US20080209861A1 - Shape-recovering material suitable for application of an attachment, and its use - Google Patents
Shape-recovering material suitable for application of an attachment, and its use Download PDFInfo
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- US20080209861A1 US20080209861A1 US12/105,817 US10581708A US2008209861A1 US 20080209861 A1 US20080209861 A1 US 20080209861A1 US 10581708 A US10581708 A US 10581708A US 2008209861 A1 US2008209861 A1 US 2008209861A1
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- Prior art keywords
- providing
- fastener
- region
- hook
- affixing
- Prior art date
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- Abandoned
Links
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- -1 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000004812 Fluorinated ethylene propylene Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002033 PVDF binder Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920009441 perflouroethylene propylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001084 poly(chloroprene) Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920000098 polyolefin Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001343 polytetrafluoroethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004810 polytetrafluoroethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920000915 polyvinyl chloride Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004800 polyvinyl chloride Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920002981 polyvinylidene fluoride Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920002379 silicone rubber Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004945 silicone rubber Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 abstract description 8
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 8
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 16
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- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005570 flexible polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
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- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 1
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Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- 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
- B29C61/00—Shaping by liberation of internal stresses; Making preforms having internal stresses; Apparatus therefor
- B29C61/06—Making preforms having internal stresses, e.g. plastic memory
- B29C61/0608—Making preforms having internal stresses, e.g. plastic memory characterised by the configuration or structure of the preforms
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
- Y10T24/27—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc. including readily dissociable fastener having numerous, protruding, unitary filaments randomly interlocking with, and simultaneously moving towards, mating structure [e.g., hook-loop type fastener]
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
- Y10T24/27—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc. including readily dissociable fastener having numerous, protruding, unitary filaments randomly interlocking with, and simultaneously moving towards, mating structure [e.g., hook-loop type fastener]
- Y10T24/2708—Combined with diverse fastener
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
- Y10T428/1328—Shrinkable or shrunk [e.g., due to heat, solvent, volatile agent, restraint removal, etc.]
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
- Y10T428/1328—Shrinkable or shrunk [e.g., due to heat, solvent, volatile agent, restraint removal, etc.]
- Y10T428/1331—Single layer [continuous layer]
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
- Y10T428/1352—Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
- Y10T428/139—Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
- Y10T428/1352—Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
- Y10T428/1397—Single layer [continuous layer]
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/24—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
- Y10T428/24008—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.] including fastener for attaching to external surface
- Y10T428/24017—Hook or barb
Definitions
- FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a supported wiring harness
Abstract
A structure includes a hollow tubular first body made of a shape-recovering polymeric material having a first region in the recovered state, and a second region in the expanded state. A second body including an element of a fastener, such as a hook-and-loop fastener, is affixed to the first region of the first body with an adhesive joint. The first body is desirably in the form of a hollow tube that encloses a wire bundle or other enclosed body. The structure may also include a support, and a second element of the hook-and-loop fastener affixed to the support. The first element of the hook-and-loop fastener is engaged to the second element of the hook-and-loop fastener.
Description
- The present application is a divisional patent application and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/014,005, filed on Dec. 10, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This invention relates to shape-recovering material, especially in a tubular form, and, more particularly, to shape-recovering material suitable for use in fastening two articles together.
- Shape-recovering material, sometimes also called heat-shrinkable material, is widely used in marking and packaging applications. A working definition used herein is that the shape-recovering material is a polymer having materials properties described by a recovered state and an expanded state which contracts toward the recovered state upon heating. The structure and functionality of shape-recovering material are well known in the art for a number of applications, see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,600.
- When the shape-recovering material is provided in tubular form, it is typically structured to contract to or toward a specified size in the recovered state. In its initial manufacturing, the shape-recovering material is extruded in a particular shape and size, expanded to the expanded state, and thereafter cooled so that the expanded state is retained. When it is to be applied in service, the expanded and cooled material is placed overlying a body to be enclosed, and then again heated so that it contracts back toward the recovered state, thereby enclosing the body in a polymeric covering.
- In some applications, a tube of the shape-recovering material in the expanded state is placed over a wire bundle and thereafter heated to contract it to the recovered state. The enclosed wire bundle is supported from adjacent structure with appropriate clamps or fixtures spaced along its length. This arrangement is often used in aircraft wiring harnesses to hold the multiple wires in an orderly arrangement and facilitate their support from bulkheads and the like.
- However, it is sometimes found in service that the intermediate portion of the enclosed wire bundle, positioned between the neighboring clamps or fixtures, flexes, rattles, vibrates, or swings freely, risking damage to the wire bundle or to the adjacent structure. It has been proposed to affix the enclosed wire bundle to the adjacent structure at intermediate locations using a fastener including an adhesive link. However, such a technique is not practical for many situations because it requires that the enclosed wire bundle be held in place until the adhesive cures, either manually by the wiring installer or with clamps that are difficult to apply.
- There is a need for an approach for providing such a support that is secure, light in weight, and readily utilized. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.
- The present invention provides a structure including a first body made in part of a shape-recovering material. The shape-recovering material is processed so as to facilitate attachment of a second body to the first body. The second body may include, for example, a portion of a fastener, a preprinted label, or the like. This structure facilitates the attachment of various articles to each other. In an application of interest, the first body is a tube of the shape-recovering material, and the second body includes a first element of a fastener such as a hook-and-loop fastener. The tube of the shape-recovering material is placed over an enclosed body, and the fastener is used to hold the enclosed body to adjacent structure. This approach is reliable and readily implemented in applications such as the attachment of aircraft or automotive wiring harnesses. The preferred application is in such attachment structures, but it will be appreciated that the present approach is more widely applicable to attach a second body to a piece of shape-recovering material.
- In accordance with the invention, a structure comprises a first body made of a shape-recovering polymeric material having materials properties described by a recovered state and an expanded state which contracts toward the recovered state upon heating. Typically, the shape-recovering polymeric material has a contraction ratio between the expanded state and the recovered state of at least about 2:1, in many cases at least about 4:1, and normally from about 2:1 to about 6:1. Examples of the shape-recovering polymeric material include polyolefins, polyvinylidene fluoride, polychloroprene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, silicone rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, and ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene. In one application, the first body is a hollow tube. The hollow tube overlies an enclosed body, such as a wire or a wire bundle.
- The first body has a first region in the recovered state, and a second region in the expanded state. A second body is affixed to the first region of the first body, preferably by an adhesive joint. The second body may be a portion of a fastener. Desirably, the second body comprises at least a first element of a hook-and-loop fastener.
- In one approach of interest, the second body comprises a first element of a hook-and-loop fastener. The structure further includes a support, and a second element of the hook-and-loop fastener affixed to the support. The first element of the hook-and-loop fastener is engaged to the second element of the hook-and-loop fastener. The first body is preferably a hollow tube overlying the enclosed body.
- With this approach, the first body is fabricated as a hollow tube with the fastener element of the second body affixed with an adhesive to the first region of the hollow tube. This article, including the hollow tube and the fastener element, is fabricated prior to placing the hollow tube over the enclosed body. Thus, it may be fabricated on an assembly line and under controlled conditions to ensure good quality and reproducibility. When it is time for installation, the hollow tube is slipped over the enclosed article, and the second region heated to recover the second region and constrict the hollow tube snugly over the enclosed body. Meanwhile, the second element of the fastener, such as the hook-and-loop fastener, is affixed to the support by any convenient approach. The first element and the second element of the fastener are brought into contact to secure the two elements together, and thence secure the enclosed body to the support.
- The shape-recovering material typically contracts from the expanded state to the recovered state by a linear ratio of 2:1 or more when heated. If the second body, which has a substantially constant linear dimension, were affixed to a portion of the first body prior to its being contracted to the recovered state (i.e., while in the expanded state), the contraction of the shape-recovering material during recovery would tend to debond the adhesive and cause the second body to separate from the first body. The constraint of the contraction of the first body would also distort the contraction and reduce the snugness of the fit of the first body on the enclosed body.
