Patent ID: 8408290

Claim:
A downhole tool for use in a well comprising: a mandrel; a expandable sealing element disposed about the mandrel for engaging the well in a set position of the tool; a first slip ring disposed about the mandrel and radially expandable outwardly from an unset to a set position in which the slip ring grippingly engages the well, the first slip ring comprising a plurality of slip segments having first and second side surfaces, each of the plurality of slip segments being bonded with a bonding material to an adjacent slip segment at the first and second side surfaces thereof; a second slip ring disposed about the mandrel and expandable radially outwardly from an unset to a set position in which the second slip ring grippingly engages the well, the second slip ring comprising a plurality of slip segments having first and second side surfaces, each of the plurality of slip segments being bonded with the bonding material to adjacent slip segments at the first and second side surfaces thereof; a groove defined in an end surface of each of the slip segments, wherein the grooves in the slip segments in the first slip ring collectively define a retaining groove therein, the groove in the slip segments in the second slip ring defining a retaining groove therein; a first retaining band disposed in the retaining groove in the first slip ring; and a second retaining band disposed in the retaining groove in the second slip ring wherein, when the downhole tool is in the well, the first and second retaining bands are not exposed to the well.