Patent EP0259051A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0259051A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Under carpet flat cable assembly and method of forming a turn in same
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1987-08-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-08-18
Abstract
Abstract A thin, relatively flat fiber optic cable assembly for laying under carpet. The cable assembly includes at least one resilient buffer tube (22) and at least one optical conductor (24) disposed inside the tube and being movable therein. The cable assembly includes a strength member (28) having limited elaticity and a plastic jacket (26) formed about the tube and the strength member with the jacket having a preferably flat top surface and a flat bottom surface. The tube and the strength member are positioned in the jacket midway between the top and bottom surfaces with the tube and the strength member being spaced and with their respective axes positioned in a plane which is generally parallel to the bottom surface so that a bend can be formed in the cable by removing a section of the jacket to expose the strength member and the buffer tube. A method of forming and defining the turn using the fiber optic cable assembly is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Thaddeus Raymond Ulijasz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443; G02B6/4431; G02B6/24; G02B6/245; G02B6/4403
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A thin, relatively flat cable fiber optic cable assembly (20) for laying under carpet, said cable assembly comprising: at least one resilient buffer tube (22); at least one optical conductor (24) disposed inside said tube (22) and having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said tube, said optical conductor (24) being movable inside said tube (22); at least one strength member (28) having limited elasticity; a plastic jacket (26) extruded about said tube (22) and said strength member (28) so that said tube and strength member are embedded therein, substantially the only air space inside said jacket being inside said tube, said jacket (26) having a top surface (30) and a substantially flat bottom surface (32), said tube (22) and said strength member (28) being disposed in said jacket (26) substantially midway between said surfaces (30, 32), with said tube and strength member being spaced and with their respective axes positioned in a first plane which is generally parallel to said bottom surface (32), said cable assembly being substantially symmetrical about a second plane disposed at a right angle to said first plane, whereby a bend can be formed in said cable assembly by removing a section of said jacket (26) to expose said strength member and said buffer tube (22).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A thin, relatively flat cable fiber optic cable assembly (20) for laying under carpet, said cable assembly comprising: at least one resilient buffer tube (22); at least one optical conductor (24) disposed inside said tube (22) and having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said tube, said optical conductor (24) being movable inside said tube (22); at least one strength member (28) having limited elasticity; a plastic jacket (26) extruded about said tube (22) and said strength member (28) so that said tube and strength member are embedded therein, substantially the only air space inside said jacket being inside said tube, said jacket (26) having a top surface (30) and a substantially flat bottom surface (32), said tube (22) and said strength member (28) being disposed in said jacket (26) substantially midway between said surfaces (30, 32), with said tube and strength member being spaced and with their respective axes positioned in a first plane which is generally parallel to said bottom surface (32), said cable assembly being substantially symmetrical about a second plane disposed at a right angle to said first plane, whereby a bend can be formed in said cable assembly by removing a section of said jacket (26) to expose said strength member and said buffer tube (22).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said top surface (30) is substantially flat with the top and bottom surfaces (30, 32) being substantially parallel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 2 comprising a pair of said strength members (28) flanking said tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 2 comprising a pair of said buffer tubes (22), each holding at least one of said optical conductors (24), flanking said strength members (28).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 2 wherein said jacket (26) has lateral surfaces (34) which converge in the direction of said top surface (30).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 2 wherein one of said top and bottom surfaces (30, 32) has a plurality of longitudinal grooves (36), one of said grooves being aligned with each of said tube (22) and said strength member (28).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 6 further comprising a longitudinal rip cord (38) in engagement with said tube (22) and a longitudinal rip cord (38) in engagement with said strength member (28), each rip cord (38) being disposed in alignment with a corresponding groove (36).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A cable assembly as set forth in Claim 7 wherein the jacket material between each rip cord (38) and its corresponding groove (36) forms a relatively thin membrane which can be ruptured by pulling the rip cord (38) away from its associated strength member (28) or tube (22).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
334 words
A method of forming a turn (52) in a thin, relatively flat fiber optic cable assembly (20) for laying under carpet and including: at least one resilient buffer tube (22); at least one optical conductor (24) disposed inside said tube and having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said tube, said optical conductor being movable inside said tube; at least one strength member (28) having limited elasticity; a plastic jacket (26) extruded about said tube (22) and said strength member (28) so that said tube and said strength member are embedded therein, substantially the only air space inside said jacket being inside said tube, said jacket (26) having a substantially flat top surface (30) and a substantially flat bottom surface (32) disposed substantially parallel to said top surface, said tube (22) and said strength member (28) being disposed in said jacket (26) substantially midway between said surfaces (30, 32), with said tube and strength member being spaced and with their respective axes positioned in a plane which is generally parallel to said surfaces (30, 32), said method comprising the following steps: (1) forming spaced transverse cuts through said jacket (26) without cutting said tube (22) or said strength member (28); (2) forming longitudinal splits in said jacket (26) intermediate said cuts at said tube (22) and said strength member (28); (3) removing the jacket material between said cuts to expose said tube and said strength member; (4) positioning the cable portions (53-1, 53-2) between which the jacket (26) has been removed to define the desired turn substantially in the plane of said bottom surface (32), the exposed strength member and the tube in said turn having substantial identical lengths and defining outside bends; (5) potting said cable portions (53-1, 53-2) and the exposed tube (22) and exposed strength member (28) in their positions defining said turn, substantially the only air space inside said potting being inside said tube and said potting having a height substantially identical to that of said jacket.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
334 words
A method of forming a turn (52) in a thin, relatively flat fiber optic cable assembly (20) for laying under carpet and including: at least one resilient buffer tube (22); at least one optical conductor (24) disposed inside said tube and having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said tube, said optical conductor being movable inside said tube; at least one strength member (28) having limited elasticity; a plastic jacket (26) extruded about said tube (22) and said strength member (28) so that said tube and said strength member are embedded therein, substantially the only air space inside said jacket being inside said tube, said jacket (26) having a substantially flat top surface (30) and a substantially flat bottom surface (32) disposed substantially parallel to said top surface, said tube (22) and said strength member (28) being disposed in said jacket (26) substantially midway between said surfaces (30, 32), with said tube and strength member being spaced and with their respective axes positioned in a plane which is generally parallel to said surfaces (30, 32), said method comprising the following steps: (1) forming spaced transverse cuts through said jacket (26) without cutting said tube (22) or said strength member (28); (2) forming longitudinal splits in said jacket (26) intermediate said cuts at said tube (22) and said strength member (28); (3) removing the jacket material between said cuts to expose said tube and said strength member; (4) positioning the cable portions (53-1, 53-2) between which the jacket (26) has been removed to define the desired turn substantially in the plane of said bottom surface (32), the exposed strength member and the tube in said turn having substantial identical lengths and defining outside bends; (5) potting said cable portions (53-1, 53-2) and the exposed tube (22) and exposed strength member (28) in their positions defining said turn, substantially the only air space inside said potting being inside said tube and said potting having a height substantially identical to that of said jacket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
257 words
A thin, relatively flat fiber optic cable assembly (20) for laying under carpet including a first relatively straight portion (53-1), a second relatively straight portion 53-2 and a bend (52) disposed between said portions, said cable assembly comprising: at least one resilient buffer tube (22) extending substantially the length of said assembly; at least one optical conductor (24) extending substantially the length of said assembly, disposed inside said tube and having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said tube, said optical conductor being movable inside said tube; at least one strength member (28) having limited elasticity extending substantially the length of said assembly; a plastic jacket (26) extruded about said tube (22) and said strength member (28) in said first and second straight portions so that said tube and said strength member are embedded therein, substantially the only air space inside said jacket being inside said tube, said jacket not being present in said bend (52), said jacket having a substantially flat bottom surface (32) and said bend being formed substantially in the plane of said surface; and a potting compound (51) holding said buffer tube (22) and said strength member (28) in said bend 52 and the adjacent jacket in said first and second straight portions, substantially the only air space in the bend being inside said tube; and said tube, said conductor and said strength member all forming an outside turn in said bend, and the lengths of said tube, said conductor and said strength member in said bend being substantially equal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
257 words
A thin, relatively flat fiber optic cable assembly (20) for laying under carpet including a first relatively straight portion (53-1), a second relatively straight portion 53-2 and a bend (52) disposed between said portions, said cable assembly comprising: at least one resilient buffer tube (22) extending substantially the length of said assembly; at least one optical conductor (24) extending substantially the length of said assembly, disposed inside said tube and having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said tube, said optical conductor being movable inside said tube; at least one strength member (28) having limited elasticity extending substantially the length of said assembly; a plastic jacket (26) extruded about said tube (22) and said strength member (28) in said first and second straight portions so that said tube and said strength member are embedded therein, substantially the only air space inside said jacket being inside said tube, said jacket not being present in said bend (52), said jacket having a substantially flat bottom surface (32) and said bend being formed substantially in the plane of said surface; and a potting compound (51) holding said buffer tube (22) and said strength member (28) in said bend 52 and the adjacent jacket in said first and second straight portions, substantially the only air space in the bend being inside said tube; and said tube, said conductor and said strength member all forming an outside turn in said bend, and the lengths of said tube, said conductor and said strength member in said bend being substantially equal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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