Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bale and package ties – hose clamps – Plastic band
Patent
1996-04-16
1998-05-26
Brittain, James R.
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bale and package ties, hose clamps
Plastic band
29447, 2952505, 2952509, 2853814, 403 28, 403389, F16L 3237
Patent
active
057550131
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention provides a method of holding two or more fluid conduits together at a predetermined lateral distance from one another, comprising the steps of cross-linked thermoplastic) polymeric material comprising at least two dimensionally heat-recoverable portions of the polymeric material connected together at the said predetermined distance by a connecting portion of the polymeric material substantially integral with the recoverable portions, around the conduits to be held together, and holding the conduits at the said predetermined distance from one another.
Methods according to this invention are especially useful for holding fluid conduits side-by-side at the said predetermined distance from one another, and are especially advantageous for holding vehicle fuel lines, or other fluid conduits for a vehicle or for a domestic appliance, especially flexible hoses, for example cooling hoses, at a distance corresponding to the spacing of connection points carried by the vehicle or appliance. The ends of the conduits so held may then be conveniently aligned with and connected to the connection points. For such purposes, the holding articles used according to this invention will preferably be applied near the ends of the hoses or other elongate conduits, although additional holding articles may be applied at one or more positions between the conduit ends to enhance stability.
Dimensionally recoverable articles, preferably heat-recoverable articles, and materials and methods for making them are generally well known. The specialised holding articles of the present invention may be formed, for example, so that the heat-recoverable portions are open-ended rings or tubes of the thermoplastic material and the connecting portion extends between the rings or tubes. In that case, the rings or tubes could be expanded to their heat-recoverable state by the well-known technique of hot expansion using a suitable mandrel, without expanding the connecting portion which may be in the form of a simple web. It is well known in this field of technology that cross-linked thermoplastics are preferred for high-performance heat-recoverable articles, although heat-recoverability may also be imparted to uncrosslinked thermoplastics.
One preferred form of holding article for use in the method of this invention comprises a continuous body of thermoplastic (preferably cross-linked thermoplastic) polymeric material having at least two open-ended dimensionally heat-recoverable rings or tubes of the polymeric material laterally connected together by a connecting portion of the polymeric material substantially integral with the recoverable portions at a distance from one another such that recovery of the said rings or tubes about fluid conduits in use will hold the conduits at a distance from one another corresponding to the spacing of conduit connection points carried by a vehicle or domestic appliance to which the conduits are to be connected.
Alternatively, a holding article for use in the method of this invention may be in the form of a sheet or strip, longitudinally separated portions (preferably opposite end portions) of which comprise the said heat-recoverable portions having the connecting portion therebetween. The recoverable portions can thus be wrapped and secured around the conduits in use prior to the recovery. In this case, the ends of the recoverable portions remote from the connecting portion could be attached at or near their own other ends (ie. their ends nearer to the connecting portion) so as to form recoverable loops separated by the connecting portion. However, it may be preferable that at least one connecting portion of the sheet or tape carries a spacer body against which the conduits are pressed to hold them at the said distance from one another after the recoverable portions of the sheet or tape have been wrapped and secured and recovered about the conduits. The remote ends of the recoverable portions in this case may be attached to the spacer body, or preferably opposed ends of the sheet or tape are adapted to
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Fitch Anthony Ronald Leslie
Jones Michael
Muller Andre
Brittain James R.
Burkard Herbert G.
Novack Sheri M.
Raychem S. A.
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