US4126759A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupling means
Assignee: Raychem Corp
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Filing: 1977-03-21
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Granted: 1978-11-21
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Expires: 1997-03-21
Abstract
Abstract Described herein are coupling means for joining substrates, for example, tubular articles, which include an inner member, having disposed thereon a fusible agent for binding the substrates together, and an outer member. The substrates to be joined are inserted between the fusible agent and outer member and the resulting assembly is heated. The application of heat is maintained until it permeates the assembly and raises the temperature of the fusible agent enough that it melts and flows through and/or about the substrates to be joined. The inner and outer members act to confine the melted fusible agent by defining boundaries between which it can flow. Longitudinal flow of the agent can be controlled by limiting the area heated, by the configuration of the coupling members or substrates, or by providing the coupling with additional members that "dam" longitudinal flow. When the heating is discontinued, the fusible agent hardens to bind the substrates together. Either the inner member, outer member, or both may be a heat recoverable or spring member to provide compressive forces in the area of the joint being formed to facilitate the flow of the fusible material.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip L. Brooks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:42
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D23/00; B29D23/001; B29D23/003; B29C; B29C37/00; B29C37/0078; B29C37/0082; B29C37/0085; B29C65/00; B29C65/48; B29C65/50; B29C65/66; B29C65/68; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/52; B29C66/522; B29C66/5221; B29C66/5229; B29C66/52298; B29C66/63; B29C66/636; F; F16; F16L; F16L13/00; F16L13/004; F16L47/00; F16L47/02; F16L47/20; F16L47/22; B29C65/4805; B29C65/481; B29C65/4815; B29C65/483; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/7394; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08; Y10S285/00; Y10S285/915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
Coupling means for joining together at least two substrates comprising an inner member having disposed on its outer surface solder to bind the substrates together, and a heat recoverable outer member which surrounds said inner member so as to define between the inner surface of the outer member and the outer surface of the inner member a space into which the substrates are inserted, the application of heat to fuse said solder occasioning the movement of at least the outer surface toward said inner surface so as to diminish said space and direct the flow of said solder toward the outer member wherein the strength of the couple formed after heating is provided substantially solely by said solder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
Coupling means for joining together at least two substrates comprising an inner member having disposed on its outer surface solder to bind the substrates together, and a heat recoverable outer member which surrounds said inner member so as to define between the inner surface of the outer member and the outer surface of the inner member a space into which the substrates are inserted, the application of heat to fuse said solder occasioning the movement of at least the outer surface toward said inner surface so as to diminish said space and direct the flow of said solder toward the outer member wherein the strength of the couple formed after heating is provided substantially solely by said solder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Coupling means according to claim 1 wherein said solder becomes less viscous with an increase in temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Coupling means according to claim 1 wherein said inner and outer members are coaxially disposed relative to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Coupling means according to claim 3 wherein said inner member is a heat expandable cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
Coupling means according to claim 3 wherein said inner member is elastomeric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Coupling means according to claim 3 wherein said outer member is a heat shrinkable cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
Coupling means according to claim 3 wherein said outer member is elastomeric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
Coupling means according to claim 3 wherein said cylinder is hollow and is slotted longitudinally.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Coupling means according to claim 3 wherein said inner member is a cylindrical spring member held in compression by said solder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Coupling means according to claim 3 wherein said outer member is a cylindrical spring clamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Coupling means according to claim 3 wherein both said inner and said outer members are longitudinally slotted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Coupling means according to claim 3 wherein said fusible agent comprises a plurality of different materials.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
Coupling means according to claim 1 wherein said inner member is equipped with dam means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
Coupling means according to claim 1 wherein said solder comprises a discrete layer on said inner member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
Coupling means according to claim 1 wherein said inner member and said fusible agent are, respectively, the crosslinked and substantially non-crosslinked portions of a selectively crosslinked polymeric member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
Coupling means according to claim 15 wherein said polymeric member is a hollow cylinder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
Coupling means according to claim 1 wherein said outer member is substantially transparent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
Coupling means according to claim 1 wherein said outer member is an opaque member havng perforations therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
Coupling means according to claim 1 said inner member and outer member being fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of metallic compositions and polymeric compositions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A coupling means according to claim 40 wherein said outer member is capable of beng removed upon cooling without impairing the strength of the couple after heating.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
106 words
Coupling means for joining together at least two substrates coaxially disposed relative to each other comprising an inner heat expandable member having disposed on its outer surface a fusible agent to bind the substrates together, and a heat recoverable outer member which surrounds said inner member so as to define between the inner surface of the outer member and the outer surface of the inner member a space into which the substrates are inserted, the application of heat to fuse said agent occasioning the movement of the outer surface toward said inner surface so as to diminish said space and direct the flow of said agent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
106 words
Coupling means for joining together at least two substrates coaxially disposed relative to each other comprising an inner heat expandable member having disposed on its outer surface a fusible agent to bind the substrates together, and a heat recoverable outer member which surrounds said inner member so as to define between the inner surface of the outer member and the outer surface of the inner member a space into which the substrates are inserted, the application of heat to fuse said agent occasioning the movement of the outer surface toward said inner surface so as to diminish said space and direct the flow of said agent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
116 words
A couple joining together at least two substrates comprising an inner member having disposed on its outer surface a fusible agent to bind said substrates together, a heat recoverable outer member which surrounds said inner member so as to define between the inner surface of the outer member and the outer surface of the inner member a space into which the substrates have been inserted, the application of heat having fused said agent and having occasioned the movement of at least the outer surface toward said inner surface thereby diminishing said space and directing the flow of said agent toward the outer member, the strength of said couple being provided substantially solely by said fusible agent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
116 words
A couple joining together at least two substrates comprising an inner member having disposed on its outer surface a fusible agent to bind said substrates together, a heat recoverable outer member which surrounds said inner member so as to define between the inner surface of the outer member and the outer surface of the inner member a space into which the substrates have been inserted, the application of heat having fused said agent and having occasioned the movement of at least the outer surface toward said inner surface thereby diminishing said space and directing the flow of said agent toward the outer member, the strength of said couple being provided substantially solely by said fusible agent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A couple according to claim 22 wherein said outer member is removed after recovery.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
A couple according to claim 22 wherein said substrate is braided shielding.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
Couple according to claim 22 wherein said substrates are woven electrical shielding.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
Couple means according to claim 22 wherein said fusible agent flows by capillary action toward the source of heat.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
Couple means according to claim 22 wherein said substrates are cylindrical.
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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) | 1981-11-20 | 1982-05-22 | 1982-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-20 | 1986-05-22 | 1986-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-20 | 1990-05-22 | 1990-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |