Apparatus and method for releasibly securing a plurality of elongate members together

Abstract

An apparatus and method for releasibly securing a plurality of elongate members is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a sheet portion having a length and a width. The sheet portion is flexible at several positions along the width to be rolled about itself and encircle a plurality of elongate members while in a rolled configuration. The apparatus also includes a locking portion operable to releasibly lock the sheet portion in the rolled configuration. The apparatus also includes a cylindrical portion being substantially rigid and positioned within the sheet portion when the sheet portion is in the rolled configuration. The apparatus also includes a plurality of stanchions extending between the sheet portion and the cylindrical portion when the sheet portion is the rolled configuration. The stanchions separate at least some of the plurality of elongate members from one another.

1 . An apparatus for releasibly securing a plurality of elongate members comprising:
 a sheet portion having a length and a width and being flexible at several positions along said width to be rolled about itself and encircle a plurality of elongate members while in a rolled configuration;   a locking portion operable to releasibly lock said sheet portion in said rolled configuration;   a cylindrical portion being substantially rigid and positioned within said sheet portion when said sheet portion is in said rolled configuration; and   a plurality of stanchions extending between said sheet portion and said cylindrical portion when said sheet portion is in said rolled configuration, said plurality of stanchions separating at least some of the plurality of elongate members from one another.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said sheet portion, said locking portion, said cylindrical portion, and said plurality of stanchions are integrally formed with respect to one another. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said sheet portion is further defined as being resiliently bendable at every position along said width. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said sheet portion is further defined as being resiliently bendable along said length. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said locking portion extends along all of said length of said sheet portion. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said locking portion includes a plurality of locking members spaced from one another along said length of said sheet portion. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical portion is further defined as a solid cylindrical rod. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical portion is integral with and positioned along a length-wise edge of said sheet portion. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical portion is formed by distal ends of said plurality of stanchions. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical portion extends along all of said length of said sheet portion. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an outer surface of said cylindrical portion is substantially circular. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of stanchions are radially multi-layered between said sheet portion and said cylindrical portion when said sheet portion is in said rolled configuration. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an outer seal portion formed when said sheet portion is in said rolled configuration.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said outer seal portion includes:
 at least one projection extending radially from said sheet portion in a direction opposite to said plurality of stanchions.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said at least one projection extends circumferentially between first and second ends that abut one another when said sheet portion is in said rolled configuration. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said at least one projection further comprises:
 a plurality of projections spaced from one another along said length of said sheet portion.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said locking portion includes a plurality of locking members spaced from one another along said length of said sheet portion, at least one of said plurality of locking members positioned between two of said plurality of projections. 
   
   
       18 . A method of using the apparatus of  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 positioning one of a plurality of elongate members between adjacent stanchions;   rolling the sheet portion about itself; and   increasing a crush resistance of the apparatus by positioning the stanchions between the cylindrical portion and the sheet portion.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of:
 forming the cylindrical portion during said rolling step.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of:
 forming an outer radial seal on the sheet portion by completing said rolling step.