BRAIDED TEXTILE SLEEVE WITH SELF-SUSTAINING EXPANDED AND CONTRACTED STATES AND ENHANCED 'AS SUPPLIED' BULK CONFIGURATION AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION AND SUPPLYING BULK LENGTHS THEREOF

摘要

A bulk supply of a protective textile sleeve and method of construction and supplying thereof is provided. The sleeve includes a braided, tubular wall extending lengthwise along a central longitudinal axis between opposite ends. The wall has a decreased length, increased cross-sectional area first state and an increased length, decreased cross-sectional area second state. The wall has heat-set, braided yarns causing the wall to remain substantially in the first and second states absent some externally applied force. The wall is finish cut having a bulk supply shipping length extending between the opposite ends, and is configured to be subsequently cut into a plurality of discrete use lengths after shipping.