Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An assembly for supporting an electrical circuit board within a tube, the assembly comprising the circuit board, an elongated support spine supporting the circuit board, and shock-absorbing means for holding the assembly within the tube, wherein the shock-absorbing means includes longitudinally along said spine exterior at least one elongated tubular member the outside diameter of which can be changed, by varying the internal pressure of the tubular member, between a relatively contracted state in which the assembly can be inserted into the tube from one end and a relatively expanded state in which the assembly is subsequently held firmly within the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An assembly for supporting an electrical circuit board within a tube, the assembly comprising the circuit board, an elongated support spine supporting the circuit board, and shock-absorbing means for holding the assembly within the tube, wherein the shock-absorbing means includes longitudinally along said spine exterior at least one elongated tubular member the outside diameter of which can be changed, by varying the internal pressure of the tubular member, between a relatively contracted state in which the assembly can be inserted into the tube from one end and a relatively expanded state in which the assembly is subsequently held firmly within the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the or each tubular member is normally sufficiently incompressible to hold the assembly firmly within the tube, and is contractible by evacuation of the interior of the tubular member to enable the assembly to be inserted into the tube from one end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the or each tubular member is normally sufficiently compressible to enable the assembly to be inserted into the tube from one end, and is expandible by application of pressure to the interior of the tubular member to hold the assembly firmly within the tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the or each tubular member is held in position by being accommodated within a groove in the spine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spine is substantially semicircular in section with a curved surface having an outer radius matching the inner radius of the tube within which the assembly is to be accommodated and a flat surface for supporting the circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An assembly according to claim 1, which further includes support posts for acting between the circuit board and the inside wall of the tube on the opposite side of the circuit board to the support spine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the posts are spaced at equal intervals along the central longitudinal axis of the circuit board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shock-absorbing means includes two tubular members having their longitudinal axes disposed parallel to, and symmetrically with respect to, a plane perpendicular to the circuit board and passing through the central longitudinal axis of the circuit board.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of inserting an electrical circuit board support assembly into a tube, wherein the assembly comprises an elongated circuit board and a support spine supporting the circuit board, which method comprises providing shock-absorbing means in a position on the spine to engage the inside wall of the tube, the shock-absorbing means includes longitudinally along said spine exterior at least one elongated tubular member the outside diameter of which can be changed by varying the internal pressure of the tubular member, inserting the assembly into the tube with the or each tubular member in a relatively contracted state corresponding to a first internal pressure, and holding the assembly firmly within the tube with the or each tubular member in a relatively expanded state corresponding to a second internal pressure.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of inserting an electrical circuit board support assembly into a tube, wherein the assembly comprises an elongated circuit board and a support spine supporting the circuit board, which method comprises providing shock-absorbing means in a position on the spine to engage the inside wall of the tube, the shock-absorbing means includes longitudinally along said spine exterior at least one elongated tubular member the outside diameter of which can be changed by varying the internal pressure of the tubular member, inserting the assembly into the tube with the or each tubular member in a relatively contracted state corresponding to a first internal pressure, and holding the assembly firmly within the tube with the or each tubular member in a relatively expanded state corresponding to a second internal pressure.