MXPA01003164A - Protective split sleeve and method for making it - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for creating a jacket for the protection of an extended object and the article produced by the process. The process includes the steps of selecting a heat-shrinkable tube having a size corresponding to the object to be protected;providing a mold body having external dimensions substantially matching dimensions of the object to be protected;placing the heat-shrinkable tube over the mold body;applying heat to the heat-shrinkable tube to cause the heat shrinkable tube to conform to the shape of the mold body;cutting the heat-shrinkable tube longitudinally to create an open sleeve (52) with first and second lateral sides (54, 56);and removing the open sleeve (52) from the mold body. Preferably, a fastening means (57) is provided on the lateral sides (54, 56) of the open sleeve to allow the sleeve to be secured tightly about the object to be protected.

Description

DIVIDED PROTECTIVE HOSE AND METHOD TO MANUFACTURE IT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for creating a protective wrap for the temporary protection of an article having a generally longitudinal or extended geometry. The invention also relates to a protective envelope itself obtained by the process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a general need for a device that provides temporary protection for various articles, particularly articles that have a generally longitudinal or extended shape. The need for temporary protection typically occurs when these items have to be transported, from their production site to another secondary site or to the end user of the article. Although there are many of these articles that require temporary protection, the invention described herein is used for the protection of computer systems.

Ref: 127940 car exhaust. Of course, it will be readily recognized that the invention described herein can easily be adapted and used to protect many different kinds of articles. The components of an exhaust system typically include several longitudinal pipes and scale parts that are linked through one or more flexible units, such as flexible heat resistant pipes or hoses. While these exhaust systems are relatively common, problems often arise when the exhaust system is completely assembled as a "sub-unit" at a first manufacturing site and transported to a second manufacturing site, where The exhaust system is installed in the vehicle. These sub-units are becoming more common, since automobile manufacturers buy complete sub-systems for cars (such as exhaust systems, dashboards, interiors, etc.) from different manufacturing sources and then assemble the sub-systems in the car. final vehicle. During transportation of an exhaust system sub-unit, the different components must be held securely in their relative positions ... - ..._. - _ > .....- - * -_-.- _w _ ^ _ t _ ^ _ ^ _ a _ ^ _ U_ta_ia_i_M_l_ÉMl_tii final, otherwise the flexible connections between the components can be loosened or damaged. One possible method to achieve this requirement is to temporarily assemble the components on a rigid retainer device. However, this method is delayed and therefore is an expensive process. Another option is simply to reinforce in some way the flexible component and its connection to the adjacent exhaust pipes. Again, however, any reinforcement method must be very simple and as economical as possible. Due to the wide variety of exhaust systems that are transported and the relatively limited number of identical sub-systems to be transported, a mass-produced reinforcement part, such as a rigid molded cover will not be appropriate since the tool costs to provide Multiple forms of molded covers will typically be very expensive. Another possibility would be to use articles that can be contracted with heat, such as, for example, those described for electrical splices in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,297,819; 3,717,717; and 4,390,745. Articles that can be contracted with icalor can be easily adapted in different ways and .... J.. rt -.--- i > a- < »- ?. -.a »and ... i. - »_-.-» HJ «« configurations. However, in its original form, articles that can be contracted with heat can not be wrapped around the object to be protected. Additionally, the article that can be contracted with heat would have to be cut out of the protected object, which is a delayed process that can damage the protected object. In addition, the protective tubes would have to be discarded after a single use, which is not economical. Therefore, there is a need for a process and article for temporary protection of extended articles that are economical, easily adaptable with different shapes and configurations and that can be assembled and disassembled from the protected article as quickly as possible. It would also be desirable that the protective article can be used multiple times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The problems and needs described above are solved with the invention described herein. The present invention provides a wrapping for the protection of an extended article that can be obtained from the following process: J_ A heat-shrinkable tube is selected, which has a length that corresponds essentially to the length of the section of the extended article that it is intended to protect, and an internal diameter that exceeds the longest diameter of the section. to be protected. The tube that can be contracted with heat has the capacity, through the application of heat, to contract on the article and to conform essentially with the determined geometry of the article. The tube remains in the shrunken position after cooling. Preferably, the tube that can be contracted with heat shrinks on a mold body having dimensions that correspond essentially to the section of the article to be protected and that can withstand the temperature and forces that arise in the process of contraction with heat. The tube that can be contracted with heat is placed on the body of the mold and heat is applied to the tube so that it shrinks on the body. After cooling, the now shrunk tube is cut along its longitudinal length so as to produce a split or open sleeve with two lateral sides. The divided sleeve is removed from the mold body.

