US3676572A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Extensible cable structure
Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings Americas Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-01
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1991-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A self-reliant cable support of plane flexible insulating material is slit from opposite ends to form elongated strips, each joined to an adjacent strip at one end to produce a serpentine path from an end rigidly mounted on a first piece of equipment, such as an instrument rack, to another end rigidly mounted on a second piece of equipment, such as a measuring or control instrument, movable linearly with respect to the first piece. Wire or other flexible conductors are affixed in a single layer to one surface of the support along the serpentine path, forming a compact extensible structure to transmit signals between said pieces of equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Everett H Davies
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/06; H02; H02B; H02B1/00; H02B1/20; H02B1/202; H02G; H02G11/00; H02G11/006; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
An extensible cable structure to Transmit signals between relatively movable free ends comprising a self-reliant support of flexible material, said support having a normally plane surface, parallel strips formed of said support, respective ends of each inner of said strips joined to a respective adjacent of the strips to form a serpentine path of said support between disjoined ends of the outer of the strips, said disjoined ends movable from the normal plane of said support to produce a zigzag configuration of the strips, and a conductor affixed to said surface along said serpentine path between the disjoined ends whereby the free ends of said conductor are movable by the disjoined ends with minimum controlled flexure of said conductor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
An extensible cable structure to Transmit signals between relatively movable free ends comprising a self-reliant support of flexible material, said support having a normally plane surface, parallel strips formed of said support, respective ends of each inner of said strips joined to a respective adjacent of the strips to form a serpentine path of said support between disjoined ends of the outer of the strips, said disjoined ends movable from the normal plane of said support to produce a zigzag configuration of the strips, and a conductor affixed to said surface along said serpentine path between the disjoined ends whereby the free ends of said conductor are movable by the disjoined ends with minimum controlled flexure of said conductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An extensible cable structure according to claim 1 further comprising another conductor affixed to said surface to form a single layer of conductors in side by side relation between said free ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An extensible cable structure according to claim 1 wherein the junction between said adjacent strips is smoothly rounded to reduce stress concentration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An extensible cable structure according to claim 1 additionally comprising means for mounting said disjoined ends to relatively movable members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
An extensible cable structure according to claim 1 wherein said joined strips form a second serpentine path as a mirror image of the first serpentine path, one of said disjoined ends common to both paths, the others of said disjoined ends movable as a unit with respect to the common end whereby twisting of said support is reduced.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An extensible cable structure according to claim 1 wherein said conductor is a wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An extensible cable structure according to claim 1 wherein said support is an insulator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
233 words
An assembly transmitting electrical signals between pieces of relatively movable electrical equipment comprising a first terminal protruding from one of said pieces of equipment, a second terminal on another of said pieces of equipment, a self-reliant support of flexible material, said support having a normally plane surface, parallel strips formed of said support, respective ends of each inner of said strips joined to a respective adjacent of the strips to form a serpentine path of said support between disjoined ends of the outer of the strips, one of said disjoined ends rigidly attached to the one of said pieces of equipment with the first terminal separated by said support from the plane surface, another of said disjoined ends rigidly fastened to the other of said pieces of equipment, said disjoined ends movable from the normal plane of said support to produce a zigzag configuration of the strips in response to separative movement of said pieces of equipment, and a conductor affixed to said surface along said serpentine path between the disjoined ends, a first free end of said conductor connected to said first terminal, another free end of the conductor connected to said second terminal whereby the signals may be transmitted through said conductor between said pieces of relatively movable equipment with minimum controlled flexure of the conductor and increased protection for said conductor from abrasion by and shorting to the first terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
233 words
An assembly transmitting electrical signals between pieces of relatively movable electrical equipment comprising a first terminal protruding from one of said pieces of equipment, a second terminal on another of said pieces of equipment, a self-reliant support of flexible material, said support having a normally plane surface, parallel strips formed of said support, respective ends of each inner of said strips joined to a respective adjacent of the strips to form a serpentine path of said support between disjoined ends of the outer of the strips, one of said disjoined ends rigidly attached to the one of said pieces of equipment with the first terminal separated by said support from the plane surface, another of said disjoined ends rigidly fastened to the other of said pieces of equipment, said disjoined ends movable from the normal plane of said support to produce a zigzag configuration of the strips in response to separative movement of said pieces of equipment, and a conductor affixed to said surface along said serpentine path between the disjoined ends, a first free end of said conductor connected to said first terminal, another free end of the conductor connected to said second terminal whereby the signals may be transmitted through said conductor between said pieces of relatively movable equipment with minimum controlled flexure of the conductor and increased protection for said conductor from abrasion by and shorting to the first terminal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |