US3974016A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bonding of thermoplastic coated cylinders
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1974-11-04
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Granted: 1976-08-10
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Expires: 1994-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A cylindrical strand with a thermoplastic outer shell (e.g., plastic insulated wire) is bonded along its length to a similar or different cylindrical strand by laser heating. The strands are brought into contact with one another at a contact point. A laser beam of selected power and wavelength is directed at the contact point in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of the strands as the strands are carried past this point. Absorption of the light by the plastic causes melting sufficient to produce bonding. The depth of penetration of the thermal energy into the plastic is controlled by selection of the wavelength of the laser radiation relative to the absorption spectrum of the thermoplastic material. The laser power level is adjusted to control the total energy input in accordance with the strand feed rate.
Inventors
- 👤 Vladimir Edmund Bondybey
- 👤 Arthur Haines Fitch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:24
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/14; B29C65/16; B29C65/1629; B29C65/1654; B29C65/1658; B29C65/1632; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/52; B29C66/522; B29C66/5227; B29C66/69; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; B29C66/80; B29C66/83; B29C66/834; B29C66/8341; B29C66/83411; B29C66/83413; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/914; B29C66/9161; B29C66/91641; B29C66/93; B29C66/934; C; C09; C09J; C09J5/00; C09J5/06; B29C65/1603; B29C65/1612; B29C65/1619; B29C66/71; B29C66/919; B29C66/939; B29C66/95; B29C66/959; B29C66/9592; B29K; B29K2023/00; B29K2023/04; B29K2023/06; B29K2023/10; B29K2023/12; B29K2027/00; B29K2027/06; B29K2077/00; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/0085; B29K2309/00; B29K2309/08; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/34; B29L2031/3462; B29L2031/60; B29L2031/601; B29L2031/602; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2929; Y10T428/2931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
Method of bonding at least two flexible cylindrical bodies to one another comprising feeding the bodies, at least one of which bodies comprises a cylindrical outer region consisting of a thermoplastic polymeric composition and a cylindrical inner region including a nonpolymeric material, individually from body sources and guiding the bodies into contact with one another at one contact point for each pair of contacting surfaces, which contact point remains approximately stationary as the bodies are being transported longitudinally past the contact point CHARACTERIZED IN THAT a laser beam of selected wavelength is directed at each contact point and directed approximately parallel to the axis of the bodies, which laser beam provides localized heating in the region of the contact point sufficient to produce bonding by plastic flow of the thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
Method of bonding at least two flexible cylindrical bodies to one another comprising feeding the bodies, at least one of which bodies comprises a cylindrical outer region consisting of a thermoplastic polymeric composition and a cylindrical inner region including a nonpolymeric material, individually from body sources and guiding the bodies into contact with one another at one contact point for each pair of contacting surfaces, which contact point remains approximately stationary as the bodies are being transported longitudinally past the contact point CHARACTERIZED IN THAT a laser beam of selected wavelength is directed at each contact point and directed approximately parallel to the axis of the bodies, which laser beam provides localized heating in the region of the contact point sufficient to produce bonding by plastic flow of the thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of claim 1 in which two bodies are bonded to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of claim 1 in which the bodies are similar to one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of claim 1 in which the laser beam is intermittent, producing bonded lengths separated by unbonded lengths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 1 in which inner region of at least one of the bodies includes a continuous metallic electrically conductive path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 1 in which the inner region of at least one of the bodies includes a light transmissive glass fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of claim 1 in which at least one of the bodies has a diameter of less than 500 micrometers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3316134A
Cited
US3560291A
Cited
US3585350A
Cited
US3626143A
Cited
US3588440A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-10 | 1980-02-09 | 1980-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-10 | 1984-02-09 | 1984-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-10 | 1988-02-09 | 1988-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |