Patent ID: 6648376
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: E03C,F16L

Abstract:
A flexible arm, comprising:a series or chain of interconnected sections, each of said sections having opposite ends, said series of interconnected sections forming a plurality of pairs of such interconnected sections, each adjacent pair of interconnected sections being bendable at the interconnection of such pair, each of said interconnected sections having a through hole or lumen, said interconnected sections being arranged so that the through holes of said sections communicate to provide a continuous passageway through said series of interconnected sections, a series or chain of sleeves positioned in said lumen of said series of interconnected sections, each sleeve having a pair of opposite ends and a wall portion between said pair of opposite ends of each sleeve, one end of each of a plurality of said sleeves being adjacent the other end of an adjacent sleeve, said series of sleeves being positioned so that at least one end of each of at least a plurality of said interconnected sections is adjacent and surrounds said wall portion of a respective sleeve between said opposite ends thereof, so that when said arm is bent, said one end of at least one section will contact and press against said wall portion of its respective sleeve between said opposite ends thereof, whereby said sleeves will prevent bending of at least a portion of said arm beyond a given amount and thus will prevent separation of any of said pairs of said interconnected sections.