Claims
- 1. An apparatus for aiding in the installation or assembly use of a hose or pipe, said apparatus comprising:
a heater; and a mandrel connected to said heater; wherein said heater is adapted for heating said hose or pipe to soften a portion of said hose or pipe to aid in the installation or assembly using said hose or pipe, and further wherein said mandrel is adapted for inserting inside said hose or pipe to maintain the shape of said hose or pipe during said heating.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a shroud for covering a portion of the exterior of said hose or pipe during said heating.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a handle connected to said mandrel, said handle also being connected to said shroud.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said heater is at least partially inserted within said mandrel.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a sleeve at least partially surrounding an exterior of said shroud.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said apparatus is used to aid in the installation or assembly use of said hose or pipe by performing the steps of:
inserting an end of said hose or pipe into a cavity in said apparatus, wherein said mandrel is inserted in an opening in said end, and further wherein said shroud at least partially covers some portion of the outside of said end of said hose or pipe; heating said end of said hose or pipe with said heater to soften said end; removing said apparatus from said end of said hose or pipe thereby permitting said hose or pipe to be installed or assembled with another device or component.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handle connected to said mandrel.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heater is at least partially inserted within said mandrel.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is used to aid in the installation or assembly use of said hose or pipe by performing the steps of:
inserting an end of said hose or pipe into a cavity in said apparatus, wherein said mandrel is inserted in an opening in said end; heating said end of said hose or pipe with said heater to soften said end; and removing said apparatus from said end of said hose or pipe thereby permitting said hose or pipe to be installed or assembled with another device or component.
- 10. An apparatus comprising:
a mandrel; a heater connected to said mandrel; a handle also connected to said mandrel; and a shroud also connected to said handle, said mandrel at least partially within said shroud, said shroud forming a cavity between said shroud and said mandrel, said cavity capable of receiving a hose or pipe.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a sleeve at least partially surrounding an exterior of said shroud.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said heater is adapted for heating said hose or pipe and further wherein said mandrel is adapted for inserting inside said hose or pipe for maintaining the shape of the interior of said hose or pipe during heating, and still further wherein said shroud at least partially covers some portion of the exterior of said hose or pipe to maintain the shape of the exterior of said hose or pipe during said heating.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said apparatus is used to aid in the installation or assembly using said hose or pipe by performing the steps of:
inserting an end of said hose or pipe into said cavity, wherein said mandrel is inserted in an opening in said end, and further wherein said shroud at least partially covers some portion of the outside of said end of said hose or pipe; heating said end of said hose or pipe with said heater to soften said end; and removing said apparatus from said end of said hose or pipe thereby permitting said hose or pipe to be installed or assembled with another device or component.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein, during said heating of said end of said hose or pipe, said mandrel is adapted for inserting inside said hose or pipe for maintaining the shape of the interior of said hose or pipe during heating, and further wherein said shroud at least partially covers some portion of the exterior of said hose or pipe to maintain the shape of the exterior of said hose or pipe during said heating.
- 15. An apparatus comprising:
a mandrel; a heater at least partially inserted within said mandrel; a handle connected to said mandrel; and a shroud connected to said handle, said mandrel at least partially within said shroud, said shroud forming a cavity between said shroud and said mandrel, said cavity capable of receiving a hose or pipe, wherein said heater is adapted for use by an individual for heating said hose or pipe to soften some portion of said hose or pipe, and further wherein said mandrel is adapted for inserting inside said hose or pipe for maintaining the shape of the interior of said hose or pipe during heating, and still further wherein said shroud is adapted for at least partially covering some portion of the exterior of said hose or pipe to maintain the shape of the exterior of said hose or pipe during said heating.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a sleeve at least partially surrounding an exterior of said shroud.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus can be used to aid in the installation or assembly of said hose or pipe by performing the steps of:
inserting an end of said hose or pipe into said cavity, wherein said mandrel is inserted into an opening in said end, and further wherein said shroud at least partially covers some portion of the outside of said end of said hose or pipe; heating said end of said hose or pipe with said heater to soften said end; and removing said apparatus from said end of said hose or pipe thereby permitting said hose or pipe to be installed or assembled with another device or component.
- 18. An apparatus comprising:
a mandrel including a heat-conducting material; a heater at least partially inserted within said mandrel; a handle connected to said mandrel; and a shroud including a heat insulating material connected to said handle, said mandrel at least partially within said shroud, said shroud forming a cavity between said shroud and said mandrel, said cavity capable of receiving an end of a hose or pipe; wherein said heater is adapted for heating said end of said hose or pipe to soften said end of said hose or pipe, and wherein said mandrel is adapted for inserting inside said end of said hose or pipe to maintain the shape of the interior of said end of said hose or pipe during said, and further wherein said shroud at least partially covers some portion of the exterior of said end of said hose or pipe to maintain the shape of the exterior of said end of said hose or pipe, and still further wherein said softened end of said hose or pipe can be removed from said apparatus, thereby permitting said hose or pipe to be installed or assembled with another device or component.
- 19. An apparatus for aiding an installation or assembly using a hose or pipe, said apparatus comprising a heater for heating said hose or pipe to soften a portion of said hose or pipe permitting said hose or pipe to be installed or assembled with another device or component.
- 20. An apparatus for aiding in the installation or assembly of a hose or pipe, said apparatus comprising:
a heater; a mandrel including a heat-conducting material connected to said heater; and a shroud including a heat insulating material connected to said handle or mandrel, said mandrel at least partially within said shroud, said shroud forming a cavity between said shroud and said mandrel, said cavity capable of receiving an end of a hose or pipe; wherein said apparatus can be used to aid in the installation or assembly of said hose or pipe by performing the steps of:
inserting an end of said hose or pipe into said cavity; heating said end of said hose or pipe with said heater to soften said end; and removing said apparatus from said end of said hose or pipe thereby permitting said hose or pipe to be installed or assembled with another device or component.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/317,131, filed on Sep. 6, 2001, incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60317131 |
Sep 2001 |
US |