Cables are constructed with extruded discontinuities in the cable jacket that allow the jacket to be torn to provide access to the cable core. The discontinuities can be longitudinally extending strips of material in the cable jacket.

A method of forming a conduit having at least one strip-shaped fabric substrate dividing the conduit into channels. The method contains obtaining an extrusion die configured to form the wall of the conduit and a slot configured for receipt of a strip-shaped fabric substrate and introducing a strip-shaped fabric substrate into the slot. The strip-shaped textile is air permeable and contains enlarged regions at the first and second longitudinal edges. Molten polymer is introduced at a first point in the extrusion die and at the first point the slot and the area configured to form the wall of the conduit are not in communication. The slot is exposed to the molten polymer at a point between the first point and the die exit forming the first polymeric layer of the conduit such that the first longitudinal and second longitudinal edges of the strip-shaped fabric substrate embed into the molten polymer.

A method and apparatus for extrusion of an article is provided. A die assembly can apply flows of thermoplastic material to an array of reinforcing cables to form a composite extrusion. A slider fabric can be bonded to one side of the composite extrusion. After exiting the die assembly, the slider fabric can act to support the extrudate as it passes along an elongate mandrel, which can cause the base of the slider fabric to change shape from a flat profile to the final internal profile of the article. The extruded article can then be cooled to solidify the material. The die can include cooling for the slider fabric and means for promoting penetration of the thermoplastic into reinforcing cables.

A body member for an extrusion die for multilayer film has a passage-forming surface and an open feed channel formed in the passage-forming surface. The feed channel continuously decreases in depth from the feed channel inlet, and the feed channel is of substantially constant-width substantially rectangular cross-section along substantially its entire extent. Corners of the feed channel may be slightly rounded. Substantially constant-width feed channels of substantially rectangular cross-section may be used in blown film applications, in which case the feed channel extends in a spiral from the feed channel inlet, and in cast film applications, in which case the feed channel extends substantially linearly from the feed channel inlet. Dies can be assembled by arranging two body members with their respective passage-forming surfaces opposed to one another.