EP0110519A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Heat recoverable coupling assembly
Assignee: Raychem Corp
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Filing: 1983-09-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A heat recoverable coupling assembly for a substrate (16) having a relatively rigid outer wall (28), which includes a connector body (12) and a driver member (14) made from a band of heat recoverable material. The connector body (12) includes a mating area (18) for engaging a mating area on the rigid wall (28) of the substrate. The connector body (12) is positioned inside or outside the substrate (16) and the driver member (14) is positioned around the outside member. The driver member (14) has an unrecovered transverse dimension larger than the outside member and a transverse recovered dimension smaller than the outside member. The driver member (14) is positioned around the outside member over at least part of the mating areas. Upon heating the driver member (14) to its recovery temperature, the driver member (14) deforms the outside member and itself plastically deforms to a shape suitable for retaining the substrate (16) and the connector body (12) together. The driver member (14) is made from heat recoverable engineering plastics.
Inventors
- 👤 Corey John Mcmills
- 👤 Dennis Carl Siden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:10
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L47/00; F16L47/20; F16L47/22; B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/006; H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/01; H01R9/00; H01R9/03; H01R9/05; H01R9/0518; H01R4/10; H01R4/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A coupling assembly having an outside member and an inside member comprising: a connector body (12) positioned inside or outside a substrate (16) having a relatively rigid outer wall (28) such that mating areas of the substrate (16) and the connector body (12) are at least in part adjacent; and a dimensionally-recoverable driver member (14) made from a heat recoverable material having the property of plasticity, the driver member (14) being capable of dimensional recovery from an unrecovered configuration in which the transverse dimension is greater than the outside member to a recovered configuration in which the transverse dimension is smaller than the outside member; the driver member (14) surrounding the outside member over at least a portion of the mating areas; such that upon heating the driver member (14) tp its recovery temperature, the driver member (14) (a) recovers toward its recovered configuration with sufficient force to deform the outside member along the mating area and (b) plastically deforms to assume a shape on the outside member and to retain the substrate (16) and the connector body (12) together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A coupling assembly having an outside member and an inside member comprising: a connector body (12) positioned inside or outside a substrate (16) having a relatively rigid outer wall (28) such that mating areas of the substrate (16) and the connector body (12) are at least in part adjacent; and a dimensionally-recoverable driver member (14) made from a heat recoverable material having the property of plasticity, the driver member (14) being capable of dimensional recovery from an unrecovered configuration in which the transverse dimension is greater than the outside member to a recovered configuration in which the transverse dimension is smaller than the outside member; the driver member (14) surrounding the outside member over at least a portion of the mating areas; such that upon heating the driver member (14) tp its recovery temperature, the driver member (14) (a) recovers toward its recovered configuration with sufficient force to deform the outside member along the mating area and (b) plastically deforms to assume a shape on the outside member and to retain the substrate (16) and the connector body (12) together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outside member is the connector body (12).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outside member is the substrate (16).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
202 words
A coupling assembly for coupling to a substrate (16) having a relatively rigid wall, the assembly comprising a connector body (12) positionable relative to a substrate such that mating areas of the substrate (16) and the connector body (12) are at least in part adjacent, and a dimensionally-recoverable driver member (14) made from a heat-recoverable material having the property of plasticity, the driver member being capable of surrounding the positioned connector body (12) and substrate (16) combination over at least a portion of the mating areas and being capable of dimensional recovery from an unrecovered configuration in which the transverse dimension is greater than that of the positioned connector body (12) and substrate (16) combination to a recovered configuration in which the transverse dimension is smaller than that of the positioned connector body (12) and substrate (16) combination, the driver member (14) being recoverable towards its recovered configuration with sufficient force to deform the outside member of the positioned connector body (12) and substrate (16) combination over at least a part of the mating area, and being plastically deformable such that on recovery it assumes a shape on the said outside member to retain the substrate (16) and connector body together (12).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
202 words
A coupling assembly for coupling to a substrate (16) having a relatively rigid wall, the assembly comprising a connector body (12) positionable relative to a substrate such that mating areas of the substrate (16) and the connector body (12) are at least in part adjacent, and a dimensionally-recoverable driver member (14) made from a heat-recoverable material having the property of plasticity, the driver member being capable of surrounding the positioned connector body (12) and substrate (16) combination over at least a portion of the mating areas and being capable of dimensional recovery from an unrecovered configuration in which the transverse dimension is greater than that of the positioned connector body (12) and substrate (16) combination to a recovered configuration in which the transverse dimension is smaller than that of the positioned connector body (12) and substrate (16) combination, the driver member (14) being recoverable towards its recovered configuration with sufficient force to deform the outside member of the positioned connector body (12) and substrate (16) combination over at least a part of the mating area, and being plastically deformable such that on recovery it assumes a shape on the said outside member to retain the substrate (16) and connector body together (12).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A coupling assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the mating area (18) and mating means (20) are arranged such that the driver member (14) assumes a wedge shape after recovery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A coupling assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein mating means (20) are provided at the mating area of the connector body the mating means having means for penetrating the surface only of the substrate (16) to prevent rotational movement of the substrate (16) relative to the connector body (12).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A coupling assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the driver member (14) is made from a polymeric material preferably an engineering plastics material which is capable of having the property of heat recoverability, preferably from a material that is capable of being cross-linked.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A coupling assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the connector body (12) includes sizing means (21) for adapting the connector body (12) to substrates (16) having a range of sizes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A coupling assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the device includes means (54) for uniformly warming the driver member preferably in the form of a hood (56) whereby the driver member (14) is protected from direct flame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A coupling assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising means (15) for visually determining recovery of the driver member.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of obtaining a coupling between a substrate (16) having a relatively rigid wall and the coupling assembly of any preceding claim, the steps comprising: (a) positioning the connector body (12) concentrically with the substrate (16); (b) positioning the driver member (14) so that it simultaneously surrounds the connector body (12) and the substrate (16); and (c) thereafter, recovering the driver member (14).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A kit of parts comprising a connector body (12) preferably a CATV cable connector adapted for use with a driver member (14) and a substrate (16) having a relatively rigid outer wall; and a driver member (14) preferably comprising an engineering plastics material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A kit of parts comprising a connector body (12) preferably a CATV cable connector adapted for use with a driver member (14) and a substrate (16) having a relatively rigid outer wall; and a driver member (14) preferably comprising an engineering plastics material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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