Preferably, the two lateral sides of the divided sleeve are provided with mechanical fastening means which are selected so that the sleeve can be placed over the section of the extended article to be protected and then securely secured around the sleeve. the section by using the mechanical fastening means. Heat-shrinkable tubes of the type contemplated herein are well known, for example, in the field of electricity, for the protection of electrical splices. They consist of well-known materials for people experienced in the technical field. These tubes are previously extended at a suitably high temperature and cooled in the extended state, so that they remain in the extended condition. When sufficient heat is applied to the extended tube, the tube shrinks back to the configuration of its original position, since it is not blocked to do so. In the invention described herein, the tube shrinks on the mold body and essentially forms on the mold body. After the tube is cooled, the tube is again mechanically stable. Therefore, after cutting the tube along its length, the _f _ ^ _ d_t_É_B _ ^ _ ái_a _a tube can be removed from the mold body and retain its "shrunk" shape. Therefore, the invention takes advantage of several specific characteristics of a typical tube that can be contracted with heat. Preferably, the tube that can be contracted with heat should be selected so that it has the ability to shrink to the smallest diameter of the section of the article to be protected. In the most general sense, the sleeve could be fixed on the extended article with an additional means such as ribbons, ropes, etc. However, it is preferred to attach a clamping means to the split sleeve, wherein the clamping means remains with the sleeve divided. In this way, a product is obtained that can be opened and placed on the extended article, then closed on the article by means of mechanical fastening means. When used in this way for a purpose, such as transportation, the split sleeve can be reopened very easily and can be reused for a similar purpose. When temporarily secured around the extended item, the split sleeve provides protection to the item and especially provides the protected system __ @ __ > _á-U-i-additional stability and stiffness desired, which are necessary during transportation. Preferably, the clamping means is engaged on the side sides of the sleeve that were created by cutting the sleeve. The fastening means can be of any type. It can be, for example, a rack or an individual fastening means of the hook and female type or it can comprise micro-structured surfaces that are capable of interacting with each other. The fastening means as such can be coupled with the side sides of the sleeves by any means. These could be mechanical like rivets, or use a method similar to sewing such a component with the sleeve, or they can be attached by means of an adhesive that can be a layered adhesive, laminated on the components of the fastening means, or a separate sensitive tape to the pressure. These tapes are known, for example, as double sided tapes, in which one side is placed on a lateral side of the sleeve. A possibly used coating is removed and a fastening component is adhered to the second side of the tape.

I ~ l * t BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood with the appended drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment? of the invention. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but only defined by the claims. Figure 1 illustrates an example of an extended article to be protected, as a part of an automobile exhaust system. Figure 2 illustrates a heat shrinkable tube of the generally known type, from which a protective wrap for the extended article of Figure 1 is formed, in accordance with the process of this invention. Figure 3 illustrates a mold body that will be used to form the heat shrinkable tube of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a heat shrinkable tube of Figure 2 on the mold body of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 4, illustrating the line of aiiá _ ^ _ k? _ ^ - £ - ^ - U_a-M_aiÉ_i_tt "" - • * separation, where the tube is cut in a longitudinal direction. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a protective wrap for the extended article, created by the process described therein and provided with a releasable fastening means. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 6, showing the components of the releasable fastening means. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 9, showing an alternative embodiment of the protective wrap. Figure 9 is an elevated view of the embodiment of Figure 8. Figure 10 is an elevated view of the embodiment of Figure 9, taken along line B-B of Figure 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The inventive envelope is shown for the protection of an extended or longitudinal article and the process for _ÉÍI_U_ ii_ri_M_Ul J __-_-_ ^ _ i-when forming a protective envelope and is hereby described in more detail. Figure 1 illustrates an extended article 10 that requires protection and / or reinforcement during its shipment. The article 10 extended in this particular example, represents a portion of an automobile exhaust system, which consists of two exhaust pipes 12 and 14 and a flexible connection 16 which requires protection. The flexible connection 16, for example, consists of a heat-resistant flexible tube that connects the exhaust pipes 12, 14 and is used for different purposes, such as preventing vibrations from being transmitted between the exhaust pipes 12, 14. It is preferred to protect at least one flexible connection 16 of this system, by protecting the section 18 which is slightly longer than the flexible connection 16 itself. It should be noted that the section 18 to be protected in this particular example has a relatively long middle portion with a diameter 22 and small external portions with a diameter 20. Of course, the geometry of the section 18 to be protected may vary within of a wide variety. However, in any case, section 18 to be protected may It is defined by its diameters ranging from a minimum diameter to a maximum diameter of 22. These values are important for the proper selection of the components of the protective wrapping. Figure 2 shows a heat shrinkable tube 24 having a length 26 corresponding essentially to the length of the section 18 to be protected, as illustrated in Figure 1. The length 26 is preferably a little longer long than section 18 given in Figure 1. However, it is essential that there is a basic correspondence between these two lengths. The internal diameter 28 of the heat shrinkable tube 24 must be greater than the maximum diameter 22 of the section 18 to be protected. Figure 3 shows a mold body 30 having a length 32 corresponding essentially to the length 26 of the heat-shrinkable tube 24 of Figure 2. However, the length 32 of the mold body 30 may also be longer. long than that of tube 24 that can be contracted with heat. The shape of the mold body 30 essentially matches the shape of the section 18 to be protected, as shown in Figure 1. However, it may be desirable to provide a mold body 30 with dimensions a little larger than the section 18. to be protected, as will be evident later. Therefore, the minimum diameter 34 and the maximum diameter 36 of the mold body 30 can be greater than the minimum diameter 20 and the maximum diameter 22 of the section 18 to be protected. The mold body 30 is made of any known material, which has the capacity to withstand the temperatures applied to the heat shrinkable tube 24 and the corresponding forces that occur during the shrinking process. For example, the mold body 30 may consist of wood, metal or a plastic material capable of withstanding temperature and pressure. A non-metallic material is preferred for the mold body 30. Figure 4 illustrates the tube 24 that can be heat shrunk after it has been placed on the mold body 30 and heated. The heat can be applied in any known manner, such as by open flame, heat coil, hot air or other method. After the application of heat, the tube 24 which can be contracted with heat shrinks to conform to the specific shape of the _jUM - ** - - »-" "-" - ^ &_É < _di_t? mold body 30. To ensure that heat shrinkable tube 24 conforms to most body portions 30 of mold, a heat shrinkable tube 24 is selected to at least a minimum diameter of the section 18 to be protected.Thus, it can be ensured that the two ends 42, 44 of the shrunk tube 24 are intimate contact with the ends 46, 48 corresponding to the mold body 30. As shown in Figure 5, after the tube 24 shrinks on the mold body 30, the tube 24 is cut longitudinally along the line 50. In this way, a split sleeve 52 is created, as shown in a perspective view of Figure 6. Already cut along the line 50, the divided sleeve 52 is provided with two longitudinal side sides 54, 56 The divided sleeve 52 is shown in Figure 6 after being removed from the mold body 30. , it is shown that on side side 56, a mechanical fastening means 57 is engaged. Figure 7 illustrates the mechanical fastening means 57 that includes a first fastening component 58 that is secured with a second fastening component 57. The components 58, 60 of the mechanical clamping means 57 are coupled to the lateral sides 54, 56 of the divided sleeve 52, so that when the side sides 54 and 56 are overlapped with the clamping components 58, 60, they interact to keep the clamp closed. 52 split sleeve. Accordingly, it is advantageous that the mold body 30 have dimensions slightly larger than the section 18 to be protected, since the additional material allows the side sides 54, 56 to overlap one another when placed in the section 18. The clamping means 57 preferably are hook and socket type fasteners, such as a SJ3551 from The Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company (USA), marketed under the name Dual Lock ™. Other types of fastening means can be used, such as springs, pressure sensitive adhesives, etc. The fastening means 57 can be secured with the side sides 54, 56 in any suitable manner, such as by adhesives, rivets or their like. Figures 8 to 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention. The divided sleeve 62 is essentially identical to the split sleeve 52 previously described. Split sleeve 62 includes a portion 64 ~ - '~ "* ~ ---- ~ * ^^ medium having a diameter a little larger to conform to the maximum diameter 22 of the section, 18 to be protected and two end portions 66, 68 having a smaller diameter to conform the minimum diameter 20 of the section 18 to be protected As described above, the divided sleeve 62 is divided open longitudinally along one side The longitudinal groove 70 can be seen in Figures 9 and 10. In the particular configuration of Figures 8-10, the divided sleeve 62 can be closed on the section 18 to be protected by the use of mechanical fastening means 72, 74, 76. Although three fastening means are illustrated, it will be recognizable it is easy to use more or less fastening means, depending for example on the length of the divided sleeve 62. The fastening means 72 consists of two components 78, 80, correspondingly the fastening means 74 having the components 82, 84 and a half 76 has the components 86, 88. The fastening of the components 78, 80, 82, 84, 86 and 88 can be seen in Figures 8 and 1.0. The components 78, 80, 82, 84, 86 and 88 may be coupled with the sleeve 62 divided in any way Suitable gj ^, like adhesives, rivets, etc. As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the fastening components 78, 82, 86 are adhered to the sleeve 62 divided using an adhesive (not shown), while the components 80, 84, 88 are engaged with the sleeve 62 divided by the rivets 90, 92, 94. The manner of coupling the components 78, 80, 82, 84, 86 and 88 shown in Figures 8 to 10, are intended to be illustrative only, since other coupling methods are contemplated . Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that other coupling methods can be used, and that the particular coupling method selected depends on many factors, such as coupling durability, cost and operating environment, etc. The essential feature of the embodiments shown here is that in a preferred embodiment, the fastening means forms an integral part of the complete protective wrap, since they are intended to remain with the sleeves 52, 62 divided. In the example provided here, the automobile exhaust system is mechanically protected and stabilized by the split sleeves 52, 62 when placing a split sleeve. rite_MÉi_Í_ÍI_IIÉ_ti on section 18 to be protected. Subsequently, the divided sleeve is closed using the fastening means by having the matching components overlapped and coupled together. In the embodiments described above, the fastener components are preferably hook and female type, such as an SJ3551 from The Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company (USA), marketed under the name Dual Lock ™, although other means of fastening can be used. For example, the fastening components may be micro-structured surfaces that are adapted to releasably engage with each other, or snap fasteners may be provided in the matching components in the fastening means, or a heat-sensitive adhesive may be used. . The main advantage of the split sleeves 52, 62 described herein is that they can be quickly applied and removed from the automobile exhaust and can also be used repeatedly. Thus, it may be advantageous to mark on the sleeve a message such as "Return to the manufacturer", or a similar message. A further advantage of the invention described herein is that a great variety of configurations can be formed, each of which requires only a single forming mold. Because many uses are contemplated for the protective wrap and its method of manufacture, the invention should not be limited to the specific geometry embodiments described herein. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

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Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A process for creating a wrapper for the protection of at least one section of an extended article of a given geometry, the section to be protected it can have a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter, the process is characterized in that it comprises the steps ae: select a tube that can be contracted with heat with a length corresponding to a length of the section to be protected, and an internal diameter that exceeds the maximum diameter of the section to be protected, by applying heat, the tube that can be contracted with heat has the ability to shrink on the section to be protected and essentially conform to the geometry of the section to be protected, and to remain in the conformation position after cooling; providing a mold body with external dimensions, which essentially coincide with the dimensions of the section to be protected; placing the tube that can be contracted with heat 'on the mold body; applying heat on the tube that can be contracted with heat to cause the tube to shrink to conform to the shape of the mold body; cutting the tube that can be heat shrunk longitudinally to create an open sleeve with first and second side sides; and removing the open sleeve from the mold body.
2. 2. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube that can be contracted with heat is able to shrink to a smaller diameter than the minimum diameter of the section to be protected.
3. 3. The process according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises the additional step of providing the first and second side sides of the open sleeve with mechanical fastening means, which allow the open sleeve to be secured on the section to be protected. - *. * - - ^ i- - • • »-« ----. *. .... • 1 * • -ÉÜ
4. 4. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the external dimensions of the mold body exceed the dimensions corresponding to the section to be protected, up to a limit that allows the first and second side sides of the open sleeve to overlap each other when the open sleeve is placed over the section to be protected.
5. 5. The process according to claim 3, characterized in that the fastening means comprises a first and second component, the first and second components are coupled with the first and second side sides of the open sleeve, respectively.
6. 6. The process according to claim 5, characterized in that the first and second components of the fastening means are hook and female type.
7. 7. The process according to claim 5, characterized in that the first and second components of the fastening means comprise micro-structured surfaces adapted to interact with each other. - * - »• ----" »-
8. 8. The process according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one component of the fastening means engages with the open sleeve by mechanical means.
9. 9. The process according to claim 8, characterized in that the mechanical means comprises rivets.
10. 10. The process according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one component of the fastening means engages with the sleeve opened by an adhesive. eleven .
11. The process according to claim 10, characterized in that the adhesive is laminated with a surface of at least one component of the fastening means.
12. 12. The process according to claim 10, characterized in that the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.