Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A covering device for applying an elastic cover to an elongate object, comprising: a folded elastic sleeve having an inner sleeve portion and at least one coaxially disposed outer sleeve portion overlaying said inner sleeve portion, said inner and outer sleeve portions being continuously joined at least at one circumferential edge; a support for holding said folded elastic sleeve in a radially stretched condition, said support having a first end arranged adjacent to the continuous join of said outer and inner sleeve portions, relative movement between said outer sleeve portion and said inner sleeve portion resulting in said outer portion moving and recovering onto the elongate object; and said support further including stress relief means associated with said first end for reducing the stress in said outer sleeve portion in the part thereof adjacent said first end of said support when said outer sleeve portion has been moved onto the object to be covered.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
A covering device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for substantially reducing the friction between the outer and inner sleeve portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A covering according to claim 2, wherein said means for reducing friction are provided by lubricating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A covering according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said stress relief means are adapted to prevent splitting of the elastic sleeve in the part thereof adjacent said first end of said support when said outer sleeve portion has been moved onto the object to be covered and the complete assembly is subjected to 50 cycles between -40°C and 70°C with 10 hour dwells at the temperature extremes and 4 hours between extremes under 30 cm of sand saturated with water in an environmental chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A covering device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein, at least in the installed condition, said stress relief means include said first end being tapered and reducing in diameter with increasing distance from the centre of said support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A covering device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said strain relief means include a plurality of flexible fingers forming said first end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A covering device in accordance with any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said elastic sleeve on said support is expanded with an expansion ratio of at least 3 to 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A covering device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said support includes means, adjacent said first end, for temporarily supporting said elastic sleeve, removal or collapse of said temporary support means generating the relative movement between said outer sleeve portion, and said inner sleeve portion to recover said elastic sleeve onto the elongate object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A covering device according to claim 8 as dependent upon claim 6, wherein said temporary support means is a removable cylindrical member located adjacent ot and supporting the ends of said plurality of flexible fingers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cable joint including a covering device in accordance with any of the claims 1 to 9 installed on a cable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cable line including at least one cable joint in accordance with claim 10.