Braid capture overmolding

1. A process for securing a covering about a profile, said profile having a first and a second end, comprising the steps of:

cutting a length of said profile;

positioning a covering about said profile, said covering only co-extending partway along said length of said profile and a distance from said first end of said profile creating a first bonding region;

heating said covering at an end of said covering adjacent said first bonding region to hold said covering in position on said profile prior to overmolding; and

overmolding a thermoplastic polymer about a complete peripheral perimeter of said first bonding region of said profile that is chemically compatible with said profile so as to form a material-to-material leak-proof bond between said overmolded polymer and said profile, and extending the overmold about at least a portion of a peripheral perimeter of said covering.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said covering and said overmolded thermoplastic polymer are only partially chemically compatible, said process further comprising the steps of:

inserting a supplemental fastening means about an end of said covering;

apply an inward compressive force to said supplemental fastening means; and

said step of overmolding includes overmolding over at least a portion of said supplemental fastening means.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein

said step of overmolding produces a sealing means; and wherein

said overmolded thermoplastic polymer and said profile and said covering are all chemically compatible.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein

said covering is a corrugated tube; and

said step of overmolding produces a sealing end, said sealing end comprising a sealing surface.

5. The process of claim 1 which further comprises the step of crosslinking said overmolded polymer and said profile after said step of overmolding.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein

said covering is co-extending partway along said length of said profile to a distance from said second end of said profile creating a second bonding region, the process further comprising the steps of

overmolding a thermoplastic polymer about a complete peripheral perimeter of said second bonding region of said profile that is chemically compatible with said profile so as to form a material-to-material leak-proof bond between said overmolded polymer and said profile, and extending the overmold about at least a portion of a peripheral perimeter of said covering.

7. The process of claim 6 which, prior to the step of overmolding, further comprises the step of heating said covering at a second end of said covering adjacent said second bonding region to hold said covering in position on said profile prior to overmolding.

8. The process of claim 6 wherein said covering and said overmolded thermoplastic polymer are only partially chemically compatible, said process further comprising the steps of:

inserting a supplemental fastening means about a second end of said covering;

applying an inward compressive force to said supplemental fastening means; and

said step of overmolding includes overmolding at least a portion of said supplemental fastening means.

9. The process of claim 6 wherein

said step of overmolding about said second bonding region produces a sealing means; and wherein

said overmolded thermoplastic polymer about said second bonding region and said profile and said covering are all chemically compatible.

10. The process of claim 6 which further comprises the step of crosslinking said overmolded polymer and said profile after said step of overmolding about said second bonding region.

11. A process for securing a covering about a profile, said profile having a first and a second end, comprising the steps of:

cutting a length of said profile;

positioning a covering about said profile, said covering only co-extending partway along said length of said profile and a distance from said first end of said profile creating a first bonding region;

heating said covering at an end of said covering adjacent said first bonding region to hold said covering in position on said profile prior to overmolding; and

overmolding a first thermoplastic polymer about a complete peripheral perimeter of said first bonding region of said profile that is chemically compatible with said profile so as to form a material-to-material leak-proof bond between said overmolded polymer and said profile; and

overmolding a second thermoplastic polymer about at least a portion of a peripheral perimeter of said covering adjacent said first bonding region.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein

said first and second thermoplastic polymers are the same.

13. The process of claim 11 wherein

said first and second thermoplastic polymers are different.

14. The process of claim 11 which further comprises the step of crosslinking after said steps of overmolding said first and second thermoplastic polymers.

15. The process of claim 11 wherein

said covering is co-extending partway along said length of said profile to a distance from said second end of said profile creating a second bonding region, the process further comprising the steps of

overmolding said first thermoplastic polymer about a complete peripheral perimeter of said second bonding region of said profile that is chemically compatible with said profile so as to form a material-to-material leak-proof bond between said overmolded first polymer and said profile; and

overmolding said second thermoplastic polymer about at least a portion of a peripheral perimeter of said covering adjacent said second bonding region.

16. The process of claim 15 which, prior to the step of overmolding, further comprises the step of

heating said covering at a second end of said covering adjacent said second bonding region to hold said covering in position on said profile prior to overmolding.

17. The process of claim 15 wherein

said first and second thermoplastic polymers are the same.

18. The process of claim 15 which further comprises the step of

crosslinking said overmolded polymer and said profile after said step of overmolding said first and second polymers about said second bonding region.