Device for the Elastic Foreshortening of Cable, Rope or other Flexible Linear Structures

Abstract

Improvements to a device as previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,397 wherein an elastic cord is attached to a pre-existing flexible linear structure such as a wire, tube, or rope to deform the structure and impart elastic handling properties. The improvements include features necessary for the effective manufacture and use of the device.

1 . An apparatus to foreshorten and impart axially elastic handling properties to a flexible linear structure comprised of a plurality of loops in an elastic cord that form knots binding the elastic cord around a former tube, said elastic cord comprising an external jacket woven from fiber made from materials chosen from the set of Aramid, Liquid Crystal Polymer, or Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus to foreshorten and impart axially elastic handling properties to said flexible linear structure comprised of a plurality of loops in said elastic cord that form knots binding the elastic cord around said former tube such that the position of said adjacent knots are circumferentially offset along an axis of said former tube and inter-fitted with adjacent knots so that interference between surfaces of the knots, is substantially minimized. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein a length of elastic cord forms a loose loop at an end of the flexible linear structure having both ends of said loop affixed to the flexible linear structure. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the elastic cord comprising at least two parallel cords. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the series of elastic cord loops encircling the former tube are positioned in at least two layers surrounding the former tube such that an inside loop, having an inside diameter surface in contact with an outside surface of the former tube and has an outside diameter surface that is in contact with and supports a surface of an outside loop of elastic cord encircling the former structure. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the position of a slippable knot of said inside loop of elastic cord is circumferentially offset sufficiently to reduce or eliminate contact between surfaces of a knot of said outside loop of elastic cord. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus to foreshorten and impart axially elastic handling properties to a flexible linear structure comprised of a plurality of loops in an elastic cord that form knots binding the elastic cord around a former tube structure wherein said former tube comprising two ends, an end that is open and not modified and an opposing stiffened end comprising a reinforcement means. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said stiffened end comprising the material of the former tube having been formed on the stiffened end into a generally donut shaped bead located around, and normal to a primary axis of the former tube and having a center point on said primary axis. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein surfaces of a separately constructed stiffening member are inter-fitted with and support the stiffened end of the former tube 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein surfaces of the stiffening member are inter-fitted with inside surfaces of the former tube. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein surfaces of the stiffening member are inter-fitted with outside surfaces of the former tube. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus to foreshorten and impart axially elastic handling properties to a flexible linear structure comprising a plurality of loops in an elastic cord that form knots each having a loop around the former tube structure where in the elastic cord is secured in at least one location to the material of the former tube by a securing means. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said securing means is selected from the set of glue, tape, a mechanical fastener, a wrap, punching the cord through the material of the tube or melting it into the material of the former tube. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  having a removable internal support member which is substantially cylindrical having a nominal outside diameter around the primary axis, said outside diameter being less than an internal diameter of the former tube such that said internal support member may be inserted into the former tube along its primary axis, the support tube having a substantially axially oriented segment of its outside surface that is less in diameter than the remainder of the nominal outside diameter of the internal support member.