Multi-mode tubing product and method
First Claim
1. A thin-walled, flexible and collapse-resistant plastic tubing having a substantially smooth bore and a helical outer support bead, said tubing comprising:
- a flexible tubing wall providing a thin-walled elongate flexible tubular body;
a helical support bead upon and heat bonded to said tubing wall of said flexible tubular body; and
a fiber optic conductor helically extending along said elongate tubular body at said helical support bead.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An elongate flexible plastic tubing includes a helical support bead, and defines a central passage opening on opposite ends of the tubing. The tubing may also include one or more lumens extending helically in the support bead from end to end of the tubing. Also, the tubing may include one or more electrical conductors also extending helically from end to end of the tubing. Additionally, one or plural fiber optic conductors may extend helically from end to end of the tubing. The lumen(s), electrical conductors, and fiber optic conductors, are available for utilization to, for example: conduct electricity, carry out electrical resistance heating of fluid flow in the central passage, carry electrical signals, carry fluid, transmit fluidic signals, or to convey light, and/or optical signals, along a length of the tubing.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A thin-walled, flexible and collapse-resistant plastic tubing having a substantially smooth bore and a helical outer support bead, said tubing comprising:
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a flexible tubing wall providing a thin-walled elongate flexible tubular body;
a helical support bead upon and heat bonded to said tubing wall of said flexible tubular body; and
a fiber optic conductor helically extending along said elongate tubular body at said helical support bead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A thin-walled, flexible and collapse-resistant plastic tubing having a central passage with a substantially smooth bore and a helical outer support bead, said tubing comprising:
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a flexible tubing wall formed of an elongate plastic ribbon wrapped helically on itself while hot and molten to partially overlap and sealingly interbond adjacent marginal side edge portions of the plastic ribbon to form a heat bonded lap joint in the tubing wall, and when cooled to provide a thin-walled elongate flexible tubular body;
a helical support bead upon and heat bonded to said tubing wall of said flexible tubular body atop of said lap joint; and
said plastic tubing including at least one additional helical element extending along said tubing at said support bead, said at least one additional helical element being selected from the group consisting of;
a metallic electrical conductor, a lumen defined within said support bead and extending in said support bead from one end to another end of said tubing, and a fiber optic conductor embedded in said tubing at said support bead. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for communicating at least one of:
- fluid, electricity, or light between ends of a helically wound, flexible and collapse resistant seamless plastic tubing comprising the steps of;
forming an elongate support bead of thermoplastic material;
helically wrapping said support bead around and along a tubular body of said plastic tubing and simultaneously heat-bonding said support bead with said tubular body to form a unitary body including said tubular body and said support bead; and
selecting an additional step from the group consisting of;
defining in said support bead a helical lumen extending helically in the support bead from one end to another end of a length of the tubing;
embedding in the tubing an electrical conductor extending helically from one end to another end of a length of the tubing beneath said support bead and adjacent to said tubular body; and
providing in said tubing at least one fiber optic conductor extending helically from one end to another end of a length of the tubing adjacent to said support bead. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- fluid, electricity, or light between ends of a helically wound, flexible and collapse resistant seamless plastic tubing comprising the steps of;
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21. A communication system comprising in combination:
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a source of fluid flow and light;
a flexible collapse resistant plastic tubing defining a central passage and communicating with said source to communication fluid flow and light to or from said source;
said plastic tubing including a helical support bead extending helically along said tubing from end to end, and further including a fiber optic conductor helically extending along said tubing at said support bead and communicating with said source to transmit light to or from said source. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification