Elastic cover and method of applying said cover

Claim 2

An elastic cover for disposition over at least one supporting member, said cover comprising a hollow tube of highly stretchable elastomeric material which may be expanded outwardly thereof from about 100 to about 200 percent, said tube in its unexpanded condition being incapable of positioning over the member, means for gripping and expanding the tube integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of said tube and extending longitudinally thereof, said means for gripping and expanding said tube comprising at least three spaced-apart ribs projecting outwardly from the outer peripheral surface of said tube so that said tube can be expanded by outwardly directed forces thereon, said tube in its expanded condition being capable of positioning over the member and said tube upon contraction from its expanded condition will surround and closely conform to the member to provide a tightly fitting cover therefor.

Claim 3

The cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said for gripping and expanding means is a plurality of removable ribs of elastomeric material.

Claim 4

The cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ribs are spaced an equal distance around the outer circumference of said tube.

Claim 5

The cover as claimed in claim 3 wherein the tube includes four equally spaced ribs on its outer circumference and in its expanded condition has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 6

The cover as claimed in claim 2 wherein said ribs are a uniform cross-sectional configuration throughout the length thereof.

Claim 7

The cover as claimed in claim 2 wherein said ribs include an enlarged portion.

Claim 8

The cover as claimed in claim 6 wherein said enlarged portion is of a polygonal cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 9

The cover as claimed in claim 6 wherein said enlarged portion is a curvilinear cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 10

The cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ends of said tube are beveled to provide for substantially unobstructed movement of the cover when the member is moved.

Claim 11

The cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of said tube when in an expanded condition includes a coating of an elastomeric adhesive at least at the ends thereof to adhere the inner surface of the tube to the outer surface of the member.

Claim 12

In combination, an electrical cable including a splice section therein forming a joint in the cable, the joint comprising uncovered conductor wires, insulating means to prevent contact between the wires, insulating tape covering the splice section, and an elastic splice cover surrounding and tightly conforming to the splice section, the improvement wherein said splice cover comprises a hollow tube of highly stretchable elastomeric material, the opening of said tube in its unexpanded condition having a perimeter less than the perimeter of the outer cross section of the splice section so that the cable will not pass through the tube, and removable means for gripping and expanding said tube integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of said tube and extending longitudinally thereof, said means for gripping and expanding said tube projecting outwardly from the outer peripheral surface of said tube so that said tube can be expanded outwardly.

Claim 13

In combination, an electrical cable including a splice section therein forming a joint in the cable, the joint comprising uncovered conductor wires, insulating means to prevent contact between the wires, insulating tape covering the splice section, and an elastic splice cover surrounding and tightly conforming to the splice section, the improvement wherein said splice cover comprises a hollow tube of highly stretchable elastomeric material, the opening of said tube in its unexpanded condition having a perimeter less than the perimeter of the outer cross section of the splice section so that the cable will not pass through the tube, and removable means for gripping and expanding said tube integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of said tube and extending longitudinally thereof, said means for gripping and expanding said tube projecting outwardly from the outer peripheral surface of said tube so that said tube can be expanded outwardly.

Claim 16

The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said method includes applying an adhesive coating at the interface between the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the member to further adhere the cover to the member.

Claim 17

The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein there are two supporting member and after the expanding step said method includes inserting an end of one member through the expanded tube to meet an end of another member, splicing the two ends of the member together to form a spliced section joining the two members, disposing the spliced section within the expanded tube with said tube substantially centered over the section, and applying an adhesive coating over at least the ends of the section.

Claim 18

The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said gripping means is a plurality of removable ribs of elastomeric material and said method includes removing said ribs after contracting the tube.

Claim 19

The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said method includes holding one side of said tube and expanding the opposite side of said tube in a direction outwardly away from said first-mentioned side,

Claim 20

The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said method includes expanding said tube radially outwardly.

Claim 21

In a field splicing operation, a method of applying an elastic cover over a spliced or repaired section of an electrical cable, said method comprising inserting one end of the cable through an expanded hollow tube of highly expandable elastomeric material, splicing the two ends of the cable together to form a spliced cable and disposing the spliced section of cable within the expanded tube and contracting the tube, the improvement comprising: providing the hollow tube at the splicing site in an unexpanded condition to avoid a permanent set condition with the opening of said tube having a perimeter less than the perimeter of outer cross section of the cable section and said tube including removable gripping means integrally formed on its outer surface; and expanding said tube by exerting outwardly directed forces on said gripping means so that the perimeter of the opening of said tube is substantially equal to or greater than the perimeter of the outer cross section of the cable section so that the tube is capable of receiving the spliced or repaired section of cable.

Claim 22

In a field splicing operation, a method of applying an elastic cover over a spliced or repaired section of an electrical cable, said method comprising inserting one end of the cable through an expanded hollow tube of highly expandable elastomeric material, splicing the two ends of the cable together to form a spliced cable and disposing the spliced section of cable within the expanded tube and contracting the tube, the improvement comprising: providing the hollow tube at the splicing site in an unexpanded condition to avoid a permanent set condition with the opening of said tube having a perimeter less than the perimeter of outer cross section of the cable section and said tube including removable gripping means integrally formed on its outer surface; and expanding said tube by exerting outwardly directed forces on said gripping means so that the perimeter of the opening of said tube is substantially equal to or greater than the perimeter of the outer cross section of the cable section so that the tube is capable of receiving the spliced or repaired section of cable.

Claim 23

The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said method includes radially expanding said tube equally in each radial direction.