Article having heat expandable sealing member

Claim 2

An article, comprising a generally axially extended outer, tubular member having at least one open terminus, said outer tubular member occupying a predetermined volume; a plurality of generally axially extending cylindrical members, each of said cylindrical members being received in said tubular member in an axially extending, parallel fashion such that said cylindrical members occupy a volume that is less than said outer tubular member volume; and at least one pre-foamed, heat expandable foam sealing member, said sealing member being capable of sealing said open terminus of said outer tubular member, and occupying a volume that is generally equal to the difference between said outer tubular member volume and said volume of said cylindrical members, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member comprises a crosslinked polymer having the characteristics of being compressible during an initial stage and expandable during a second, heating stage.

Claim 3

An article, comprising a generally axially extended outer, tubular member having at least one open terminus, said outer tubular member occupying a predetermined volume; a plurality of generally axially extending cylindrical members, each of said cylindrical members being received in said tubular member in an axially extending, parallel fashion such that said cylindrical members occupy a volume that is less than said outer tubular member volume; and at least one pre-foamed, heat expandable foam sealing member, said sealing member being capable of sealing said open terminus of said outer tubular member, and occupying a volume that is generally equal to the difference between said outer tubular member volume and said volume of said cylindrical members, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member comprises a crosslink polymer of the polyolefin family having the characteristics of being compressible during an initial stage and expandable during a second, heating stage.

Claim 4

An article, comprising a generally axially extended outer, tubular member having at least one open terminus, said outer tubular member occupying a predetermined volume; a plurality of generally axially extending cylindrical members, each of said cylindrical members being received in said tubular member in an axially extending, parallel fashion such that said cylindrical members occupy a volume that is less than said outer tubular member volume; and at least one pre-foamed, heat expandable foam sealing member, said sealing member being capable of sealing said open terminus of said outer tubular member, and occupying a volume that is generally equal to the difference between said outer tubular member volume and said volume of said cylindrical members, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member comprises a crosslink polymer of the polyolefin family having the characteristics of being compressible during an initial stage and expandable during a second, heating stage.

Claim 5

An article, comprising a generally axially extended outer, tubular member having at least one open terminus, said outer tubular member occupying a predetermined volume; a plurality of generally axially extending cylindrical members, each of said cylindrical members being received in said tubular member in an axially extending, parallel fashion such that said cylindrical members occupy a volume that is less than said outer tubular member volume; and at least one pre-foamed, heat expandable foam sealing member, said sealing member being capable of sealing said open terminus of said outer tubular member, and occupying a volume that is generally equal to the difference between said outer tubular member volume and said volume of said cylindrical members, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member comprises a polymeric foam having the characteristics of being compressible during an initial stage and expandable during a second, heating stage, and further wherein said outer, tubular member is a heat shrinkable member, the heat shrinking temperature of said heat shrinkable member being such that the heat used to cause said heat shrinkable member to shrink will cause said heat expandable foam member to expand.

Claim 6

An article, comprising a generally axially extended outer, tubular member having at least one open terminus, said outer tubular member occupying a predetermined volume; a plurality of generally axially extending cylindrical members, each of said cylindrical members being received in said tubular member in an axially extending, parallel fashion such that said cylindrical members occupy a volume that is less than said outer tubular member volume; and at least one pre-foamed, heat expandable foam sealing member, said sealing member being capable of sealing said open terminus of said outer tubular member, and occupying a volume that is generally equal to the difference between said outer tubular member volume and said volume of said cylindrical members, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member comprises a polymeric foam having the characteristics of being compressible during an initial stage and expandable during a second, heating stage, and further wherein said outer, tubular member is a heat shrinkable member, the heat shrinking temperature of said heat shrinkable member being such that the heat used to cause said heat shrinkable member to shrink will cause said heat expandable foam member to expand.

Claim 7

An electrical wire assembly, comprising a generally axially extending outer, tube having at least one open terminus, said outer tube occupying a predetermined volume; a plurality of generally axially extending electrical wires, each of said electrical wires being received in said outer tube in an axially extending, parallel fasion such that said wires occupy a volume that is less than said outer tube volume; and at least one pre-foamed, heat expandable foam sealing member, said sealing member being capable of sealing said open terminus of said outer tube, and occupying a volume that is generally equal to the difference between said outer tube volume and said volume of said wires, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member comprises a cross-linked polymer having the characteristics of being compressible during an initial stage and expandable during a second, heating stage.

Claim 8

An electrical wire assembly, comprising a generally axially extending outer, tube having at least one open terminus, said outer tube occupying a predetermined volume; a plurality of generally axially extending electrical wires, each of said electrical wires being received in said outer tube in an axially extending, parallel fasion such that said wires occupy a volume that is less than said outer tube volume; and at least one pre-foamed, heat expandable foam sealing member, said sealing member being capable of sealing said open terminus of said outer tube, and occupying a volume that is generally equal to the difference between said outer tube volume and said volume of said wires, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member comprises a cross-linked polymer having the characteristics of being compressible during an initial stage and expandable during a second, heating stage.

Claim 9

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member is a cross-linked polymer of the polyolefin family.

Claim 10

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member is a polyethylene polymer.

Claim 11

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member is an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

Claim 12

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member is an ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer.

Claim 13

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member is an ethylene propylene rubber.

Claim 14

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member is an ethylene propylene dienne monomer rubber.

Claim 15

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member is a polyvinylchloride.

Claim 16

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member is a polyurethane polymer.

Claim 17

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member is a silicone rubber.

Claim 18

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, wherein said heat expandable foam sealing member comprises substantially closed cells.

Claim 19

The electrical wire assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said outer, tubular member is a heat shrinkable member, the heat shrinking temperature of said heat shrinkable member being such that the heat used to cause said heat shrinkable member to shrink will cause said heat expandable foam member to expand.