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Securement of elastic tubingRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Resilient Force ResistanceSecurement of elastic tubing description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070015639, Securement of elastic tubing. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not Applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Attaching an elastic tube of the sort used in exercise equipment to a clip or to another tube, has been a continuing problem, because not only is the tube elastic, but its surface is slick, so that when its diameter is reduced when the tube is in tension, as it is in the course of the use of exercise equipment, for example, it tends to slide out from securements known heretofore. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In accordance with this invention, generally stated, a securement for an elastic tube having a free end with an open mouth includes a plug of larger diameter than the inside diameter of the tube, spaced inward from the mouth of the free end of the tube far enough to leave a tail of unplugged tube between the mouth and the plug, and a sleeve of elastic material, preferably thin walled as compared with the tube, stretched sufficiently tightly over the tail to collapse the tail. Preferably the plug is resilient. When the tube is attached to a clip, for example, with an opening, the free end of the tube extends through the opening with the plug positioned on a side of the opening opposite a long section of the tube and the sleeve being mounted on that long section. In such a device, the plug is preferably of a diameter such as to make the outside diameter of the tube surrounding the plug greater than the diameter of the opening. The term "diameter" is used herein to mean the diameter of a circle tangent to the least diameter of the opening. In the case of a round opening, it is simply the diameter of the opening. If the opening is rectangular for example, the diameter is the diameter of a circle tangent to the sides of the rectangle spaced the lesser of the distances between sides. [0005] A method of forming a loop of an elastic tube having a free end with an open mouth comprises mounting on the tube an elastic sleeve, preferably thin walled as compared with the tube, inserting in the open mouth of the free end, a plug of larger diameter than the inside diameter of the tube, pushing the plug in a direction away from the mouth far enough to leave a tail between the mouth and the plug, looping the free end to lie alongside the rest of the tube, stretching the sleeve over the tail and, preferably, the area of the tube occupied by the plug, and collapsing the tail with the sleeve. In the preferred embodiment, where the loop embraces a portion of a rim of an opening and the plug is of a diameter such as to make the diameter of the tube surrounding the plug greater than the diameter of the opening, the sleeve is mounted on the tube before inserting the plug, the free end of the tube is passed through the opening before the plug is inserted, the plug is inserted, the plugged free end of the tube is looped to lie alongside the tube on the other side of the rim, and the sleeve stretched over the tail of the plugged free end of the tube, and preferably over the area of the tube housing the plug, collapsing the tail. [0006] When first and second free ends of the same or different elastic tubes are to be joined, a plug is inserted into the first end, the plug being of greater diameter than the inside diameter of the tube and being pushed far enough to leave a first tail, the first, plugged end is inserted into the mouth of the second end, and the plugged end is pushed far enough into the second end to leave a tail of the second end extending beyond the plug far enough to permit the tail's being compressed beyond the plug, and stretching a sleeve over the second end and compressing the tails. If the loop embraces a bar or is simply formed as a loop, or if the plug is of a diameter not to make the diameter of the tube greater than the diameter of the opening, the plug can be inserted at any stage before the sleeve is stretched over the tail. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of one embodiment of securement of this invention, mounted on a clip; [0008] FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the securement of FIG. 1; [0009] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; [0010] FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation of a second embodiment of securement of this invention; [0011] FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of the securement of FIG. 4; and [0012] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0013] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, reference numeral 1 indicates one embodiment of the securement of this invention, by which an elastic tube or band 3, with a free end 5 and an open mouth 6, is fastened to a clip 7. The clip 7 has a snap 8 at one end and an opening 9, defined in part by a rim 11 in another end. In this embodiment, the free end 5 of the tube extends through the opening 9 and is looped around the rim 11. [0014] A plug 13 is positioned in the free end, and is covered, in this embodiment completely, by an elastic sleeve 15, thinner than the elastic tube. [0015] The plug 13 is positioned far enough into the end 5 to leave a tail 14 between the plug 13 and the mouth 6, which is collapsed behind the plug by the sleeve 15, thus effectively preventing movement of the plug toward the open mouth after the sleeve has been put in place. [0016] Preferably the plug is made of a stiffly resilient material, such as neoprene or rubber, which minimizes the danger of cutting or wearing through the tube with continued use, and is less likely to move than a hard, slick plug. [0017] Preferably the diameter of the plug is such as to make the diameter of the tube surrounding the plug greater than the diameter of the opening 9, thus minimizing the danger of the tube's becoming detached from the clip if something should happen to the sleeve 15. [0018] Referring now to FIGS. 4-6 for a second embodiment, a securement 21 is shown connecting free ends 25 and 26, either of the same tube or of two different tubes. A plug 33 is mounted through a mouth 46 of the first free end 25, leaving a tail 34. The free end 25, with the plug 33, is positioned through a mouth 35 of the second free end 26 far enough inside to leave a somewhat longer tail 36 of free end 26. Continue reading about Securement of elastic tubing... Full patent description for Securement of elastic tubing Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Securement of elastic tubing patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Securement of elastic tubing or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Muscle exercising device Next Patent Application: Body vest gym Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Securement of elastic tubing patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.8881 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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