BACKGROUND

The embodiments as disclosed herein relate to a venting tube arrangement, and in particular to a venting tube arrangement comprising a collapsible conduit that includes an edge interlocking arrangement allowing for extension and a relatively compact collapsing of the conduit.

SUMMARY

One embodiment includes a collapsible conduit that includes an elongated sheet configured as a coil, the coil having a longitudinal axis, the elongated sheet having a first edge that includes a first hem and a second edge opposite the first edge and that includes a second hem, each hem including an overlapping portion that overlaps with the overlapping portion of the other hem, the first hem interlocked with the second hem to form an interlocking arrangement between the first and second edges, wherein the conduit is collapsible along the longitudinal axis between fully extended and collapsed positions, and wherein the overlapping portion of the each hem has an arcuate cross-section shape when the conduit is in both the fully extended and collapsed positions.

Another embodiment includes a collapsible conduit that includes an elongated sheet configured as a coil, the coil having a longitudinal axis, the elongated sheet having a body portion, a first edge extending along the body portion and second edge extending along the body portion opposition the first edge, the first edge including a first hem, the second edge including a second hem, each hem including a bend located at an outermost edge of the hem and an overlapping portion that extends from the bend back toward the body portion of the sheet, wherein the overlapping portion of the first hem overlaps with and abuts the overlapping portion of the second hem to form an interlocking arrangement, wherein the conduit is collapsible along the longitudinal axis between a fully extended position and a fully collapsed position, and wherein the overlapping portion of the each hem has an arcuate cross-section shape when the coil is in both the fully extended and collapsed positions.

Still another embodiment includes a method for constructing a collapsible conduit, the method including providing an elongated sheet having a first edge and second edge, forming a first hem in the first edge of the sheet, the first hem having a first overlapping portion, the first overlapping portion having a substantially planer cross-sectional configuration, forming a second hem in the second edge of the sheet, the second hem having a second overlapping portion, the second overlapping portion having a substantially planar cross-sectional configuration, and overlapping the first and second overlapping portions with one another. The method further includes forming an interlocking arrangement between the first and second edges by bending the first and second overlapping portions from the planar cross-sectional configuration to an arcuate cross-sectional configuration, thereby forming the conduit from the elongated sheet, wherein the conduit is collapsible along the longitudinal axis between fully extended and collapsed positions, and wherein the overlapping portion of the each hem has an arcuate cross-section shape when the coil is in both the fully extended and collapsed positions.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

