US7511222B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 0.1 years remaining
Cold shrink article and method of using cold shrink article
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
•
Filing: 2006-12-11
•
Granted: 2009-03-31
•
Expires: 2026-12-11
Abstract
Abstract An article can include a protective core having two end portions. The article can include a number of support cores. Each support core can be positioned substantially adjacent each end portion of the protective core. The article can include a cold shrinkable material held in an expanded state over at least a portion of the protective core and at least a portion of each support core. The support cores, the protective core, and the cold shrinkable material can collectively be placed over an apparatus such that the cold shrinkable material tightens over a portion of the apparatus responsive to removing the support core from the cold shrinkable material.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Taylor
- 👤 William V. Dower
- 👤 Garry L. Sjolander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:36
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/18; H02G15/182; H02G15/1826; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/4902; Y10T29/49071; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1328
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
An article of manufacturing comprising: a protective core having at least two end portions; a plurality of support cores, each support core positioned substantially adjacent each end portion of the protective core; and at least one cold shrinkable material held in an expanded state by at least a portion of the protective core and at least a portion of each support core; the support cores, the protective core, and the cold shrinkable material collectively adapted to be placed over an apparatus such that the cold shrinkable material adjacent the protective core tightens over a portion of the apparatus responsive to removing the support core from the cold shrinkable material, the cold shrinkable material remaining expanded over the protective core.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
An article of manufacturing comprising: a protective core having at least two end portions; a plurality of support cores, each support core positioned substantially adjacent each end portion of the protective core; and at least one cold shrinkable material held in an expanded state by at least a portion of the protective core and at least a portion of each support core; the support cores, the protective core, and the cold shrinkable material collectively adapted to be placed over an apparatus such that the cold shrinkable material adjacent the protective core tightens over a portion of the apparatus responsive to removing the support core from the cold shrinkable material, the cold shrinkable material remaining expanded over the protective core.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article as defined by claim 1 , wherein the cold shrinkable material is a singular unitary member that surrounds the entire outer surface of the protective core and portions of each of the support cores.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The article as defined by claim 1 , wherein the at least one cold shrinkable material comprises a plurality of separate cold shrinkable members that each surround an end portion of the protective core and a portion of the corresponding adjacent support core.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article as defined by claim 1 , wherein the support cores comprise a removable support core or a crushable support core.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article as defined by claim 1 , wherein, on at least one side of the protective core, the cold shrinkable material comprises multiple tubular formations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article as defined by claim 1 , wherein the cold shrinkable material is scrunched onto a portion of the support core.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article as defined by claim 1 , wherein the protective core is flexible and bendable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article as defined by claim 1 , wherein the protective core is corrugated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article as defined by claim 1 , further comprising an encapsulant adapted to be positioned between the inner diameter of the protective core and the apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article as defined by claim 9 , wherein the encapsulant comprises a curable composition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article as defined by claim 9 , wherein the encapsulant comprises a conformable material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article as defined by claim 1 , wherein the article exhibits characteristics passing the standard defined by UL486D-Sequence D.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
151 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a protective core having at least two end portions; a support core positioned substantially adjacent a first end portion of the protective core; and a cold shrinkable material held in an expanded state by at least a portion of the support core and the first end portion of the protective core to define an open end portion of the article, the cold shrinkable material surrounding and enclosing a second end portion of the protective core to define a closed end portion of the article; the cold shrinkable material, the support core, and the protective core collectively adapted to receive an apparatus through the open end of the article such that the cold shrinkable material tightens over a portion of the apparatus adjacent the protective core responsive to removing the support core from the cold shrinkable material, the cold shrinkable material remaining expanded over the protective core.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
151 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a protective core having at least two end portions; a support core positioned substantially adjacent a first end portion of the protective core; and a cold shrinkable material held in an expanded state by at least a portion of the support core and the first end portion of the protective core to define an open end portion of the article, the cold shrinkable material surrounding and enclosing a second end portion of the protective core to define a closed end portion of the article; the cold shrinkable material, the support core, and the protective core collectively adapted to receive an apparatus through the open end of the article such that the cold shrinkable material tightens over a portion of the apparatus adjacent the protective core responsive to removing the support core from the cold shrinkable material, the cold shrinkable material remaining expanded over the protective core.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article as defined by claim 13 , wherein the cold shrinkable material is a singular unitary member that surrounds the entire outer surface of the protective core and portions of each of the support cores.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article as defined by claim 13 , wherein the support core comprises a removable support core or a crushable support core.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article as defined by claim 13 , wherein, on at least one side of the protective core, the cold shrinkable material comprises multiple tubular formations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article as defined by claim 13 , wherein the cold shrinkable material is scrunched onto a portion of the support core.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article as defied by claim 13 , wherein the protective core is flexible and bendable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article as defined by claim 13 , wherein the protective core is corrugated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article as defined by claim 13 , further comprising an encapsulant adapted to be positioned between the inner diameter of the protective core and the apparatus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article as defined by claim 20 , wherein the encapsulant comprises a curable composition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article as defined by claim 20 , wherein the encapsulant comprises a conformable material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article as defined by claim 13 , wherein the article exhibits characteristics passing the standard defined by UL486D-Sequence D test method.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
169 words
A method comprising: (a) providing an article comprising: a protective core having at least two end portions; a plurality of support cores, each support core positioned substantially adjacent each end portion of the protective core; and at least one cold shrinkable material held in an expanded state by at least a portion of the protective core and at least a portion of each support core; (b) inserting an apparatus through the tubular portions of the cold shrinkable material, the support core, and the protective core; (c) removing at least one of the support cores on one side of the protective core from the cold shrinkable material, thereby shrinking and securing the cold shrinkable material adjacent the protective core around the apparatus; and (d) removing at least one of the support cores on the other side of the protective core from the cold shrinkable material, thereby shrinking and securing the cold shrinkable material adjacent the protective core around the apparatus, the cold shrinkable material remaining expanded over the protective core.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
169 words
A method comprising: (a) providing an article comprising: a protective core having at least two end portions; a plurality of support cores, each support core positioned substantially adjacent each end portion of the protective core; and at least one cold shrinkable material held in an expanded state by at least a portion of the protective core and at least a portion of each support core; (b) inserting an apparatus through the tubular portions of the cold shrinkable material, the support core, and the protective core; (c) removing at least one of the support cores on one side of the protective core from the cold shrinkable material, thereby shrinking and securing the cold shrinkable material adjacent the protective core around the apparatus; and (d) removing at least one of the support cores on the other side of the protective core from the cold shrinkable material, thereby shrinking and securing the cold shrinkable material adjacent the protective core around the apparatus, the cold shrinkable material remaining expanded over the protective core.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article as defined by claim 24 , further comprising using the article for rejacketing at least one cable.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article as defined by claim 24 , further comprising using the article for terminating at least one cable.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article as defined by claim 24 , further comprising using the article for grounding connections.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article as defined by claim 24 , further comprising using the article for antenna connections.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article as defined by claim 24 , further comprising using the article for industrial pin and sleeve connections.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article as defined by claim 24 , further comprising removing each support core in a manner such that the support core does not pass through any portion of the protective core.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as defined by claim 24 , further comprising: between performing step (c) and step (d), substantially filling any space between the inner diameter of the protective core and the apparatus with an encapsulant.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
165 words
A method comprising: (a) providing an article comprising: a protective core having at least two end portions; a support core positioned substantially adjacent a first end portion of the protective core; and a cold shrinkable material held in an expanded state by at least a portion of the support core and the first end portion of the protective core to define an open end portion of the article, the cold shrinkable material surrounding and enclosing a second end portion of the protective core to define a closed end portion of the article; (b) inserting an apparatus through the open end portion of the article through the tubular portions of the cold shrinkable material, the protective core, and the support core; and (c) removing the support core at the open end portion of the article from the cold shrinkable material, thereby shrinking and tightly securing the cold shrinkable material adjacent the protective core around the apparatus, the cold shrinkable material remaining expanded over the protective core.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
165 words
A method comprising: (a) providing an article comprising: a protective core having at least two end portions; a support core positioned substantially adjacent a first end portion of the protective core; and a cold shrinkable material held in an expanded state by at least a portion of the support core and the first end portion of the protective core to define an open end portion of the article, the cold shrinkable material surrounding and enclosing a second end portion of the protective core to define a closed end portion of the article; (b) inserting an apparatus through the open end portion of the article through the tubular portions of the cold shrinkable material, the protective core, and the support core; and (c) removing the support core at the open end portion of the article from the cold shrinkable material, thereby shrinking and tightly securing the cold shrinkable material adjacent the protective core around the apparatus, the cold shrinkable material remaining expanded over the protective core.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article as defined by claim 32 , further comprising using the article for rejacketing at least one cable.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article as defined by claim 32 , further comprising using the article for terminating at least one cable.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article as defined by claim 32 , further comprising using the article for grounding connections.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article as defined by claim 32 , further comprising using the article for antenna connections.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article as defined by claim 32 , further comprising using the article for industrial pin and sleeve connections.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article as defined by claim 32 , further comprising removing each support core in a manner such that the support core does not pass through any portion of the protective core.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as defined by claim 32 , further comprising: between performing step (c) and step (d), substantially filling any space between the inner diameter of the protective core and the apparatus with an encapsulant.
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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) | 2012-03-30 | 2012-09-29 | 2013-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2016-03-30 | 2016-09-29 | 2017-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2020-03-30 | 2020-09-29 | 2021-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |