US4472222A — Recoverable closure assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 100 words

A heat-recoverable closure assembly, comprising a heat-recoverable outer sleeve which surrounds a body to be enclosed thereby, and a liner which surrounds the body within the sleeve; the liner comprising in use an internal thermoplastic support layer and an external heat barrier layer being of low thermal conductivity, wherein each of said layers is substantially incapable of capillary transfer of liquid and the heat stability of the support layer and the heat transfer rate of the heat barrier layer are such that for the time and temperature required by recovery of the sleeve, the support layer substantially retains its strength.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 100 words

A heat-recoverable closure assembly, comprising a heat-recoverable outer sleeve which surrounds a body to be enclosed thereby, and a liner which surrounds the body within the sleeve; the liner comprising in use an internal thermoplastic support layer and an external heat barrier layer being of low thermal conductivity, wherein each of said layers is substantially incapable of capillary transfer of liquid and the heat stability of the support layer and the heat transfer rate of the heat barrier layer are such that for the time and temperature required by recovery of the sleeve, the support layer substantially retains its strength.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

An assembly according to claim 1, in which the heat barrier layer is laminated to the support layer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

An assembly according to claim 1, in which the support layer comprises an olefinic polymer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

An assembly according to claim 3, in which the support layer is a calcium-carbonate filled polypropylene.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

An assembly according to claim 1, in which the heat barrier layer comprises a foamed polymeric material.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

An assembly according to claim 5, in which the foamed polymeric material is a substantially closed cell material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

An assembly according to claim 5 or 6, in which the heat barrier layer comprises a cross-linked neoprene foam.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

An assembly according to claim 5 or 6, in which the heat barrier layer comprises a cross-liked polyolefin foam.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 67 words

A liner for use in an assembly according to claim 1, comprising a support layer bonded to another layer, the support layer having a line of weakness or indentation by means of which a longitudinal strip of the support layer can be removed to expose a tab of the other layer which can bond to a portion of the liner to hold the liner around a body.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 65 words

A liner for use in an assembly according to claim 1, comprising a support layer bonded to another layer, the support layer having a line of weakness or indentation by means of which a longitudinal strip of the support layer can be removed to expose a tab of the other layer which can provide a covering for the resulting exposed edge of the support layer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

An assembly according to claim 1 in which the support layer has longitudinal lines of weakness which aid curvature of the liner around the body.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

An assembly according to claim 1, in which the liner, in use, has tapered end portions produced by bending inwardly tongues defined by adjacent longitudinal slits which extend into the end of the support layer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

An assembly according to claim 12, in which the support layer has an enlarged hole at the closed end of each slit.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 73 words

A kit of parts comprising a recoverable sleeve and a liner comprising in use an internal thermoplastic support layer and an external heat barrier layer being of low thermal conductivity, wherein each of said layers is substantially incapable of capillary transfer of liquid and the heat rate of the heat barrier layer are such that for the time and temperature required by recovery of the sleeve, the support layer substantially retains its strength.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 73 words

A kit of parts comprising a recoverable sleeve and a liner comprising in use an internal thermoplastic support layer and an external heat barrier layer being of low thermal conductivity, wherein each of said layers is substantially incapable of capillary transfer of liquid and the heat rate of the heat barrier layer are such that for the time and temperature required by recovery of the sleeve, the support layer substantially retains its strength.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

A kit of parts according to claim 14, which additionally comprises a moisture barrier layer for use in conjunction with said liner.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 94 words

A recoverable closure assembly, comprising a heat recoverable outer sleeve which can surround a body to be enclosed thereby, and a liner which can surround the body within the sleeve and acts as a support for the sleeve after recovery; the liner comprising in use an internal calcium-carbonate filled polypropylene support layer bonded to an external heat barrier layer being of low thermal conductivity and comprising a closed cell cross-linked foamed polyolefin, the heat barrier layer being capable in use of preventing thermal deformation of the support layer during heat recovery of the sleeve.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 94 words

A recoverable closure assembly, comprising a heat recoverable outer sleeve which can surround a body to be enclosed thereby, and a liner which can surround the body within the sleeve and acts as a support for the sleeve after recovery; the liner comprising in use an internal calcium-carbonate filled polypropylene support layer bonded to an external heat barrier layer being of low thermal conductivity and comprising a closed cell cross-linked foamed polyolefin, the heat barrier layer being capable in use of preventing thermal deformation of the support layer during heat recovery of the sleeve.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 51 words

An assembly according to claim 1 or 16, in which the heat barrier layer or another layer overlaps the support layer along a longitudinal edge thereof to form a tab which, when the liner is in use, bonds to a portion of the liner to hold the liner around the body.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 47 words

An assembly according to claim 1 or 16, in which the heat barrier layer or another layer overlaps the support layer along a longitudinal edge thereof to form a tab which, when the liner is in use, provides a barrier between said edge and the outer sleeve.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 34 words

An assembly according to claim 18, in which the overlap is produced by removal of a longitudinal strip of support layer from a bonded laminate of support layer and heat barrier or other layer.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 43 words

An assembly according to claim 19, in which the heat barrier or other layer, as the case may be, is bonded to the support layer by a pressure sensitive adhesive, such that removal of the strip results in a pressure sensitive adhesive tab.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

An assembly according to claim 1 or 16, in which the liner additionally comprises a substantially vapour impermeable moisture barrier layer.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

An assembly according to claim 21, in which the support layer, the heat barrier layer and the moisture barrier layer are bonded together.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

An assembly according to claim 21, in which the moisture barrier layer comprises a foil.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 14 words

An assembly according to claim 23, in which the foil is an aluminum foil.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 11 words

A cable splice enclosed in an assembly according to claim 16.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of enclosing a body comprising the steps of: (a) positioning about the body a liner comprising in use an internal thermoplastic support layer and an external heat barrier layer being of low thermal conductivity, wherein each of said layers is substantially incapable of capillary transfer of liquid and the heat stability of the support layer and the heat transfer rate of the heat barrier layer are such that for the time and temperature required by recovery of the sleeve, the support layer substantially retains its strength; (b) positioning about the liner a heat-recoverable outer sleeve; and (c) recovering the sleeve.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of enclosing a body comprising the steps of: (a) positioning about the body a liner comprising in use an internal thermoplastic support layer and an external heat barrier layer being of low thermal conductivity, wherein each of said layers is substantially incapable of capillary transfer of liquid and the heat stability of the support layer and the heat transfer rate of the heat barrier layer are such that for the time and temperature required by recovery of the sleeve, the support layer substantially retains its strength; (b) positioning about the liner a heat-recoverable outer sleeve; and (c) recovering the sleeve.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-09-18	1988-03-19	1988-09-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-09-18	1992-03-19	1992-09-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-09-18	1996-03-19	1996-09-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Recoverable closure assembly

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