Systems and methods related to conduit insulation
OwnerCasey Havenor, Trevor James Vold +2inventors
InventorsCasey Havenor, Trevor James Vold, Nathan Meronek, Aaron M. Vold
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Abstract
Systems and methods according to the present invention utilize improved sleeves for insulating fluid (i.e., liquid and/or gas) conduits. For example, some blow dryers are equipped with a flexible conduit to convey heated air from a heater element to a nozzle for such purposes as material handling, material drying, or even hair drying, such as pet or other animal hair drying. An improved insulating tubular sleeve is provided with securing and/or mounting mechanisms to assist in maintaining sleeve position along a conduit and to reduce heat transfer externally from the conduit, such as by preventing direct contact between animal hair or skin or other materials and the conduit.
Claims19
A device comprising:
- a tubular structure extending between an open proximal free end and an open distal free end and comprising a plurality of layers;
- a relief slot extending longitudinally inward from one of the proximal free end and the distal free end;
- and
- a first securing means coupled to and extending radially from the tubular structure, the first securing means being disposed at a first longitudinal location closer to one of the distal end and the proximal end than to the other of the proximal end and the distal end,
- wherein the first securing means is extendable about a circumference of the tubular structure at the first longitudinal location, and
- wherein one layer of the plurality of layers comprises thermally-reflective fabric and another layer of the plurality of layers comprises moisture-wicking material.
A system comprising:
- a substantially tubular structure extending between an open proximal free end and an open distal free end and comprising a plurality of layers;
- a relief slot extending longitudinally inward from one of the proximal free end and the distal free end;
- a conduit extending at least partially through the substantially tubular structure;
- a securing means coupled to and extending radially from the tubular structure;
- wherein the securing means releasably secures the substantially tubular structure about at least a portion of the conduit, and
- wherein one layer of the plurality of layers comprises thermally-reflective fabric and another layer of the plurality of layers comprises moisture-wicking material.
A method comprising the steps of:
- providing a substantially tubular structure having an open proximal end and an open distal end and comprising a plurality of layers and a relief slot extending longitudinally inward from one of the proximal end and the distal end;
- providing a conduit;
- providing a circumferential securing means;
- inserting the conduit at least partially into the substantially tubular structure;
- securing the substantially tubular structure about the conduit using the circumferential securing means;
- and
- conducting a fluid through the conduit,
- wherein one layer of the plurality of layers comprises thermally-reflective fabric and another layer of the plurality of layers comprises moisture-wicking material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.