Heat recoverable article and process

Claim 2

A dimensionally heat unstable article comprising a member having a wall fabricated from material capable of having the property of elastic memory imparted thereto, said wall having a plurality of interstices formed therein whereby said wall can be compressed and said property imparted.

Claim 3

The article of claim 1 wherein said wall has a plurality of elongated holes formed therein.

Claim 4

The article of claim 1 wherein said wall is fabricated of a foamed material.

Claim 5

A process of forming a heat recoverable article comprising forming a member of intersticed material which exhibits elastomeric properties when heated to a temperature at least equal to its crystalline melting temperature, heating said material above its crystalline melting temperature, compressing said material, and cooling said material while holding it in the compressed state to impart the property of elastic memory thereto.

Claim 6

A process of forming a heat recoverable article comprising forming a member of intersticed material which exhibits elastomeric properties when heated to a temperature at least equal to its crystalline melting temperature, heating said material above its crystalline melting temperature, compressing said material, and cooling said material while holding it in the compressed state to impart the property of elastic memory thereto.

Claim 7

A process of forming a heat recoverable article comprising forming a member of a foamed material capable of being imparted with the property of elastic memory, cross-linking said material; heating said material to a temperature above its crystalline melting temperature; and compressing said foamed material while it is maintained above its crystalline melting temperature to impart the property of elastic memory thereto.

Claim 8

A process of forming a heat recoverable article comprising forming a member of a foamed material capable of being imparted with the property of elastic memory, cross-linking said material; heating said material to a temperature above its crystalline melting temperature; and compressing said foamed material while it is maintained above its crystalline melting temperature to impart the property of elastic memory thereto.

Claim 9

A process of forming a heat recoverable article comprising forming a member of a material capable of being imparted with the property of elastic memory; forming a plurality of elongated holes in said member; heating said member to above the crystalline melting temperature of the material; and compressing said material to impart the property of elastic memory thereto.

Claim 10

A process of forming a heat recoverable article comprising forming a member of a material capable of being imparted with the property of elastic memory; forming a plurality of elongated holes in said member; heating said member to above the crystalline melting temperature of the material; and compressing said material to impart the property of elastic memory thereto.

Claim 11

A process of forming a heat recoverable article comprising forming a hollow tubular member of material capable of being imparted with the property of elastic memory, foaming said material to form a plurality of interstices therein, heating said material to a temperature above its crystalline melting temperature, increasing the internal lateral dimension of said member while decreasing the external lateral dimension thereof and maintaining the longitudinal dimension thereof substantially constant while the material is maintained at least at said temperature, and cooling said material while it is maintained in its distorted state.

Claim 12

A process of forming a heat recoverable article comprising forming a hollow tubular member of material capable of being imparted with the property of elastic memory, foaming said material to form a plurality of interstices therein, heating said material to a temperature above its crystalline melting temperature, increasing the internal lateral dimension of said member while decreasing the external lateral dimension thereof and maintaining the longitudinal dimension thereof substantially constant while the material is maintained at least at said temperature, and cooling said material while it is maintained in its distorted state.

Claim 13

A process of forming a heat recoverable article comprising forming a hollow tubular member of material capable of being imparted with the property of elastic memory, drilling a plurality of elongated holes in the wall of said member, heating said member to above the crystalline melting temperature of said material, increasing the internal lateral dimension of said member while decreasing the external lateral dimension thereof and maintaining the longitudinal dimension thereof substantially constant which the material is maintained at least at said temperature, and cooling said material while it is maintained in its distorted state.

Claim 14

A process of forming a heat recoverable article comprising forming a hollow tubular member of material capable of being imparted with the property of elastic memory, drilling a plurality of elongated holes in the wall of said member, heating said member to above the crystalline melting temperature of said material, increasing the internal lateral dimension of said member while decreasing the external lateral dimension thereof and maintaining the longitudinal dimension thereof substantially constant which the material is maintained at least at said temperature, and cooling said material while it is maintained in its distorted state.

