EP0074280A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recoverable closure
Assignee: Raychem Corp
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Filing: 1982-09-09
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2002-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A substrate 4 enclosed for environmental or other protection by a sheet 1 of plain, preferably recoverable, material. The sheet 1 is wrapped around the substrate 4 and closed by a method which allows the diameter of the resulting sleeve to be chosen at will so that the sheet can be cut to length in the field The method involves the following steps; (I) wrapping a plain sheet 1 around the substrate 4; (ii) placing a first support 4 within the resulting sleeve adjacent at least a first edge portion of the sleeve; and (iii) either placing a first fastening means over the support 4 so as frictionally to engage opposing edge portions 3 of the sheet 1 therebetween, or placing a second support within the sleeve spaced along the sleeve from the first support and frictionally engaging respective edge portions of the sleeve between respective first and second supports plus fastening means and securing the first fastening means and support relative to the second fastening means and support.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Molinari
- 👤 Robert Parker
- 👤 Thomas D. Ratzlaff
- 👤 Francis Josef Anna M.C. De Blauwe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:49
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/18; H02G15/1806; H02G15/1813; B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/06; B29C61/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1007; Y10T156/1008; Y10T156/101; Y10T156/1028; Y10T156/1033; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1328; Y10T428/1331; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of enclosing a substrate, which comprises: (i) wrapping a plain sheet around the substrate; (ii) placing a first support within the resulting sleeve adjacent at least a firt edge portion of the sleeve; and (iii) either placing a first fastening means over the support so as frictionally to engage opposing edge portions of the sheet therebetween, or placing a second support withn the sleeve spaced along the sleeve from the first support and frictionally engaging respective edge portions of the sleeve between respective first and second supports plus fastening means and securing the first fastening means and support relative to the second fastening means and support.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of enclosing a substrate, which comprises: (i) wrapping a plain sheet around the substrate; (ii) placing a first support within the resulting sleeve adjacent at least a firt edge portion of the sleeve; and (iii) either placing a first fastening means over the support so as frictionally to engage opposing edge portions of the sheet therebetween, or placing a second support withn the sleeve spaced along the sleeve from the first support and frictionally engaging respective edge portions of the sleeve between respective first and second supports plus fastening means and securing the first fastening means and support relative to the second fastening means and support.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of enclosing a substrate, which comprises: (a) forming around the substrate a tubular sleeve by overlapping the longitudinal edges of a plain sheet of recoverable material; (b) placing longitudinally within the sleeve an elongate support; (c) deforming the overlapping thicknesses of material circumferentially around the support; (d) frictionally securing the extent of overlap by installing over the material a fastening device to maintain it in its deformed state around the support; and (e) recovering the material.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of enclosing a substrate, which comprises: (a) forming around the substrate a tubular sleeve by overlapping the longitudinal edges of a plain sheet of recoverable material; (b) placing longitudinally within the sleeve an elongate support; (c) deforming the overlapping thicknesses of material circumferentially around the support; (d) frictionally securing the extent of overlap by installing over the material a fastening device to maintain it in its deformed state around the support; and (e) recovering the material.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of enclosing a substrate which comprises: (a) providing a plain sheet having opposing edge portions; (b) providing one or more plain sheet closure devices for holding together the opposing edge portions of said plain sheet, each plain sheet closure device comprising: (i) a first frictional gripping element; (ii) a second frictional gripping, said first and second elements each having: (1) a channel member having a slit, which slit is sufficiently wide to accommodate the thickness of said plain sheet and extends along the length of said channel member; and (2) a rod member which is positionable within said channel member and when so positioned, cooperates therewith to provide a conduit thereinbetween and to apply frictional forces to one edge portion of the plain sheet when the edge portion has been inserted through said slit and is in position between the rod member and the channel member; and (iii) a means for interengaging said first and second gripping elements; (c) inserting one edge portion of said sheet through the first frictional gripping element of each closure device and inserting the opposing edge portion of said flat sheet through the second frictional gripping element of each closure device; (d) wrapping said plain sheet circumferentially around said substrate; and (e) interengaging said first and second frictional gripping elements.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of enclosing a substrate which comprises: (a) providing a plain sheet having opposing edge portions; (b) providing one or more plain sheet closure devices for holding together the opposing edge portions of said plain sheet, each plain sheet closure device comprising: (i) a first frictional gripping element; (ii) a second frictional gripping, said first and second elements each having: (1) a channel member having a slit, which slit is sufficiently wide to accommodate the thickness of said plain sheet and extends along the length of said channel member; and (2) a rod member which is positionable within said channel member and when so positioned, cooperates therewith to provide a conduit thereinbetween and to apply frictional forces to one edge portion of the plain sheet when the edge portion has been inserted through said slit and is in position between the rod member and the channel member; and (iii) a means for interengaging said first and second gripping elements; (c) inserting one edge portion of said sheet through the first frictional gripping element of each closure device and inserting the opposing edge portion of said flat sheet through the second frictional gripping element of each closure device; (d) wrapping said plain sheet circumferentially around said substrate; and (e) interengaging said first and second frictional gripping elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to Claim 2, in which stage (c) and the installation of the fastening device are carried out substantially simultaneously.