Sleeve formed of shrinkable material and a process for the production thereof

Claim 2

A sleeve, comprising: a shrinkable material sleeve body with a longitudinal closure comprising projections and corresponding cut-outs along longitudinal edges; the projections and the cut-outs being offset relative to one another and being inserted into one another such that projections of one of the edges are received in the cut-outs of the other edge so as to form the sleeve body in a curved fashion; the projections having longitudinally extending reinforements which extend outwardly from the sleeve body via a central rib formed by a longitudinal recess beneath the reinforcements on at least one side of the rib, the individual reinforcements being arranged in a series to form a single longitudinal reinforcement strip; and a retaining means positioned and dimensioned for at least partially covering the single longitudinal reinforcement strip so as to maintain the individual reinforcements in line with one another.

Claim 3

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the projections are formed by cut-outs.

Claim 4

A sleeve according to claim 2 wherein the projections are formed by dove-tail cut-outs.

Claim 5

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the ribs have undercuts along opposite longitudinal sides so that a longitudinal recess is formed at both sides of the ribs.

Claim 6

A sleeve according to claim 4 wherein the projections are formed by rounded cut-outs.

Claim 7

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises a strip with at least one longitudinal edge which wraps around the reinforcements into said at least one longitudinal recess.

Claim 8

A sleeve according to claim 6 wherein the retaining means comprises a U-shaped strip provided with a heat-resistant adhesive coating and is arranged along a closure region of the sleeve so as to cover and surround the projections.

Claim 9

A sleeve according to claim 7 wherein the adhesive coating comprises a partially applied adhesion adhesive.

Claim 10

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the reinforcements comprise outwardly directed, bead-like widened regions along the outer edges and having two longitudinally extending grooves on opposite sides of said central rib.

Claim 11

A sleeve according to claim 1 sherein the central rib and reinforcements form an approximately T-shaped profile.

Claim 12

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the reinforcements form an approximately circular profile.

Claim 13

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises a U-shaped rail having inwardly directed portions at flanks thereof.

Claim 14

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises a U-shaped rail, and wherein transversely directed, widened bearing edges are arranged at ends of flanks thereof.

Claim 15

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises metal.

Claim 16

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises a heat-resistant synthetic material.

Claim 17

A sleeve according to claim 15 wherein the synthetic material is cross-linked.

Claim 18

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises a material which has a shape memory.

Claim 19

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means is designed and shaped for removal following a shrinkage.

Claim 20

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein a width of the reinforcements is less than a depth of the cut-outs.

Claim 21

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein a width of the reinforcements is substantially equal to a depth of the cut-outs.

Claim 22

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein a width of the reinforcements is greater than a depth of the cut-outs so as to form a bead substantially extending along a closure region of the sleeve.

Claim 23

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the projections have a lower step which covers a longitudinal gap.

Claim 24

A sleeve according to claim 22 wherein the lower step comprises a fusion adhesive.

Claim 25

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the single longitudinal reinforcement strip is continuous without gaps.

Claim 26

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein longitudinally extending inserts comprising heat-hardeneable adhesive are arranged in a closure region of the sleeve.

Claim 27

A sleeve according to claim 25 wherein the inserts are arranged on the retaining means.

Claim 28

A sleeve according to claim 26 wherein the inserts are arranged in grooves in a closure region of the sleeve.

Claim 29

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means is provided with a means for displaying that sufficient heat has been supplied.

Claim 30

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein clips are arranged at ends of a closure area region of the sleeve.

Claim 31

A sleeve according to claim 1 wherein the projections each terminate at an outer edge of the reinforcements.

Claim 32

A sleeve, comprising: a sleeve body having a central curved portion and facing outer opposite longitudinal edges; at the longitudinal edges, projections and corresponding cut-outs at each side of the projections along both longitudinal edges; the projections and cut-outs at one longitudinal edge being offset relative to the other longitudinal edge such that the projections of one longitudinal edge are mated in the cut-outs of the other longitudinal edge with the sleeve body being curved so as to form a closure area wherein the two longitudinal edges are adjacent one another; the projections having longitudinally extending reinforcements which, with the projections inserted in the cut-outs, are arranged in line end-to-end, the reinforcements extending outwardly from the sleeve body via a central rib formed by longitudinal recesses beneath the reinforcements on both sides of the rib; and a retaining element positioned and dimensioned to fit over the line of reiniforcements at the closure region.

Claim 33

A sleeve, comprising: a sleeve body having a central curved portion and facing outer opposite longitudinal edges; at the longitudinal edges, projections and corresponding cut-outs at each side of the projections along both longitudinal edges; the projections and cut-outs at one longitudinal edge being offset relative to the other longitudinal edge such that the projections of one longitudinal edge are mated in the cut-outs of the other longitudinal edge with the sleeve body being curved so as to form a closure area wherein the two longitudinal edges are adjacent one another; the projections having longitudinally extending reinforcements which, with the projections inserted in the cut-outs, are arranged in line end-to-end, the reinforcements extending outwardly from the sleeve body via a central rib formed by longitudinal recesses beneath the reinforcements on both sides of the rib; and a retaining element positioned and dimensioned to fit over the line of reiniforcements at the closure region.