal diameter of approximately one inch, which is equal to approximately 25.4 mm.

The connector 1 extends along an axis X-X and comprises a first portion 9, provided with an external thread, or male thread, indicated 10, which is for screw engagement with the internal thread 8 of the attachment 3. The connector 1 also comprises a second, substantially cylindrical, portion 11 which is collinear with the portion 9 and which is to receive the garden hose 2.

More especially, the first portion 9 comprises a stout ring indicated 12 which has an external surface 13, in the region of which the external thread 10 is formed, and a cylindrical internal surface 14 by means of which the ring 12 is coupled by force-fitting to a tubular segment 15 of a thin metal tube. The ring 12 is held axially on the tubular segment 15 by a first flange 16 and by a second flange 17, the flanges being turned outwards by deformation of the thin metal tube.

The stout ring 12 has a thickness S1 which, in the example, is approximately 2 mm.

It will be appreciated that the first flange 16, which faces the second portion 11, extends substantially radially, that is to say, it forms an angle of approximately 90° with the axis X-X, while the second flange 17, which faces the attachment 3, is substantially inclined at 45° relative to the axis X-X and engages a chamfer 18 which is also inclined at 45° and which is formed on the ring 12 at an internal face of its thickness, while the ring 12 remains freely accessible axially from the outside at a remaining face of its thickness which is perpendicular to the axis X-X and which constitutes an abutment 19. In the example, the thickness of the ring 12 is approximately 2 mm, the internal face and the remaining face of the thickness each measuring approximately 1 mm.

The second, substantially cylindrical, portion 11 comprises a tubular segment 20 of a thin metal tube on which the garden hose 2 is to be force-fitted.

The tubular segment 20 has a free end 21 which is to constitute a mouth for guiding the end 2a of the garden hose 2, and an opposite end 22 delimited by an flange 23 which is turned outwards by deformation of the thin metal tube. The flange 23 defines a shoulder 24 which is to be abutted by the flange 6 located at the end of the garden hose.

It will be appreciated that the first flange 16 of the tubular segment 15 of the first portion 9 and the flange 23 of the tubular segment 20 of the second portion 11 are substantially side by side and have the same outside diameter, indicated D, which is approximately 22 mm in the example.

Advantageously, the flanges 16 and 23 are formed as one piece in the region of the outside diameter D, the one-piece form being obtained by bending the thin metal tube. As a whole, the flanges 16 and 23 thus constitute a collar 25 having two layers 25a and 25b.

In the connector 1 according to the present invention, the stout ring 12 is produced from a metal material which is preferably selected from brass, ferrous materials and aluminium alloys.

As regards the thin metal tube providing the tubular segments 15 and 20 and the associated flanges 16,17 and 25, by deformation of said tube, in the example it has a thickness S2 of approximately 0.5 mm and is produced from a metal material preferably selected from brass, ferrous materials and aluminium alloys.

The stout ring and the thin metal tube are preferably produced from the same material.

In use, the desired coupling is produced by fitting the garden hose on the second portion and then bringing about the engagement between the external thread of the first portion of the connector and the internal thread of the attachment.

Owing to the fact that the external thread of the connector is formed on a stout ring, so that it has high-pressure dimensional characteristics and great strength, the connector according to the invention has the advantage of a coupling which is secure and accurate and which can be handled repeatedly for a practically infinite number of times.

A further advantage of the connector according to the present invention is that it is light, while in practice exhibiting the special qualities of a stout connector.

A further advantage of the connector according to the present invention is that it can be readily mass-produced.

A further advantage of the connector according to the present invention is that it achieves a complete seal, this advantage being obtained owing to the fact that the stout ring has an abutment which mates exactly with the seal of the attachment.

A further important advantage of the connector according to the invention is that it also has a large passage cross- section for irrigation water.

It will be appreciated that, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art could introduce numerous modifications and variants to the connector described above, all of which are within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.