MXPA00010108A - Flexible protective sleeve - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible protective sleeve (10) for use in protecting an elongated member comprises a generally tubular wall (12) for at least substantially surrounding the member. The sleeve (10) also comprises permanent adhesive (26) adhered to an interior surface (24) of said wall (12). Said adhesive (26) is effective to stick the elongated member to said interior surface (24).

Description

FLEXIBLE PROTECTIVE HOSE Field of the Invention This invention relates to a flexible protective sleeve for use in the protection of an elongate element, such as a wire, a bundle of wires, or a pipe. Such sleeves, conventionally, comprise a generally tubular wall to surround at least substantially the element.

Field of the Invention Conventionally, flexible protective sleeves are used to protect the wires or pipes from contact with other components to avoid undesirable noise generation and / or abrasion damage. Such sleeves may also act to isolate an element from the heat and may have a metallic layer deposited thereon or adhered thereto to immediately reflect the infrared radiation. Such sleeves are used, for example, in the engine compartments of the vehicles. Some Ref.124208 flexible protective sleeves have a longitudinal groove in their wall to make it possible for an elongated element to be placed in the sleeve. This invention is applicable, for example, to flexible protective sleeves of the wound type. Such a sleeve has its wall formed of plastic material in the form of a sheet which is formed into the threads to increase the flexibility, ie the wall has a diameter which varies in a regular manner along the length of the sleeve so that the outer surface has a series of annular crests separated by channels. When the sleeve is bent, the crests move further apart on the outer side of the curve and closer together on the inner side of the curve. Although flexible protective sleeves of the wound type are effective for protection of the elongated elements contained therein against abrasion damage and, in many cases, reduce noise, the sleeves themselves can also be a source of noise, since that they can vibrate against the elongated element causing an undesirable rattle. Several proposals have been made to reduce this rattle noise. For example, the problem of reducing the noise of such sleeves has been considered in patent EP 0 556 140 B when the proposed solution is to cover the wall of the sleeve with a strip of sound-insulating material, for example felt, which is adhered to the wall of the cuff. The strip covers the outer surface of the wall and passes through a slot to cover the inner surface of the wall. Accordingly, the strip can dampen the impacts both between the outer surface of the wall and between the adjacent components and also the impacts between the inner surface of the wall and the elongate element. However, the use of such a strip has the disadvantages that: the process of applying the strip is complex; the strip can absorb liquids; the volume of the cuff is increased considerably; and the strip may become disjointed during service. It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible protective sleeve in which the aforementioned rattle problem is reduced or eliminated without incurring the disadvantages mentioned above. The invention provides a flexible protective sleeve for use in the protection of an elongate element, the sleeve comprises a generally tubular wall for at least substantially surrounding the element, characterized in that the sleeve also comprises a permanent adhesive adhered to an inner surface of the wall , the adhesive is effective to stick the elongated element to the inner surface of the wall. The term "permanent adhesive" is used herein to denote an adhesive which remains viscous or "sticky" for extended periods so that it can hold or retain an elongate element during contact with it and, if the element reaches be disunited, the adhesive can restore the adhesion during the additional contact. Such adhesives are well known and find applications, for example in the retention of posters on the walls, in self-adhesive tapes, etc. A suitable permanent adhesive is a copolymer of the acrylic ester stabilized with a surfactant dispersed in the water marketed by Harlow Chemical Company under the designation "Revacryl 398". This dispersion can be sprayed onto a surface and dried to form a high cohesive strength film with improved tack and adhesion to the surface. In a protective sleeve according to the invention, when the elongate element makes contact with the inner surface of the wall of the sleeve, the adhesive bonds the element to the sleeve preventing relative movement between them and consequently preventing rattling. If the adhesion breaks at some point, it can be restored at the same point or at a different point during the additional contact. The invention is applicable to protective sleeves in which the wall is formed from a plastic material in the form of a sheet and is wound, but is also applicable to sleeves shaped in other ways, for example by braiding or undulating monofilaments or wires . It is not necessary for the permanent adhesive to completely cover the interior surface of the wall of the sleeve. Actually, in the case of a rolled sleeve, only the adhesive on the ridges of the inner surface will be effective. For example, the adhesive may cover discrete areas of the interior surface, for example as the adhesive strips following a helical path along the sleeve, or as "islands" of the adhesive distributed in a configuration, or only on the ridges. Where a sleeve according to the invention has a longitudinal groove to allow insertion of the elongated element, the adhesive can be applied as a spray, preferably water-based, of a nozzle inserted through the groove while the sleeve is moved past the mouthpiece. It is also possible to provide for the groove to have regions of the edges superimposed on one of which the adhesive is applied so that the adhesive can be used to seal the groove. Now a detailed description will be given which will be read with reference to the drawings that are attached to a protective sleeve which is illustrative of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the illustrative sleeve; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line II-II in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but of a modification of the illustrative sleeve.

Detailed description of the invention The illustrative sleeve 10 is flexible and is for use in the protection of an elongate element such as a bundle of wires (not shown). The illustrative sleeve 10 has a wall which is generally tubular and encloses a space 16 in which an elongate element may be contained. The wall 12 is formed of a plastic material in the form of a sheet, especially nylon, which is formed into threads or windings. The wall 12 is preferably formed by extruding a tube and expanding the tube to a coil matrix. The windings have annular ridges 18 separated by annular channels 20. The wall 12 has a groove 22 that is. extends longitudinally, which makes it possible for an element to be inserted into the space 16. The wall 12 has an interior surface 24 which substantially surrounds an element placed in the space 16. The sleeve 10 also comprises a layer of adhesive permanent 26 (omitted from Figure 1 but shown in Figure 2). The adhesive 26 adheres to, and covers the interior surface 24 of the wall 12. Said adhesive 26 is effective for gluing an elongate element which is in the space 16, to the interior surface 24. In the modification of the sleeve 10 which is shown in Figure 3, the slot 12 has regions of overlapping edges 28 and 30 of the wall 12. The region of the outer edge 30 has the adhesive 26 applied thereto on its inner surface so that the adhesive 26 can be used for sealing the slot 22 after the element has been inserted into the space 16. In the case of the modification shown in Figure 3, the portions of the windings on the regions of the edges 28 and 30 are formed in such a way that the region of the edge 28 can be nested or fitted in the region of the edge 30. Specifically, the wound portions of the edge region 28 have narrower ridges 18 to fit within the ridges of the edge region 30.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (4)

1. A flexible protective sleeve for use in the protection of an elongated element, the sleeve comprises a generally tubular wall for at least substantially surrounding the element, characterized in that the sleeve also comprises a permanent adhesive adhered to an inner surface of the wall, the adhesive It is effective to stick the elongated element to the inner surface of the wall.

2. A sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall is formed from a plastic material in the form of sheets and is wound.

3. A sleeve according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the adhesive covers the discrete areas of the inner surface.

4. A sleeve according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sleeve has a groove extending longitudinally through its wall, the groove has regions of the edges superposed to one of which the adhesive is applied so that The adhesive can be used to seal the groove.