Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A mandrel for supporting an uncured polymeric hose during curing to define a curved configuration in the resulting cured hose comprising: (a) a plurality of cylindrical members disposed in end-to-end relation, each of said members having opposed end faces, said members comprising a first type having end faces disposed in parallel relation and a second type having end faces disposed in non-parallel relation; (b) means interlocking said members; (c) readily attachable and detachable holding means for holding said members axially against each other; said members with said interlocking means and said holding means being adapted to provide a substantially straight position of said mandrel for easy installation of an uncured straight hose therearound; to provide a predetermined curved configuration position of said mandrel for curing said hose and to provide looseness and axial spacing between said members to enable easy withdrawal of the resulting cured curved hose from around said members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A mandrel for supporting an uncured polymeric hose during curing to define a curved configuration in the resulting cured hose comprising: (a) a plurality of cylindrical members disposed in end-to-end relation, each of said members having opposed end faces, said members comprising a first type having end faces disposed in parallel relation and a second type having end faces disposed in non-parallel relation; (b) means interlocking said members; (c) readily attachable and detachable holding means for holding said members axially against each other; said members with said interlocking means and said holding means being adapted to provide a substantially straight position of said mandrel for easy installation of an uncured straight hose therearound; to provide a predetermined curved configuration position of said mandrel for curing said hose and to provide looseness and axial spacing between said members to enable easy withdrawal of the resulting cured curved hose from around said members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 1 in which said interlocking means comprises a cooperating recess and projection in adjoining faces of each adjoining pair of cylindrical members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 2 in which the recess and projection of each cooperating pair is disposed with respect to its end face to provide interlocking of its members in said curved configuration position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 3 in which the recess and projection of each cooperating pair extends along its face on a circular arc having a particular radius to facilitate movement of each projection within its associated recess, each adjoining pair of members being relatively rotatable about a central longitudinal axis of the members, each circular arc of the recess of each cooperating recess and projection having an end wall which defines a stop which determines said curved configuration position for its members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said cylindrical members has a central longitudinal axis and said parallel end faces of said first type are disposed perpendicular to said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 5 in which at least one of said cylindrical members of said second type has said non-parallel end faces defined by one end face disposed perpendicular to its central longitudinal axis and the other end face disposed at an angle other than 90° to its central longitudinal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 6 in which at least one of said cylindrical members of said second type has said non-parallel end faces defined by both of its end faces disposed at an angle other than 90° to its longitudinal axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 1 in which said members also comprise a base member and a nose member, said base member being adapted to be supported on a support plate and said nose member having a substantially bullet nosed terminal end enabling easy insertion of said nose member and remaining members of said mandrel through an uncured hose.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said base member and said cylindrical members has a central opening extending therethrough and said holding means comprises, a support plate, a flexible rod-like member fixed at one end to said nose member and extending through said aligned openings, and means on said support plate adapted to have the terminal outer end of said flexible member fixed thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 9 in which said flexible metal member has a threaded outer end and said means on said support plate comprises a member fixed to said support plate having an internally threaded opening therethrough, said member on said base plate being adapted to receive said threaded outer end of said flexible member in threaded engagement through its internally threaded opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 10 in which said threaded outer end of said flexible member has a key-like extension extending outwardly of its threaded outer end which is particularly adapted to be engaged by a special tool to facilitate final threading and initial unthreading thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 11 in which each of said central openings in each of said members has a cylindrical central portion and a pair of outwardly flared portions adjoining opposite ends of the central portion, said flaring portions assuring said flexible member may be fastened in position in a non-binding manner.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 9 in which each of said base member and nose member has groove defining means therein adapted to receive an associated terminal end portion of an uncured hose therewithin for curing purposes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said members is made of a hard synthetic plastic material and said flexible member is made of a metallic material capable of withstanding comparatively high torsional loads in opposed directions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A mandrel as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising nesting surfaces comprising each of said cylindrical members, said nesting surfaces assuring said cylindrical members are more easily disposed in interlocked relation.