US4271330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat-recoverable articles
Assignee: RACHEM SA
•
Filing: 1979-05-22
•
Granted: 1981-06-02
•
Expires: 1999-05-22
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to an article suitable for making an electrical connection between two electrical conductors, for example an earth conductor and the outer conductor of a coaxial cable. The article comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve and a quantity of solder which is held by and/or on the sleeve, and is positioned eccentrically within the sleeve. Two discrete quantities of solder may be used.
Inventors
- 👤 Didier J. M. M. Watine
- 👤 Christian P. Nadal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/70; H01R4/72; H01R4/723; B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/06; B29C61/0608; B29C61/0616; H01R9/00; H01R9/03; H01R9/05; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
An article which comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at at least one end, and a quantity of solder positioned eccentrically within the sleeve and held by the sleeve, the solder being such that it does not extend round the entire inner circumference of any cross-section of the sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
An article which comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at at least one end, and a quantity of solder positioned eccentrically within the sleeve and held by the sleeve, the solder being such that it does not extend round the entire inner circumference of any cross-section of the sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the quantity of solder is held by and on the sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An article which comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at at least one end, and a quantity of solder positioned eccentrically within the sleeve and held on the sleeve, the solder being such that it does not extend round the entire inner circumference of any cross-section of the sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An article which comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at at least one end, and a quantity of solder positioned eccentrically within the sleeve and held on the sleeve, the solder being such that it does not extend round the entire inner circumference of any cross-section of the sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein in a cross-section through the article in the region of the quantity of solder, the area of the solder is small relative to the total area enclosed by the sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein in a cross-section through the article in the region of the quantity of solder the solder does not substantially protrude into the area enclosed by the sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the quantity of solder is localised at least one portion of the inner surface of the sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the quantity of solder comprises two parts spaced apart from each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two parts lie in a common cross-section of the sleeve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two parts are close to, but do not touch, each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two parts are separate quantities of solder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An article as claimed in claim 10, wherein the two quantities of solder are positioned substantially diametrically opposite to each other in the sleeve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the quantity of solder is in the form of a ball.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein at least part of the solder is positioned in a projection of the outer circumference of the sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article as claimed in claim 13, wherein the projection substantially disappears on free recovery of the sleeve and fusing of the solder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the quantity of solder is held in position in the sleeve by a partially shrunk portion of the sleeve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the quantity of solder is partially enclosed by the material of the sleeve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises, for at least part of its length, two longitudinally extending compartments which are side by side to each other and one of which is of small cross-sectional area relative to the other, the quantity of solder being positioned in the compartment of smaller cross-sectional area and the two compartments being in communication with each other at least in the region of the solder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article as claimed in claim 17, wherein the compartments are in communication with each other throughout the length of the smaller compartment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the quantity of solder is held by the inner walls of the smaller compartment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a plurality of layers which co-operate to hold the solder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the sleeve comprises an outer layer and an inner layer which extends for part only of the length of the outer layer, the solder being held by co-operation between an end portion of the inner layer and the portion of the outer layer adjacent to said end portion of the inner layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article as claimed in claim 21, wherein both the inner and outer layers are heat-shrinkable.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article as claimed in claim 21, wherein the inner layer has a substantially `C`-shaped cross-section, the quantity of solder being held between the arms of the `C`.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article as claimed in claim 3, wherein the solder is stuck to the inner wall of the sleeve.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article as claimed in claim 24, wherein the solder is stuck to the sleeve by sticky flux.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 which also comprises a stop for limiting the axial penetration into the sleeve of a substrate which in use is received in the sleeve.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein at least a portion of the sleeve is resiliently deformable in cross-section and is of non-circular internal cross-section.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve is resiliently deformable in cross-section and has two long sides and two short sides.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve is resiliently deformable in cross-section and is substantially rectangular in cross-section.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article as claimed in claim 28, wherein the quantity of solder is adjacent to a short side.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the sleeve is open at both ends.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the sleeve comprises electrically insulating material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein a quantity of fusible material is positioned between the solder and the open end of the sleeve.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of electrically connecting first and second electrical conductors, which comprises positioning the conductors in an article which comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at at least one end, and a quantity of solder positioned eccentrically within the sleeve and held by the sleeve, the solder being such that it does not extend round the entire inner circumference of the sleeve, and heating to cause the heat-shrinkable sleeve to shrink and the solder to fuse and make a connection between the conductors.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of electrically connecting first and second electrical conductors, which comprises positioning the conductors in an article which comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at at least one end, and a quantity of solder positioned eccentrically within the sleeve and held by the sleeve, the solder being such that it does not extend round the entire inner circumference of the sleeve, and heating to cause the heat-shrinkable sleeve to shrink and the solder to fuse and make a connection between the conductors.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of electrically connecting first and second electrical conductors, which comprise positioning the conductors in an article which comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at at least one end, and a quantity of solder positioned eccentrically within the sleeve and held by and on the sleeve, the solder being such that it does not extend round the entire inner circumference of the sleeve, and heating to cause the heat-shrinkable sleeve to shrink and the solder to fuse and make a connection between the conductors.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of electrically connecting first and second electrical conductors, which comprise positioning the conductors in an article which comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at at least one end, and a quantity of solder positioned eccentrically within the sleeve and held by and on the sleeve, the solder being such that it does not extend round the entire inner circumference of the sleeve, and heating to cause the heat-shrinkable sleeve to shrink and the solder to fuse and make a connection between the conductors.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of electrically connecting first and second electrical conductors, which comprises positioning the conductors in an article which comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at at least one end, and a quantity of solder positioned eccentrically within the sleeve and held on the sleeve, the solder being such that it does not extend round the entire inner circumference of the sleeve, and heating to cause the heat-shrinkable sleeve to shrink and the solder to fuse and make a connection between the conductors.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of electrically connecting first and second electrical conductors, which comprises positioning the conductors in an article which comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at at least one end, and a quantity of solder positioned eccentrically within the sleeve and held on the sleeve, the solder being such that it does not extend round the entire inner circumference of the sleeve, and heating to cause the heat-shrinkable sleeve to shrink and the solder to fuse and make a connection between the conductors.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 34, 35, or 36, wherein the quantity of solder comprises two parts spaced apart from each other and wherein the first conductor is positioned between the two parts.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein two parts of solder act as positioning means for the first conductor.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 34, 35, or 36, wherein the first conductor is an earth conductor and the second conductor is the outer conductor of a coaxial cable.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electrical connection made by the method of claim 34, 35, or 36.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3200190A
Cited
US3305625A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-01 | 1984-12-01 | 1985-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-01 | 1988-12-01 | 1989-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-01 | 1992-12-01 | 1993-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |