US4461923A — Round shielded cable and modular connector theref…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 116 words

A multi-conductor round cable construction comprising: at circularly arranged least one layer containing a plurality of insulated conductors, said plurality of insulated conductors having approximately equal outside diameters; shielding means comprising a flexible electrically conductive shield surrounding said at least one layer for isolating said at least one layer from external electromagnetic interference; drain means comprising a single uninsulated conductor contained in said at least one layer of conductors, said uninsulated conductor having an outside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of said insulated conductors and being disposed in intimate contact with said shielding means for providing electrical conductivity between said shielding means and said drain means; and an outer jacket surrounding said shielding means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 116 words

A multi-conductor round cable construction comprising: at circularly arranged least one layer containing a plurality of insulated conductors, said plurality of insulated conductors having approximately equal outside diameters; shielding means comprising a flexible electrically conductive shield surrounding said at least one layer for isolating said at least one layer from external electromagnetic interference; drain means comprising a single uninsulated conductor contained in said at least one layer of conductors, said uninsulated conductor having an outside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of said insulated conductors and being disposed in intimate contact with said shielding means for providing electrical conductivity between said shielding means and said drain means; and an outer jacket surrounding said shielding means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said single uninsulated conductor comprises a metallic conductor having a semi-conductive covering.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said single uninsulated conductor is a metal conductor comprising a plurality of individual wires.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said conductive shield comprises a layer of conductive foil laminated to a layer of synthetic resin.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The cable as defined in claim 4 wherein said synthetic resin is polyethylene terephthate.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The cable as defined in claim 1 and further including a core comprising a non-electrically conductive multi-filament fiber.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The cable as defined in claim 1 and further including a core containing at least one insulated conductor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said cable comprises a plurality of layers, said at least one layer being an inner layer of said plurality of layers.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

The cable as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of layers is formed from a plurality of insulated conductors, said insulated conductors having approximately equal outside diameters.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 72 words

The cable as defined in claim 1 and further in combination with a miniature connector, said connector comprising: a housing formed of dielectric material, said housing including a cable receiving opening for accepting said cable; cable locking means formed in said housing for compressibly holding said cable in said opening and causing deformation of a portion of said cable, said deformation producing consistent conductivity between said drain means and said shielding means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein said cable locking means includes means for producing a variable pressure for compressibly holding said cable in said opening thereby producing controllable deformation of said cable.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

The combination as defined in claim 11 wherein said cable locking means comprises a locking bar hingedly attached to said housing and movable from a position outside said opening to a position inside said opening.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 47 words

The combination as defined in claim 12 and further wherein said means for producing a variable pressure comprises a plurality of parallel spaced surfaces formed on said locking bar, each of said surfaces being adapted to maintain said locking bar at a different position within said opening.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 44 words

The combination as defined in claim 13 and further wherein said housing contains a plurality of laterally aligned channels communicating with said opening for receiving individual ones of said conductors, said channels having a lateral dimension slightly larger than the respective conductor received therein.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

The combination as defined in claim 14 and further including means comprising a separate contactor blade associated with each of said channels for movement through the center of said associated channel for piercing a conductor contained in said associated channel.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 47 words

The combination as set forth in claim 13 and further wherein said housing includes a shoulder formed adjacent said opening, said shoulder being in operative relation to said surfaces for selectively engaging either of said surfaces for maintaining said locking bar in different positions within said opening.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 40 words

The combination as defined in claim 12 and further wherein said opening includes a wall disposed opposite said locking bar, said wall including a recess formed therein for receiving said cable and defining the extent of deformation of said cable.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 152 words

In combination: A multi-conductor round cable comprising: at least one layer containing a plurality of insulated conductors circularly arranged about the longitudinal axis of the cable, said plurality of insulated conductors each having approximately equal outside diameters; means for shielding said at least one layer from external electromagnetic interference comprising a flexible electrically conductive shield surrounding and in contact with said at least one layer; means for providing ground potential to said shield comprising a single uninsulated conductor contained in said at least one layer, said uninsulated conductor having an outside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of one of said insulated conductors and being disposed in electrical and physical contact with said shield, and an outer jacket surrounding said shield; and a connector comprising a housing having a cable receiving opening formed therein, and means for maintaining said cable in pressurized engagement with said connector within said cable receiving opening.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 152 words

In combination: A multi-conductor round cable comprising: at least one layer containing a plurality of insulated conductors circularly arranged about the longitudinal axis of the cable, said plurality of insulated conductors each having approximately equal outside diameters; means for shielding said at least one layer from external electromagnetic interference comprising a flexible electrically conductive shield surrounding and in contact with said at least one layer; means for providing ground potential to said shield comprising a single uninsulated conductor contained in said at least one layer, said uninsulated conductor having an outside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of one of said insulated conductors and being disposed in electrical and physical contact with said shield, and an outer jacket surrounding said shield; and a connector comprising a housing having a cable receiving opening formed therein, and means for maintaining said cable in pressurized engagement with said connector within said cable receiving opening.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 39 words

The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said means for maintaining comprises a locking bar formed in said housing for movement into said opening, said locking bar including means for varying the pressure of said pressurized engagement.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 38 words

The combination as set forth in claim 19 wherein said means for varying comprises a plurality of surfaces formed on said locking bar, said surfaces being adapted for maintaining said locking bar at different positions within said opening.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

The combination as set forth in claim 18 further comprising a central core about which said one layer is disposed, said core including an additional plurality of insulated conductors.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination as set forth in claim 18 further comprising a central core about which said one layer is disposed, said core comprising a multi-filament fibrous element.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 39 words

The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said uninsulated ground conductor is disposed in said at least one layer, and further wherein the outside diameter of said uninsulated ground conductor and said insulated conductors are approximately equal.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 43 words

The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said opening is transversely elongated, and further wherein said means for maintaining comprises an elongated element disposed transversely of said opening for producing a transverse compression and elongation of said cable within said opening.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

The combination as set forth in claim 24 and further including an arcuate recess disposed longitudinally of said opening in a position opposite said elongated element for receiving said cable under compression.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 41 words

The combination as set forth in claim 24 wherein said elongated element is hingedly connected to said housing and contains a plurality of spaced surfaces adapted to engage said housing for holding said elongated element at different positions within said opening.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 120 words

A multi-conductor round cable, comprising: at least one layer containing a plurality of insulated conductors circularly arranged about the longitudinal axis of the cable, said plurality of insulated conductors each having approximately equal outside diameters; means for shielding said at least one layer from external electromagnetic interference comprising a flexible electrically conductive shield surrounding and in contact with said at least one layer; means for providing ground potential to said shield comprising a single uninsulated conductor contained in said at least one layer, said uninsulated conductor having an outside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of one of said insulated conductors and being disposed in electrical and physical contact with said shield; and an outer jacket surrounding said shield.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 120 words

A multi-conductor round cable, comprising: at least one layer containing a plurality of insulated conductors circularly arranged about the longitudinal axis of the cable, said plurality of insulated conductors each having approximately equal outside diameters; means for shielding said at least one layer from external electromagnetic interference comprising a flexible electrically conductive shield surrounding and in contact with said at least one layer; means for providing ground potential to said shield comprising a single uninsulated conductor contained in said at least one layer, said uninsulated conductor having an outside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of one of said insulated conductors and being disposed in electrical and physical contact with said shield; and an outer jacket surrounding said shield.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-07-24	1988-01-23	1988-07-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-07-24	1992-01-23	1992-07-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-07-24	1996-01-23	1996-07-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Round shielded cable and modular connector therefor

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