Patent US3981422A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3981422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of breaking glass fibers and tool therefor
Assignee: International Telephone and Telegraph Corp
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Filing: 1975-07-18
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Granted: 1976-09-21
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Expires: 1995-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A method of uniformly breaking glass fibers in a bundle of fibers in which the apex of a cone is inserted into the end of the bundle. The fibers in the bundle are distributed in a single plane about the surface of the cone with the free ends of the fibers extending beyond the base of the cone. A sleeve on the bundle is shifted forwardly toward the base of the cone to firmly grip the fibers therebetween. The outer surfaces of the fibers are then scratched and a compressive force is exerted to the free end of the fiber bundle to cause the fibers to bend and break at the base of the cone.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:32
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/25; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T225/00; Y10T225/10; Y10T225/12; Y10T225/30; Y10T225/307; Y10T225/321; Y10T225/325; Y10T225/371
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of uniformly breaking glass fibers in a bundle of fibers comprising the steps of: inserting the apex of a cone into the end of a bundle of fibers to position the fibers in a single layer about the surface of the cone with the free ends of the fibers extending beyond the base of the cone; shifting a sleeve surrounding said bundle forwardly toward said base to firmly grip the fibers between the end of the sleeve and said cone; and severing the ends of the fibers extending beyond said base.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of uniformly breaking glass fibers in a bundle of fibers comprising the steps of: inserting the apex of a cone into the end of a bundle of fibers to position the fibers in a single layer about the surface of the cone with the free ends of the fibers extending beyond the base of the cone; shifting a sleeve surrounding said bundle forwardly toward said base to firmly grip the fibers between the end of the sleeve and said cone; and severing the ends of the fibers extending beyond said base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said fibers are severed at said base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the outer perimeter of said base of said cone is used as a fulcrum over which said fibers are bent to sever the same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said fibers are severed by first scratching the surface thereof and then bending the fibers where scratched.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said fibers are scratched on the outwardly facing surfaces thereof; and said fibers are bent by exerting a radially inwardly directed force on the ends of said fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of: uniformly distributing said fibers over said cone before shifting said sleeve to said base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said sleeve is shifted forwardly until the forward end thereof is coplanar with said base; the outwardly facing surfaces of said fibers are scratched immediately adjacent to said base and sleeve end; and said fibers are severed by bending the same radially inwardly using the outer perimeter of said base as a fulcrum until said fibers break.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A tool for holding glass fibers in a bundle of fibers to facilitate uniform breaking of the fibers comprising: a cone over which said fibers may be positioned with their ends extending beyond the base of said cone; a sleeve having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the base of said cone, said sleeve being adapted to surround said cone and be shifted forwardly toward said base to firmly grip said fibers between said sleeve and said cone; and means for exerting a radially inwardly directed force on said fibers adjacent to said base of said cone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A tool for holding glass fibers in a bundle of fibers to facilitate uniform breaking of the fibers comprising: a cone over which said fibers may be positioned with their ends extending beyond the base of said cone; a sleeve having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the base of said cone, said sleeve being adapted to surround said cone and be shifted forwardly toward said base to firmly grip said fibers between said sleeve and said cone; and means for exerting a radially inwardly directed force on said fibers adjacent to said base of said cone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tool as set forth in claim 8 wherein: said sleeve has an internal chamfer thereon at its end adjacent to said base, said chamfer having a slope corresponding to the slope of the conical surface of said cone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tool as set forth in claim 8 wherein: said means comprises a cylindrical member telescopically mounted on said sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tool as set forth in claim 8 wherein: the conical surface of said cone has longtitudinally extending uniformly spaced grooves therein, the depth of each groove being less than the diameter of one of said fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
A tool for holding glass fibers in a bundle of fibers to facilitate uniform breaking of the fibers comprising: a cone over which said fibers may be positioned with their ends extending beyond the base of said cone; a sleeve having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the base of said cone, said sleeve being adapted to surround said cone and be shifted forwardly toward said base to firmly grip said fibers between said sleeve and said cone; and means for scratching said fibers adjacent to said base.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
A tool for holding glass fibers in a bundle of fibers to facilitate uniform breaking of the fibers comprising: a cone over which said fibers may be positioned with their ends extending beyond the base of said cone; a sleeve having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the base of said cone, said sleeve being adapted to surround said cone and be shifted forwardly toward said base to firmly grip said fibers between said sleeve and said cone; and means for scratching said fibers adjacent to said base.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
120 words
A tool for holding glass fibers in a bundle of fibers to facilitate uniform breaking of the fibers comprising: a cone over which said fibers may be positioned with their ends extending beyond the base of said cone; a sleeve having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the base of said cone, said sleeve being adapted to surround said cone and be shifted forwardly toward said base to firmly grip said fibers between said sleeve and said cone; an arm rotatable in a circular path about the center axis of said cone adjacent to said base; and a cutter on said arm positioned to scratch the outwardly facing surfaces of said fibers on said cone at said base.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
A tool for holding glass fibers in a bundle of fibers to facilitate uniform breaking of the fibers comprising: a cone over which said fibers may be positioned with their ends extending beyond the base of said cone; a sleeve having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the base of said cone, said sleeve being adapted to surround said cone and be shifted forwardly toward said base to firmly grip said fibers between said sleeve and said cone; an arm rotatable in a circular path about the center axis of said cone adjacent to said base; and a cutter on said arm positioned to scratch the outwardly facing surfaces of said fibers on said cone at said base.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
A tool as set forth in claim 13 including: fiber bending means on said arm spaced from said cutter, said fiber bending means having a fiber engaging surface thereon positioned to rotate in a plane transverse to said axis and spaced from said base; and said fiber engaging surface being positioned radially inwardly from an imaginary extension of said cone beyond said base whereby said surface will effect inward bending of said fibers upon rotation of said arm.
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) | 1979-09-21 | 1980-03-22 | 1980-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-21 | 1984-03-22 | 1984-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-21 | 1988-03-22 | 1988-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |