Improved flexible conduit structure
Abstract
An extruded conduit structure (10) is provided comprising a cluster of at least three tubes (12, 14, 16, 18) connected by webs (24, 34, 36, 38) extending between adjacent pairs, the tubes (12, 14, 16) and webs (24, 34, 36, 38) being formed by simultaneous extrusion of a suitable plastic through a suitable die. The outer surface (26) of each of the webs (24, 34, 36, 38) is convexly curved in an arc that is substantially tangential with the outer surfaces of the adjacent pair of tubes (12, 14, 16). The inner surface (28) of each of the webs (24, 34, 36, 38) is flat relative ot the outer surface (26) and forms a cord of such arc whereby each of the webs (24, 34, 36, 38) will be of minimum thickness (T₁) along each of its junctures with the adjacent webs (24, 34, 36, 38). This construction substantially eliminates any concave surfaces on the exterior of the conduit (10) within which foreign matter may collect and the webs (24, 34, 36, 38) can be easily stripped along the tubes (12, 14, 16) to expose the tube ends for connection to the apparatus to which they are to be connected.

Term
Term ended
Projected expiry passed 12 February 2010, 16.6 years ago.
- Priority
- Filed
- Published
- Projected expiry
- Today
1 sheet
Sheet 1
Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office | Category | Cited during |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0235576B1 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) | A | Search report |
| GB2156033A | Cites | United Kingdom | A | Search report |
10 members in 6 offices
Priority claims3
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 318823 | United States of America | – | |
| 31882389 | United States of America | A | |
| US19890318823 | – | – | – |
Members10
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2010210A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| EP0385168A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| AU5058690A | Australia | A | |
| US4975055A | United States of America | A | |
| JPH02305568A | Japan | A | |
| EP0385168A3This record | European Patent Office (EPO) | A3 | |
| AU615871B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| EP0385168B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| DE69008219D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| DE69008219T2 | Germany | T2 |
27 legal events, as 2 offices reported them to INPADOC
Over the term
Point at a mark for the eventEvents
| Event | Code | Office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Notification of lapseLapsedST | ST | FR | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal feeCeasedGBPC | GBPC | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Opposition rejectedOpposition27O | 27O | EP | |
| Opposition rejectedOppositionORIGINAL CODE: 0009273PLBN | PLBN | EP | |
| Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patentGrantedSTATUS: OPPOSITION REJECTEDSTAA | STAA | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Opposition rejectedOppositionORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS REJOPLBO | PLBO | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Opposition filedOpposition26 | 26 | EP | |
| Opposition filedOppositionORIGINAL CODE: 0009260PLBI | PLBI | EP | |
| Corresponds to:REF | REF | EP | |
| Fr: translation filedET | ET | EP | |
| It: translation for a ep patent filedITF | ITF | EP | |
| It: translation for a ep patent filedITF | ITF | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| (expected) grantORIGINAL CODE: 0009210GRAA | GRAA | EP | |
| First examination report despatched17Q | 17Q | EP | |
| Request for examination filed17P | 17P | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| Search report despatchedORIGINAL CODE: 0009013PUAL | PUAL | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phaseORIGINAL CODE: 0009012PUAI | PUAI | EP |
Numbers
- Publication
- 0385168
- Publication, DOCDB
- 0385168
- Publication, EPODOC
- EP0385168
- Application
- 102705
- Application, DOCDB
- 90102705
- Application, EPODOC
- EP19900102705
Titles3
- English
- IMPROVED FLEXIBLE CONDUIT STRUCTURE
- German
- Flexible Leitungsstruktur
- French
- Structure de conduit flexible
Classification
- CPC, 4
- F16L9/19
- A61M2025/0034
- A61M2025/004
- F16L11/22
- IPC, 6
- F16L9 19
- A61C1 08
- A61C17 08
- A61M25 00
- F16L11 12
- F16L11 22
Designated states1
- Contracting states, 1
- Italy