Laminated tubular structure

An apparatus comprising:

• a joint comprising first and second vehicle parts supported for pivotal movement relative to each other;
• and
• a seal protecting said joint, said seal comprising a tube formed of plastic material and having a first end portion received over said first vehicle part, a second end portion received over said second vehicle part, and a flexible intermediate portion which is deflectable between said end portions upon pivotal movement of said vehicle parts relative to each other;
• said tube having a laminate structure defined by co-extruded layers of plastic material;
• wherein said tube includes first and second layers which are bonded together, said first layer being formed of a first material and said second layer being formed of a second material, said first material having a higher degree of flexibility than said second material, said second material being tougher and having a greater resistance to chemicals than said first material.

An apparatus comprising:

• a joint comprising first and second vehicle parts pivotally movable with respect to each other;
• and
• a seal protecting said joint, said seal comprising a tube formed of plastic material and having a first end portion received over said first vehicle part, a second end portion received over said second vehicle part, and a flexible intermediate portion which is deflectable between said end portions upon pivotal movement of said vehicle parts relative to each other;
• said tube having a laminate structure defined by co-extruded layers of plastic material;
• wherein said tube includes first and second layers which are bonded together, said first layer being formed of a first material and said second layer being formed of a second material, said first material having a higher degree of flexibility than said second material, said second material being tougher and having a greater resistance to chemicals than said first material.

An apparatus comprising:

• a joint including first and second parts supported for pivotal movement relative to each other;
• and
• a seal body protecting said joint, said seal body comprising a tube formed of heat-shrinkable thermoplastic material and being in the shape of a tube having a first end portion heat-shrunken against said first part to grip circumferentially around said first part to form a seal, said seal body having a second end portion heat-shrunken against said second part to grip circumferentially around said second part to form a seal, and said seal body having a flexible intermediate portion which is deflectable between said end portions upon said pivotal movement of said parts;
• wherein said tube is a lamination of first and second layers bonded together, said first layer being formed of a first material and said second layer being formed of a second material, said first material having a higher degree of flexibility than said second material, said second material being tougher and having a greater resistance to chemicals than said first material.

An apparatus comprising:

• first and second parts movable relative to each other;
• and
• a tube formed of plastic material and having a first end portion received over said first part, a second end portion received over said second part, and a flexible intermediate portion which is more flexible than said end portions and is deflectable between said end portions upon movement of said parts relative to each other;
• said tube having a laminate structure defined by co-extruded layers of plastic material;
• wherein said tube includes first and second layers which are bonded together, said first layer being formed of a first material and said second layer being formed of a second material, said first material having a higher degree of flexibility than said second material, said second material being tougher and having a greater resistance to chemicals than said first material.