Knit convolute protective sleeve
AssigneeFederal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
InventorsJessica L. Akers, Janice R. Maiden, Danny E. Winters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knitted convolute protective sleeve is disclosed. The sleeve is knitted from filamentary members to form alternating crests and troughs lengthwise along the sleeve. The crests and troughs may be formed by alternatingly knitting segments from relatively stiff and relatively flexible filamentary members, by interlacing stiffening hoops at spaced intervals lengthwise along a knitted sleeve having a smaller nominal diameter than the hoops, or by varying the knitting parameters, such as loop density and loop length as a function of length along the sleeve.
Claims20
An elongated convolute sleeve for protecting elongated substrates, said sleeve comprising:
- a plurality of tubular first segments positioned coaxially in spaced relation lengthwise along an axis, each of said first segments being formed of a plurality of flexible, resilient first filamentary members knitted in a plurality of first courses, each of said segments having outwardly flared ends oppositely disposed;
- and
- a plurality of tubular second segments, each being formed of a plurality of second filamentary members having relatively greater flexibility than said first filamentary members, said second filamentary members being knitted in a plurality of second courses, each of said second segments being coaxially positioned along said axis and joined end to end in an alternating pattern with said first segments by interknitting ends of said second segments with said flared ends of said first segments, said first segments forming a plurality of troughs and said second segments form a plurality of crests projecting radially outwardly from said sleeve.
An elongated convolute sleeve for protecting elongated substrates, said sleeve comprising:
- a tubular body having a nominal diameter and formed of a plurality of flexible, resilient filamentary members knitted in a plurality of circumferential courses extending substantially coaxial with and lengthwise along an axis;
- and
- a plurality of resilient hoops positioned in spaced relation lengthwise along said tubular body coaxially with said axis, said hoops each having a respective diameter greater than said nominal diameter of said body and being interlaced with said filamentary members thereby fixing said hoops to said body, said diameter of said body being substantially equal to said hoop diameters at spaced intervals along said body where said hoops are interlaced with said filamentary members, said monofilament being relatively stiffer than said filamentary members forming said tubular body, said hoops forcing said body outwardly to form crests in spaced relation to one another along said axis, troughs being formed by said body between each said hoop.
An elongated convolute sleeve for protecting elongated substrates, said sleeve comprising a tubular body having a plurality of first and second longitudinally extending regions arranged in spaced relation coaxially along an axis, said first and second regions being positioned adjacent one another in an alternating pattern, said regions being formed from a plurality of filamentary members knitted in a plurality of courses, each said course comprising a plurality of loops extending circumferentially around said axis, said first regions having a stiffness different from the stiffness of said second regions and thereby forming a plurality of alternating crests and troughs in said tubular body lengthwise along said axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.