- With the present approach, on the other hand, the first region is preshrunk to the recovered state. The second body is thereafter affixed, preferably by an adhesive layer, to the first region of the first body. There is very little or no further contraction of the first region when the first body is heated to contract the second region to the recovered state, so that the joint between the first region of the first body and the second body is not distorted. The result is that the second body is securely affixed to the first body in a controlled, reliable manner. As described, the second body is a fastener element in one preferred embodiment, but the second body may be any other item that is to be securely fastened to the shape-recovering material of the first body. Examples include preprinted labels or diagrams, and magnets. The first body is described as a wiring harness in the preferred embodiments, but it may be any object.
- Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. The scope of the invention is not, however, limited to this preferred embodiment.
-
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a supported wiring harness; -
FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the wiring harness ofFIG. 1 , taken on line 2-2; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a structure according to the invention; -
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the structure ofFIG. 3 , taken on line 4-4; -
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the structure ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a second element of the fastener; -
FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a supported wiring harness according to the invention; -
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the wiring harness ofFIG. 7 , taken on line 8-8; -
FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of the attachment structure; -
FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view, with the elements separated for clarity of illustration, of yet another embodiment of the attachment structure; and -
FIG. 11 is a block flow diagram of a method for practicing the invention. -
FIG. 1 depicts aconventional wiring harness 20 supported fromclamps 22.FIG. 2 shows the construction of thewiring harness 20, having a bundle of electrical wires 24 (or other elongated wires or optical fibers) enclosed within atube 26 of shape-recovering polymeric material. The shape-recovering polymeric material provides a convenient approach to holding thewires 24 in a tightly grouped, compact bundle that is easier to work with in wiring harness applications than a number of separate wires. Theclamps 22 are spaced apart along the length of thewiring harness 20. Atintermediate locations 28 of thewiring harness 20 between theclamps 22, thewiring harness 20 may rattle, vibrate, or swing about in a manner that may cause damage to the wiring harness itself or to adjacent objects. A preferred application of the present invention reduces the incidence of such potential damage. -
FIG. 3 illustrates anattachment structure 29 includingfirst body 30, preferably in the form of ahollow tube 32. Thehollow tube 32 is made of a shape-recovering polymeric material having materials properties described by a recovered state and an expanded state which contracts toward the recovered state upon heating. Such shape-recovering materials are known in the art and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,600 and MILSPEC MIL-DTL-23053, whose disclosures are incorporated by reference. Such polymeric materials are well known in the art for other applications, but not for the present application, and are sometimes called “heat-shrinkable tubing” or “shrink tubing”. Examples of operable materials include polyolefins, polyvinylidene fluoride, polychloroprene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, silicone rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, and ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene, but use of the invention is not limited to these materials. The present invention is operable with all such shape-recovering polymeric materials. - The
first body 30 has afirst region 34 with the shape-recovering polymeric material in the recovered state, and asecond region 36 with the shape-recovering polymeric material in the expanded state. - A
second body 38 is affixed to thefirst region 34 of thefirst body 30. Thesecond body 38 may be shorter in length than thefirst region 34, as illustrated, or it may be of the same length as thefirst region 34. The affixing is accomplished by any operable approach.FIG. 4 illustrates the preferred manner of affixing thesecond body 38 to thefirst region 34 of thefirst body 30. An adhesive layer forms a joint 40 between thesecond body 38 and thefirst region 34 of thefirst body 30.FIG. 5 is another embodiment of this approach, wherein aheat shield 42 in the form of a thin piece of foil or aluminized plastic is removably positioned over the second body for reasons to be discussed subsequently. - The
