Abstract: Sleeves formed of fabrics comprised wholly or in part from engineered plastic materials which are settable by heat to be biased to a specific sleeve geometry are disclosed. One form of sleeve illustrated involves heat-setting plastic material to a helical configuration by wrapping an elongated strip of the fabric material helically on a mandrel, heating the material while in the helical configuration, and thereafter cooling the material so that is has a permanent helical set with the side edges of the material in overlapping relation. the sleeves so formed may be collapsed into a short cylinder for packaging. In use, the compressed cylinder is allowed to expand lengthwise over an elongate object or objects to effect a jacketing of the same without additional assembly effort. A second form of sleeve disclosed involves setting the fabric material in tubular form, wherein the product is formed to have side edges abutting one another or in overlapping relation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wraparound closure device which includes an axially compressible, radially expansible tubular member which is made from a fabric of engineering plastic. The member is axially split to define a first and a second mating edge. Fastening means are connected to the mating edges for selectively opening and closing the member. The fastening means is fixed in length and thereby when it is connected to the tubular member, the tubular member is also fixed in length. However, the tubular member remains radially variable and expands and contracts to adapt to the shape of a substrate to be enclosed. Also disclosed herein is a method for making such a device.

Abstract: a braided sleeve is formed from a tow of flexible filaments such as glass fibers and a rigid filament such as a stainless steel wire. The rigid filament reduces the tendency of a braided sleeve to fray at its ends, and can cause the end portions of the sleeve to taper inwardly, which can enhance the thermal insulation properties of the sleeve. The sleeve may be coated with polymeric material.

Abstract: An abrasion resistant sleeve for flat substrates, for example ribbon cable and the like, which includes a hollow flexible sleeve made from a fabric of engineering plastic that has been flattened to define two edges, each of which has a top and a bottom layer. The layers of each edge are bonded together permanently while the sleeve is in the flattened condition to maintain the sleeve in said condition. Preferrably the sleeve is axially compressible and radially expansible.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are woven, knitted or braided fabric coverings having an increased abrasive resistance under vibrating conditions which are suitable for hoses, wires, tubes, harnessing, etc. where vibration under abrasive conditions causes rapid wearing of protective coverings. The resistance to these conditions is achieved by incorporating into the fabric of a flexible first yarn, a second yarn of a metal wire filament of comparable flexibility as the first yarn and forming a matrix to protect the first yarn. Also disclosed is the method of making the protective coverings from these fabrics.