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GB2206118A Expired / Lapsed GB ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Rubber articles having a stiffened region

Assignee: Smiths Group PLC
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Filing: 1988-06-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-06-10
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Abstract

Abstract A region of a rubber article, e.g. the tip (3) of a urethral catheter (1) is stiffened by immersing the region (tip) in a solution of an epoxy resin. After equilibrium swelling is achieved the article is removed from the solution, the solvent is evaporated and the resin is cured, thereby stiffening the desired region (tip). <IMAGE>

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter Henry Hannam

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction GB
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 01:54
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J7/00; C08J7/02; A; A61; A61L; A61L29/00; A61L29/08; A61L29/085

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 33 words
A rubber article having a region integral with the article that has an increased stiffness, wherein the region is produced by diffusion of an epoxy resin into the rubber in that region only.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 33 words
A rubber article having a region integral with the article that has an increased stiffness, wherein the region is produced by diffusion of an epoxy resin into the rubber in that region only.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
An article according to Claim 1, wherein the article is of a rubber crosslinked by accelerated sulphur.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
An article according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the article is a catheter or a part of a catheter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
An article according to Claim 3, wherein the article is a urethral catheter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
An article according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the tip of the catheter is closed, wherein the catheter has a lateral opening close to the tip, and wherein the tip and the opening are located in the stiffened region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
An article according to any one of Claim 3 to 5, wherein the catheter has a bend in its length in the stiffened region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 12 words
A catheter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 12 words
A catheter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 82 words
A method of stiffening a region of a rubber article including the steps of immersing the region in a solution of an epoxy resin in a solvent capable of diffusing into the rubber until the region is swollen by diffusion of the solvent and resin into the region, removing the article from the solution and allowing the solvent to evaporate and the epoxy resin to cure so as thereby to reduce stiffening of the region by the resin diffused into the region.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 82 words
A method of stiffening a region of a rubber article including the steps of immersing the region in a solution of an epoxy resin in a solvent capable of diffusing into the rubber until the region is swollen by diffusion of the solvent and resin into the region, removing the article from the solution and allowing the solvent to evaporate and the epoxy resin to cure so as thereby to reduce stiffening of the region by the resin diffused into the region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to Claim 8, wherein the rubber is crosslinked by accelerated sulphur.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the epoxy resin is of low viscosity.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 20 words
A method according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the epoxy resin is of low molecular weight.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 20 words
A method according to any one of Claims 8 to 11, wherein the solvent is a hydrocarbon or chlorinated hydrocarbon.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 24 words
A method according to any one of Claims 8 to 12, wherein the region is immersed in the solution until equilibrium swelling is achieved.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 32 words
A method according to any one of Claims 8 to 13, wherein the article is held at elevated temperature after removal to promote evaporation of the solvent and curing of the resin.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 12 words
A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 12 words
A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 15 words
An article made by a method claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 15.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 10 words
Any novel feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 10 words
Any novel feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.

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