US3756008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-coiling wire cable and method of forming same
Assignee: HELISTRAND Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-23
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Granted: 1973-09-04
•
Expires: 1992-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A locking cable which is constructed of a plurality of separate strands with each strand containing a plurality of separate wires, each wire being between 0.005 and 0.012 of an inch in diameter. One side of the cable along its entire longitudinal length is stretched so that the material along that side is caused to exceed its yield point and be permanently deformed. As a result, the cable assumes a natural helical coiled configuration. A plastic cover may be applied to the cable in a close fitting relationship to help prevent the cable from becoming untwisted. The method of making the helical coiled cable comprises preforming and twisting of a plurality of separate wires together in a clockwise direction to form a strand, preforming and twisting a plurality of separate strands together in a counterclockwise direction to form the cable, and stretching one side of the cable along its entire length. An apparatus to perform the method of this invention comprises a pair of roller assemblies through which the cable is conducted with the cable being passed about a pin with an angular displacement exceeding 190*. The cable is passed through the apparatus in an extremely taut manner which causes one side of the cable to be permanently deformed.
Inventors
- 👤 G Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:28
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B73/00; E05B73/0005; B; B21; B21F; B21F3/00; B21F3/02; D; D07; D07B; D07B1/00; D07B1/16; D07B1/162; D07B7/00; D07B7/02; D07B7/025; B62; B62H; B62H5/00; B62H5/003; D07B2201/00; D07B2201/10; D07B2201/104; D07B2201/1064; D07B2201/20; D07B2201/2001; D07B2201/2007; D07B2201/2015; D07B2201/2021; D07B7/027; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/40; Y10T70/402; Y10T70/409; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5872
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A cable comprising: a plurality of separate strands, said strands being preformed and twisted together in a first direction, each of said strands formed of a plurality of separate wires, said wires within each strand being preformed and twisted together in a second direction, one longitudinal side of said wires being stretched so that said cable assumes a natural helical configuration; and means surrounding said cable to prevent said cable from becoming untwisted when said cable is caused to assume a substantially straightened configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A cable comprising: a plurality of separate strands, said strands being preformed and twisted together in a first direction, each of said strands formed of a plurality of separate wires, said wires within each strand being preformed and twisted together in a second direction, one longitudinal side of said wires being stretched so that said cable assumes a natural helical configuration; and means surrounding said cable to prevent said cable from becoming untwisted when said cable is caused to assume a substantially straightened configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cable as defined in claim 1 wherein: said wires forming said cable to be constructed of a metallic material and of a diameter substantially between 0.005 and 0.012 of an inch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cable as defined in claim 1 wherein: said first direction being clockwise, said second direction being counterclockwise.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cable as defined in claim 1 wherein: said means comprises a covering of material surrounding in a tight fitting manner said cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cable as defined in claim 4 wherein: said covering comprises a plastic sheath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cable as defined in claim 1 wherein: each of the ends of said cable terminating in a loop, a collar connected to said cable to hold said cable into the loop, said collar having the length of less than three times the bare cable diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
In combination with a separate locking apparatus such as a padlock, a cable adapted to secure a movable article to a fixed article by being wrapped about a portion of both said articles, said cable terminating in loops, said loops to be connected together by said locking apparatus, said cable comprising: a plurality of separate strands, said strands being twisted together in a first direction, each of said strands formed by a plurality of separate wires, said wires within each strand being twisted together in a second direction, said first direction being opposite to said second direction, one longitudinal side of said wires being stretched so that said cable assumes a natural helical configuration; means surrounding said cable to prevent said cable from becoming untwisted once said cable is caused to assume a substantially straightened configuration, said means comprises a plastic covering placed in a close fitting relationship about said cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
In combination with a separate locking apparatus such as a padlock, a cable adapted to secure a movable article to a fixed article by being wrapped about a portion of both said articles, said cable terminating in loops, said loops to be connected together by said locking apparatus, said cable comprising: a plurality of separate strands, said strands being twisted together in a first direction, each of said strands formed by a plurality of separate wires, said wires within each strand being twisted together in a second direction, said first direction being opposite to said second direction, one longitudinal side of said wires being stretched so that said cable assumes a natural helical configuration; means surrounding said cable to prevent said cable from becoming untwisted once said cable is caused to assume a substantially straightened configuration, said means comprises a plastic covering placed in a close fitting relationship about said cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as defined in claim 7 including: said loops being formed by a collar connected to said cable at each end thereof, each of said collars being of a length less than one-half of an inch.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
88 words
The method of making a cable comprising: twisting a plurality of separate wires together in a first direction to form a strand; twisting a plurality of separate strands together in a second direction to form a cable; and stretching one side of the cable along its entire length so that the portion of the wires along said one side are caused to permanently deform by exceeding the yield point of the particular material of construction of the cable, thereby causing the cable to assume a natural coiled configuration.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
88 words
The method of making a cable comprising: twisting a plurality of separate wires together in a first direction to form a strand; twisting a plurality of separate strands together in a second direction to form a cable; and stretching one side of the cable along its entire length so that the portion of the wires along said one side are caused to permanently deform by exceeding the yield point of the particular material of construction of the cable, thereby causing the cable to assume a natural coiled configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 9 wherein the first twisting step is accomplished in a direction opposite to the second twisting step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as defined in claim 9 wherein after the second twisting step the additional step is accomplished of covering the cable in its natural configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the step of covering is accomplished by placing of a cover about the cable in a close fitting relationship when the cable is in its natural configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
A cable comprising; a plurality of separate strands, said strands being preformed and twisted together in a first direction, each of said strands formed of a plurality of separate wires, said wires within each strand being preformed and twisted together in a second direction, one longitudinal side of said wires being stretched so that said cable assumes a Natural helical configuration when at rest.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
A cable comprising; a plurality of separate strands, said strands being preformed and twisted together in a first direction, each of said strands formed of a plurality of separate wires, said wires within each strand being preformed and twisted together in a second direction, one longitudinal side of said wires being stretched so that said cable assumes a Natural helical configuration when at rest.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cable as defined in claim 13 wherein: said wires forming said cable to be constructed of a metallic material and of a diameter between 0.005 and 0.012 of an inch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cable as defined in claim 13 wherein: said first direction being clockwise, said second direction being counterclockwise.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cable as defined in claim 13 wherein: means surrounding said cable to prevent said cable from becoming untwisted when said cable is caused to assume a substantially straightened configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cable as defined in claim 16 wherein: said means comprises a covering of material surrounding in a tight fitting manner said cable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cable as defined in claim 13 wherein: each of the ends of said cable terminating in a loop, a collar connected to said cable to hold said cable into said loop, said collar having a length of less than three times the bare cable diameter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
141 words
A locking apparatus for locking together two articles to prevent substantial movement of one relative to the other, said apparatus comprising: a cable adapted to interconnect each of said articles, said cable constructed of a plurality of separate preformed and twisted strands; said cable having a loop at each end adapted to receive a locking means placed through both of said loops; said cable when at rest comprising a plurality of self coiling helical coils located between said loops in order to shorten the distance between said loops when said device is not in use; and said helical coils permitting said loops to be extended apart a distance substantially that of the total cable length in order to extend said cable the distance to interconnect said articles so that said loops are located adjacent one another for receiving said locking means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
141 words
A locking apparatus for locking together two articles to prevent substantial movement of one relative to the other, said apparatus comprising: a cable adapted to interconnect each of said articles, said cable constructed of a plurality of separate preformed and twisted strands; said cable having a loop at each end adapted to receive a locking means placed through both of said loops; said cable when at rest comprising a plurality of self coiling helical coils located between said loops in order to shorten the distance between said loops when said device is not in use; and said helical coils permitting said loops to be extended apart a distance substantially that of the total cable length in order to extend said cable the distance to interconnect said articles so that said loops are located adjacent one another for receiving said locking means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The locking apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein: each of said strands formed of a plurality of separate wires, one longitudinal side of said wires being stretched so that said cable assumes the helical coiled configuration when at rest.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The locking apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein: means surrounding said cable to prevent said cable from becoming untwisted when said cable is caused to assume the extended configuration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The locking apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein: said means comprises a covering of material surrounding in a tight-fitting manner said cable.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
145 words
A locking apparatus for locking together two articles to prevent substantial movement of one relative to the other, said apparatus comprising: a cable adapted to interconnect each of said articles, said cable constructed of a plurality of separate preformed and twisted strands; said cable having a loop at each end adapted to receive a locking means placed through both of said loops; said cable when at rest comprising a plurality of self-coiling helical coils located between said loops in order to shorten the distance between said loops when said device is not in use; said helical coils permitting said loops to be extended apart a distance substantially that of the total cable length in order to extend said cable the distance to interconnect said articles so that said loops are located adjacent one another for receiving said locking means; and covering means surrounding said cable.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
145 words
A locking apparatus for locking together two articles to prevent substantial movement of one relative to the other, said apparatus comprising: a cable adapted to interconnect each of said articles, said cable constructed of a plurality of separate preformed and twisted strands; said cable having a loop at each end adapted to receive a locking means placed through both of said loops; said cable when at rest comprising a plurality of self-coiling helical coils located between said loops in order to shorten the distance between said loops when said device is not in use; said helical coils permitting said loops to be extended apart a distance substantially that of the total cable length in order to extend said cable the distance to interconnect said articles so that said loops are located adjacent one another for receiving said locking means; and covering means surrounding said cable.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The locking apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein: said covering means comprises a covering of material surrounding said cable in a tight-fitting manner.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The locking apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein: said wires forming said cable to be constructed of a metallic material and of a diameter within the range of 0.005 and 0.012 inches.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The locking apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein: said wires forming said cable to be constructed of a metallic material and of a diameter within the range of 0.005 and 0.012 inches.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The locking apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein: the diameter of said cable being substantially three-sixteenths of an inch.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
The locking apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein: each of said strands formed of a plurality of separate wires, said strands being preformed and twisted together in a first direction, said wires within each of said strands being preformed and twisted together in a second direction, said first direction being clockwise and said second direction being counterclockwise.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The locking apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein: collar connected adjacent each said end of said cable to hold said cable into said loop at each said end, each of collars having a length of less than three times the bare cable diameter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |