Patent Application
20080092974
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings exemplary constructions of the invention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:
This invention provides a flexible conduit or tubing having a securing flap that provides an improved means of holding and protecting flexible members, such as, for example, electrical wiring assemblies in automobiles. The conduit having a securing flap provides a simple yet effective countermeasure to the problem of undesired exits and/or contamination of flexible members contained within conduit. Addition of a securing flap to cover a slit in the conduit results in substantial prevention of undesired exit and or exposure of flexible members contained in the conduit. A flap keeps the flexible members inside the conduit even in cases where the conduit is bent or twisted. Moreover, a flap also reduces and/or prevents the ingress of contaminants into the conduit. In one preferred embodiment, the conduit includes flexible convolute and/or extruded conduit. Addition of a securing flap to close the slit in the convolute tubing may be realized with minimal change to current methods of convolute conduit manufacture; thus, addition of a flap is not only a technically feasible alternative, but also a cost effective countermeasure to reduce or substantially prevent contamination and/or exit of flexible members contained in slit convolute conduit.
Convolute conduit having a securing flap covering the slit opening according to the present invention is particularly well suited for, but by no means limited to, use in the automotive industry, where it may be used to hold wire harnesses in the engine compartment. Convolute conduit having a securing flap covering the slit opening may have applicability in fields other than the automotive industry. For instance, slit convolute tubing having a securing flap may be used in the telecommunications industry to hold copper, hard wire, cable wires and fiber optic cables, for example. Other areas where convolute conduits of the type described herein may have applicability may be the in the electrical power distribution industry, information distribution industry (e.g., the Internet), construction industry (e.g., plumbing and insulation applications), and the like.
As shown in
In one embodiment of the present invention as depicted in
An exemplary method of manufacturing a convolute conduit 2 includes the steps of extruding a substantially cylindrical tube 2 of plastically deformable polymeric material; forming a groove 25 along the longitudinal length of tube 2; cutting a slit 27 in tube 2 along the plane of a first longitudinal face 22; forming a flap 8, which extends from a second longitudinal face 24 of tube 2; and curing tube 2 while it is in a final shape required. In one preferred embodiment, groove 25 may be formed on the external side of tube 2 and partially exposes first longitudinal face 22 and second longitudinal face 24. The polymeric material may include, for example, nylon 6, polyethylene, polypropylene, fire retardant polyethylene, polyester, and the like.
Representative intermediate steps in the manufacturing process of convolute conduit 2 are depicted diagrammatically in
According to one embodiment of the present invention, convolute conduit 2 may be cured in a final shape, as shown substantially in
The method of manufacturing convolute conduit 2 may further comprise a step of forming a plurality of convolutions on cylindrical tube 2. These convolutions may be both on the internal surface 18 as well as on the external surface 20 of convolute conduit 2, on the external surface only, and/or on the internal surface only.
The conduit with a securing flap preferably includes a design and construction that is inexpensive, easy to manufacture, easy to install over electrical wiring, facilitates shipment and storage of wiring systems protected by conduit having a securing flap, etc. The design and construction preferably minimizes that impact on the manufacturing process and does not include additional structure/features to reduce or substantially prevent the exit of wiring from the internal cavity of the conduit. Preferably, the securing flap acts as a blocking device to reduce and/or substantially prevent egress of wiring from the internal cavity of the conduit. Further, a conduit having an integral securing flap in accordance with the various embodiments of the present invention may act as a blocking or self-locking device when the flexible members contained inside the tubing press against the flap covering the slit in the conduit. This design and construction eliminates the need for any separate and additional structure to act as a locking mechanism to maintain the wiring within the conduit. Further, the use of a flap to close the slit eliminates the need for taping, reduces the cost of the harness covering, reduces the labor involved in assembly, gives overall better protection against intrusion from outside contamination, and improves the overall appearance of the conduit.
While systems and methods have been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the principles described above and set forth in the following claims. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims as describing the scope of the disclosed embodiments.
