Information tube and tethered end cap used therewith
A tubular assembly comprising a tubular housing, having at least one open end, at least the open end of the housing being provided with a flexible cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of a tubular housing; a flexible ring having a dimension suitable to fit over the end of the tubular housing while retaining same in fixed encompassing relationship to the tubular housing; hinge means connecting the cap to the flexible ring; the flexible tether means extending from the flexible ring, the flexible tether having at a free end thereof means to support the tubular housing from a vertically extending surface.
1 . A tubular assembly comprising:
a tubular housing, having at least one open end, with at least the open end of said housing being provided with:
(a) a flexible cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of a tubular housing;
(b) a flexible ring having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of said tubular housing while retaining same in fixed encompassing relationship to said tubular housing;
(c) hinge means connecting said cap to said flexible ring; and
(d) flexible tether means extending from said flexible ring, said flexible tether having at a free end thereof means to support said tubular housing from a vertically extending surface.
2 . The tubular assembly of claim 1 , wherein said hinge means comprises a flexible solid tubular member extending between an edge portion of said flexible ring and an edge portion of said flexible cap.
3 . The tubular assembly of claim 1 , wherein said means to support said tethered end cap comprises a flexible U-shaped member.
4 . The tubular assembly of claim 1 , wherein said cap and said ring are comprised of a flexible polymeric material.
5 . The tubular assembly of claim 4 , wherein said polymeric material comprises a vinyl material, thermoplastic elastomer, or thermoset elastomer.
6 . A tethered end cap for use as a closure for the ends of a tubular member, said tethered end cap comprising:
(a) a flexible cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of a tubular housing;
(b) a flexible ring having a dimension suitable to fit over the end of said tubular housing while retaining same in fixed encompassing relationship to said tubular housing;
(c) hinge means connecting said cap to said flexible ring; and
(d) flexible tether means extending from said flexible ring, said flexible tether having at a free end thereof means to support said tubular housing from a vertically extending surface.
7 . The tethered end cap of claim 6 , wherein said hinge means comprises a flexible solid tubular member extending between an edge portion of said flexible ring and an edge portion of said flexible cap.
8 . The tethered end cap of claim 6 , wherein said means to support said tethered end cap comprises a flexible U-shaped member.
9 . The tethered end cap of claim 6 , wherein said cap and said ring are comprised of a flexible polymeric material.
10 . The tethered end cap of claim 9 , wherein said polymeric material comprises a vinyl material, thermoplastic elastomer, or thermoset elastomer.