Peelable heat-shrinking tubing

Abstract

A heat shrink tubing, which can be readily peeled in the longitudinal direction after use (e.g., to remove the heat shrink tubing from an underlying material) is provided herein. The heat shrink tubing can be of various compositions, and generally is produced from at least one fluorinated, copolymeric resin. The tubing can exhibit desirable physical properties such as good optical clarity (e.g., translucency or transparency) and / or peelability, exhibiting one or more of complete, straight, and even peeling along a given length of tubing.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present application is directed to heat shrink polymeric tubing and methods for making such heat shrink polymeric tubing, which finds application in a variety of fields.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Heat shrink tubing generally comprises a plastic material that is extruded into a tubular form and expanded. The extruded and expanded tube is designed to shrink (i.e., decrease in diameter) when heated to a given temperature. As such, heat shrink tubing can serve various functions. It can provide a tight, protective jacketing to closely cover and insulate various elements (e.g., to protect them from abrasion and to provide thermal, chemical, moisture, and / or electrical insulation); it can serve to bundle certain elements together (i.e., within the same heat shrink tube); it can serve to seal / isolate certain elements from others; it can be used to join / fuse two elements, e.g., two tubes together; and it can serve to modify the properties of an underlyin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to heat shrink tubing of various compositions. The patent is describing this tubing as "peelable," meaning it can be easily removed by peeling or tearing it open without leaving any marks or breaks. This peelability is advantageous because it allows for the tubing to be provided, used, and removed without any damage to its appearance. The tubing can also exhibit complete and even peeling along its length without any scoring, break lines, indentations, or perforations. The tubing is translucent or transparent, with high light transmittance and low diffuse light transmittance. The method of using the tubing involves applying it around a device with multiple components, heating it to cause shrinkage, cooling it, and peeling it off to create consistent and equal halves. In some cases, the tubing can be nicked or cut at an end to allow for easier peeling.

Problems solved by technology

If the nick or score line is too deep or if the tubing does not tear perfectly along the score line or indentations / perforations, the medical device can be rendered useless.

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