Patent US3908582A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3908582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Warning underground sheathed tape
Assignee: Griffolyn Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-23
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A tape adapted to be buried beneath the ground to provide a warning to operators of equipment on which digging or probing elements are carried of the proximity of underground facilities which might otherwise be damaged by such elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Herschel Lee Evett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:51
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/024; F16L1/06; F16L1/11; E; E02; E02F; E02F5/00; E02F5/02; E02F5/10; E02F5/102; E02F9/00; E02F9/24; E02F9/245; H; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/06; H02; H02G; H02G9/00; H02G9/02; H02G9/025; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S116/00; Y10S116/14; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2922; Y10T428/2924
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A warning tape adapted to be buried beneath the ground and in such a position near an installation to be protected from damage by a digging or probing element being moved through the ground that it will be engaged and pulled by the element before engagement of said element with said installation, said tape comprising an elongate sheath made from a plastic material which is non-decomposable in the ground in which it is to be buried and tearable when engaged and pulled by the element, and a ribbon made from a reinforced plastic material and extending longitudinally within the sheath and being longitudinally extendible upon release from the sheath so as to resist tearing by the element when engaged and pulled thereby, the exterior surface of said ribbon and the interior surface of the sheath each provided with a low coefficient of friction, so that when said sheath is torn and said ribbon is pulled by said element, portions of said ribbon adjacent the tear are readily slidable from within the sheath and longitudinally extendible into a length which provides a readily observible warning of the nearness of said installation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A warning tape adapted to be buried beneath the ground and in such a position near an installation to be protected from damage by a digging or probing element being moved through the ground that it will be engaged and pulled by the element before engagement of said element with said installation, said tape comprising an elongate sheath made from a plastic material which is non-decomposable in the ground in which it is to be buried and tearable when engaged and pulled by the element, and a ribbon made from a reinforced plastic material and extending longitudinally within the sheath and being longitudinally extendible upon release from the sheath so as to resist tearing by the element when engaged and pulled thereby, the exterior surface of said ribbon and the interior surface of the sheath each provided with a low coefficient of friction, so that when said sheath is torn and said ribbon is pulled by said element, portions of said ribbon adjacent the tear are readily slidable from within the sheath and longitudinally extendible into a length which provides a readily observible warning of the nearness of said installation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 1, including a lubricant between said sheath and said ribbon for reducing the coefficient of friction between said sheath and said ribbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 2, wherein said lubricant is silicon grease.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A tape of the character Defined in claim 2, wherein said lubricant is graphite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said sheath and the exterior surface of said ribbon are polyethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said sheath and the exterior surface of said ribbon are polyvinylchloride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said sheath and the exterior surface of said ribbon are cross-linked polyolefins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said ribbon is folded on itself so that it is longitudinally extendible by unfolding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 8, including a lubricant between said ribbon and said sheath for reducing the coefficient of friction between said ribbon and sheath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 8, wherein said ribbon is folded along lines substantially perpendicular to its side edges.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 8, wherein said ribbon is folded along lines substantially horizontal to its side edges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said ribbon includes an elongate film which is longitudinally shrinkable under given conditions and at least one filament laminated to said film along the length thereof, said filament being shrinkable to a lesser extent under said conditions, so that it is caused to wrinkle when so laminated and subjected to such conditions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 12, wherein said ribbon includes a pair of films laminated to opposite sides of said filament.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 12, wherein there are a plurality of filaments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 12, including a lubricant between said ribbon and said sheath for reducing the coefficient of friction between said ribbon and said sheath.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 12, wherein said film is polyethylene and said filament is a nylon fiber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tape of the character defined in claim 12, wherein said film is polyethylene and said filament is wire.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |