Flexible tubing structure

Claim 2

A tubing structure of the type affording at least limited relative movement of the components thereof comprising components including a tubular member having an exterior surface portion of synthetic plastic material, a longitudinal member comprising a single ribbonlike strip extending the length of said tubular member and wrapped laterally about said tubular member with its edge portions in continuous longitudinal overlapping engagement, the material of said ribbonlike member having a high tension load-carrying capacity in the direction of its longitudinal axis, and helical reinforcing wire comprising a multiplicity of coils disposed in firm self retaining engagement with said longitudinal member and with adjacent coils in engagement for holding said strip securely about said tubular member in close surrounding engagement with said exterior surface portion thereof, said tubular member and said strip and said overlapping edges and the coils of said helical wire being relatively movable with respect to one another and said structure being held in assembled arrangement by said helical wire, whereby the coils of said wire and said strip and said tubular member may move with respect to one another during flexing to equalize loads and prevent injury of said structure.

Claim 3

A tubing structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ribbonlike strip comprises an oriented synthetic plastic.

Claim 4

A tubing structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ribbonlike strip comprises a multiplicity of longitudinally arranged glass fiber filaments embedded in a synthetic plaStic.

Claim 5

A tubing structure as set forth in claim 1 including a smooth synthetic plastic coating on said helical wire.

Claim 6

A tubing structure as set forth in claim 4 including a second longitudinal member of the same construction as said first-mentioned longitudinal member enclosing said helical wire and having its longitudinal edges overlapping, and a second helical reinforcing wire of the same construction as said first helical wire and wrapped firmly about said second strip in self-retaining engagement.

Claim 7

A tubing structure comprising a tubular member having an exterior surface portion of plastic material, a longitudinal member comprising a single ribbonlike strip extending the length of said tubular member and wrapped laterally about said tubular member with its edge portions in continuous longitudinal overlapping engagement, the material of said ribbonlike member having high tension load carrying capacity in the direction of its longitudinal axis, a helical reinforcing wire comprising a multiplicity of coils disposed in firm self-retaining engagement with said longitudinal member and with adjacent coils in engagement for holding said strip securely about said tubular member in close surrounding engagement with said exterior surface portion thereof, a second longitudinal member of the same construction as said first-mentioned longitudinal member enclosing said helical wire and having its longitudinal edges overlapping, and a second helical reinforcing wire of the same construction as said first helical wire and wrapped firmly about said second strip in self-retaining engagement, each of said wires having a good electrical conducting coating and each of said strips having thereon a layer of electrical conducting material.

Claim 8

A tubing structure comprising a tubular member having an exterior surface portion of plastic material, a longitudinal member comprising a single ribbonlike strip extending the length of said tubular member and wrapped laterally about said tubular member with its edge portions in continuous longitudinal overlapping engagement, the material of said ribbonlike member having high tension load carrying capacity in the direction of its longitudinal axis, a helical reinforcing wire comprising a multiplicity of coils disposed in firm self-retaining engagement with said longitudinal member and with adjacent coils in engagement for holding said strip securely about said tubular member in close surrounding engagement with said exterior surface portion thereof, a second longitudinal member of the same construction as said first-mentioned longitudinal member enclosing said helical wire and having its longitudinal edges overlapping, and a second helical reinforcing wire of the same construction as said first helical wire and wrapped firmly about said second strip in self-retaining engagement, each of said wires having a good electrical conducting coating and each of said strips having thereon a layer of electrical conducting material.

Claim 9

A tubing structure of the type affording at least limited relative movement of the components thereof comprising components including a tubular member having an exterior surface portion of synthetic plastic material, a longitudinal member comprising a single ribbonlike strip extending the length of said tubular member and wrapped laterally about said tubular member with its edge portions in continuous longitudinal overlapping engagement, the material of said ribbonlike member having a smooth surface and a high tension load-carrying capacity in the direction of its longitudinal axis, and a helical reinforcing wire comprising a multiplicity of coils disposed in firm self retaining engagement with said longitudinal member and with adjacent coils in engagement for holding said strip securely about said tubular member in close surrounding engagement with said exterior surface portion thereof, said tubular member and said strip extending beyond said helical reinforcing wire at one end of said structure and having a fitting mounted on said end of said structure, said fitting including an inner collar fitting closely about said strip and clamping means including an outer collar threaded on said inner collar and providing an annular space about the end of said tubular member, the end of said strip beyond said fitting being divided to provide a multiplicity of small strips, each of said small strips being drawn tightly through said space and being clamped in said clamping means with a knot in each strip lying within said space and held tight by said clamping means, and a body of synthetic plastic potting material filling said space and locking said knots securely therein.

Claim 10

A tubing structure of the type affording at least limited relative movement of the components thereof comprising components including a tubular member having an exterior surface portion of synthetic plastic material, a longitudinal member comprising a single ribbonlike strip extending the length of said tubular member and wrapped laterally about said tubular member with its edge portions in continuous longitudinal overlapping engagement, the material of said ribbonlike member having a smooth surface and a high tension load-carrying capacity in the direction of its longitudinal axis, and a helical reinforcing wire comprising a multiplicity of coils disposed in firm self retaining engagement with said longitudinal member and with adjacent coils in engagement for holding said strip securely about said tubular member in close surrounding engagement with said exterior surface portion thereof, said tubular member and said strip extending beyond said helical reinforcing wire at one end of said structure and having a fitting mounted on said end of said structure, said fitting including an inner collar fitting closely about said strip and clamping means including an outer collar threaded on said inner collar and providing an annular space about the end of said tubular member, the end of said strip beyond said fitting being divided to provide a multiplicity of small strips, each of said small strips being drawn tightly through said space and being clamped in said clamping means with a knot in each strip lying within said space and held tight by said clamping means, and a body of synthetic plastic potting material filling said space and locking said knots securely therein.