A method of continuously forming an axially extensible and retractable hose comprising the steps of continuously forming an axially extending helix with axially spaced reinforcing coils from extruded thermoplastic material having a uniform cross-section along its length; and continuously bridging between an adjacent pair of the reinforcing coils With a continuous web of extruded thermoplastic material of substantially uniform width and relatively thin cross-section to form a continuous, helically extending sidewall, with the web having one of two opposite edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat outer bonding surface of a radially outwardly located portion of one of the adjacent pair of reinforcing coils, with the web having the other of the edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat inner bonding surface of a radially inwardly located portion of the other of the pair of reinforcing coils, and with the edge regions continuously radially separated from each other by the helix.

A limb for a breathing circuit manufactured from very thin walled polymer materials has an elongate axial reinforcing spine lying freely inside the conduit and fixed to each end connector. The spine is laterally compliant but axially stiff. The spine provides resistance to tensile and compressive loads on the conduit, including that induced by prevailing internal pressures.

A method of manufacturing a fluid impermeable rigid composite pipe (10) or hollow tube comprising the steps of:a. providing a supporting mandrel (15) that is shaped to define a bore of the pipe (10); b. laying onto the outer circumferential surface of the mandrel (10) one or more first tapes (11) made of a thermoplastic material thereby to create a first region (11) that is predominantly thermoplastic material adjacent the bore of the pipe (10); c. providing a plurality of tows (14) that comprise co-mingled reinforcing fibres and thermoplastic filaments; d. weaving a plurality of the tows (14) to form one or more circular braids (13) and laying down the one or more of the circular braids (13) on to the first layer (11): to form a second region (12); e. applying to the outer surface of the second region (12) a heat-shrinkable layer (13); f. heating the product of steps (b) to (e) on the mandrel (15) to a first temperature at which the thermoplastic materials of the one or more tapes 11 and the tows 14 melt and the heat-shrinkable layer 13 shrinks radially inwards to consolidate the melted thermoplastic material to form a thermoplastic matrix in which the reinforcing fibres are embedded and a fluid impermeable thermoplastic rich region (11) is formed at the bore of the pipe (10); and, g. allowing the pipe (10) to cool to form a self supporting pipe (10).

Described are methods of making a paint roller using thermoplastic strip material, adhesive and a composite cover material. The materials can be assembled in a continuous manufacturing process by helically winding a strip comprising polypropylene around a mandrel so as to form a helically wound strip, advancing the wound strip along the mandrel, applying a molten layer of adhesive comprising polypropylene onto the outer surface of the wound strip, wrapping a strip of composite cover material about the wound strip and over the layer of adhesive, and allowing the adhesive to cool, thereby laminating the composite cover material with the outer surface of the wound strip.

An extruded bead of thermoplastics material and an extruded tape-like web of thermoplastics material are wrapped in a coordinated manner around a rotating mandrel to continuously form a corrugated, helically reinforced, uniquely constructed stretch hose having a thread-like exterior appearance dominated by the web extending in an inclined spiral as it bridges from an outer diameter of each reinforcing coil to an inner diameter of the next-formed reinforcing coil. When the hose is axially compressed, the thin web-defined wall that connects each adjacent pair of reinforcing coils advantageously has one portion that bends or folds radially outwardly, and another portion that bends or folds radially inwardly. Discrete lengths of the hose are treated to minimize stress, to reset memory, and to greatly enhance hose flexibility.

A limb for a breathing circuit manufactured from very thin walled polymer materials has an elongate axial reinforcing spine lying freely inside the conduit and fixed to each end connector. The spine is laterally compliant but axially stiff. The spine provides resistance to tensile and compressive loads on the conduit, including that induced by prevailing internal pressures.

The method includes producing an initial preform on a mandrel by filament winding without generating shrinking, cutting the initial preform to the correct length, placing the assembly provided beforehand with internal drainage device and pressurization device into a female mold, and bringing the preform assembly to a softening temperature and pressurizing the assembly at both ends until it is deformed by a diametrical increase in its dimensions. The method further includes bringing the impregnation resin to polymerization temperature and pressure in order to allow the workpiece to consolidate, its external shape becoming consistent with the internal shape of the mold, opening the mold and removing the workpiece from the mold, and machining the final shapes of the composite workpiece.

Disclosed are reinforced structures. The structures are comprised of reinforced elements that have continuous fibers embedded in a matrix material. The reinforced elements are combined in a matrix material to form a desired shape of reinforced structure.