Scuff cover for starter hose or cable

A scuff cover for protecting an elongate inner element such as a hose or a cable, said scuff cover comprising:

• a flexible mesh base tube defining a central passage for receiving the inner element, said base tube having an outer surface;
• and
• a rub strip having a portion projecting radially outward from said outer surface of said base tube;
• said projecting portion of said rub strip comprising an inner layer of a first material formed in a helical pattern on said outer surface of said base tube and extending into interstices of said mesh material to physically bond with said mesh material;
• said projecting portion of said rub strip further comprising an outer layer of a material made from ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene;
• said outer layer of material having a lower coefficient of friction than said inner layer of material and forming the radially outermost surface of said scuff cover.
• said projecting portion of said rub strip covering in the range of from about 10% of said outer surface of said base tube to about 50% of said outer surface of said base tube.

An elongate tubular member comprising:

• a flexible base portion having an inner surface defining a central passage, said base portion also having an outer surface;
• a rub strip projecting from said outer surface of said base portion, said rub strip being formed in a pattern covering only a portion of said outer surface of said base portion;
• said rub strip comprising an inner layer of material and an outer layer of material;
• said outer layer of material having a lower coefficient of friction than said inner layer of material and forming the radially outermost surface of said rub strip.

A scuff cover for protecting an elongate inner element such as a hose or a cable, said scuff cover comprising:

• a flexible base tube having an inner surface defining a central passage for movably receiving the inner element, said base tube also having an outer surface;
• and
• a rub strip projecting from said outer surface of said base tube;
• said rub strip comprising an inner layer of material on said base tube and an outer layer of material;
• said inner layer of material being formed from the same material as said base tube;
• said outer layer of material having a lower coefficient of friction than said inner layer of material and forming the radially outermost surface of said scuff cover.

A scuff cover for protecting an elongate inner element such as a hose or a cable, said scuff cover comprising:

• a flexible base tube having an inner surface defining a central passage for movably receiving the inner element, said base tube also having an outer surface;
• and
• a rub strip projecting from said outer surface of said base tube;
• said rub strip comprising an inner layer of material on said base tube and an outer layer of material;
• said inner layer of material being formed from the same material as and as one piece with said base tube;
• said outer layer of material having a lower coefficient of friction than said inner layer of material and forming the radially outermost surface of said scuff cover.

A scuff cover for protecting an elongate inner element such as a hose or a cable, said scuff cover comprising:

• a flexible base tube having an inner surface defining a central passage for movably receiving the inner element, said base tube also having an outer surface;
• and
• a rub strip projecting from said outer surface of said base tube;
• said rub strip comprising an inner layer of material on said base tube and an outer layer of material;
• said outer layer of material being embedded in and having a lower coefficient of friction than said inner layer of material and forming the radially outermost surface of said scuff cover.

A scuff cover for protecting an elongate inner element such as a hose or a cable, said scuff cover comprising:

• a flexible base tube formed from a mesh material having interstices, said base tube having an inner surface defining a central passage for movably receiving the inner element, said base tube further having an outer surface;
• and
• a rub strip projecting from said outer surface of said base tube;
• said rub strip comprising an inner layer of material on said base tube and an outer layer of material;
• said inner layer of material extending at least partially into the interstices of said mesh material;
• said outer layer of material being embedded in and having a lower coefficient of friction than said inner layer of material and forming the radially outermost surface of said scuff cover.

A scuff cover for protecting an elongate inner element such as a hose or a cable, said scuff cover comprising:

• a flexible base tube having an inner surface defining a central passage for movably receiving the inner element, said base tube also having an outer surface;
• and
• a rub strip projecting from said outer surface of said base tube and covering in the range of from about 10 percent of said outer surface of said base tube to about 50 percent of said outer surface of said base tube;
• said rub strip comprising an inner layer of material on said base tube and an outer layer of material;
• said outer layer of material being formed from ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, said outer layer of material further being embedded in and having a lower coefficient of friction than said inner layer of material and forming the radially outermost surface of said scuff cover.

An elongate tubular member comprising:

• a flexible base portion having an inner surface defining a central passage, said base portion also having an outer surface;
• a rub strip projecting from said outer surface of said base portion, said rub strip being formed in a helical pattern covering only a portion of said outer surface of said base portion;
• said rub strip comprising an inner layer of material and an outer layer of material;
• said outer layer of material having a lower coefficient of friction than said inner layer of material and forming the radially outermost surface of said rub strip.

An elongate tubular member comprising:

• a flexible base portion having an inner surface defining a central passage, said base portion also having an outer surface;
• a rub strip projecting from said outer surface of said base portion, said rub strip being formed in a pattern covering only a portion of said outer surface of said base portion;
• said rub strip comprising an inner layer of material and an outer layer of material;
• said outer layer of material being at least partially embedded in and having a lower coefficient of friction than said inner layer of material and forming the radially outermost surface of said rub strip.

An elongate tubular member comprising:

• a flexible base portion having an inner surface defining a central passage, said base portion also having an outer surface;
• a rub strip projecting from said outer surface of said base portion, said rub strip being formed in a pattern covering in the range of from about 10 percent of said outer surface of said base portion to about 50 percent of said outer surface of said base portion;
• said rub strip comprising an inner layer of material and an outer layer of material;
• said outer layer of material being formed from ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, said outer layer of material further being embedded in and having a lower coefficient of friction than said inner layer of material and forming the radially outermost surface of said rub strip.