US6911596B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for covering an article with a tubular cover member, tubular cover member and covered article
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
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Filing: 2002-05-14
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Granted: 2005-06-28
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Expires: 2022-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A tubular cover member ( 2 ) for covering an article ( 5 ) is folded longitudinally in a corrugated form and covers the periphery of a cylindrical support ( 1 ) in an expanded condition. The tubular cover member ( 2 ) has an unfolded length exceeding the length of the cylindrical support ( 1 ), and an unexpanded inner diameter approximately equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the article ( 5 ). The tubular cover member ( 2 ) is composed of a room temperature recoverable material, such that the tubular cover member ( 2 ) shrinks to cover the article ( 5 ) when the support ( 1 ) is unwrapped and withdrawn from inside the tubular cover member ( 2 ).
Inventors
- 👤 Masao Ohtsubo
- 👤 Hiroyuki Kobayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:55
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/06; B29C61/0608; B29C61/065; B29C63/00; B29C63/18; B29C63/187; H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/18; H02G15/182; H02G15/1826; H02G15/1833; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A tubular cover member for covering an article extending in a longitudinal direction, the cover member comprising: a cylindrical support formed from a spirally formed ribbon having an inner diameter having a sufficient size for the article to pass through the interior of the cylindrical support; and a tube composed of a room temperature recoverable rubber material or thermoplastic elastomer, the tube having an unfolded length exceeding the length of the cylindrical support and an unexpanded inner diameter equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the article, wherein at least a portion of the tube being supported and carried on the cylindrical support is folded longitudinally in a corrugated form such that the folded portion of the tube covers the periphery of the cylindrical support in an expanded condition to receive the article in the interior of the cylindrical support for covering the article by shrinking the tube when the support is unwrapped and withdrawn from inside the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A tubular cover member for covering an article extending in a longitudinal direction, the cover member comprising: a cylindrical support formed from a spirally formed ribbon having an inner diameter having a sufficient size for the article to pass through the interior of the cylindrical support; and a tube composed of a room temperature recoverable rubber material or thermoplastic elastomer, the tube having an unfolded length exceeding the length of the cylindrical support and an unexpanded inner diameter equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the article, wherein at least a portion of the tube being supported and carried on the cylindrical support is folded longitudinally in a corrugated form such that the folded portion of the tube covers the periphery of the cylindrical support in an expanded condition to receive the article in the interior of the cylindrical support for covering the article by shrinking the tube when the support is unwrapped and withdrawn from inside the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tubular cover member of claim 1 , wherein the tube has a thickness of 0.1 mm to 3.0mm and a tear strength of from 20 kN/m to 55 kN/m, determined as specified by JIS6252.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tubular cover member of claim 1 wherein the longitudinally folded tube covering the cylindrical support has a length of from one fifth to one half of the length of the unfolded tube at room temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tubular cover member of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical support of the spirally formed ribbon has a free end wherein the cylindrical support can be successively unwrapped from inside the tube by withdrawing the free end of the ribbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tubular cover member of claim 1 wherein the tube is formed from a silicone rubber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
A tube-covered article comprising: an article extending in a longitudinal direction; and a cylindrical tubular cover member covering the article along a predetermined length thereof, characterized in that: the cylindrical tubular cover member is formed from a room temperature recoverable material selected from a rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer that covers the article as a result of room temperature recovery of the cylindrical tubular cover member from an expanded condition wherein a length of the cylindrical tubular cover member is folded longitudinally in a corrugated form and supported and carried on a cylindrical support formed from a spirally formed ribbon to cover the periphery of the cylindrical Support with the cylindrical tubular cover member that recovers as the support is unwrapped and withdrawn from inside the cylindrical tubular member that has an unfolded length exceeding the length of the support and an unexpanded inner diameter approximately equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the article.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
A tube-covered article comprising: an article extending in a longitudinal direction; and a cylindrical tubular cover member covering the article along a predetermined length thereof, characterized in that: the cylindrical tubular cover member is formed from a room temperature recoverable material selected from a rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer that covers the article as a result of room temperature recovery of the cylindrical tubular cover member from an expanded condition wherein a length of the cylindrical tubular cover member is folded longitudinally in a corrugated form and supported and carried on a cylindrical support formed from a spirally formed ribbon to cover the periphery of the cylindrical Support with the cylindrical tubular cover member that recovers as the support is unwrapped and withdrawn from inside the cylindrical tubular member that has an unfolded length exceeding the length of the support and an unexpanded inner diameter approximately equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the article.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for forming a tube-covered article, comprising the steps of: a) providing the article; b) providing a tubular cover member comprising: a cylindrical support formed from a spirally formed ribbon having an inner diameter of a sufficient size for the article to pass though the interior of the cylindrical support; and a tube composed of a room temperature recoverable rubber material or thermoplastic elastomer, the tube having an unfolded length exceeding the length of the cylindrical support and an unexpanded inner diameter approximately equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the article, at least a portion of the tube being supported and carried on the cylindrical support folded longitudinally in a corrugated form, such that the folded portion of the tube covers the cylindrical support in an expanded condition; c) inserting at least a portion of the article into the interior of the cylindrical support; and d) unwrapping and withdrawing the support form the tube whereby the tube whereby the tube recovers to recover its unfolded length and unexpanded inner diameter so as to cover the article extending in a longitudinal direction.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for forming a tube-covered article, comprising the steps of: a) providing the article; b) providing a tubular cover member comprising: a cylindrical support formed from a spirally formed ribbon having an inner diameter of a sufficient size for the article to pass though the interior of the cylindrical support; and a tube composed of a room temperature recoverable rubber material or thermoplastic elastomer, the tube having an unfolded length exceeding the length of the cylindrical support and an unexpanded inner diameter approximately equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the article, at least a portion of the tube being supported and carried on the cylindrical support folded longitudinally in a corrugated form, such that the folded portion of the tube covers the cylindrical support in an expanded condition; c) inserting at least a portion of the article into the interior of the cylindrical support; and d) unwrapping and withdrawing the support form the tube whereby the tube whereby the tube recovers to recover its unfolded length and unexpanded inner diameter so as to cover the article extending in a longitudinal direction.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
94 words
A device for covering an article, comprising: a support member formed from a spirally formed ribbon, the support member having a size sufficient for an article to pass through an interior of the support member; and a tube composed of a room temperature recoverable material, the tube folded longitudinally in a corrugated form and supported on the periphery of the support member in a radially expanded condition, wherein the tube has a folded length shorter than a length of the support member, and an unfolded length longer than a length of the support member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
94 words
A device for covering an article, comprising: a support member formed from a spirally formed ribbon, the support member having a size sufficient for an article to pass through an interior of the support member; and a tube composed of a room temperature recoverable material, the tube folded longitudinally in a corrugated form and supported on the periphery of the support member in a radially expanded condition, wherein the tube has a folded length shorter than a length of the support member, and an unfolded length longer than a length of the support member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 8 , wherein the folded length of the tube is from one-fifth to one-half of the unfolded length of the of the tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 8 , wherein the entire tube is supported on the periphery of the support member.
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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) | 2008-06-27 | 2008-12-27 | 2009-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-06-27 | 2012-12-27 | 2013-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-06-27 | 2016-12-27 | 2017-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |