External pipe protector

Claim 2

In the combination of a pipe and an external pipe protector, a means for protecting the pipe from scratches, marring and impact during the laying of the pipe in a trench, as well as during subsequent back-filling of the trench, and enabling moisture to be dissipated from around the pipe and further permitting cathodic testing therethrough, said means for protecting and permitting testing is constituted by said external pipe protector, said external pipe protector comprising a flexible sheet of shock absorbing material shaped and sized to encircle a length of pipe, said flexible sheet of shock absorbing material being constructed as a porous filamentary mat including a plurality of elongated filaments of thermoplastic and resilient material arranged in an irregular pattern of overlapped and interengaged filaments, opposite ends of said shock absorbing material being positioned in overlapping relationship when encircling said pipe, and fastening means attached to each of the opposite overlapping ends of said porous filamentary mat and being interconnected together for securing said porous filamentary mat in encircling relationship about said pipe.

Claim 3

The external pipe protector as defined in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprise confronting adhesive surfaces structurally secured to the elongated filaments at the opposite overlapping ends of said porous filamentary mat.

Claim 4

The external pipe protector as defined in claim 2 wherein said confronting adhesive surfaces are each initially covered by a strippable cover which is removed when it is desired to fasten the opposite overlapping ends of said porous filamentary mat to each other.

Claim 5

The external pipe protector as defined in claim 1 wherein the overlapped and interengaged resilient thermoplastic filaments of the porous filamentary mat also have sufficient height and rigidity to protect the pipe against damage.

Claim 6

The external pipe protector as defined in claim 4 wherein the confronting adhesive surfaces on the opposite overlapping ends of said shock absorbing material each comprise a pressure-sensitive, hot melt adhesive deposited in and among the filaments of the porous filamentary mat and also extending outwardly beyond said filaments to provide said confronting adhesive surfaces.

Claim 7

In the combination of a pipe and an external pipe protector, a means for protecting the pipe from scratches, marring and impact during the laying of the pipe in a trench, as well as during subsequent back-filling of the trench, and enabling moisture to be dissipated from around the pipe and further permitting cathodic testing therethrough, said means for protecting and permitting testing is constituted by said external pipe protector, said external pipe protector comprising a flexible porous filamentary mat including a plurality of elongated filaments of thermoplastic and resilient shock absorbing material arranged in an irregular pattern of overlapped and interengaged filaments, said flexible porous filamentary mat being shaped and sized to encircle at least part of a length of pipe, opposite ends of said flexible porous filamentary mat being positioned in overlapping relationship when encircling said pipe, a pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive deposited in and among the filaments of the porous filamentary mat and also extending outwardly beyond said filaments on the opposite overlapping ends of said flexible porous filamentary mat to form confronting adhesive surfaces, and a strippable cover initially secured to each of the confronting adhesive surfaces which is capable of being removed when it is desired to fasten the opposite overlapping ends of said shock absorbing material to each other.

Claim 8

In the combination of a pipe and an external pipe protector, a means for protecting the pipe from scratches, marring and impact during the laying of the pipe in a trench, as well as during subsequent back-filling of the trench, and enabling moisture to be dissipated from around the pipe and further permitting cathodic testing therethrough, said means for protecting and permitting testing is constituted by said external pipe protector, said external pipe protector comprising a flexible porous filamentary mat including a plurality of elongated filaments of thermoplastic and resilient shock absorbing material arranged in an irregular pattern of overlapped and interengaged filaments, said flexible porous filamentary mat being shaped and sized to encircle at least part of a length of pipe, opposite ends of said flexible porous filamentary mat being positioned in overlapping relationship when encircling said pipe, a pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive deposited in and among the filaments of the porous filamentary mat and also extending outwardly beyond said filaments on the opposite overlapping ends of said flexible porous filamentary mat to form confronting adhesive surfaces, and a strippable cover initially secured to each of the confronting adhesive surfaces which is capable of being removed when it is desired to fasten the opposite overlapping ends of said shock absorbing material to each other.