Bi-colored insulating sleeve

Abstract

A bi-color insulating sleeve formed from a compression molding process. The compression process producing a product from a process wherein an inner layer of the sleeve made of a first color is only partially vulcanized. A second material of a different color is the placed over the sleeve and the use of heat and pressure are applied so that both the first and second materials vulcanize at the same time. The second material forming an outer layer and taking the form of the outer shape of the insulating sleeve wherein a compromise in the safety of the sleeve is visually identified whenever the inner layer can be seen through the outer layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bi-color insulating sleeve formed from a compression molding tool having a center core, a top and a bottom, and two inserts from the step of:
 affixing said inserts to said top and said bottom for the purpose of forming the inner layer of the sleeve,   covering the insert on the bottom of the tool with a first material having a first color,   covering the center core of the tool with said first material,   closing the tool and applying heat and pressure to form an inner layer of the sleeve, said inner layer only partially vulcanized,   opening the tool and removing said center core with said partially vulcanized sleeve attached thereto,   removing said inserts from the opened tool,   placing a second material having a second color in said bottom of the open tool,   reinstalling said center core with said partially vulcanized sleeve attached thereto,   placing said second material over the top of said center core with said partially vulcanized sleeve attached thereto,   closing the tool forcing said second material to fill the void between said partially vulcanized sleeve and said top and bottom of said tool, and   applying heat and pressure to said tool so that said partially vulcanized sleeve and said second material fully vulcanize at the same time, said second material forming an outer layer and taking the form of the outer shape of the insulating sleeve wherein a compromise in the safety of said sleeve is identified when the inner layer can be seen through the outer layer.   
     
     
         2 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 1  wherein said center core is two pieces allowing a sharper elbow curve. 
     
     
         3 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 1  wherein said top and said bottom form an outer surface of the sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 1  wherein said inserts fit over the top and bottom to form a smaller interior cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 1  wherein said inner layer of said sleeve is an identifying color layer. 
     
     
         6 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 1  wherein said first material has a first vulcanization time and said second material has a second vulcanization time. 
     
     
         7 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second material are selected from the group of cis-1,4-polyisoprene rubber or any ozone-resistant elastomer or combination of elastomeric compounds. 
     
     
         8 . A bi-color insulating sleeve formed from two compression molding tools having a top and a bottom with one set having a smaller interior cavity than the other, from the step of:
 inserting a first material having a first color to cover the bottom of the tool,   placing the core in the tool,   covering the core of the tool with said first material,   closing the tool and applying heat and pressure to form an inner layer of the sleeve, said inner layer only partially vulcanized,   opening the tool and removing said core with said partially vulcanized sleeve attached thereto,   placing a second material having a second color in said bottom of the second tool,   reinstalling said core with said partially vulcanized sleeve attached thereto,   placing said second material over the top of said core with said partially vulcanized sleeve attached thereto,   closing the second tool forcing said second material to fill the void between said partially vulcanized sleeve and said top and bottom of said tool, and   applying heat and pressure to said second tool so that said partially vulcanized sleeve and said second material vulcanize at the same time, said second material forming an outer layer and taking the form of the outer shape of the insulating sleeve wherein a compromise in the safety of said sleeve is identified when the inner layer can be seen through the outer layer.   
     
     
         9 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 8  wherein said core is two pieces allowing a sharper elbow curve. 
     
     
         10 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 8  wherein said top and said bottom form an outer surface of the sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 8  wherein said inner layer of said sleeve is an identifying color layer. 
     
     
         12 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 8  wherein said first material has a first vulcanization cure time and said second material has a second vulcanization cure time. 
     
     
         13 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 12  wherein said first vulcanization cure time is longer than said second vulcanization cure time. 
     
     
         14 . The insulating sleeve according to  claim 8  wherein said first and second material are selected from the group of cis-1,4-polyisoprene rubber or any ozone-resistant elastomer or combination of elastomeric compounds.