Marking sleeve for wires

Claim 1

A marker suitable for application on thin electrical wires and the like, said marker consisting of a deformable tubular body extruded from a flexible plastic material and closed in a circumferential direction, and comprising in an undeformed condition, a first portion of substantially arcuate cross-section with a circular inner wall extending through an angle substantially greater than 180° so that the inner wall corresponds to substantially more than 1/2 the circumference of a thinnest wire in a range of thicknesses to which said marker is applicable and a second portion which is integral with the first portion and comprises two flange-like projections extending approximately radially outwardly from the first portion and interconnected at their outer ends, at least one of said projections carrying visible indicia, said marker being capable of application on wires having a range of thicknesses, said first portion having said inner wall extending along at least half the circumference of the thinnest wire in said range, so that when the marker is mounted on such a wire, said two flange-like projections are substantially parallel and said inner wall serves to retain said marker on said wire, and in a deformed condition, said arcuate portion and said flange-like projections being deformed so as to together form a sleeve of circular cross-section surrounding the thickest wire in said range.