US4766267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat-shrinkable article
Assignee: Bowthorpe Hellerman Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-02-18
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Granted: 1988-08-23
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Expires: 2007-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A heat-shrinkable electrically shielding tubular article is provided with an electrically conductive lining on its inner surface, which lining is formed of a continuous coating of a metal which deforms without cracking during recovery so that after recovery the coating will remain continuous and adhered to the surface of the article. The coating may be formed of an alloy which softens without fully melting, at the recovery temperature of the article.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Gray
- 👤 Michael J. Sleeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:40
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/06; B29C61/0608; B29C61/0616; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6598; H01R13/6599; B29K; B29K2705/00; H01R4/00; H01R4/70; H01R4/72; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article provided with an electrically conductive lining on its inner surface, said lining being formed of a continuous coating of a metal which changes between solid and liquid phases over a broad range of temperatures, the article exhibiting a recovery temperature which lies within said broad range of temperatures so that the coating will soften without fully melting and deform without cracking during recovery of said article and, after recovery, remain continuous and adhered to said surface of the article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article provided with an electrically conductive lining on its inner surface, said lining being formed of a continuous coating of a metal which changes between solid and liquid phases over a broad range of temperatures, the article exhibiting a recovery temperature which lies within said broad range of temperatures so that the coating will soften without fully melting and deform without cracking during recovery of said article and, after recovery, remain continuous and adhered to said surface of the article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 1, in which the broad range of temperatures extends over a range of at least 15° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article provided with an electrically conductive lining on its inner surface, said lining comprising a continuous coating of a metal having a thickness of at least 0.2 mm which will deform without cracking during recovery of the article so that, after recovery, the coating will remain continuous and adhered to said surface of the article.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article provided with an electrically conductive lining on its inner surface, said lining comprising a continuous coating of a metal having a thickness of at least 0.2 mm which will deform without cracking during recovery of the article so that, after recovery, the coating will remain continuous and adhered to said surface of the article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 1 or 3, in which the metal of said coating comprises an alloy of bismuth, lead and tin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 4, in which said alloy comprises 40-60% by weight of bismuth, 20-30% by weight of lead and 20-30% by weight of tin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 5, in which said alloy comprises 44-56% by weight of bismuth, 22-28% by weight of lead and 22-28% by weight of tin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 1 or 3, in which the metal of said coating comprises an alloy of indium and bismuth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 7, in which said alloy comprises 80-98% by weight of indium and 2-20% by weight of bismuth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 8, in which said alloy comprises 93-97% by weight of indium and 3-7% by weight of bismuth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 1 or 3, in which the metal of said coating comprises an alloy of bismuth and tin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 10, in which said alloy comprises 30-50% by weight of bismuth and 50-70% by weight of tin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 11, in which said alloy comprises 35-45% by weight of bismuth and 55-65% by weight of tin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 1 or 3, in which a relatively thin priming layer is disposed over said inner surface of the article and said metal coating is disposed over said priming layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 13, in which said priming layer comprises a polymeric material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 14, in which said polymeric material comprises polyvinyl acetate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 14, in which said priming layer has a thickness up to 50 microns.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 13, in which said priming layer comprises a precious metal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat-shrinkable tubular article as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which said metal coating has a thickness in the range of 0.2-2 mm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1259774A
Cited
US3898369A
Cited
US4201649A
Cited
US4364792A
Cited
US4525261A
Cited
US4555422A
Cited
US4462884A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-23 | 1992-02-22 | 1992-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-23 | 1996-02-22 | 1996-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-23 | 2000-02-22 | 2000-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |