Abstract: A transversely pleated, longitudinally heat-shrinkable tape is made from a heat-shrinkable polymeric film. One side of the tape may be adhesive-coated, and the other side may be coated with a thermochromic paint. The tape is wrapped around a substrate, and is particularly adapted, by reason of the pleats, to be wrapped around a substrate of non-uniform cross-section, e.g. a splice in a telephone cable. On heating the tape to its recovery temperature, the pleats disappear and the tape shrinks longitudinally to tightly cover the substrate. The tape may additionally comprise integral heating means.

Abstract: A transversely pleated, longitudinally heat-shrinkable tape is made from a heat-shrinkable polymeric film. One side of the tape may be adhesive-coated, and the other side may be coated with a thermochromic paint. The tape is wrapped around a substrate, and is particularly adapted, by reason of the pleats, to be wrapped around a substrate of non-uniform cross-section, e.g. a splice in a telephone cable. On heating the tape to its recovery temperature, the pleats disappear and the tape shrinks longitudinally to tightly cover the substrate. The tape may additionally comprise integral heating means.

Abstract: Articles which are heat-recoverable, or which can be rendered heat-recoverable or which have been heat-recovered, comprise a member composed of a conductive polymer and, attached to said member, at least two electrodes, at least one of which is an electrode comprising a plurality of pliable conductive elements, e.g., a braided tube. By connecting the electrodes to a source of electrical power, current is caused to pass through and heat the conductive polymer member. The heat generated can be used to provide all or part of the heat necessary to cause recovery of the heat-recoverable article. The conductive polymer preferably exhibits PTC behavior, thereby regulating the maximum temperature to which the article can be heated.

Abstract: A method of encapsulating a substrate, especially a splice in a telephone cable, comprises (1) preparing an assembly comprising the substrate; an enclosure, preferably a heat-shrinkable enclosure, around the substrate; sealing material within the enclosure; and a heater within the enclosure; and (2) using said heater to change the viscosity of the sealing material. Preferably the heater is a PTC heater, especially one which is attached to thermoplastic sealing material in the form of a sheet or tape. In this way a desired distribution of heat through the assembly can be obtained so that extended heating times can be used.

Abstract: A connector device comprises first and second layers of substantially cross-linkable material, the first layer having inserts in contact therewith, the second layer having been expanded and thereafter formed into working and bonding zones, and the sheets being bonded together at the bonding zones for acceptance of substrates to be connected. The device is so constructed that the working zone center-to-center spacing remains constant on recovery.

Abstract: A connector device comprises first and second layers of substantially cross-linkable material, the first layer having inserts in contact therewith, the second layer having been expanded and thereafter formed into working and bonding zones, and the sheets being bonded together at the bonding zones for acceptance of substrates to be connected. The device is so constructed that the working zone center-to-center spacing remains constant on recovery.

Abstract: The invention relates to heating elements comprising conductive polymers which are capable of undergoing a change in dimension and their use to cause recovery of heat recoverable sheet material. The heating elements comprise a laminar member composed of a conductive polymer and two laminar electrodes connected directly or indirectly to opposite faces of the laminar member, and there are apertures, for example slits, passing through the thickness of the element so that at least one planar dimension of the element can be changed by changing the shape of the apertures. The apertures through the element facilitate its dimensional change. Preferably the laminar member exhibits PTC characteristics. The heating elements are particularly useful in the form of articles in which the element is attached to a heat-responsive sheet, for example a heat-recoverable polymeric film to cause recovery of the heat-responsive sheet.

Abstract: A closure structure for a two-compartment vial or container wherein a lyophilized medication is contained in one compartment and a solvent is contained in the other compartment. A displaceable, moisture-proof plug is removably disposed within a constriction between the two compartments. The closure structure includes a stopper which is partially inserted into the neck of the vial and a cap having a portion for fastening the cap to the vial neck. The cap has a cup portion of reduced diameter which snugly surrounds the protruding portion of the stopper and is disconnectible from the fastening portion in order to move with the protruding portion of the stopper into the neck of the vial under manually applied pressure. The cup portion is then removed so that the needle of a syringe can be inserted through the stopper to communicate with the interior of the vial.

Abstract: The formation of a hermetic seal in an assembly resulting from the connection or encapsulation of one or more substrates such as cables by one or more dimensionally-recoverable covering members such as heat-recoverable sleeves is checked by detecting the increase in air pressure which occurs during heating of the assembly once a hermetic seal has been made. To this end, a covering member is provided with an aperture which communicates with a detection device such as a balloon or a manometer and with a space within the assembly in which there is a build up of air pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to heating elements comprising conductive polymers which are capable of undergoing a change in dimension. The heating elements comprise a laminar member composed of a conductive polymer and two laminar electrodes connected directly or indirectly to opposite faces of the laminar member, and there are apertures, for example slits, passing through the thickness of the element so that at least one planar dimension of the element can be changed by changing the shape of the apertures. The apertures through the element facilitate its dimensional change. Preferably the laminar member exhibits PTC characteristics. The heating elements are particularly useful in the form of articles in which the element is attached to a heat-responsive sheet, for example a heat-recoverable polymeric film.

Abstract: Novel methods for sealing a closure member to a substrate make use of pressure generated in a chamber to create and/or maintain a seal between a closure member and a substrate. The chamber has a flexible wall which is urged towards the substrate by the pressure. Where the substrate has a hollow interior which is maintained at superatmospheric pressure, e.g. a pressurized telephone cable, a fluid passage is preferably provided between the interior and the closed chamber after the seal has been formed, thus taking the closure member out of peel with the substrate. A preferred closure member is an inflatable bag which has sealing material on selected portions of one surface thereof, so that it can be wrapped around the substrate to form a hollow enclosure around the substrate. After placing a restraining means around the wrapped closure member, the closure member is inflated, thus improving the seal around the enclosure.

Abstract: Described herein are sterile vessels, as for pharmaceutical use, wherein there is disposed about a primary closure partially protuberant from the vessel a secondary closure resistive of non-destructive disengagement. The secondary closure, which is preferably heat shrunk about the vessel neck and primary closure, is provided with an attenuated fracture zone to facilitate opening. The invention finds application, e.g. in multicompartment mixing vials wherein the primary closure serves as a piston plug which, when activated, unseats a divider plug separating compartments containing medicaments or the like which are accordingly permitted to mix.

Abstract: The invention relates to heating elements comprising conductive polymers which are capable of undergoing a change in dimension. The heating elements comprise a laminar member composed of a conductive polymer and two laminar electrodes connected directly or indirectly to opposite faces of the laminar member, and there are apertures, for example slits, passing through the thickness of the element so that at least one planar dimension of the element can be changed by changing the shape of the apertures. The apertures through the element facilitate its dimensional change. Preferably the laminar member exhibits PTC characteristics. The heating elements are particularly useful in the form of articles in which the element is attached to a heat-responsive sheet, for example a heat-recoverable polymeric film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel case for enclosing a short length of at least one elongate substrate, especially a cable splice. The case has a wrap-around body section and end sections comprising deformable sealing members which in use are deformed into a configuration in which an increase in pressure within the case increases the forces maintaining the sealing members in contact with the substrate. Preferably the case includes heating means which is used to heat the sealing members and to activate a hot melt adhesive placed thereon. The cases are particularly useful for encapsulating splices in pressurized telephone cables.

Abstract: A fusible insert having protuberances on at least one surface is disposed between a heat recoverable sleeve and the substrate over which the sleeve is recovered. The protuberances provide for mechanical engagement between the liner and the sleeve or substrate. When the protuberance has substantially the same melting temperature as the liner and the sleeve has been recovered but insufficient heat added to make the insert flowable, the protuberances form detectable bumps on the outer surface of the sleeve indicating that more heat should be added to render the insert flowable.