Reinforced convoluted tubing of polytetrafluoroethylene

Claim 2

REINFORCED TUBING COMPRISING A WALL OF CURED PTFE MATERIAL AND A REINFORCING CONTOUR BRAID INTEGRAL THEREWITH, SAID WALL, INCLUDING SAID BRAID, BEING OF CONVOLUTE CONFIGURATION FORMED BY ALTERNATE RIDGES AND GROOVES, SAID BRAID BEING FORMED OF COMPONENT METAL OR GLASS STRANDS DISPOSED AT A LEAD ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE TRANSVERSE DIRECTION OF THE TUBING TO FOLLOW SAID CONVOLUTE CONFIGURATION INCLUDING THE RIDGES AND GROOVES THEREOF AND BEING IN GENERALLY UNIFORM TENSION THROUGHOUT SAID CONVOLUTED WALL, SAID STRANDS BEING AT LEAST PARTIALLY EMBEDDED IN SAID CURED PTFE MATERIAL.

Claim 3

Reinforced tubing comprising a wall of cured PTFE material and a reinforcing contour braid integral therewith, said wall, including said braid, being of convolute configuration formed by alternate ridges and grooves, said braid being formed of component strands disposed at a lead angle relative to the transverse direction of the tubing to follow said convolute configuration including the ridges and grooves thereof and being in generally uniform tension throughout said convoluted wall, said strands being at least partially embedded in said cured PTFE material and a cylindrical braided metal sheath coaxially disposed about said convoluted wall and in which the lead angle of the strands forming said sheath with respect to the transverse direction of the tubing is substantially greater than the lead angle of the strands forming the embedded reinforcing braid.

Claim 4

Reinforced tubing comprising a wall of cured PTFE material and a reinforcing contour braid integral therewith, said wall, including said braid, being of convolute configuration formed by alternate ridges and grooves, said braid being formed of component strands disposed at a lead angle relative to the transverse direction of the tubing to follow said convolute configuration including the ridges and grooves thereof and being in generally uniform tension throughout said convoluted wall, said strands being at least partially embedded in said cured PTFE material and a cylindrical braided metal sheath coaxially disposed about said convoluted wall and in which the lead angle of the strands forming said sheath with respect to the transverse direction of the tubing is substantially greater than the lead angle of the strands forming the embedded reinforcing braid.

Claim 5

Flexible tubing as set forth in claim 2 in which a coupling connector is attached to each end of the tube wall in fluid sealing engagement therewith and in which the outer ends of the braided metal sheath are affixed to said coupling connectors.