Abstract:
Provided are articles useful for rapidly and easily stopping leaks of material contained in conduits, such as water pipes under pressure. Articles according to this disclosure include a band, a lock and a lever. The band is wrapped around the conduit or pipe, and the lever is configured to engage with an end of the band and the lock that rides on the band. Manually, pulling the remaining end of the band and then actuating the lever, or vice versa, cinches the band around the outer circumference of the conduit, effectively sealing the conduit wall and preventing the contents of the conduit from leaking into the ambient surroundings. Elements of the invention cooperate to permit easy removal of the articles for re-use.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to repairing defects in conduits, pipelines and the like. More particularly, it relates to a removable, re-usable article that is useful for quelling leaks and other defects in or on the wall of a conduit that otherwise permits leakage or escape of a material present within the conduit, to the ambient surroundings. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The statements in this background section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     Conduits useful for enabling conveyance of fluid substances from one location to another have been known since at least the times of ancient Rome. Presently, the most common type of conduits exist in tubular form and include without limitation liquid pipes and gas pipes. Other examples of conduits include water pipes, oil pipelines, fuel conduit lines in motorized vehicles equipped with either a spark-ignition or compression-ignition engine, refrigeration conduit lines for conveying refrigerants including halogenated hydrocarbons to and from a compressor, pressure-monitoring conduit lines equipped with a gauge, and various conduits present in chemical manufacturing plants for various purposes, all well-known by those of ordinary skill in the art chemical engineering. 
     Conduits which are pipes are typically shaped to exist as a hollow cylindrical shell, having a length dimension that is orders of magnitude greater than the diameter of the conduit, and having a wall with a selected thickness. Conduits are made from a wide variety of materials depending on their intended end use, as is well-known in the art, typical examples including without limitation thermoplastics including polyolefin polymers and copolymers such as PVC or CPVC, various grades of stainless steel, copper, steel, concrete, asphaltic materials, ceramics, and reinforced composites. 
     Owing to various reasons which often include physical damage such as being accidentally drilled into and other like damage, it sometimes occurs that the wall of a conduit exhibits a flaw, which can be development of a hole, crack, or other fracture or imperfection that enables leakage from a material present inside the wall of the conduit, to the external surroundings, which leakage is promoted depending on the degree of pressure differential existing between the interior of the conduit and the external surroundings. In some instances such leaks are of little consequence, where in other instances such as when the conduit is transmitting a flammable substance or even water, substantial damage can be caused to occur to articles, equipment, and other physical objects in the vicinity of the leakage. 
     Rectification of a flaw in a conduit, when the contents of the conduit are under a pressure greater than ambient, typically requires the pressure inside the conduit be decreased to ambient, the contents internal to the conduit being drained, and replacement or repair is undertaken, as is known in the art. 
     The present invention provides articles that are readily affixable to the exterior of a conduit, to quickly stop a material inside a conduit from leaking out into the external surroundings. The articles provided herein are easy to use, rapidly deployed, readily removable, reusable and prevent property damage when used as taught herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides articles useful for sealing leaks present on the walls of tubular conduits. An article provided herein comprises a flexible band having a first end, a second end, a first surface, and a second surface. The first surface has a plurality of distinct depressions thereon, and the second end comprises a first plurality of elongate slots. There is a ratchet lock having an opening passing through it, and the ratchet lock is configured to receive the first end of the band. The ratchet lock further comprises a second plurality of elongate slots, and at least one ratchet tooth configured to engage with the distinct depressions on the first surface of the band so as to permit movement of the band within the opening in one direction only. In deployment of an article of the disclosure, the ratchet lock is disposed about the band by virtue of the band passing through the opening in the lock. There is a lever having a first member, a second member, and a crossmember. The first and the second members each have a proximal end and a distal end, and the first and the second members are each attached to the cross member at their proximal ends. There are a pair of tangs disposed on each of the first member and the second member, one tang of each pair being more distally disposed with respect to the crossmember than the remaining tang of each pair. The remaining tangs of each pair can be termed proximal tangs, and the distal tangs of each of the first and second members are engaged with the first plurality of elongate slots at the second end of the band, and the proximal tangs of each of the first and second members are engaged with the second plurality of elongate slots present on the lock. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings shown and described herein are provided for illustration purposes only and are merely exemplary of different embodiments provided herein, not intended to be construed in any delimitive fashion. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conduit having an article provided herein affixed thereto, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a band useful in providing an article according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3A  is an upper perspective view of a ratchet lock element useful in providing an article according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3B  is a lower perspective view of a ratchet lock element useful in providing an article according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3C  is a front view of a ratchet lock element useful in providing an article according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3D  is a side view of a ratchet lock element useful in providing an article according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3E  is an overhead view of a ratchet lock element useful in providing an article according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a lever element useful in providing an article according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4B  is a front view of a lever element useful in providing an article according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4C  is a side view of a lever element useful in providing an article according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a band shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 2  further comprising a ratchet lock element shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 3A  disposed on said band according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a band shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 2  further comprising a ratchet lock element shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 3A  disposed on said band according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a band shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 5 , further comprising a partially-engaged lever element shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 4A  disposed on a band element according to some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a band shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an article according to the disclosure band shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 8 , wherein the lever is fully-engaged with the ratchet lock element and the second end of the band; 
         FIG. 10  is an alternate perspective view of a band shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an alternate perspective view of a band shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an end-on view of a band shown and described with reference to  FIG. 2 , having a cross-section taken at A, further shown and described with reference to  FIGS. 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B ; 
         FIG. 13A  is a side view of a band useful in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, taken through section A of  FIG. 12 , which identifies a sub-portion that is more closely depicted in  FIG. 13B ; 
         FIG. 13B  is a side view of the sub-portion identified in  FIG. 13A  of a band useful in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 14A  is a perspective view of the section of a band shown in  FIG. 13A , identifying a sub-portion thereof that is shown more closely in  FIG. 14B ; and 
         FIG. 14B  is a sub-portion of a section of a band useful in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Features and advantages of elements, examples and embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from this detailed description and drawings, in which like reference numerals correspond to similar, although for all embodiments not always necessarily identical, components or elements. Reference numerals or features concerning an element, subcombination or article having a previously-described function or feature may or may not be described in connection with other drawings in which they appear. Examples in the following description are merely exemplary in nature and should not be construed as being delimitive of the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and initially to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a section of a conduit  3  having an article  10  provided hereby affixed thereto. In this embodiment, conduit  3  is a section of a pipe through which water flows under pressure, and which has sprung a leak due to age, fatigue or any other cause. Affixing article  10  to the exterior surface of conduit  3  according to this disclosure, stops the leak. 
     In  FIG. 2  is shown a perspective view of a band  2  useful in providing an article according to various embodiments of the disclosure. Band  2  is made from any suitable flexible material selected, and has an outer surface  5  and inner surface  9 , each of which are present along substantially all of the length of band  2 . For purposes of this disclosure and the claims appended hereto, outer surface  5  may be referred to as a first surface and inner surface  9  may be referred to as a second surface. Band  2  has a thickness dimension T, that can be any thickness pre-selected by engineers but for most smaller applications such as repairing leaks in pipes having a diameter in the range between ten millimeters to one-hundred millimeters, thickness T is any thickness in the range of between one millimeter and five millimeters, including all thicknesses and ranges of thicknesses therebetween. However, any suitable thickness can be selected for an intended end-use of an article  10  of this disclosure, greater than five millimeters and up to five-hundred millimeters thick (including all thicknesses and ranges of thicknesses therebetween), or thicker, for instances an article  10  according to this disclosure is to be employed for stopping leaks on large oil pipelines, conduits aboard seagoing vessels containing steam, or other relatively large-conduits. 
     Band  2  has a first end  13 , which in some embodiments is tapered substantially to a point as shown in  FIG. 2 . In other embodiments, first end  13  is blunt. First end  13  can also be tapered or have any side profile selected, provided it is insertable into the opening  25  on ratchet lock  4  of  FIGS. 3A-3E  as shown and described elsewhere herein. 
     Inner surface  9  of band  2  in some embodiments has inner surface feature(s)  11 , which can comprise recesses, depressions or any other surface irregularity(ies) arranged in a regular array, or any selected irregular array, for purposes of providing a good grip to the exterior surface of a conduit such as  3  to which article  10  is affixed in use, analogously to how an automobile tire grips the road by virtue of its tread pattern. Inner surface features  11  also provide a clamping/sealing effect that also reduces the surface area, thereby reducing the pressure required to overcome the interior pressure of conduit  3 . In some embodiments, inner surface  9  (second surface) with feature(s)  11  of band  2  is lined or provided with a strip of gasket material ( 88 ,  FIGS. 13A, 13B ) so that the surface which contacts a conduit when article  10  is in use, is a planar or alternatively a substantially planar surface, to provide enhanced sealing of the material inside the conduit from the external surroundings. Towards this end, a strip of any conventional gasket material that spans the length and width of the inner surface  9  of band  2  is suitable, some exemplary gasket materials being selected from the group consisting of: cork, rubber, polyolefin-based elastomers, urethane-based elastomers, or any flexible, non-porous material. 
     Inner surface features  11 , and/or gasket  88  when selected to be present, may in some embodiments only be present or disposed along any per-selected sub-portion of the length of band  2  sufficient for the inner surface features  11  or gasket to carry out its function described herein. In some embodiments, inner surface features  11  comprise holes through band  2 , regardless of their shape, i.e., when holes they can be shaped as circular, rectangular, ovoid, polygonal, etc. In some embodiments, inner surface features  11 , when holes, are complementary to a ratchet tooth or teeth  27  in embodiments when a plurality of ratchet teeth are selected to be present, sufficiently to enable a ratchet tooth  27  to engage with inner surface feature  11  to effectively only permit one-way movement of band  2  through lock  4 . In some embodiments, inner surface features  11  are present as holes but to not correspond complimentarily in shape with a ratchet tooth  27 , which engages outer surface features  7 . A ratchet tooth  27  itself can be comprised of more than one tooth, and the words “ratchet tooth” and “ratchet teeth” are collectively herein described by feature  27 , whether it is a single ratchet tooth or a plurality of ratchet teeth, as required by the context. The words “distinct depressions” as used herein includes any depression on the outer surface  5  of band  2 , regardless of its shape, that is capable of engaging with a ratchet tooth  27  to enable the function herein taught of selectively permitting either uni-directional or bi-directional movement of band  2  within ratchet lock  4 . For some embodiments the term “distinct depressions” with reference to band  2 , includes holes disposed through band  2  as being considered depressions to the extent the ratchet teeth  27  are configured to engage with the hole profile selected. Between distinct depressions on band  2 , there also can be teeth which are defined by the shape of the depressions and vice versa. Such teeth can have any profile selected including without limitation concave walled, convex walled, pointed, saw-tooth, and a square-wave profile. Inner surface features  11  functions in some embodiments to assist the sealing function of a gasket when the interior surface of band  2  is lined with a strip of gasket. In some embodiments, the strip of gasket employed is not flat but has any selected surface texture. 
     Outer surface  5  of band  2  has outer surface features  7  present thereon along the length of band  2 , which in some embodiments are distinct depressions that are shaped or configured to be engaged by one or more than one ratchet teeth  27  present at ratchet lock  4  as described elsewhere herein. Outer surface features  7  are provided to be present in the configuration of one or more rows along the length of band  2  in different embodiments. In some embodiments outer surface features  7  are present in a single row present along the entire length of the outer surface  5  of band  2  and are configured to engage with a single ratchet tooth  27  present at or on ratchet lock  4 . In alternate embodiments outer surface features  7  are present in a plurality of rows present along the entire length of the outer surface  5  of band  2  and are configured to engage with a corresponding plurality of ratchet teeth  27  present at or on ratchet lock  4 . Included within this plurality are embodiments having two rows, three rows and four rows of outer surface features. As with inner surface  9 , whose inner surface features  11 , or gasket, or both, when independently selected to be present or not, may in some embodiments only be present along any selected sub-portion of the length of band  2 . Outer surface features  7  may in some embodiments only be present or disposed along any selected sub-portion of the length of band  2  sufficient for the outer surface features  7  to carry out their intended function described herein. 
     Band  2  has a second end  15 , at which are disposed slots  19 ,  20 . Slots  19 ,  20  are each disposed at a different one of opposite edges or width extremities of band  2  and are elongate, having an open end as shown which is configured to receive lower tangs  37 A and  37 B present on a lever  6  ( FIG. 4A ) as described elsewhere herein. Each of slots  19 ,  20  has a closed end that is semi-circular to engage with the circular contour of lower tangs  37 A,  37 B when tension is put to upper tangs  35 A and  35 B of lever  6  during application and use of an article  10  of the disclosure. Slots  19 ,  20  have a depth corresponding to the length of tangs  37 A,  37 B, and are configured to feature a lip about their contour that is narrower than the wall inside slots  19 ,  20  beneath said lip, to enable lower tangs  37 A and  37 B to be slid into and securely reside within slots  19 ,  20  substantially-free from lateral movement therein. Thus slots  19 ,  20  enable lower tangs  37 A and  37 B of lever  6  to become rigidly engaged with the second end  15  of band  2 . 
     Band  2  is comprised of any material that is flexible enough to enable it to be wrapped around a pipe or other conduit selected for repair, while at the same time having enough cohesive strength to maintain its integrity when stretched sufficiently to seal a leak on the conduit. The person of ordinary skill readily recognizes that many well-known materials are suitable from which to fabricate a band  2  according to this disclosure, including without limitation thermoset polymers, thermoplastic polymers, thermoplastic vulcanizates, fiber-reinforced vulcanized rubber, or any other known material recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art after reading this specification. 
     In some embodiments, the first end  13  and second end  15  of band  2  are both part of the same unitary construct as the remainder of band  2 , such as when band  2  is fabricated using any suitable moulding process known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In other embodiments, either or both of the first end  13  and second end  15  of band  2  are separate elements, that are attached to band  2  by conventional techniques, such as but not limited to fasteners, spikes, snaps, any ratcheted clamping mechanism, heating, thermoforming, and thermowelding. 
       FIG. 3A  is an upper perspective view of a ratchet lock  4  useful in providing an article according to various embodiments of the disclosure. Ratchet lock  4  in some embodiments is shaped as a rectangular solid; however any selected shape for ratchet block  4  is suitable provides it enables the function taught herein. Ratchet lock  4  has an opening  25  that is configured to receive first end  13  of band  2 , and opening  25  extends through ratchet lock  4 . This enables the entire ratchet lock  4  to be slid along the length of band  2 . Provided on ratchet lock  4  is at least one ratchet tooth that engages with outer surface features  7  present on the outer surface  5  of band  2 , sufficiently to only enable one-way travel of ratchet lock  4  along band  2 , or alternatively, of band  2  through ratchet lock  4 . Thus, once first end  13  of band  2  is inserted into opening  25  and band  2  is pulled or pushed further into ratchet lock  4  sufficient to enable an outer surface feature  7  to engage with a ratchet tooth  27 , it cannot be pulled back out in the reverse direction due to ratchet tooth  27  being engaged with outer surface feature  7 . Band  2  can however be inserted further into ratchet lock  4 , analogously to the way in which the common article of manufacture known as a “zip tie” functions. 
     Ratchet lock  4  further comprises end portions having slots  31 ,  32  present thereon, whose configuration and function are equivalent to that described for slots  19 ,  20 , inasmuch as they are configured to receive upper tangs  35 A and  35 B of lever  6  and maintain them securely in position substantially free from lateral movement when tangs  35 A and  35 B are present in slots  31 ,  32 . In some alternate embodiments, any one or more of slots  19 ,  20 ,  31 , and  32  are independently selected to not be present. 
       FIG. 3B  is a lower perspective view of a ratchet lock  4  useful in providing an article according to some embodiments of the disclosure, showing the respective locations of opening  25 , a plurality of ratchet teeth  27 , bottom  29 , and slot  31 . Ratchet teeth  27  are shown also in the frontal view of ratchet lock  4  depicted in  FIG. 3C . 
     The side view of ratchet lock  4  shown in  FIG. 3D  depicts the respective locations of slot  31 , ratchet tooth  27  and ratchet tooth bar  33 . In some embodiments ratchet teeth  27  are present on a bar that spans opening  25 , and ratchet teeth  27  are configured to engage with outer surface features  7  of band  2  when band  2  is inserted into opening  25  such that band  2  is capable of moving only in one direction within ratchet lock  4 , movement in the other direction being prevented by the presence of one or more ratchet tooth  27 . With reference to the overhead view of  FIG. 3E , ratchet tooth bar  33  can be mechanically biased manually so as to disengage ratchet teeth  27  from the outer surface features  7  of band  2 . In alternate embodiments this is achieved by application of a force on optional release tab  36  when selected to be present, using a fingernail or flat-bladed tool, as release tab  36  is an integral part of ratchet lock  4  as is ratchet tooth bar  33 . In such alternate embodiments, these elements are configured so that movement of release tab  36  causes a responsive proportional movement, or temporary mechanical bias of ratchet tooth bar sufficient to enable ratchet teeth  27  to be withdrawn from outer surface features  7  of band  2 . In some embodiments, it is ratchet tooth bar  33  itself that is directly moved in order to release ratchet teeth  27  from surface features  7 . Thus, in some embodiments at least one ratchet tooth present on lock  4  is attached to lock  4  sufficiently to be selectively manually releasable from a distinct depression or outer surface feature  7  with which the ratchet tooth is engaged. In embodiments having more than one ratchet tooth, the ratchet teeth so present are attached to lock  4  sufficiently to be selectively manually releasable from distinct depressions which they are independently engaged with, the release or disengagement of the plurality of ratchet teeth from the distinct depressions being simultaneously achieved by a single motion of a thumbnail, flat bladed tool, etc. acting on ratchet tooth bar  33 . 
     In  FIG. 4A  is shown a perspective view of a lever  6  useful in providing an article  10  according to some embodiments of the disclosure. Lever  6  exists generally as a U-shaped bar that is slightly curved as viewed from a side perspective. Lever  6  comprises a first member  39 , a second member  41 , a crossmember  43 . Although exemplified in the drawings as being substantially linear, in alternate embodiments each of said first member  39 , second member  41 , and crossmember  43  can be non-linear or curved so long as the function of article  10  as a whole as described herein is maintained. In some embodiments is of unitary construction being made from metal, or any metallic alloy including without limitation iron, steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. In some alternate embodiments lever  6  is made from any selected polymer of suitable strength to be of utility as herein described. Those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate the various materials of construction useful for various elements of the present invention which include without limitation metals, metallic alloys, polymers, reinforced composites, etc. known to those skilled in the art. 
     Lever  6  features a pair of upper tangs  35 A and  35 B and a pair of lower tangs  37 A and  37 B disposed on the interior faces of first member  39  and second member  41 , as more clearly seen in  FIG. 4B , which is a frontal view of lever  6 .  FIG. 4C  illustrates the slight curvature of lever  6  in some embodiments as viewed from the side, the slight curvature assisting in enabling lever  6  to more securely hold ratchet lock  4  and second end  15  of band  2  when article  10  is put in service. Upper tangs  35 A and  35 B and lower tangs  37 A and  37 B are configured to have a body portion which is cylindrical or substantially-cylindrical, and a head portion that is cylindrical with a larger diameter than the body portion and relatively in short length dimension so as to effectively comprise a “head’ of the body portion of each of the tangs. Slots  19 ,  20 ,  31 ,  32  are contoured to be complimentary to the outer contours of tangs  35 A,  35 B,  37 A and  37 B as illustrated by slot  31  more clearly in  FIG. 6 . Lever  6  can be U-shaped as shown in exemplary embodiments herein, and in alternate embodiments crossmember  43  can be curved to any degree desired that preserves the function as taught herein, rendering lever  6  to exist in a horseshoe or any other shape as viewed from a frontal perspective. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a band  2  shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 2  further comprising a ratchet lock  4  shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 3A  et al. disposed about band  2 , the respective locations of first end  13  and second end  15  of band  2  being shown, as well as slots  19 ,  31 . The perspective view of  FIG. 6  also depicts the locations of these elements and features, also further shows the locations of ratchet bar  33  and ratchet tooth  27 . In this embodiment, ratchet bar  33  is contoured to enable a user to use a finger, thumb or flat-bladed object to directly lift ratchet teeth  27  from outer surface features  7  of band  2  by a simple manual prying motion or action. That is, moving ratchet bar  33  upwards away from the outer surface  5  of band  2  disengages ratchet teeth  27  from band  2 , enabling band  2  to move in or out of opening  25  of ratchet lock  4 , i.e., ratchet lock  4  can be moved in either direction along band  2 . 