second body 38 preferably comprises at least one part of a fastener, and most preferably comprises an element of a hook-and-loop fastener. “Hook-and-loop fasteners” are known in the art and are described, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,009,235; 3,130,111; 3,387,345; and 5,369,853 Hook-and-loop fasteners are often commonly known by their trademarked name Velcrom. The hook-and-loop fastener includes two elements, the “hook” element and the “loop” element. When contacted together these two elements engage each other to provide a temporary attachment between the two elements, and thence between any objects to which they are attached. - For attachment applications, there may be provided a second fastener element initially separate from the
first body 30.FIG. 6 depicts asecond element 44 as the second element of the hook-and-loop fastener. Thesecond element 44 is conveniently provided with means for attaching it to a support. In the embodiment ofFIG. 6 , thesecond element 44 has anadhesive layer 46 of a suitable adhesive, such as a pressure-sensitive adhesive or a more-permanent adhesive, applied to a back side of thesecond element 44 remote from the hook or loop structure. A peel-off backing 48 overlies theadhesive layer 46. To apply thesecond element 44 to a support, the peel-off backing 48 is removed and theadhesive layer 46 is pressed against the support with thesecond element 44 facing outwardly. -
FIG. 7 illustrates the manner of attaching thewiring harness 20 to asupport 50 at a location between theclamps 22, thereby reducing the tendency of thewiring harness 20 to flex, rattle, vibrate, or swing freely.FIG. 8 is a sectional view through the attached structure. Thehollow tube 32 of thefirst body 30, with thesecond body 38 affixed to thefirst region 34 of thefirst body 30, is slipped over thewiring harness 20. Thehollow tube 32 may be a portion of the length of thetube 26 shown inFIG. 2 (as inFIG. 8 ), or it may be a separate hollow tube that is slipped over the tube 26 (as inFIG. 9 ). Thesecond element 44 is affixed to thesupport 50 by any operable approach, such as that discussed above in relation toFIG. 6 . Thesecond body 38, which in this case is either the hook element or the loop element of the hook-and-loop fastener, is engaged to thesecond element 44, which is the other element of the hook-and-loop fastener. - The
second body 38 may take any operable form. An embodiment shown inFIG. 9 is suitable for use when thesupport 50 is a pipe, strut, or other structure wherein thesecond body 38 may be wrapped around or threaded through thesupport 50. Thesecond body 38 is an elongated strip of flexible material such as a fabric or a flexible polymer. The first element of the hook-and-loop fastener is afirst patch 52 applied to thesecond body 38. The second element of the hook-and-loop fastener is asecond patch 54 applied to a different area of thesecond body 38. Thepatches second body 38 is wrapped around thesupport 50. Optionally, thesecond body 38 may be made of a shape-recovering polymeric material like that discussed above, initially in the expanded state, so that upon heating thesecond body 38 contracts to the recovered state to draw thefirst body 30 tightly against thesupport 50. In the embodiment ofFIG. 9 , thefirst body 30 is slipped over thetube 26, so that they are separate elements. -
FIG. 10 depicts another embodiment wherein thewiring harness 20 is held within a “P”-clamp 60 comprising an annularrubber clamp body 62 and ametallic clamp attachment 64 extending from theclamp body 62. P-clamps 60 are known in the art, except for the improvements discussed herein. Theclamp 22 ofFIG. 1 could be such a P-clamp 60, for example. One problem with the use of conventional P-clamps for holding wiring harnesses is that the ability of the clamp to hold the harness in the correct lengthwise position is determined by how tightly theclamp attachments 64 are forced together. If insufficient clamping pressure is used, the wiring harness can slide lengthwise (perpendicular to the plane of the illustration ofFIG. 10 , which is the direction extending between theclamps 22 inFIG. 1 ). If too much clamping pressure is used, the wiring harness may be damaged. The present approach avoids these problems. - In the illustration of
FIG. 10 , elements common to the preceding description are given the same numbering here, and the prior description is incorporated here. Thewiring harness 20 has thesecond body 38 exteriorly attached, as previously described. Theclamp body 62 has thesecond element 44 attached to its inner periphery. Thesecond body 38 is preferably one element of the hook-and-loop fastener, and thesecond element 44 is preferably the other element of the hook-and-loop fastener. Thesecond body 38 and thesecond element 44 have been separated slightly from each other for clarity of illustration, but would be engaged to each other in practice. This arrangement allows thewiring harness 20 to be securely affixed to the clamp 60 at a selected location along the length of thewiring harness 20 without excessive tightening of the clamp 60 and without thewiring harness 20 slipping lengthwise through theclamp body 62. - The preferred embodiments described herein provide for an attachment structure, but the present approach is not so limited. Any other objects of interest may be attached as the
second body 38 to thefirst body 30 by the present approach. Examples include preprinted labels or drawings, magnets, and the like. In each case, if thesecond body 38 were attached to the shape-recovering polymeric material prior to its being recovered, it would tend to debond from the first body and pop off. The present approach avoids such a result. -
FIG. 11 depicts a preferred method for practicing the invention, and similar approaches are used for other embodiments. Theattachment structure 29 ofFIG. 3 is first fabricated, numeral 70. The shape-recovering material described above is provided, numeral 72, and formed into a tube or other operable shape, numeral 74. The formingstep 74 is preferably accomplished by extrusion. - The tube is heated to the temperature at which it is normally expanded for the selected material of the tube, and circumferentially expanded to stretch the material of the tube to its expanded state, numeral 76. The expansion is preferably performed by internal air pressure within the tube, and results in uniform circumferential expansion of the tube. Equivalently, the shape-recovering material may be expanded by other mechanical techniques. The tube is cooled to room temperature, numeral 78, while the internal pressure is maintained, “freezing in” the expanded state of the expanded tube. The
first region 34, but not thesecond region 36, is thereafter heated, for example by passing a heated shoe along the length of the tube, to cause thefirst region 34 to contract and shrink back to the recovered state, numeral 80. Thesecond region 36 is not heated, and is left in its expanded state. The recovery of thefirst region 34 leaves it with a significantly larger wall thickness than thesecond region 36, so that thefirst region 34 may be easily recognized visually. - The
second body 38 is provided, numeral 82. Thesecond body 38 preferably comprises one of the elements of the hook-and-loop fastener. Thesecond body 38 is adhesively affixed to thefirst region 34 of thefirst body 30, numeral 84, to complete the fabrication of theattachment structure 29. - The
hollow tube 32 of theattachment structure 29 is thereafter slipped over the body to be enclosed and attached, numeral 86, in this case directly over the wire orwires 24, or over a preexistingwiring harness 20 and itstube 26. Thesecond region 36 of thefirst body 30 is thereafter heated, numeral 88, to cause it to contact to the recovered state and snugly enclose the enclosed body. It is typically not possible in a production setting to heat only thefirst region 36, and usually there is some heating of thesecond region 34 at the same time. Theheat shield 42, shown inFIG. 5 , may be provided to prevent overheating of thesecond body 38 and particularly the element of the hook-and-loop structure that is found on thesecond body 38, to a temperature above its maximum allowable temperature. After theheating 88 is complete, theheat shield 42 is stripped away to expose the protected element of the hook-and-loop structure. - Meanwhile, the
second element 44 is provided, numeral 90, and affixed to thesupport 50 in the manner discussed previously, numeral 92. The first element and the second element of the hook-and-loop fastener structure are engaged to each other to complete the attachment of the enclosed body to the support, numeral 94. - In the method depicted in
FIG. 11 , the order of thesteps second element 44 is affixed to the support 50 (step 92). Theheating 88 may be performed after these steps are completed, so that the shrinking of thefirst body 30 over the enclosed body may be completed as the last step. Many other variations are possible to accommodate particular circumstances. The only critical ordering of the steps is that thesecond body 38 must be affixed to the preshrunkfirst region 34 of thefirst body 30. - Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
Claims (10)
1. A method for forming a structure, comprising the steps of:
providing a first body made of a shape-recovering polymeric material having materials properties described by a recovered state and an expanded state which contracts toward the recovered state upon heating, the first body having
a first region in the recovered state, and
a second region in the expanded state; thereafter
affixing a second body comprising a first element of a fastener to the first region of the first body;
providing a support;
affixing a second element of the fastener to the support; and thereafter
engaging the first element of the fastener and the second element of the fastener.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of affixing the second body includes the step of providing the second body which comprises at least a first element of a hook-and-loop fastener.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the first body includes the step of providing the first body made of a material selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin, polyvinylidene fluoride, polychloroprene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, silicone rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, and ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene.
4. The method of claim 1 , including an additional step, performed after the step of affixing the second body, of heating the first body so that the second region contracts toward its recovered state.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the first body includes the step of providing the first body as a hollow tube.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the first body includes the step of
providing the first body as a hollow tube, and
including additional steps, after the step of affixing, of
positioning the hollow tube overlying an enclosed body, and
heating the first body so that the second region contracts toward its recovered state.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of positioning includes the step of providing the enclosed body comprising at least one wire.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of affixing the second body includes the step of providing the second body as a first element of a hook-and-loop fastener, and wherein the method further includes the step of
adhesively affixing the second element of the fastener to the support, wherein the second element of the fastener is a second element of the hook-and-loop fastener.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the first body includes the step of providing the first body as a hollow tube,
wherein the step of affixing the second body includes the step of
providing the second body as a first element of a hook-and-loop fastener, and including additional steps, after the step of affixing the second body, of
positioning the hollow tube overlying an enclosed body, and
heating the first body so that the second region contracts toward its recovered state.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the first body includes the step of providing the first body wherein the shape-recovering polymeric material has a contraction ratio of at least about 2:1.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/105,817 US20080209861A1 (en) | 2001-12-10 | 2008-04-18 | Shape-recovering material suitable for application of an attachment, and its use |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/014,005 US7544404B2 (en) | 2001-12-10 | 2001-12-10 | Shape-recovering material |
US12/105,817 US20080209861A1 (en) | 2001-12-10 | 2008-04-18 | Shape-recovering material suitable for application of an attachment, and its use |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/014,005 Division US7544404B2 (en) | 2001-12-10 | 2001-12-10 | Shape-recovering material |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080209861A1 true US20080209861A1 (en) | 2008-09-04 |
Family
ID=21762959
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/014,005 Active 2026-04-09 US7544404B2 (en) | 2001-12-10 | 2001-12-10 | Shape-recovering material |
US12/105,817 Abandoned US20080209861A1 (en) | 2001-12-10 | 2008-04-18 | Shape-recovering material suitable for application of an attachment, and its use |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/014,005 Active 2026-04-09 US7544404B2 (en) | 2001-12-10 | 2001-12-10 | Shape-recovering material |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
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US (2) | US7544404B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1453655A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2005512624A (en) |
BR (1) | BR0207081A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2469621C (en) |
IL (1) | IL162014A0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2003049924A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120080566A1 (en) * | 2010-09-30 | 2012-04-05 | Airbus Operations Sas | Cable securing device |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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DE10341151B3 (en) * | 2003-09-06 | 2004-12-16 | Gottlieb Binder Gmbh & Co. Kg | Burr fastener, to be integrated into foam padding for aircraft or vehicle seats to hold the seat covers in place, has a carrier strip with hooks covered by a wider tape bent over at the projecting side edges to take wires |
GB2437540B (en) * | 2006-04-24 | 2010-12-01 | Uponor Innovation Ab | Fastening of pipes |
DE102006052359B4 (en) | 2006-11-07 | 2019-08-08 | Volkswagen Ag | Method for fastening electrical cables, in particular flat cables, on components, in particular on vehicle components, and mounting device for carrying out such a method |
FR2950662B1 (en) * | 2009-09-28 | 2011-10-28 | Snecma | DEVICE FOR FASTENING AN EXTENDED SHAPE ELEMENT ON A TURBOMACHINE CARTER |
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US9188247B2 (en) * | 2010-09-30 | 2015-11-17 | Airbus Operations Sas | Cable securing device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1453655A1 (en) | 2004-09-08 |
CA2469621A1 (en) | 2003-06-19 |
JP2005512624A (en) | 2005-05-12 |
US20030108707A1 (en) | 2003-06-12 |
CA2469621C (en) | 2009-07-07 |
US7544404B2 (en) | 2009-06-09 |
IL162014A0 (en) | 2005-11-20 |
WO2003049924A1 (en) | 2003-06-19 |
BR0207081A (en) | 2004-01-20 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: RAYTHEON COMPANY, MASSACHUSETTS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MCMAHON, ROY P.;REEL/FRAME:021333/0267 Effective date: 20011207 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |