Abstract: Method and articles for holding fluid conduits at a desired lateral distance from each other for connection to spaced-apart connection points, for example vehicle fuel line connections or domestic appliance flexible hoses. Preferred holding articles are described having heat-shrinkable rings connected by an integral connecting portion, or having a sheet with heat-shrinkable end portions (30) which can be wrapped around conduits (70) and a spacer (50) to hold the conduits at the required separation.

Abstract: A resiliently flexible ring of dimensionally heat-recoverable polymeric material whose tubular length is less than its notional circular diameter, formed so that it inherently maintains a non-circular open configuration enabling it to grip resiliently an object around which it is placed in use prior to heat-recovery, the maximum transverse dimension of the said object being at least 2.5% less, preferably at least 5% less, than the notional circular diameter of the ring. The ring preferably has at least three "corners" of relatively small radius of curvature, preferably evenly spaced around its circumference. Use of the rings is described for damping the noise of chain-drive sprocket wheels and for connecting flexible hoses to supply outlets.