Patent ID: 8332999

Claim:
A method for inserting a tubular element forming a central passage and having a retainer projecting transversely at each end thereof, said retainer being resiliently foldable towards the longitudinal axis of said tubular element, into a through-aperture in a flexible wall accessible from one side only, comprising the steps of: passing the element into a loading tube, the retainers being folded to project substantially axially from the ends of the element, inserting the loading tube with the element enclosed therein at one end of the tube through the aperture from said one side of the wall, partially withdrawing the loading tube, the element being held stationary by a tool inserted into the tube from the other end thereof so that the forward retainer as seen in the insertion direction will be released and will unfold at the other side of the wall, further withdrawing the loading tube while the element is being held stationary in order that the rear retainer as seen in the insertion direction will be unfolded at said one side of the wall, and withdrawing the loading tube and the tool from the element which is left in the aperture with the retainers located one at each side of the wall, wherein said step of passing said tubular element into said loading tube comprises the step of automatically displacing a first one of said retainers radially and axially into said folded position projecting substantially axially in direction of said longitudinal axis and in insertion direction from a first end of the tubular element by means of a bending member, said bending member comprising a disk or ring, a central axial passage for releasably receiving the tubular element, and wings such that the bending member may be at least partially maneuvered into the interior of the loading tube thereby compressing the wings and the retainer.