US3710531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of encasing a toroidally shaped object with a heat shrinkable covering
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1971-09-02
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Granted: 1973-01-16
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Expires: 1991-09-02
Abstract
Abstract Heat shrinkable tubing is placed around an article such as a toroid, having a hole extending therethrough, so that the axis of the tubing is coaxial with the axis of the toroid. The tubing is heated until the ends of the tubing shrink to the dimension of the inside diameter of the toroid. The ends of the tubing, while still warm and soft, are then folded within the toroid, overlapped, and secured together to encase the toroid within the tubing.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bielawski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:00
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B53/00; B65B53/02; B65B53/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of covering the surface of an article having a hole extending therethrough, which comprises: placing a shroud of shrinkable material about the article with sections thereof extending in opposite directions from the periphery of the article by amounts which are greater than the distances between the hole and the periphery of the article; shrinking the extending sections of the shroud to draw the sections against the surface of the article until the crosssectional dimensions of the extending sections of the shroud are equal to the dimension of the hole; tucking and overlapping the extending sections of the shroud within the hole; and securing together the overlapping sections.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of covering the surface of an article having a hole extending therethrough, which comprises: placing a shroud of shrinkable material about the article with sections thereof extending in opposite directions from the periphery of the article by amounts which are greater than the distances between the hole and the periphery of the article; shrinking the extending sections of the shroud to draw the sections against the surface of the article until the crosssectional dimensions of the extending sections of the shroud are equal to the dimension of the hole; tucking and overlapping the extending sections of the shroud within the hole; and securing together the overlapping sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein securing together the overlapping sections comprises heating the overlapping ends to secure them together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 2, wherein an inductively heatable powdered metal is provided between the overlapping sections and heating the sections comprises inductively heating the powdered metal to heat the sections and to fuse them together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 2, wherein securing together the overlapping sections comprises applying an adhesive between the sections to bond the sections together.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of encasing a toroidally shaped object, which comprises: placing a length of heat shrinkable tubing around the toroid, such that the axes of the tubing and of the toroid are parallel, the tubing being constructed of a material that is shrinkable to at least the inner diameter of the toroid and the tubing being of a sufficient length to allow tucking and overlapping of the projecting ends of the tubing, when shrunk, within the toroid; heating the tubing to shrink the tubing around the toroid, the tubing being heated until the diameter of the prOjecting ends shrinks to the size of the inner diameter of the toroid; tucking and overlapping the projecting ends of the shrunk tubing within the toroid; and securing together the overlapped ends to encase the toroid within the tubing.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of encasing a toroidally shaped object, which comprises: placing a length of heat shrinkable tubing around the toroid, such that the axes of the tubing and of the toroid are parallel, the tubing being constructed of a material that is shrinkable to at least the inner diameter of the toroid and the tubing being of a sufficient length to allow tucking and overlapping of the projecting ends of the tubing, when shrunk, within the toroid; heating the tubing to shrink the tubing around the toroid, the tubing being heated until the diameter of the prOjecting ends shrinks to the size of the inner diameter of the toroid; tucking and overlapping the projecting ends of the shrunk tubing within the toroid; and securing together the overlapped ends to encase the toroid within the tubing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 5, wherein heating the tubing to shrink the tubing comprises blowing heated air onto the tubing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 5, wherein securing together the overlapping ends comprises heating the overlapping ends to fuse them together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as recited in claim 7, wherein heating the overlapping ends to fuse them together comprises pressingly engaging the overlapped ends within the toroid with a heated tool to melt and to fuse the ends together.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of packaging a toroidally shaped object, which comprises: placing a length of heat shrinkable tubing around the toroid, such that the axes of the tubing and of the toroid are parallel, the tubing being constructed of a material that is shrinkable to at least the inner diameter of the toroid and the tubing being of a sufficient length to allow tucking and overlapping of the projecting ends of the tubing, when shrunk, within the toroid; heating the tubing to shrink the tubing around the toroid, the tubing being heated until the diameter of the projecting ends shrinks to the size of the inner diameter of the toroid; applying an inductively heatable powdered metal to at least one of the projecting ends; tucking and overlapping the projecting ends of the shrunk tubing within the toroid so that the powdered metal is spaced between the overlapping ends; and inductively heating the powdered metal on the overlapping ends to heat the ends and fuse them together to package the toroid within the tubing.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of packaging a toroidally shaped object, which comprises: placing a length of heat shrinkable tubing around the toroid, such that the axes of the tubing and of the toroid are parallel, the tubing being constructed of a material that is shrinkable to at least the inner diameter of the toroid and the tubing being of a sufficient length to allow tucking and overlapping of the projecting ends of the tubing, when shrunk, within the toroid; heating the tubing to shrink the tubing around the toroid, the tubing being heated until the diameter of the projecting ends shrinks to the size of the inner diameter of the toroid; applying an inductively heatable powdered metal to at least one of the projecting ends; tucking and overlapping the projecting ends of the shrunk tubing within the toroid so that the powdered metal is spaced between the overlapping ends; and inductively heating the powdered metal on the overlapping ends to heat the ends and fuse them together to package the toroid within the tubing.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of encasing a toroidally shaped object, which comprises: placing a length of heat shrinkable tubing around the toroid, such that the axes of the tubing and of the toroid are parallel, the tubing being constructed of a material that is shrinkable to at least the inner diameter of the toroid and the tubing being of a sufficient length to allow tucking and overlapping of the projecting ends of the tubing, when shrunk, within the toroid; heating the tubing to shrink the tubing around the toroid, the tubing being heated until the diameter of the projecting ends shrinks to the size of the inner diameter of the toroid; tucking and overlapping the projecting ends of the shrunk tubing within the toroid; and continuing to heat the tubing to shrink the tubing an additional amount to further draw the overlapping ends of the tubing more tightly together and into tighter contact with the toroid to form a seal and to encase the toroid within the tubing.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of encasing a toroidally shaped object, which comprises: placing a length of heat shrinkable tubing around the toroid, such that the axes of the tubing and of the toroid are parallel, the tubing being constructed of a material that is shrinkable to at least the inner diameter of the toroid and the tubing being of a sufficient length to allow tucking and overlapping of the projecting ends of the tubing, when shrunk, within the toroid; heating the tubing to shrink the tubing around the toroid, the tubing being heated until the diameter of the projecting ends shrinks to the size of the inner diameter of the toroid; tucking and overlapping the projecting ends of the shrunk tubing within the toroid; and continuing to heat the tubing to shrink the tubing an additional amount to further draw the overlapping ends of the tubing more tightly together and into tighter contact with the toroid to form a seal and to encase the toroid within the tubing.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of covering the surface of a toroidally shaped object, which comprises: placing a length of heat shrinkable tubing around the toroid, such that the axes of the tubing and of the toroid are parallel, the tubing being constructed of a material that is shrinkable to at least the inner diameter of the toroid and the tubing being of a sufficient length to allow tucking and overlapping of the projecting ends of the tubing, when shrunk, within the toroid; heating the tubing to shrink the tubing around the toroid, the tubing being heated until the diameter of the projecting ends shrinks to the size of the inner diameter of the toroid; applying an adhesive to at least one of the projecting ends; and tucking and overlapping the projecting ends of the shrunk tubing within the toroid so that the adhesive is spaced between the overlapping ends to bond the ends together.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of covering the surface of a toroidally shaped object, which comprises: placing a length of heat shrinkable tubing around the toroid, such that the axes of the tubing and of the toroid are parallel, the tubing being constructed of a material that is shrinkable to at least the inner diameter of the toroid and the tubing being of a sufficient length to allow tucking and overlapping of the projecting ends of the tubing, when shrunk, within the toroid; heating the tubing to shrink the tubing around the toroid, the tubing being heated until the diameter of the projecting ends shrinks to the size of the inner diameter of the toroid; applying an adhesive to at least one of the projecting ends; and tucking and overlapping the projecting ends of the shrunk tubing within the toroid so that the adhesive is spaced between the overlapping ends to bond the ends together.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the adhesive has an accelerated curing time in response to heating thereof, further comprising additionally heating the overlapping ends to accelerate the curing of the adhesive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 12, wherein additionally heating the overlapping ends comprises pressingly engaging tHe overlapping ends with a heated tool.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |