Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Herbert Dust

Gerhard Lohmeier

Manfred G Viebranz

Clemens Hansen

A covering device for applying an elastic cover to an elongate object includes a folded elastic sleeve having an inner sleeve portion and at least one coaxially disposed outer sleeve portion overlaying the inner sleeve portion. The inner and outer sleeve portions are continuously joined at least at one circumferential edge. The folded elastic sleeve is positioned on a support for holding the folded elastic sleeve in a radially stretched condition. The support has a first end arranged adjacent to the continuous joint of the outer and inner sleeve portions. Relative movement between the outer sleeve portion and the inner sleeve portion results in the outer portion moving and recovering onto the elongate object. The support includes stress relief means associated with the first end for reducing the stress in the outer sleeve portion adjacent the first end of the support when the outer sleeve portion has been moved onto the object to be covered.

Covering device

A cover assembly including a crushable support (100) for supporting an elastomeric tube is described, the elastomeric tube being recoverable to at least a part of its original size and shape after collapse of said support, comprising: a plurality of substantially longitudinally extending portions (12); a plurality of connection portions (14), each longitudinally extending portion (12) being connected to, and spaced apart from neighboring longitudinally extending portions (12) by at least one of said connection portions (14) to form a rigid structure; and said at least one of said connection portions (14) including at least one frangible zone (16).

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Munich, Georgia

Herbert Dust