Patent US4940820A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4940820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wraparound recovery article
Assignee: Tyco Electronics UK Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-09-16
•
Granted: 1990-07-10
•
Expires: 2007-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A recoverable article comprising a recoverable fabric, optionally with a matrix material, is provided with a closure whereby it can be retained in the wrapped around configuration. The article is suitable for environmentally protecting cables and pipes and joins therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth B. Pithouse
- 👤 Thomas A. Kridl
- 👤 James T. Triplett
- 👤 Marc Wille
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:31
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L11/00; F16L11/02; B; B29; B29D; B29D23/00; B29D23/001; B29D23/003; B29D23/008; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/006; B29C61/06; B29C61/0608; B29C61/0616; B29C61/0633; B29C61/0658; B29C61/10; B29C63/00; B29C63/38; B29C63/42; B29C65/00; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/532; B29C66/5326; B29C66/61; B29C66/70; B29C66/72; B29C66/729; B29C66/73; B29C66/737; B29C66/7371; B29C66/73715; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/12; D; D03; D03D; D03D1/00; D03D1/0035; D03D1/0043; F16L47/00; F16L47/20; F16L47/22; H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/18; H02G15/1806; H02G15/1813; B29C61/0666; B29C2061/0683; B29C2793/00; B29C2793/0081; B29C57/00; B29C65/56; B29C65/62; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; B29C66/1312; B29C66/52; B29C66/526; B29C66/5261; B29C66/71; B29C66/73711; B29K; B29K2313/00; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0049; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1328; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1362; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24033; Y10T428/2419; Y10T428/24198; Y10T428/24777; Y10T428/24785; Y10T428/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
A recoverable wrap-around article which comprises a recoverable fabric cover portion, the fabric having a recovery ratio of at least 20%, and edge regions provided with a mechanical closure for maintaining the edge regions in proximate relationship during recovery of the cover portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
A recoverable wrap-around article which comprises a recoverable fabric cover portion, the fabric having a recovery ratio of at least 20%, and edge regions provided with a mechanical closure for maintaining the edge regions in proximate relationship during recovery of the cover portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An article according to claim 1, in which first and second closure elements are provided on first and second edge regions respectively, the elements being interengagable by virtue of co-operating surfaces thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An article according to claim 1, in which the mechanical closure includes one or more discrete clamping elements which can hold together first and second closure elements at first and second edge regions of the fabric.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article according to claim 3, in which the first and second closure elements are each substantially continuous along respectively the first and second edge regions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An article according to claim 2, in which the first and second closure elements each comprise a plurality of closure members spaced along respectively the first and second edge regions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An article according to claim 2, in which recoverable fibres run from the first edge region to the second edge region, and at each said edge region turn back around the closure elements towards the other said edge region, thus trapping the closure elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article according to claim 6, in which the fabric is woven and contains a substantially continuous, recoverable weft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article according to claim 6, in which the closure elements are formed by folding over edge portions of the fabric and trapping supports in the folds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article according to claim 6, in which the fabric is at least partially of multiple thickness forming regions of closed cross-section which trap the closure elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article according to any preceding claim 1, in which the fabric has at each said edge region a polymeric material which prevents relative movement between its fibres.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An article according to claim 1, in which the fabric is coated with a sealing material on a surface that is inwardly facing when the edge regions are brought together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article according to claim 11, in which the sealing material is a heat-activatable adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An article according to claim 1, in which the fabric comprises a weave having the recoverable fibres running in one direction and non-recoverable fibres running in a transverse direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article according to claim 13, in which the non-recoverable fibres are substantially non-extensible.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article according to claim 13, in which the fabric is woven, and has a recoverable warp and non-recoverable weft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article according to claim 1, in which the fabric has associated therewith means for rendering it substantially impervious to air when recovered.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An article according to claim 16, in which the means for rendering the fabric substantially impervious comprises a polymeric material adhered to at least one surface of the fabric or a polymeric matrix through which the fabric extends.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article according to claim 1, in which the recoverable fibres are dimensionally stable at said edge regions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article according to claim 1, which additionally comprises a flap which can underlie the first and second edge regions when brought together.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An article according to claim 19, in which the flap comprises a portion of the fabric between one of the edge regions and an adjacent edge of the fabric.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article according to claim 1, in which the fibres are heat-recoverable, and which additionally comprises a temperature indicating means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
An article according to claim 1, in which two areas of recoverable fabric are joined together along a line by means of a mechanical joining arrangement that penetrates the fabric.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article according to claim 1, in which the mechanical joining arrangement comprises stitches or staples.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article according to claim 1, in which the fabric cover portion has the form of a wrap-around sleeve.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
159 words
