# US 7,744,977 B2 · Support coil comprising a mechanical locking means and method for the production thereof

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- Number: US 7,744,977 B2
- Document ID: US7744977B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/743,704
- Filed: 2007-05-03
- Published: 2007-11-29
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2006-05-24
- Assignees: Tyco Electronics Raychem GmbH
- Inventors: Thilo Simonsohn; Christian Heindl
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744977B2

## CPC

- H02G 15/1833: {formed of helically wound strip with adjacent windings, which are removable by applying a pulling force to a strip end}
- B29C 53/78: using profiled sheets or strips
- B29C 61/065: {Preforms held in a stressed condition by means of a removable support; Supports therefor}
- B29C 65/58: Snap connection
- B29C 66/12449: {being asymmetric (B29C66/12445 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/12469: {being asymmetric}
- B29C 66/1248: {Interpenetrating groove joints (interpenetrating fingered joints B29C66/139)}
- B29C 66/4322: {by joining a single sheet to itself (B29C66/4332 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/4329: {the joint lines being transversal but non-orthogonal with respect to the axis of said tubular articles, i.e. being oblique}
- B29C 66/49: {Internally supporting the, e.g. tubular, article during joining (B29C66/63 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/524: {Joining profiled elements}
- B29L 2023/22: {Tubes or pipes, i.e. rigid (bent tubes not for use as pipe couplings B29L2023/004)}
- Y10T 428/1328: Shrinkable or shrunk [e.g., due to heat, solvent, volatile agent, restraint removal, etc.]
- Y10T 428/139: Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article
- Y10T 428/17: Three or more coplanar interfitted sections with securing means
- Y10T 428/19: Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
- Y10T 428/24479: including variation in thickness
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A support coil for radially supporting an elastically expanded tube material includes an extruded profile body consisting of a plurality of windings wound about a longitudinal axis of the support coil. Each of the windings has opposing end faces. A ratchet arrangement joins the end faces of the adjacent windings with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support coil. A tongue and groove arrangement joins the end faces of the adjacent windings with respect to a radial direction of the support coil. The tongue and groove arrangement is spatially separated from the ratchet arrangement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A support coil for radially supporting an elastically expanded tube material, comprising:
an extruded profile body consisting of a plurality of windings wound about a longitudinal axis of the support coil, each of the windings having opposing end faces;
a ratchet arrangement having a ratchet element joining the end faces of the adjacent windings with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support coil;
a tongue and groove arrangement joining the end faces of the adjacent windings with respect to a radial direction of the support coil, the tongue and groove arrangement being spatially separated from the ratchet arrangement;
wherein the tongue and groove arrangement is formed between a radial external surface and a radial internal surface of the support coil with the tongue projecting from one end face and the groove providing an opening located in an opposite end face, spaced apart from the external and internal surfaces.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the tongue and groove arrangement is telescopic with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support coil and the tongue and groove arrangement is arranged outside of the ratchet arrangement with respect to the radial direction of the support coil.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the ratchet arrangement is arranged on a radial internal surface of the support coil.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the ratchet arrangement is located in the radial direction of the support coil within or around a pivot point about which the extruded profile body rotates on separation of the end faces of the adjacent windings.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the ratchet arrangement further includes a ratchet mount connectable with the ratchet element, the ratchet mount having a deflection region in the form of an opening which is not filled by the ratchet element during connection.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the extruded profile body has at least one cavity formed therein.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the end faces extends substantially parallel to each other.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the ratchet arrangement includes the ratchet element and a ratchet mount and at least one securing element secures the ratchet element in the ratchet mount.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the tongue and groove arrangement is substantially rectangular in cross-section of the extruded profile body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the extruded profile body is formed from a flexible plastic material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the extruded profile body has at least one slot that opens radially outwardly.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the support coil is tubular.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the tongue and groove arrangement is formed substantially in the shape of an arc in cross-section of the extruded profile body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The support coil of claim 13, wherein the arc is formed about a pivot point about which the extruded profile body rotates on separation of the end faces of the adjacent windings.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, wherein the extruded profile body is elastically deformable in a weakened region between the tongue and groove arrangement and the ratchet arrangement.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The support coil of claim 15, wherein the weakened region is formed between a tongue of the tongue and groove arrangement and the ratchet element of the ratchet arrangement.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The support coil of claim 15, wherein the weakened region has a radial thickness smaller than the remainder of the extruded profile body.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The support coil of claim 1, further comprising
a projection protruding in the longitudinal axis from the extruded profile body and connecting to a ratchet element of the ratchet arrangement, the projection forming an inner counter-holding face of the groove and a weakened region.