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to Claim 2, which, before stage (b) is carried out, includes maintaining the material in its tubular form by means of at least one fastener which holds together the overlapping thicknesses at an end portion of the sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to Claim 2, which additionally comprises installing a liner around the substrate, the tubular sleeve then being formed around the liner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to Claim 2, in which the material is heat-recoverable, and has on a surface that will be inward facing in the tubular configuration a heat-activatable adhesive; stage (e) comprising heating to cause recovery and activation of the adhesive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to Claim 2, in which the substrate is a cable or a cable splice.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to Claim 2, in which the support is a rod having a mean diameter of from 4-10 times the thickness of the sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to Claim 2, in which the fastening device is an open channel which in use extends along the tubular sleeve, and has a neck in cross-section for engagement with the elongate support, thus resisting lateral separation of the support and fastening device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to Claim 10, in which the width of the opening in the channel is from 4.5-8 times the thickness of the sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to Claim 10, in which the internal diameter of the channel is from 2-5 times the mean diameter of the support, the support being a rod.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to Claim 2, in which the substrate is of non-uniform cross-sectional size, and stage (a) comprises forming around the substrate a sleeve of non-uniform cross-sectional size by overlapping the longitudinal edges of a substantially rectangular plain sheet of recoverable material such that the extent of overlap varies along the length of the substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to Claim 3, which further comprises the step of causing the plain sheet to come into intimate contact with said elongate substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to Claim 14, in which the plain sheet is comprised of a sheet of dimensionally-recoverable polymeric material which causes said plain sheet to come into intimate contact with said elongate substrate on dimensional recovery.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to Claim 15, in which the dimensionally-recoverable polymeric sheet is heat-shrinkable and wherein the sheet is caused to come into intimate with said elongate substrate by the application of heat.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to Claim 14, in which the plain sheet is caused to come into intimate contact with said elongate substrate by pulling the sheet until taut through said flat sheet closure devices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to Claim 14, in which the plain sheet is comprised of an elastomer, which method further comprises stretching said elastomer, and causing said stretched elastomer to come into intimate contact with said substrate by allowing said elastomer to relax.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
68 words
An assembly for enclosing a substrate, which comprises: (a) a plain sheet of recovrable material, where longitudinal edges can be overlapped to form a tubular sleeve around the substrate; (b) an elongate support which can be placed within the tubular sleeve between the overlapping thicknesses of the material and the substrate; and (c) a fastening device which can hold the overlapping thicknesses of material circumferentially around the support.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
An assembly for enclosing a substrate, which comprises: (a) a plain sheet of recovrable material, where longitudinal edges can be overlapped to form a tubular sleeve around the substrate; (b) an elongate support which can be placed within the tubular sleeve between the overlapping thicknesses of the material and the substrate; and (c) a fastening device which can hold the overlapping thicknesses of material circumferentially around the support.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly according to Claim 19, in which the fastening device is an open channel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly according to Claim 20, in which the width of the opening in the channel is from 4.5-8 times the thickness of the sheet.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
An assembly according to Claim 19, in which the support is a rod.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly according to Claim 22, in which the mean diameter of the rod is from 4-10 times the thickness of the sheet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly according to-Claim 20, in which the internal diameter of the channel is from 2-5 times the mean diameter of the support, the support being a rod.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly according to any of Claims 19, which additionally comprises a liner which can surround the substrate within the tubular sleeve.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly according to Claim 19, which additionally comprises at least one fastener which can hold together the overlapping thicknesses during installation of the assembly.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
147 words
A plain sheet closure device for holding together the opposing end portions of a plain sheet to be wrapped around a substrate, comprising: (a) a first frictional gripping element; (b) a second frictional gripping element, said first and second elements each having: ( i) a channel member having a slit, which slit is sufficiently wide to accommodate the thickness of said flat sheet and extends along the length of said channel member; and (ii) a rod member which is positionable within said channel member and when so positioned, cooperates therewith to provide a conduit thereinbetween and to apply frictional forces to one edge portion of the plain sheet when the edge portion has been inserted through said slit and is in position between the rod member and the channel member; and (c) a means for securing said first and second frictional gripping elements relative to one another.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
147 words
A plain sheet closure device for holding together the opposing end portions of a plain sheet to be wrapped around a substrate, comprising: (a) a first frictional gripping element; (b) a second frictional gripping element, said first and second elements each having: ( i) a channel member having a slit, which slit is sufficiently wide to accommodate the thickness of said flat sheet and extends along the length of said channel member; and (ii) a rod member which is positionable within said channel member and when so positioned, cooperates therewith to provide a conduit thereinbetween and to apply frictional forces to one edge portion of the plain sheet when the edge portion has been inserted through said slit and is in position between the rod member and the channel member; and (c) a means for securing said first and second frictional gripping elements relative to one another.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
58 words
A closure device according to Claim 1, in which the means for securing said first and said second frictional gripping elements comprises an integral connecting bridge extending from the outer surface of the first gripping element to the outer surface of the second gripping element, thereby permanently joining and holding said gripping elements in a fixed spatial relationship.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
100 words
A closure device according to Claim 27, in which the means for interengaging said first and second frictional gripping elements comprises a mateable clasp having a first clasp portion and a second clasp portion, which portions are bent in opposing senses to one another, said first clasp portion extending from the outer surface of the first gripping element toward the second gripping element and bending upwardly away from the substrate, said second clasp portion extending from the outer surface of the second gripping element toward the first gripping element and bending downwardly toward the substrate, thereby forming said mateable clasp.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
- A closure device according to Claim 29, in which the mateable clasp is crimpable at one or more points along its length after said clasp portions are interengaged, thereby permanently joining and holding said gripping elements in a fixed spatial relationship.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
131 words
A closure device according to Claim 27, in which the means for interengaging said first and second frictional gripping elements comprises at least one mateable latch having a first latch portion and a second latch portion, said first latch portion extending from the outer surface of the first gripping element toward the second gripping element, bending upwardly away from the elongate substrate and. having a notch along its length, said second latch portion having a neck portion and a bar member, said neck portion extending from the outer surface of the second gripping element toward the first gripping element, perpendicularly joining said bar member, and being adapted to slide through said notch, said bar member extending in a direction which is substantially parallel to the length of said second gripping element.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
A closure device according to Claim 27, in which the means for interengaging said first and second frictional gripping elements comprises a hinge having two parts pivotally connected by a pin.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
A closure device according to Claim 27, in which the means for interengaging said first and said second frictional gripping elements comprises a male and a female member, the male member being a snap fit within the female member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
A closure device according to Claim 27, in which at least one of the channel members and/or at least one of the rod members has a circular cross-section.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
A closure device according to Claim 27, in which one only of a channel member plus the corresponding rod member has a non-circular cross-section.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
A closure device according to Claim 27, in which at least one of the channel members and/or at least one of the rod members has a non- circular cross-section.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
A closure device according to Claim 27, in which the rod member is flexible.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
96 words
A closure device according to Claim 27, in which the slit in at least one of the channel members has at least one contoured edge and wherein the rod member positionable with said channel member having said at least one contoured edge, has a variable diameter which exceeds the width of the slit at its widest portion and which defines a shape, which shape is insertable laterally through said edge contour and which, once inserted, may be advanced longitudinally within the channel member to a point where it cannot be laterally removed, thereby to ensure retention.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
A closure device according to Claim 27, in which at least a portion of the surface of the rod and/or of the channel member is textured.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
153 words
An assembly for enclosing a substrate, which comprises: (a) a plain sheet composed of a material which is sufficiently flexible to be wrapped around the substrate and which has opposing edge portions; and (b) one or more plain sheet closure devices, each closure device comprising a pair of frictional gripping elements and a means for interengaging said frictional gripping elements, each frictional gripping element having: ( i) a channel member having a slit, which slit is sufficiently wide to accommodate the thickness of said plain sheet and extends along the length of said channel member; and (ii) a rod member which is positionable within said channel member and when so positioned, cooperates therewith to provide a conduit thereinbetween and to apply frictional forces to one edge portion of the plain sheet when the edge portion has been inserted through said slit and is in position between the rod member and the channel member.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
153 words
An assembly for enclosing a substrate, which comprises: (a) a plain sheet composed of a material which is sufficiently flexible to be wrapped around the substrate and which has opposing edge portions; and (b) one or more plain sheet closure devices, each closure device comprising a pair of frictional gripping elements and a means for interengaging said frictional gripping elements, each frictional gripping element having: ( i) a channel member having a slit, which slit is sufficiently wide to accommodate the thickness of said plain sheet and extends along the length of said channel member; and (ii) a rod member which is positionable within said channel member and when so positioned, cooperates therewith to provide a conduit thereinbetween and to apply frictional forces to one edge portion of the plain sheet when the edge portion has been inserted through said slit and is in position between the rod member and the channel member.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
44 words
41: An assembly according to Claim 40, having more than one closure device, and wherein a plurality of channel members cooperate with one rod member, which one rod member is at least as long as the combined lengths of said plurality of channel members.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
.42. An assembly according to Claim 40, wherein the plain sheet is comprised of one or.more of an organic polymer, a metal and a foraminous material.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly according to Claim 42, wherein the flat sheet is comprised of an elastomer.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly according to Claim 40, wherein the plain sheet is comprised of a sheet of dimensionally-recoverable polymeric material.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
12 words
An assembly according to Claim 42, wherein the dimensionally-recoverable sheet is heat-shrinkable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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