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a band shown and/or described with reference to  FIG. 5 , further comprising lever  6  shown and/or described previously in a partially-engaged position. In this illustration, upper tang  35 B is disposed within slot  31  of ratchet lock  4 , the same arrangement being shown also in the perspective view of  FIG. 8 , which configuration is useful when a user is first attaching an article  10  according to this disclosure about the outer diameter of a leaking conduit. In some embodiments a user of an article  10  first places band  2  about the external wall of a conduit to which it is being applied, and then slides ratchet lock  4  along band  2  an appropriate amount to enable upper tangs  35 A and  35 B of lever  6  to engage within slots  31 ,  32  of ratchet lock  4 , band  2  still remaining relatively loose. Alternately, tangs  35 A and  35 B may already be engaged within slots  31  and  32 . Next, second end  15  of band  2  and lower tangs  37 A and  37 B of lever  6  are moved to sufficient proximity to one another to enable lower tangs  37 A and  37 B of lever  6  to engage within slots  19 ,  20  as shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 9 . 
     Once band  2  is disposed about the external wall of a conduit to which it is applied, and upper tangs  35 A and  35 B are engaged in slots  31 ,  32  and lower tangs  37 A and  37 B are engaged in slots  19 ,  20 , band  2  and lever  6  are grasped by the user, and band  2  is pulled on, so as to pull more of band  2  through opening  25  of ratchet lock  4 , but only enough to make article  10  relatively taught about the conduit, but still loose enough to me moved along the conduit. Then, article  10  is slid so that band  2  is disposed over the imperfection, leak, failure or other breach point of the conduit, lever  6  is actuated in order to stop or substantially quell the material present within the conduit from leaking out further into the external surroundings.  FIGS. 10 and 11  depict different viewing angles and perspectives of article  10  in its configuration shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 12  is an end-on view of a band shown and described with reference to  FIG. 2 , having a cross-section taken at A, further shown and described with reference to  FIGS. 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B . In  FIG. 12  are shown the respective locations of first end  13 , outer surface  5 , outer surface features  7 , and section A. 
       FIG. 13A  is a side view of a band useful in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, taken through section A of  FIG. 12 . Depicted are outer surface  5 , first end  13 , second end  15 , inner surface  9 , and gasket  88  present over substantially all of inner surface  9 .  FIG. 13A  also identifies a sub-portion that is more closely depicted in  FIG. 13B , the view of the sub-portion in  FIG. 13B  showing the respective locations of outer surface  5 , outer surface features  7 , inner surface  9 , inner surface feature  11 , and gasket  88 . 
     In  FIG. 14A  is shown a perspective view of the section of a band shown in  FIG. 13A , identifying a sub-portion thereof that is shown more closely in  FIG. 14B  wherein the respective locations of outer surface  5 , outer surface features  7 , inner surface  9 , inner surface feature  11 , and gasket  88   
     Although this invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain exemplary embodiments, equivalent modifications and alterations thereof become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in this art after reading and understanding the teachings of this specification, drawings, and the claims appended hereto within the scope of the terms employed in this disclosure. The present invention includes subject matter defined by any combinations of any one or more of the features stated in this disclosure with any one or more of any other features stated in this disclosure. These combinations include the incorporation of the features and/or limitations of any dependent claim, singly or in combination with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the other dependent claims, with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the independent claims, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claim(s) so modified. These combinations also include combination of the features and/or limitations of one or more of the independent claims with features and/or limitations of another independent claims to arrive at a modified independent claim, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text or as modified per the foregoing, being read and applied to any independent claim so modified. Materials of construction useful in providing an article as disclosed herein include any material that supports the structural needs of the design. The present invention has been disclosed and claimed with the intent to embrace modifications and alterations that achieve substantially the same result as herein taught using substantially the same or similar structures recognized as applicable hereto by those of ordinary skill in the art.