Heat-recoverable wraparound closure
AssigneeRaychem Corporation
InventorJean-Marie E. Nolf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fastener for a heat-recoverable wraparound sleeve, rigid enough at ambient temperatures to be slid over abutting rails of the sleeve but flexible enough at the recovery temperature of the sleeve to accommodate sharp transitions. The fastening has an elongate member rigid at ambient temperature and flexible at the recovery temperature, and a plurality of clamps extending transversely from the sleeve and which at least retain their clamping effect at the recovery temperature. The clamps can be covered by a protective material.
Claims21
Fastening means for holding together opposite edge regions of a heat-recoverable wraparound sleeve, the fastening means comprising:
- an elongate member which comprises a material that is substantially rigid at ambient temperature and that is flexible at the recovery temperature of the sleeve;
- and
- a plurality of discrete clamping elements each having a pair of opposing generally U-shaped sections integrally interconnected, each of said U-shaped sections extending transversely from the elongate member and converging to engage said opposite edge regions of the wrap-around sleeve to hold said opposite edge regions together, said clamping elements being substantially rigid at the recovery temperature of the sleeve.
Fastening means for holding together opposite edge regions of a heat-recoverable wraparound sleeve, the fastening means comprising:
- an elongate member which comprises a material that is substantially rigid at ambient temperature and that is flexible at the recovery temperature of the sleeve;
- and
- a plurality of clamping elements substantially rigid at the recovery temperature of the sleeve extending transversely from the elongate member and having converging portions which can engage said opposite edge regions to hold them together, wherein each clamping element comprises a wire element having longitudinal portions extending along each side of the elongate member spaced below and parallel to said elongate member, said portions being interconnected by a further portion integral therewith that passes through the elongate member.
Fastening means for holding together opposite edge regions of a heat-recoverable wraparound sleeve, the fastening means comprising:
- an elongate member which comprises a material that is substantially rigid at ambient temperature and that is flexible at the recovery temperature of the sleeve;
- and
- a plurality of clamping elements substantially rigid at the recovery temperature of the sleeve extending transversely from the elongate member and having converging portions which can engage said opposite edge regions to hold them together, wherein the elongate member is formed from at least two overlying strips, and the clamping elements pass between two adjacent strips.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.