A heat-recoverable wraparound article which comprises a recoverable fabric cover portion, the fabric having a recovery ratio of at least 20%, and edge regions (8) provided with a mechanical closure (3,7,9) for maintaining the edge regions (8) in proximate relationship during recovery, wherein the article comprises a recoverable fabric in which recoverable fibres (6) run from the first edge region (8) to the second edge region (8), and at each said edge region (8) turn back around the closure elements (7) towards the other edge region (8), thus fixedly trapping the closure elements (7); and wherein the mechanical closure is selected from the group consisting of one or more discrete clamping elements which can hold together first and second closure elements at first and second edge regions of the article or the mechanical closure comprising first and second closure elements (3,7,9) provided on first and second edge regions respectively, the elements being interengageable by virtue of cooperating surfaces thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
159 words
A heat-recoverable wraparound article which comprises a recoverable fabric cover portion, the fabric having a recovery ratio of at least 20%, and edge regions (8) provided with a mechanical closure (3,7,9) for maintaining the edge regions (8) in proximate relationship during recovery, wherein the article comprises a recoverable fabric in which recoverable fibres (6) run from the first edge region (8) to the second edge region (8), and at each said edge region (8) turn back around the closure elements (7) towards the other edge region (8), thus fixedly trapping the closure elements (7); and wherein the mechanical closure is selected from the group consisting of one or more discrete clamping elements which can hold together first and second closure elements at first and second edge regions of the article or the mechanical closure comprising first and second closure elements (3,7,9) provided on first and second edge regions respectively, the elements being interengageable by virtue of cooperating surfaces thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article according to claim 25 in which the first and second closure elements (3,7,9) are each substantially continuous along respectively the first and second edge regions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
An article according to claim 25 in which the first and second closure elements (3,7,9) each comprises a plurality of closure members spaced along respectively the first and second edge regions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article according to claim 25 in which the fabric (4) is woven and contains a substantially continuous, recoverable weft (6).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
An article according to claim 28 in which the closure elements (7) are formed by folding over edge portions of the fabric and fixedly trapping supports (7) in the folds.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article according to claim 28 in which the fabric is at least partially of multiple thickness forming regions of closed cross-section (13) which trap the closure elements.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article according to claim 29 in which the fabric (4) has at each said edge region a polymeric material which prevents relative movement between its fibres.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
An article according to claim 31 in which the fabric (4) is coated with a sealing material (8) on a surface that is inwardly facing when the edge regions are brought together.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article according to claim 32 in which the sealing material (18) is heat-activatable adhesive.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
An article according to claim 25 in which the fabric comprises a weave having the recoverable fibres running in one direction (6) and non-recoverable fibres (5) running in a transverse direction.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article according to claim 34 in which the non-recoverable fibres (5) are substantially non-extensible.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article according to claim 35 in which the fabric is woven, and has a recoverable warp and non-recoverable weft.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
48 words
An article according to claim 36 in which the fabric has associated therewith means for rendering the fabric substantially impervious to air when recovered, said means comprising a polymeric material adhered to at least one surface of the fabric or a polymeric matrix through which the fabric extends.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article according to claim 37 in which the recoverable fibres (6) at said edge regions have been recovered and are therefore dimensionally-stable.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
An article according to claim 38 which additionally comprises a flap (15,16) which can underlie the first and second edge regions (8) when brought together.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
An article according to claim 39 in which the flap (15) comprises a portion of the fabric between one of the edge regions and an adjacent edge of the fabric.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article according to claim 34 in which the fabric is woven, and has a recoverable warp and non-recoverable weft.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method enclosing a substrate, which comprises wrapping around the substrate an article according to claim 1, securing the first and second edge regions together, and causing recovery of the fibres.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 42, in which the substrate is a supply line.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 43, in which the supply line comprises a telecommunications cable.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of forming a closure member at an edge portion of a sheet having at least a component of recoverability perpendicular to said edge region, which comprises: folding over an edge of the sheet to form a loop at said edge region; securing said fold by holding together the resulting double thickness of sheet; positioning a support within the loop; and causing recovery of that part of the sheet which forms the loop, thereby trapping the support.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of forming a closure member at an edge portion of a sheet having at least a component of recoverability perpendicular to said edge region, which comprises: folding over an edge of the sheet to form a loop at said edge region; securing said fold by holding together the resulting double thickness of sheet; positioning a support within the loop; and causing recovery of that part of the sheet which forms the loop, thereby trapping the support.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 45, in which the sheet has a coating of adhesive on an internal surface of the loop, which adhesive is activated on recovery of the part of the sheet which forms the loop.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of forming a wrap-around sheet which comprises forming at opposing edge regions of the sheet a closure member by a method according to claim 45.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 45, in which the sheet is a recoverable fabric.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 45 in which the sheet comprises a recoverable composite structure comprising a recoverable fabric and a polymeric matrix.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 48 in which the sheet comprises a recoverable composite structure comprising a recoverable fabric and a polymeric matrix.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-01-08 | 1994-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-09 | 1998-01-08 | 1998-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-09 | 2002-01-08 | 2002-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |