Abstract: A branched hose construction, a T-connector therefor and methods of making the same are provided. The branched hose construction comprising a T-connector having a body portion provided with a pair of substantially oppositely directed legs extending therefrom and an outwardly directed branch leg extending therefrom intermediate the pair of legs, and three tubular hoses respectively telescoped onto the legs to be disposed in fluid communication with each other through the T-connector, the body portion of the T-connector having an annular shoulder adjacent each leg thereof against which an annular end surface of its respective hose abuts and which is of a size that causes the external peripheral surface of that respective hose to substantially mate with and thereby be substantially flush with the external peripheral surface of the body portion that is adjacent that respective hose.

Abstract: A shape retention hose construction and method of making the same are provided, the hose construction comprising a length of flexible tubular hose formed mainly of polymeric material and having opposite end portions and an intermediate body portion that defines internal and external peripheral surfaces of the hose, and a shape retention unit carried by the hose and being adapted to generally retain the shape of the hose construction when the hose and its carried shape retention structure are jointly bent into a particular shape, the shape retention unit comprising a deformable elongated member having opposed ends, the hose having a radially outwardly disposed and longitudinally extending projection on the external peripheral surface thereof, the elongated member being longitudinally disposed in the projection, the projection having opposed ends that respectively are disposed inboard of the opposite end portions of the hose, the opposed ends of the elongated member also being respectively disposed inboard of t

Abstract: A shape retention hose contruction and method of making the same are provided, the hose construction comprising a length of flexible tubular hose formed mainly of polymeric material and having opposite end portions and an intermediate body portion that defines internal and external peripheral surfaces of said hose, and a shape retention unit carried by the hose and being adapted to generally retain the shape of the hose construction when the hose and its carried shape retention unit are jointly bent into a particular shape, the shape retention unit comprising a deformable tubular member having opposed ends and a continuous sidewall between the ends that defines an internal and external peripheral surface of the tubular member, the hose and tubular member being telescoped together with the surfaces of the tubular member being disposed closely adjacent the surfaces of the hose.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a T-connector therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising a T-connector having a body portion provided with a pair of substantially oppositely directed legs extending therefrom and an outwardly directed branch leg extending therefrom intermediate said pair of legs, and three tubular hoses respectively telescoped onto the legs to be disposed in fluid communication with each other through the T-connector, the body portion of the T-connector having an annular shoulder adjacent each leg thereof against which an annular end surface of its respective hose abuts and which is of a size that causes the external peripheral surface of that respective hose to substantially mate with and thereby be substantially flush with the external peripheral surface of the body portion that is adjacent that respective hose.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a joint construction, a part for the joint construction and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising a first tubular member having an opening therein intermediate the opposed ends thereof, a second tubular member, and a joint construction comprising a tubular insert joining one of the ends of the second tubular member to the opening by having one end of the tubular insert disposed through the opening and the other end thereof interconnected to one end of the second tubular member whereby the tubular members are in fluid communication with each other through the tubular insert and the second tubular member branches outwardly from the first tubular member, the joint construction comprising a washer-like member telescoped on the tubular insert and cooperating with the one end of the tubular insert in mechanically clamping the one tubular member therebetween completely around the opening thereof.

Abstract: A belt construction, a tensile band set thereof and method of making the same are provided, the tensile band set comprises a plurality of separate looped endless bands disposed in superimposed relation with at least one band of the set having been electroformed.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a joint construction, a part for the joint construction and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising a first tubular member having an opening therein intermediate the opposed ends thereof, a second tubular member, and a joint construction comprising a tubular insert joining one of the ends of the second tubular member to the opening by having one end of the tubular insert disposed through the opening and the other end thereof interconnected to one end of the second tubular member whereby the tubular members are in fluid communication with each other through the tubular insert and the second tubular member branches outwardly from the first tubular member, the joint construction comprising a washer-like member telescoped on the tubular insert and cooperating with the one end of the tubular insert in mechanically clamping the one tubular member therebetween completely around the opening thereof.

Abstract: A method of making a branched hose construction is provided and comprises the steps of providing a first tubular member having opposed ends, providing a second tubular member having opposed ends, forming the first tubular member to have an opening therein intermediate the opposed ends thereof, providing a joint construction that comprises a tubular insert having opposed ends, joining one of the ends of the second tubular member to the opening by having one end of the tubular insert disposed through the opening and the other end thereof interconnected to the one end of the second tubular member whereby the tubular members are in fluid communication with each other through the tubular insert and the second tubular member branches outwardly from the first tubular member, forming the joint construction to further comprise a washer-like member, telescoping the washer-like member on the tubular insert, and mechanically clamping the one tubular member between the washer-like member and the one end of the tubular ins

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a T-connector therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising T-connector having a body portion provided with a pair of substantially oppositely directed legs extending therefrom and an outwardly directed branch leg extending therefrom intermediate said pair of legs, and three tubular hoses respectively telescoped onto the legs to be disposed in fluid communication with each other through the T-connector, the body portion of the T-connector having an annular shoulder adjacent each leg thereof against which an annular end surface of its respective hose abuts and which is of a size that causes the external peripheral surface of that respective hose to substantially mate with and thereby be substantially flush with the external peripheral surface of the body portion that is adjacent that respective hose.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a joint construction, a part for the joint construction and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising a first tubular member having an opening therein intermediate the opposed ends thereof, a second tubular member, and a joint construction comprising a tubular insert joining one of the ends of the second tubular member to the opening by having one end of the tubular insert disposed through the opening and the other end thereof interconnected to one end of the second tubular member whereby the tubular members are in fluid communication with each other through the tubular insert and the second tubular member branches outwardly from the first tubular member, the joint construction comprising a washer-like member telescoped on the tubular insert and cooperating with the one end of the tubular insert in mechanically clamping the one tubular member therebetween completely around the opening thereof.

Abstract: A holddown bar for a hatch cover of a railroad car or the like is provided, the holddown bar having opposed ends one of which has a hinge unit that is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the car and the other of which has a latch unit that is adapted to be releasably latched to the car while a medial portion thereof intermediate the opposed ends is adapted to extend across the hatch cover and carries a sealing gasket in a channel thereof that is adapted to engage against the hatch cover. The opposed ends and medial portion of the holddown bar comprise a one-piece member formed of a relatively rigid polymeric material and has a reinforcing unit therein.

Abstract: A hose construction including a corrugated and a curved construction and method of making same are provided and the hose construction comprises at least one layer portion made primarily of an elastomeric material having randomly distributed elongated fibers embedded therein in substantially parallel relation with the fibers extending in a helical pattern about a reference axis of the hose construction and at an angle relative thereto.

Abstract: A hose construction including a corrugated and a curved construction and method of making same are provided and the hose construction comprises at least one layer portion made primarily of an elastomeric material having randomly distributed elongated fibers embedded therein in substantially parallel relation with the fibers extending in a helical pattern about a reference axis of the hose construction and at an angle relative thereto.