Claim 15

A heat recoverable article for use in passing an elongated member through an opening and sealing said opening comprising a tubular member having a passageway therethrough for receiving said elongated member, said tubular member comprising compressed, intersticed material having the property of elastic memory, said member having a peripheral groove formed therein for cooperating with the edge of said opening when said article is recovered.

Claim 16

A heat recoverable article for use in passing an elongated member through an opening and sealing said opening comprising a tubular member having a passageway therethrough for receiving said elongated member, said tubular member comprising compressed, intersticed material having the property of elastic memory, said member having a peripheral groove formed therein for cooperating with the edge of said opening when said article is recovered.

Claim 17

A heat recoverable article for use in passing an elongated member through an opening in a wall and sealing said opening comprising a tubular member having a passageway therethrough for receiving said elongated member, said tubular member comprising compressed intersticed material having the property of elastic memory, a rigid shell mounted on the periphery of said tubular member, and means for fastening said shell to said wall.

Claim 18

A heat recoverable article for use in passing an elongated member through an opening in a wall and sealing said opening comprising a tubular member having a passageway therethrough for receiving said elongated member, said tubular member comprising compressed intersticed material having the property of elastic memory, a rigid shell mounted on the periphery of said tubular member, and means for fastening said shell to said wall.

Claim 19

A heat recoverable articlE for use in passing an elongated member through an opening in a wall and sealing said opening comprising a tubular member having a passageway therethrough for receiving said elongated member, said tubular member comprising compressed intersticed material having the property of elastic memory, a ring mounted on the periphery of said tubular member, said ring including flexible members extending perpendicular to said wall and capable of tightly engaging one side of said wall when said tubular member is heat recovered.

Claim 20

A heat recoverable articlE for use in passing an elongated member through an opening in a wall and sealing said opening comprising a tubular member having a passageway therethrough for receiving said elongated member, said tubular member comprising compressed intersticed material having the property of elastic memory, a ring mounted on the periphery of said tubular member, said ring including flexible members extending perpendicular to said wall and capable of tightly engaging one side of said wall when said tubular member is heat recovered.

Claim 21

The article of claim 11 wherein a rigid shell is mounted on said ring for engaging the other side of said wall.

Claim 22

A heat recoverable article for use in passing an elongated member through an opening in a wall and sealing said opening comprising a tubular member having a passageway therethrough for receiving said elongated member, said tubular member comprising compressed intersticed material having the property of elastic memory, a first ring for mounting one end of said tubular member, said first ring having a lateral dimension greater than said opening and a second ring for mounting about the other end of said tubular member after said tubular member is inserted in said opening, said second ring having a lateral dimension greater than said opening.

Claim 23

A heat recoverable article for use in passing an elongated member through an opening in a wall and sealing said opening comprising a tubular member having a passageway therethrough for receiving said elongated member, said tubular member comprising compressed intersticed material having the property of elastic memory, a first ring for mounting one end of said tubular member, said first ring having a lateral dimension greater than said opening and a second ring for mounting about the other end of said tubular member after said tubular member is inserted in said opening, said second ring having a lateral dimension greater than said opening.

Claim 24

The article of claim 13 wherein the other end of said tubular member is tapered for receiving said second ring.

Claim 25

The article of claim 18 wherein said first and second rings comprise heat recoverable material.

Claim 26

The article of claim 20 wherein said passageway is lined with a heat unstable material.

Claim 27

The article of claim 18 wherein said tubular member is provided with an adhesive coating.

Claim 28

A heat recoverable article comprising a member having a passageway therethrough, said member comprising intersticed material having the property of elastic memory whereby the lateral dimension of said passageway and the lateral dimension of said member can be altered without substantially changing the longitudinal dimension of said member, and a fusable insert positioned in said passageway.

Claim 29

A heat recoverable article comprising a member having a passageway therethrough, said member comprising intersticed material having the property of elastic memory whereby the lateral dimension of said passageway and the lateral dimension of said member can be altered without substantially changing the longitudinal dimension of said member, and a fusable insert positioned in said passageway.