Interlocking wrap
AssigneeTredWear LLC
InventorsMichael Steven Hunt, Lee Clayton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interlocking wrap and method for covering an outer surface of an object provides desirable qualities to complex tube shapes using a flat piece of material. The wrap may cover tubes, handles, rods, or hoops, in their many examples. Existing adhesive technologies applied to the back of the material, combined with the formation of the material into a series of three or more offset tabs that interlock when folded together in the prescribed alternating order at their meeting points, creates a cover that is pleasing to the eye, protective, and durable to frictional use. The tabs overlap one over the next in similar fashion to a zipper or a braid, only leaving the bottom tab exposed to use.
Claims14
An interlocking wrap for covering an outer surface of an object, comprising:
- a one-piece unitary flexible panel, the panel including:
- a spine having a width and defining a central axis,
- a first tab having a first distal end and a third tab having a third distal end, the first and third tabs extending from the spine in a first laterally outward direction relative to the central axis,
- a second tab having a second distal end and a fourth tab, the second and fourth tabs extending from the spine in a second laterally outward direction relative to the central axis, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction,
- wherein the first tab is adapted to be wrapped around the object in a first circumferential direction, the second tab is adapted to be wrapped around the object in a second and opposite circumferential direction to at least partially overlap the first tab and completely cover the first distal end, wherein the third tab is adapted to be wrapped around the object in the first circumferential direction to at least partially overlap the second tab and completely cover the second distal end, and wherein the fourth tab is adapted to be wrapped around the object in the second circumferential direction to at least partially overlap the third tab and completely cover the third distal end.
A method for covering an outer surface of an object with an interlocking wrap, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining one-piece unitary flexible panel including a spine having a width and defining a center axis, the flexible panel including a first tab having a first distal end and a third tab having a third distal end, the first and third tabs extending from the spine in a first laterally outward direction relative to the central axis, the flexible panel further including a second tab having a second distal end and a fourth tab extending from the spine in a second laterally outward direction relative to the central axis, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction;
- engaging the flexible panel with the outer surface of the object such that the central axis is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the object;
- wrapping the first tab around the object in a first circumferential direction;
- wrapping the second tab around the object in a second and opposite circumferential direction to at least partially overlap the first tab and completely cover the first distal end;
- wrapping the third tab around the object in the first circumferential direction to at least partially overlap the second tab and completely cover the second distal end;
- and
- wrapping the fourth tab around the object in the second circumferential direction to at least partially overlap the third tab and completely cover the third distal end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.