Information tube and tethered end cap used therewith

Abstract

A tubular assembly comprising a tubular housing, having at least one open end, at least the open end of the housing being provided with a flexible cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of a tubular housing; a flexible ring having a dimension suitable to fit over the end of the tubular housing while retaining same in fixed encompassing relationship to the tubular housing; hinge means connecting the cap to the flexible ring; the flexible tether means extending from the flexible ring, the flexible tether having at a free end thereof means to support the tubular housing from a vertically extending surface.

1 . A tubular assembly comprising:
 a tubular housing, having at least one open end, with at least the open end of said housing being provided with:   (a) a flexible cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of a tubular housing;   (b) a flexible ring having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of said tubular housing while retaining same in fixed encompassing relationship to said tubular housing;   (c) hinge means connecting said cap to said flexible ring; and   (d) flexible tether means extending from said flexible ring, said flexible tether having at a free end thereof means to support said tubular housing from a vertically extending surface.   
     
     
         2 . The tubular assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said hinge means comprises a flexible solid tubular member extending between an edge portion of said flexible ring and an edge portion of said flexible cap. 
     
     
         3 . The tubular assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said means to support said tethered end cap comprises a flexible U-shaped member. 
     
     
         4 . The tubular assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said cap and said ring are comprised of a flexible polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The tubular assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said polymeric material comprises a vinyl material, thermoplastic elastomer, or thermoset elastomer. 
     
     
         6 . A tethered end cap for use as a closure for the ends of a tubular member, said tethered end cap comprising:
 (a) a flexible cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of a tubular housing;   (b) a flexible ring having a dimension suitable to fit over the end of said tubular housing while retaining same in fixed encompassing relationship to said tubular housing;   (c) hinge means connecting said cap to said flexible ring; and   (d) flexible tether means extending from said flexible ring, said flexible tether having at a free end thereof means to support said tubular housing from a vertically extending surface.   
     
     
         7 . The tethered end cap of  claim 6 , wherein said hinge means comprises a flexible solid tubular member extending between an edge portion of said flexible ring and an edge portion of said flexible cap. 
     
     
         8 . The tethered end cap of  claim 6 , wherein said means to support said tethered end cap comprises a flexible U-shaped member. 
     
     
         9 . The tethered end cap of  claim 6 , wherein said cap and said ring are comprised of a flexible polymeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The tethered end cap of  claim 9 , wherein said polymeric material comprises a vinyl material, thermoplastic elastomer, or thermoset elastomer.