Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A composite coupling for joining cylindrical substrates which comprises: (a) a tubular heat-recoverable metallic compression sleeve having a generally uniform interior surface; and (b) a tubular metallic insert formed of a gall-prone metal snugly and concentrically disposed within said sleeve and adapted to contact and form a secure connection between said cylindrical substrates by being driven inwardly by said sleeve when said sleeve is heated above its transition temperature, the exterior surface of said insert bearing at least one radial tooth, said tooth remaining on the exterior surface of said insert during recovery, and the interior surface of said insert being generally uniform and exhibiting profilometer roughness not greater than about 125 micro-inches.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A composite coupling for joining cylindrical substrates which comprises: (a) a tubular heat-recoverable metallic compression sleeve having a generally uniform interior surface; and (b) a tubular metallic insert formed of a gall-prone metal snugly and concentrically disposed within said sleeve and adapted to contact and form a secure connection between said cylindrical substrates by being driven inwardly by said sleeve when said sleeve is heated above its transition temperature, the exterior surface of said insert bearing at least one radial tooth, said tooth remaining on the exterior surface of said insert during recovery, and the interior surface of said insert being generally uniform and exhibiting profilometer roughness not greater than about 125 micro-inches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said insert is formed of a metal comprising a major proportion of titanium and wherein the interior surface of said insert exhibits profilometer roughness not greater than about 63 micro-inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said insert is not greater in length than about the quantity L+2D i , where L is the length of said sleeve and D i its internal diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A coupling according to claim 3 wherein said insert protrudes from the opposite ends of said sleeve and is not greater in length than about the quantity L+D i .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
A composite device which comprises: (a) a heat-recoverable metallic driver; and (b) a tubular metallic member concentrically disposed adjacent to, in contact with and surrounding the exterior surface of said driver, said member being driven outwardly by said driver when said driver is heated above its transition temperature, both principal surfaces of said member bearing a plurality of separate, longitudinally spaced-apart radial teeth circumferentially formed about the longitudinal axis of said member, said teeth remaining on said principal surfaces of said member during recovery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
A composite device which comprises: (a) a heat-recoverable metallic driver; and (b) a tubular metallic member concentrically disposed adjacent to, in contact with and surrounding the exterior surface of said driver, said member being driven outwardly by said driver when said driver is heated above its transition temperature, both principal surfaces of said member bearing a plurality of separate, longitudinally spaced-apart radial teeth circumferentially formed about the longitudinal axis of said member, said teeth remaining on said principal surfaces of said member during recovery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein both principal surfaces of said member bear a plurality of teeth on either side of the mid-section thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said teeth are arranged pairwise such that individual ones of pairs of said teeth respectively protrude inwardly and outwardly from the body of said member at points equidistant from said mid-section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein the length of said member is from L to L+2D e , where L is the length of said driver and D e its external diameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 8 wherein said member extends beyond the opposite ends of said driver and is no greater in length than about the quantity L+D e .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein said member is formed of a gall-prone metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A composite device which comprises: (a) a heat-recoverable metallic driver; and (b) a tubular metallic member concentrically disposed adjacent to, in contact with and surrounding the exterior surface of said driver, said member being driven outwardly by said driver when said driver is heated above its transition temperature, the exterior surface of said member bearing a plurality of separate, longitudinally spaced-apart radial teeth circumferentially formed about the longitudinal axis of said member, said teeth remaining on the exterior surface of said tubular member during recovery, and the interior surface of said member being generally uniform.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
A composite device which comprises: (a) a heat-recoverable metallic driver; and (b) a tubular metallic member concentrically disposed adjacent to, in contact with and surrounding the exterior surface of said driver, said member being driven outwardly by said driver when said driver is heated above its transition temperature, the exterior surface of said member bearing a plurality of separate, longitudinally spaced-apart radial teeth circumferentially formed about the longitudinal axis of said member, said teeth remaining on the exterior surface of said tubular member during recovery, and the interior surface of said member being generally uniform.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 11 wherein the exterior surface of said member bears a plurality of said teeth on either side of the mid-section thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said teeth are arranged pairwise such that individual ones of pairs of said teeth protrude outwardly from the body of said insert at points equidistant from said mid-section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 11 wherein the length of said member is from L to L+2D e , where L is the length of said driver and D e its external diameter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 14 wherein said member extends beyond the opposite ends of said driver and is not greater in length than about the quantity L+D e .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
101 words
A composite device which comprises: (a) a heat recoverable metallic driver; and (b) a tubular metallic member sized for coaxial disposition adjacent said driver to provide for secure engagement between the driver and a substrate upon recovery of the driver, said member being driven in the direction of recovery by said driver when said member is concentrically disposed about and in contact with said driver and said driver is heated above its transition temperature, wherein said metallic member has an inside surface that tapers from a maximum wall thickness at points adjacent to either end to a minimum about its mid-section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
101 words
A composite device which comprises: (a) a heat recoverable metallic driver; and (b) a tubular metallic member sized for coaxial disposition adjacent said driver to provide for secure engagement between the driver and a substrate upon recovery of the driver, said member being driven in the direction of recovery by said driver when said member is concentrically disposed about and in contact with said driver and said driver is heated above its transition temperature, wherein said metallic member has an inside surface that tapers from a maximum wall thickness at points adjacent to either end to a minimum about its mid-section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein the metallic member has a generally uniform outside surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 17 wherein the metallic member is formed of a gall-prone metal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein the driver is solid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein the driver is a tubular sleeve.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
99 words
A composite plug which comprises: (a) a heat-recoverable metallic driver; and (b) a cap-shaped metallic member having an open end and a closed end, concentrically disposed adjacent to, in contact with and surrounding the exterior surface of said driver, said member being driven outwardly by said driver when said driver is heated above its transition temperature, the exterior surface of said member bearing at least one radial tooth circumferentially formed about the longitudinal axis of said member, said tooth remaining on the exterior surface of said member during recovery, and the interior surface of said member being generally uniform.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
99 words
A composite plug which comprises: (a) a heat-recoverable metallic driver; and (b) a cap-shaped metallic member having an open end and a closed end, concentrically disposed adjacent to, in contact with and surrounding the exterior surface of said driver, said member being driven outwardly by said driver when said driver is heated above its transition temperature, the exterior surface of said member bearing at least one radial tooth circumferentially formed about the longitudinal axis of said member, said tooth remaining on the exterior surface of said member during recovery, and the interior surface of said member being generally uniform.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A plug according to claim 21 wherein the exterior surface of said member bears a plurality of separate, longitudinally spaced-apart radial teeth.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A plug according to claim 21 wherein at least one of said at least one tooth lies radially outward of said driver.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A plug according to claim 21 wherein said driver lies completely within said member between said open end and said closed end.