US4168192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for making recoverable tubular article
Assignee: Raychem Corp
•
Filing: 1977-06-10
•
Granted: 1979-09-18
•
Expires: 1997-06-10
Abstract
Abstract An article such as a tube formed of heat-shrinkable material is bonded exteriorly or interiorly to an elastomeric member to form a laminated article. The bonding preferably takes place before heating and expanding of the heat-shrinkable tube. After expansion and cooling, the parts remain in the heat recoverable position. Subsequent heating of the parts causes them to recover radially about a substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 David D. Nyberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:03
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D23/00; B29D23/001; B29K; B29K2021/00; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1328
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
The process comprising the following steps: bonding the outer surface of an inner tube to the inner surface of an outer coaxial tube, one of the tubes being formed of elastomeric material and the other tube being formed of a thermoplastic material and being capable of maintaining the elastomeric tube in a stretched configuration, heating and expanding the bonded tubes radially, cooling the tubes while expanded whereby the expanded tube of thermoplastic material maintains the elastomeric tube in its expanded condition, and subsequently heating at least the tube formed of thermoplastic material to cause the bonded tubes to contract and to cause the inner tube to grip the outer surface of a support member, without destroying the bond between the tubes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
The process comprising the following steps: bonding the outer surface of an inner tube to the inner surface of an outer coaxial tube, one of the tubes being formed of elastomeric material and the other tube being formed of a thermoplastic material and being capable of maintaining the elastomeric tube in a stretched configuration, heating and expanding the bonded tubes radially, cooling the tubes while expanded whereby the expanded tube of thermoplastic material maintains the elastomeric tube in its expanded condition, and subsequently heating at least the tube formed of thermoplastic material to cause the bonded tubes to contract and to cause the inner tube to grip the outer surface of a support member, without destroying the bond between the tubes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 in which a mandrel is used in the expanding step and wherein the mandrel is withdrawn from the bonded tubes following the cooling step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) radially expanding an elastomeric tube, (b) bonding the outer surface of said radially expanded elastomeric tube to the inner surface of a coaxially arranged second tube of crosslinked thermoplastic polymeric material, said outer tube being capable of maintaining the elastomeric tube in its radially expanded condition until heated above the melting point of the polymeric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) radially expanding an elastomeric tube, (b) bonding the outer surface of said radially expanded elastomeric tube to the inner surface of a coaxially arranged second tube of crosslinked thermoplastic polymeric material, said outer tube being capable of maintaining the elastomeric tube in its radially expanded condition until heated above the melting point of the polymeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process according to claim 3 wherein the elastomeric tube is adhesively bonded to the second tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process according to claim 4 wherein the elastomeric tube is radially expanded using a mandrel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process according to claim 3 wherein the second tube is heated above the melting point of the polymeric material to allow the elastomeric tube to radially contract and engage the surface of a support member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) bonding the outer surface of an inner tube to the inner surface of an outer coaxial tube, the inner tube being formed of an elastomeric material and the outer tube being formed of heat-recoverable material and being in its heat stable state; (b) heating and radially expanding the bonded tubes to convert the outer tube to its heat recoverable state; (c) cooling the tubes while expanded such that the outer heat recoverable tube maintains the inner tube in its radially expanded condition; (d) heating at least the outer tube to cause the bonded tubes to contract and to cause the inner tube to shrink tightly about the outer surface of a support member without destroying the bond between the tubes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) bonding the outer surface of an inner tube to the inner surface of an outer coaxial tube, the inner tube being formed of an elastomeric material and the outer tube being formed of heat-recoverable material and being in its heat stable state; (b) heating and radially expanding the bonded tubes to convert the outer tube to its heat recoverable state; (c) cooling the tubes while expanded such that the outer heat recoverable tube maintains the inner tube in its radially expanded condition; (d) heating at least the outer tube to cause the bonded tubes to contract and to cause the inner tube to shrink tightly about the outer surface of a support member without destroying the bond between the tubes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the inner tube has substantially greater thickness than the outer tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 7 wherein a mandrel is inserted in the inner tube to expand the tubes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 7 wherein the tubes are bonded by an adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
127 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) bonding the outer surface of an inner tube to the inner surface of an outer coaxial tube, the inner tube being formed of heat recoverable material and being in its heat stable state and the outer tube being formed of elastomeric material; (b) heating and radially expanding the bonded tubes to convert the inner tube to its heat recoverable state; (c) cooling the tubes while expanded such that the inner heat recoverable tube maintains the outer tube in its radially expanded condition; (d) heating at least the inner tube to cause the bonded tubes to contract and to cause the inner tube to shrink tightly about the outer surface of a support member without destroying the bond between the tubes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
127 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) bonding the outer surface of an inner tube to the inner surface of an outer coaxial tube, the inner tube being formed of heat recoverable material and being in its heat stable state and the outer tube being formed of elastomeric material; (b) heating and radially expanding the bonded tubes to convert the inner tube to its heat recoverable state; (c) cooling the tubes while expanded such that the inner heat recoverable tube maintains the outer tube in its radially expanded condition; (d) heating at least the inner tube to cause the bonded tubes to contract and to cause the inner tube to shrink tightly about the outer surface of a support member without destroying the bond between the tubes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein a mandrel is inserted in the inner tube to expand the tubes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein the tubes are bonded by an adhesive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) heating a tube of heat recoverable material, the tube being in its heat stable state; (b) radially expanding the tube to its heat recoverable state; (c) bonding a surface of the heat recoverable tube to a surface of a radially expanded concentric tube of elastomeric material to maintain the tube of elastomeric material in its radially expanded condition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) heating a tube of heat recoverable material, the tube being in its heat stable state; (b) radially expanding the tube to its heat recoverable state; (c) bonding a surface of the heat recoverable tube to a surface of a radially expanded concentric tube of elastomeric material to maintain the tube of elastomeric material in its radially expanded condition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 14 in which the tube of heat recoverable material is cooled after bonding.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 14 in which the tube of heat recoverable material is cooled prior to bonding.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 14 in which the inner surface of the tube of heat recoverable material is bonded to the outer surface of the tube of elastomeric material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 14 in which the outer surface of the tube of heat recoverable material is bonded to the inner surface of the tube of elastomeric material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
114 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) placing a tube formed of heat recoverable material, the tube being in its heat stable state, in a mold cavity; (b) surrounding the outer surface of said tube with a second material capable of transformation to an elastomer upon the application of heat; (c) heating the mold cavity to transform the second material to an elastomeric member surrounding said tube and bonded thereto; (d) radially expanding said tube and said elastomeric member while hot; and (e) cooling said tube and said elastomeric member while expanded to impart heat recoverability to said tube whereby said elastomeric member is maintained in its expanded condition by said heat recoverable tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
114 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) placing a tube formed of heat recoverable material, the tube being in its heat stable state, in a mold cavity; (b) surrounding the outer surface of said tube with a second material capable of transformation to an elastomer upon the application of heat; (c) heating the mold cavity to transform the second material to an elastomeric member surrounding said tube and bonded thereto; (d) radially expanding said tube and said elastomeric member while hot; and (e) cooling said tube and said elastomeric member while expanded to impart heat recoverability to said tube whereby said elastomeric member is maintained in its expanded condition by said heat recoverable tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the outer surface of the tube of heat recoverable material is coated with an adhesive which bonds the elastomeric member to the tube.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) radially expanding an elastomeric tube; and (b) bonding the outer surface of said elastomeric tube while radially expanded to the inner surface of a coaxially arranged second tube of polymeric material, said second tube being capable of maintaining the elastomeric tube in its radially expanded condition at storage temperature.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
56 words
The process comprising the following steps: (a) radially expanding an elastomeric tube; and (b) bonding the outer surface of said elastomeric tube while radially expanded to the inner surface of a coaxially arranged second tube of polymeric material, said second tube being capable of maintaining the elastomeric tube in its radially expanded condition at storage temperature.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the outer tube is formed of a polymer selected from crystalline and glassy polymers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the elastomeric tube is adhesively bonded to the second tube.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the elastomeric tube is radially expanded using a mandrel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3597372A
Cited
US3243211A
Cited
US3396460A
Cited
US3415287A
Cited
US3382121A
Cited
US3582457A
Cited
US3669824A
Cited
US3717717A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-09-17 | 1983-03-19 | 1983-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-09-17 | 1987-03-19 | 1987-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-09-17 | 1991-03-19 | 1991-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |