US4366011A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat-recoverable reinforced enclosure
Assignee: Commscope Connectivity Belgium BVBA
•
Filing: 1980-12-01
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Granted: 1982-12-28
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Expires: 2000-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A bracing surround which comprises a heat-recoverable especially a heat-shrinkable, sleeve provided with a reinforcing member which does not prevent recovery of the sleeve but which is capable, when in the configuration held when the sleeve is recovered, of resisting forces tending to return it to the configuration held when the sleeve is in its recoverable configuration. The surround is used to enclose substrates, e.g., pressurized conduit junctions, that are subject to expansion in use.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Marie E. Nolf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:22
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L47/00; F16L47/20; F16L47/22; B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/06; B29C61/10; H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/18; H02G15/1806; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/48; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1328
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A brace which comprises a heat-recoverable sleeve provided with a reinforcing member positioned in the direction of recovery of the sleeve which allows recovery of the sleeve, the reinforcing member including means capable, when the member is in the configuration held when the sleeve is recovered, of resisting forces tending to return the member to the configuration held when the sleeve is in its recoverable configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A brace which comprises a heat-recoverable sleeve provided with a reinforcing member positioned in the direction of recovery of the sleeve which allows recovery of the sleeve, the reinforcing member including means capable, when the member is in the configuration held when the sleeve is recovered, of resisting forces tending to return the member to the configuration held when the sleeve is in its recoverable configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is a liner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member extends for the entire length of the sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is a wrap-around sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A brace as claimed in claim 4, wherein the member extends sufficiently around the circumference of the sleeve to provide overlap of the opposite edges of the member, without extending wholly to the edge of the sleeve that provides the outer layer of the overlap of the sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A brace comprising a heat-shrinkable sleeve provided with a reinforcing member extending for substantially the entire length of the sleeve, which member has means for preventing the expansion of the member which means do not prevent shrinkage of the sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A brace comprising a heat-shrinkable sleeve provided with a reinforcing member extending for substantially the entire length of the sleeve, which member has means for preventing the expansion of the member which means do not prevent shrinkage of the sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A brace as claimed in claim 6, wherein the member is positioned within the sleeve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A brace as claimed in claim 6, wherein the brace is provided with means that prevent expansion of its cross-section after installation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A brace as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means is on the member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A brace as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means is an integral part of the member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A brace as claimed in claim 6, which comprises spacer means for spacing the ends of the sleeve from an article to be covered by the brace.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A brace as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spacer means are attached to the sleeve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A brace as claimed in claim 12, wherein the spacer means at each end are in the form of a segmented ring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A brace as claimed in claim 6, wherein the interior of the reinforcing member is provided with a longitudinal groove.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A brace as claimed in claim 14, wherein the groove is provided in a thickened portion of the member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A brace as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reinforcing member is a resilient sleeve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A brace as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reinforcing member is a resilient metal sleeve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A brace as claimed in claim 17, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of beryllium-copper, phosphor bronze, and steel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A brace as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sleeve is of a resilient, creep-resistant moulded plastics material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A brace as claimed in claim 6, wherein the member has edge portions that, in use, overlap and the expansion preventing means comprises ratchets on the overlapping portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
83 words
A brace as claimed in claim 20, wherein the expansion preventing means comprise inwardly extending teeth on the region of the edge of the member that is to form the outer layer of overlap, and outwardly extending teeth on the region of the edge of the member that is to form the inner layer of the overlap, both sets of teeth being inclined so that their free ends are directed away from the longitudinal edge of the member to which they are closer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A brace as claimed in claim 21, wherein the teeth are formed in a plurality of radial rows, the rows being spaced longitudinally at intervals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A brace as claimed in claim 21, wherein the teeth are of a greater breadth at their roots than at their free ends.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of enclosing an article which comprises positioning over a region of the article subject to expansion or deformation under pressure a brace which comprises a heat-recoverable sleeve and a reinforcing member which allows recovery of the sleeve, the reinforcing member being positioned in the direction of recovery of the sleeve and which, when in the configuration held when the sleeve is recovered, resists forces tending to return the member to the configuration held when the sleeve is in its recoverable configuration, and recovering the sleeve, whereby the expansion or deformation of the article is substantially reduced.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of enclosing an article which comprises positioning over a region of the article subject to expansion or deformation under pressure a brace which comprises a heat-recoverable sleeve and a reinforcing member which allows recovery of the sleeve, the reinforcing member being positioned in the direction of recovery of the sleeve and which, when in the configuration held when the sleeve is recovered, resists forces tending to return the member to the configuration held when the sleeve is in its recoverable configuration, and recovering the sleeve, whereby the expansion or deformation of the article is substantially reduced.
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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) | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | 1986-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-27 | 1990-06-28 | 1990-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-27 | 1994-06-28 | 1994-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |