Sleeve-type flexible shaft coupling

1. A coupling sleeve for use in a sleeve-type or annular insert-type, flexible, shaft-coupling device, comprising: a generally annular body portion having an inner periphery and an outer periphery; and one or more axially extending, polymeric teeth on at least one of said periphery of said body portion; wherein said body portion comprises a reinforcing band having a reinforcing, axially extending fin protruding radially into at least one of said one or more teeth.

2. The coupling sleeve of claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has a cross sectional area comprising a polymeric portion and a rigid band portion, and said rigid band portion occupies the minor portion of said cross section relative to said polymeric portion.

3. The coupling sleeve of claim 1 , wherein said one or more teeth are elastomeric, and wherein torque applied to said teeth during use is resisted by said fins and said tooth elastomer is thus placed in some degree of compression.

4. The coupling sleeve of claim 1 , wherein said rigid band is formed of metal.

5. The coupling sleeve of claim 1 , wherein said rigid band with fin or fins is an aluminum extrusion.

6. The coupling sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the teeth are only on the inner periphery.

7. The coupling sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the teeth are only on the outer periphery.

8. The coupling sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the teeth are on both the inner periphery and the outer periphery.

9. A coupling device comprising the coupling sleeve of claim 1 and at least one end piece coupled to said sleeve; said band, fin, and teeth of substantially the same axial dimension as said sleeve.

10. The coupling device of claim 9 wherein said end piece comprises a series of axially extending grooves which are complementary forms of said teeth of said coupling sleeve and are adapted for engagement of the end piece with the coupling sleeve.

11. The coupling device of claim 9 wherein the teeth are only on the inner periphery of the coupling sleeve.

12. The coupling device of claim 9 wherein the teeth are only on the outer periphery of the coupling sleeve.

13. The coupling device of claim 9 wherein teeth are on both the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the coupling sleeve.

14. A coupling device comprising: the coupling sleeve of claim 1 in the form of an annular insert; a male coupling member; and a female coupling member;

wherein the sleeve has elastomeric teeth on both the inner periphery and the outer periphery;

wherein said rigid band has inwardly protruding fins reinforcing the elastomeric teeth on the inner periphery and outwardly protruding fins reinforcing the teeth on the outer periphery; said band, fins, and teeth of substantially the same axial dimension as said sleeve;

wherein the male coupling member has grooves on an external surface that mate with the teeth on the inner periphery; and

wherein the female coupling member has grooves on an internal surface that mate with the teeth on the outer periphery.

15. A coupling sleeve for use in a sleeve-type or annular insert-type, flexible, shaft-coupling device, comprising: a generally annular body portion having an inner periphery and an outer periphery; and one or more axially extending, polymeric teeth on at least one of said periphery of said body portion; wherein said body portion comprises a reinforcing band with at least one fin; said fin protruding radially from said band into at least one of said teeth; and wherein the axial extent of said band and of said fin is substantially the axial extent of said teeth.

16. The coupling sleeve of claim 15 wherein the axial extent of said band, fin and teeth is substantially the axial extent of said sleeve.

17. The coupling sleeve of claim 16 wherein said band with said fin is an extrusion without perforations or serrations.