Articles of manufacture including cylindrical members having specially-terminated protective coatings

Claim 1

Articles of manufacture comprising: a first tubular member of a heat-conductive material having a circular socket defined in one end thereof, a first coalesced plastic coating having one portion bonded to the exterior of said first tubular member and a free portion coaxially disposed around said circular socket and extending longitudinally therebeyond for defining an extended pliable sleeve having a relaxed inner diameter of a first dimension and an expanded inner diameter of a second larger dimension; a second tubular member of a heat-conductive material having a cylindrical terminal portion coaxially received in said pliable sleeve with the end of said terminal portion complementally fitted into said socket for joining said tubular members, a second coalesced plastic coating bonded to the exterior of said second tubular member and co-operatively terminated on said terminal portion at a position between the free end of said pliable sleeve and said socket for defining a radially-directed outwardly-projecting peripheral protrusion having a conically-tapered forward surface for progressively expanding said pliable sleeve radially outwardly from its said first dimension as said terminal portion of said second tubular member is inserted through said pliable sleeve and its said end is fitted into said socket to join said tubular members, said peripheral protrusion having an outer diameter of about said second dimension for effecting sealing engagement between the exterior surface of said peripheral protrusion and the inner surface of said expanded pliable sleeve when said tubular members are joined; and means for securing said end of said terminal portion of said second tubular member within said socket of said first tubular member.