US4410567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fibres and coatings therefor
Assignee: Post Office
•
Filing: 1982-04-15
•
Granted: 1983-10-18
•
Expires: 2002-04-15
Abstract
Abstract In order to provide improved resistance to attack by atmospheric water etc. a clad glass optical fibre has a plastic coating which is in turn coated with a metal coating. The metal coating may in turn be coated with a second plastic coating. The metal coating is formed by drawing the plastic coated fibre through a globule of molten metal, the surface of which is exposed to an oxygen rich atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul W. France
- 👤 George R. Newns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:28
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05D; B05D7/00; B05D7/22; C; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of improving the resistance of a glass optical fibre to attack by atmosphere, such as water, comprising the sequential steps of coating the fibre with a plastics material and drawing said plastics coated fibre through a metal melt, the surface of which is exposed to an oxygen rich atmosphere and thus forming an oxide layer on said plastics coated fibre.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of improving the resistance of a glass optical fibre to attack by atmosphere, such as water, comprising the sequential steps of coating the fibre with a plastics material and drawing said plastics coated fibre through a metal melt, the surface of which is exposed to an oxygen rich atmosphere and thus forming an oxide layer on said plastics coated fibre.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said metal is any one of, or an alloy having a well defined melting point of two or more of, indium, lead, tin, zinc and aluminium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said metal comprises indium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 3 in which the plastics material with which the glass fibre is coated is a silicone resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said metal comprises lead.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 5 in which the plastics material with which the glass fibre is coated is a silicone resin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said metal comprises an alloy of indium and lead.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 7 in which the plastics material with which the glass fibre is coated is a silicone resin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said metal comprises a peritectic alloy containing 70% indium and 30% lead.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9 in which the plastics material with which the glass fibre is coated is a silicone resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the plastics material with which the glass fibre is coated is a silicone resin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said fibre is passed through an oxygen deficient atmosphere after coating with metal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of coating a plastics coated glass fibre comprising the steps of coating said fibre with metal by a method according to claim 11 and then applying to the surface of said metal coating a second plastics coating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 13 in which said second plastics coating comprises one of the materials hereinafter listed: silicone resin, exoxy acrylate, nylon and polyurethane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4089585A
Cited
NL7602236A
Cited
US4173393A
Cited
US4183621A
Cited
US4209229A
Cited
US4319803A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-17 | 1987-04-18 | 1987-10-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-17 | 1991-04-18 | 1991-10-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-17 | 1995-04-18 | 1995-10-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |