EP0226779A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mass terminable flat cable and cable assembly incorporating the cable
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1986-11-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A flat cable for use with a mass termination connector having a plurality of regularly spaced terminal elements. The flat cable includes a laminated carrier film and a plurality of discrete conductors held in regularly spaced parallel relationship by the carrier film to match the terminal element spacing of the connector. Each conductor has an insulating jacket made of a thermoplastic material. The carrier film includes an attachment layer of thermoplastic insulation having a melting temperature similar to that of the jacket material, and a dimensional stabilization layer made of an insulative material having a melting temperature higher than those of the attachment layer and the jacket material and displaying dimensional stability at the melting temperatures of the attachment layer and jacket material. The jackets of the conductor are fused to the attachment layer, and the attachment layer is held by the stabilization layer. The carrier film can be longitudinally discontinuous to form first cable sections where the conductors are held parallel for ease of termination, and second cable sections where the conductors are not held to increase flexibility and reduce weight. The cable can also be formed into a round configuration to provide advantages during routing. A method of manufacturing this cable is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Ray Cox
- 👤 Robert John Biegon
- 👤 Grigory Men
- 👤 Lester Thomas Turner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/08; H01B7/0876; H01B7/0846
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A flat cable for use with a mass termination connector having a plurality of regularly spaced terminal elements, said cable comprising: a plurality of discrete conductors extending throughout the length of said cable, each conductor having an insulative jacket made of a thermoplastic material; said cable having a plurality of spaced first cable sections in which said conductors are held in regularly spaced parallel relationship, said cable further having a plurality of spaced second cable sections in which said conductors are not held in regularly spaced parallel relationship, with adjacent first cable sections being spaced by a second cable section; each first cable section comprising a laminated carrier film holding said conductors, said carrier film including an attachment layer of thermoplastic insulation having a melting temperature similar to that of the jacket material, and a dimensional stabilization layer made of an insulative material having a melting temperature higher than those of the attachment layer and the jacket material and displaying dimensional stability at the melting temperatures of the attachment layer and jacket material, the jackets of said conductors being fused to said attachment layer and said attachment layer being held by said stabilization layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A flat cable for use with a mass termination connector having a plurality of regularly spaced terminal elements, said cable comprising: a plurality of discrete conductors extending throughout the length of said cable, each conductor having an insulative jacket made of a thermoplastic material; said cable having a plurality of spaced first cable sections in which said conductors are held in regularly spaced parallel relationship, said cable further having a plurality of spaced second cable sections in which said conductors are not held in regularly spaced parallel relationship, with adjacent first cable sections being spaced by a second cable section; each first cable section comprising a laminated carrier film holding said conductors, said carrier film including an attachment layer of thermoplastic insulation having a melting temperature similar to that of the jacket material, and a dimensional stabilization layer made of an insulative material having a melting temperature higher than those of the attachment layer and the jacket material and displaying dimensional stability at the melting temperatures of the attachment layer and jacket material, the jackets of said conductors being fused to said attachment layer and said attachment layer being held by said stabilization layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A flat cable as set forth in Claim 1 wherein in said second cable sections said conductors are arranged in twisted pairs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A flat cable as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the conductor jackets and the attachment layer are made of the same material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A flat cable as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the said attachment layer is formed of polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A flat cable as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said stabilization layer is made of a polyester film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flat cable as set forth in Claim 10226779 wherein each of said first cable sections has a substantially flat side and an opposite undulating side with each undulation formed by one of the jacketed conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flat cable as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said carrier film comprises an adhesive bonding said attachment layer to said stabilization layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
249 words
A cable assembly for use with a mass termination connector having a plurality of regularly spaced terminal elements, said cable assembly comprising: a flat cable deformed from its flat, as-manufactured configuration into a non-flat , configuration; and holding means disposed about the periphery of said cable holding said cable in said non-flat configuration whereby removal of the holding means allows said cable substantially to return to its flat configuration, said cable in its as-manufactured configuration comprising: a plurality of discrete conductors extending throughout the length of said cable, each conductor having an insulative jacket made of a thermoplastic material; said cable having a plurality of spaced first cable sections in which said conductors are held in regularly spaced parallel relationship, said cable further having a plurality of spaced second cable sections in which said conductors are not held in regularly spaced parallel relationship, with adjacent first cable sections being spaced by a second cable section: each first cable section comprising a laminated carrier film holding said conductors, said carrier film including an attachment layer of thermoplastic insulation having a melting temperature similar to that of the jacket material, and a dimensional stabilization layer made of an insulative material having a melting temperature higher than those of the attachment layer and the jacket material and displaying dimensional stability at the melting temperatures of the attachment layer and jacket material, the jackets of said conductors being fused to said attachment layer and said attachment layer being held by said stabilization layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
249 words
A cable assembly for use with a mass termination connector having a plurality of regularly spaced terminal elements, said cable assembly comprising: a flat cable deformed from its flat, as-manufactured configuration into a non-flat , configuration; and holding means disposed about the periphery of said cable holding said cable in said non-flat configuration whereby removal of the holding means allows said cable substantially to return to its flat configuration, said cable in its as-manufactured configuration comprising: a plurality of discrete conductors extending throughout the length of said cable, each conductor having an insulative jacket made of a thermoplastic material; said cable having a plurality of spaced first cable sections in which said conductors are held in regularly spaced parallel relationship, said cable further having a plurality of spaced second cable sections in which said conductors are not held in regularly spaced parallel relationship, with adjacent first cable sections being spaced by a second cable section: each first cable section comprising a laminated carrier film holding said conductors, said carrier film including an attachment layer of thermoplastic insulation having a melting temperature similar to that of the jacket material, and a dimensional stabilization layer made of an insulative material having a melting temperature higher than those of the attachment layer and the jacket material and displaying dimensional stability at the melting temperatures of the attachment layer and jacket material, the jackets of said conductors being fused to said attachment layer and said attachment layer being held by said stabilization layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said non-flat configuration is substantially circular.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 8 wherein the holding means comprises an outer jacket formed of an abrasion resistant thermoplastic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 10 wherein said jacket has spaced indicia on its outside surface locating said first cable sections.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said conductors are arranged in twisted pairs in said second cable sections.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 8 further including a central strength member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said flat cable is spiralled to form said non-flat configuration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said flat cable is folded to form said non-flat configuration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 8 further comprising a metallic shield surrounding said cable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 16 wherein said shield is a foil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 16 wherein said shield is a braid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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