Patent US4089585A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4089585A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical guides
Assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
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Filing: 1977-03-04
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Granted: 1978-05-16
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Expires: 1997-03-04
Abstract
Abstract In an optical guide, for instance a flexible optical cable, comprising at least two optical fibres and, surrounding the fibres, an outer protective sheath, each of at least some of the optical fibres has a continuous coating of a metallic material, e.g. aluminium or an aluminium-based alloy, which reduces the risk of surface damage of the optical fibre and also serves as an optical screen. At least one covering layer of non-metallic protective material, e.g. resin, enamel or plastics material, may overlie the metallic coating of each metal-coated optical fibre.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond Jeffrey Slaughter
- 👤 Patrick Vassar Andrews
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:41
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/032; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4403; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443; G02B6/4432; G02B6/4433; G02B6/02395
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
An optical guide in the form of a flexible optical cable comprising at least two optical fibres and, surrounding the fibres, an overall outer protective sheath, wherein each individual optical fibre of at least some of the optical fibres has a continuous coating of a metallic material a few micrometers in thickness wholly surrounding the individual fibre protecting the individual fibres during manufacture from the atmosphere and damage by mechanical contact with other bodies and providing optical screening from neighboring fibres after assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
An optical guide in the form of a flexible optical cable comprising at least two optical fibres and, surrounding the fibres, an overall outer protective sheath, wherein each individual optical fibre of at least some of the optical fibres has a continuous coating of a metallic material a few micrometers in thickness wholly surrounding the individual fibre protecting the individual fibres during manufacture from the atmosphere and damage by mechanical contact with other bodies and providing optical screening from neighboring fibres after assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
An optical guide comprising at least two optical fibres and, surrounding the fibres, an overall outer protective sheath, wherein each individual optical fibre of at least some of the optical fibres has a continuous coating of a metallic material a few micrometers in thickness wholly surrounding the individual fibre protecting the individual fibres during manufacture from the atmosphere and damage by mechanical contact with other bodies and providing optical screening from neighboring fibres after assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
An optical guide comprising at least two optical fibres and, surrounding the fibres, an overall outer protective sheath, wherein each individual optical fibre of at least some of the optical fibres has a continuous coating of a metallic material a few micrometers in thickness wholly surrounding the individual fibre protecting the individual fibres during manufacture from the atmosphere and damage by mechanical contact with other bodies and providing optical screening from neighboring fibres after assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical guide as claimed in claim 2, wherein the continuous metallic coating of each of said optical fibres is of aluminium or an aluminium-based alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An optical guide as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said optical fibres is of at least one solid optical material having a melting point that is substantially higher than that of the metallic material of the continuous coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
An optical guide comprising at least two optical fibres and, surrounding the fibres, an overall outer protective sheath, wherein each individual optical fibre of at least some of the optical fibres has a continuous coating of a metallic material a few micrometers in thickness wholly surrounding the individual fibre protecting the individual fibres during manufacture from the atmosphere and damage by mechanical contact with other bodies and providing optical screening from neighboring fibres after assembly and, overlying the metallic coating, at least one covering layer of non-metallic protective material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
An optical guide comprising at least two optical fibres and, surrounding the fibres, an overall outer protective sheath, wherein each individual optical fibre of at least some of the optical fibres has a continuous coating of a metallic material a few micrometers in thickness wholly surrounding the individual fibre protecting the individual fibres during manufacture from the atmosphere and damage by mechanical contact with other bodies and providing optical screening from neighboring fibres after assembly and, overlying the metallic coating, at least one covering layer of non-metallic protective material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical guide as claimed in claim 5, wherein the optical guide is in the form of a flexible optical cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical guide as claimed in claim 5, wherein the protective covering layer is of resin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical guide as claimed in claim 5, wherein the protective covering layer is of enamel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical guide as claimed in claim 5, wherein the protective covering layer is of plastics material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical guide is claimed in claim 9, wherein the plastics material of the protective covering layer is of cellular form.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical guide as claimed in claim 9, wherein the protective covering layer is of composite form comprising an inner layer of cellular plastics material and outer layer of solid plastics material.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of manufacturing an optical guide comprising the steps of: (a) forming a continuous metal coating a few micrometers in thickness on each of at least two individual optical fibres, whereby said individual coated fibres are protected during further manufacture against the atmosphere and damage by mechanical contact with other bodies and said fibres are optically screened from each other after assembly; (b) assembling said at least two coated fibres into an optical guide; and (c) applying about said at least two coated fibres an outer covering layer of non-metallic protective material.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of manufacturing an optical guide comprising the steps of: (a) forming a continuous metal coating a few micrometers in thickness on each of at least two individual optical fibres, whereby said individual coated fibres are protected during further manufacture against the atmosphere and damage by mechanical contact with other bodies and said fibres are optically screened from each other after assembly; (b) assembling said at least two coated fibres into an optical guide; and (c) applying about said at least two coated fibres an outer covering layer of non-metallic protective material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the metal coating is applied by passing the optical fibre through a molten bath of coating metal and thereafter cooling to set the metal coating.
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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) | 1981-05-15 | 1981-11-14 | 1982-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-15 | 1985-11-14 | 1986-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-15 | 1989-11-14 | 1990-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |