US4569868A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat-recoverable article
Assignee: NV RAYCHEM SA DIESTSESTEENWEG 692 3200 KESSEL-LO BELGUIM A Co OF BELGIUM
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Filing: 1979-08-31
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Granted: 1986-02-11
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Expires: 1999-08-31
Abstract
Abstract Heat-recoverable articles, especially heat-shrinkable tubular articles, having an open end are formed so that the section adjacent said open end has a lower recovery ratio than a section adjacent thereto, thereby substantially reducing the risk of splitting when the degree of recovery is high or in applications where a high degree of unrecovered strain remains after recovery about a substrate such as a supply line. A preferred article is a tubular cap which has an open end section having a first expansion ratio, an intermediate section having a second expansion ratio and a closed end section having a third expansion ratio, the second expansion ratio being greater than the first and third expansion ratios. Such a cap may be employed to seal a conduit against ingress of moisture and other contaminants. When a supply line is subsequently to be passed through the conduit the closed end may be removed and the article shrunk to grip the supply line.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis J. A. M. C. De Blauwe
- 👤 Frank K. A. Selleslags
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:02
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/22; B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/06; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/18; H02G15/1806; H02G9/00; H02G9/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/21; Y10T403/213; Y10T403/217; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1328; Y10T428/1331; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24942
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A hollow heat-shrinkable article composed of a polymeric material and having a closed cross-section and at least one open end, each open end being defined by an open end section having adjacent thereto an intermediate section, the open end section having a first expansion ratio which is from 1 to 3.0 and the intermediate section having a second expansion ratio which is at least 3.0 and at least 0.5 greater than said first expansion ratio, whereby the amount of available recovery in the open end section is substantially less than the amount of available recovery in the intermediate section, the circumference of the open end section after unrestrained recovery of the article being substantially greater than the circumference of the intermediate section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A hollow heat-shrinkable article composed of a polymeric material and having a closed cross-section and at least one open end, each open end being defined by an open end section having adjacent thereto an intermediate section, the open end section having a first expansion ratio which is from 1 to 3.0 and the intermediate section having a second expansion ratio which is at least 3.0 and at least 0.5 greater than said first expansion ratio, whereby the amount of available recovery in the open end section is substantially less than the amount of available recovery in the intermediate section, the circumference of the open end section after unrestrained recovery of the article being substantially greater than the circumference of the intermediate section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said second expansion ratio is at least 4.0.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article according to claim 2 wherein said second expansion ratio is 4.0 to 6.0.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said second expansion ratio is at least 5.0.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said first expansion ratio is from 1.0 to 2.0.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein the difference between the first and second expansion ratios is at least 0.5 times the second expansion ratio.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article according to claim 1 in the form of a tube having two open ends and a substantially constant cross-section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
An article according to claim 1 which is in the form of a tubular cap and which comprises in addition to said open end section and said intermediate section, a closed end section which is adjacent said intermediate section, which defines the closed end of the cap and which has a third expansion ratio which is from 1.0 to 3.0 and at least 0.5 less than said second expansion ratio.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An article according to claim 8 wherein said first and third expansion ratios are substantially the same.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
An article according to claim 8 wherein the internal circumference of the open end section is slightly larger than the external circumference of the intermediate section and the closed end section, and the intermediate section is composed of flexible material such that the closed end section and intermediate section can be telescoped through the open end section by pushing along the axis of the cap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
An article according to claim 8 wherein the open end section is 2 to 10 cm. long, the intermediate section is 2 to 15 cm long and the closed end section is 1 to 5 cm long, said article having throughout its length a substantially circular cross-section of diameter 2 to 15 cm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
195 words
A hollow heat-shrinkable article composed of a polymeric material and having a closed cross-section and at least one open end, each open end being defined by an open end section having adjacent thereto an intermediate section, the open end section having a first expansion ratio which is from 1 to 3.0 and the intermediate section having a second expansion ratio which is at least 3.0 and at least 0.5 greater than said first expansion ratio, whereby the amount of available recovery in the open end section is substantially less than the amount of available recovery in the intermediate section, the circumference of the open end section after unrestrained recovery of the article being substantially greater than the circumference of the intermediate section; the internal circumference of the open end section being slightly larger than the external circumference of the intermediate section and the closed end section, and the intermediate section being composed of flexible material such that the closed end section and intermediate section can be telescoped through the open end section by pushing along the axis of the cap; and said article having a gripping protruberance on the outside of the closed end section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
195 words
A hollow heat-shrinkable article composed of a polymeric material and having a closed cross-section and at least one open end, each open end being defined by an open end section having adjacent thereto an intermediate section, the open end section having a first expansion ratio which is from 1 to 3.0 and the intermediate section having a second expansion ratio which is at least 3.0 and at least 0.5 greater than said first expansion ratio, whereby the amount of available recovery in the open end section is substantially less than the amount of available recovery in the intermediate section, the circumference of the open end section after unrestrained recovery of the article being substantially greater than the circumference of the intermediate section; the internal circumference of the open end section being slightly larger than the external circumference of the intermediate section and the closed end section, and the intermediate section being composed of flexible material such that the closed end section and intermediate section can be telescoped through the open end section by pushing along the axis of the cap; and said article having a gripping protruberance on the outside of the closed end section.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-10 | 1989-08-12 | 1990-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-10 | 1993-08-12 | 1994-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-10 | 1997-08-12 | 1998-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |