US4641009A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Branch-off technique
Assignee: NV RAYCHEM SA A Co OF BELGIUM
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Filing: 1985-01-08
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Granted: 1987-02-03
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Expires: 2005-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A branch-off region at an end of a sleeve (2), enclosing for example a branch in a telecommunications cable, is sealed by positioning at the end of the sleeve (2) a clip (1) or a filling piece that forms terminal conduits (3), positioning a heat-activatable adhesive (5) in the end, and activating the adhesive by a heater such as an electrical heater.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan Vansant
- 👤 Noel Overbergh
- 👤 Valere Buekers
- 👤 Amandus L. E. Pieck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:13
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/18; B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/06; B29C61/0608; B29C61/0625; B29C61/0641; B29C61/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A branch-off clip which comprises at least two outer legs and an inner leg, so arranged that the clip can be positioned over an outer surface of a sleeve at an end thereof with the outer legs outside the sleeve and the inner leg inside the sleeve to form at least two terminal conduits in the sleeve; the inner leg comprising a heating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A branch-off clip which comprises at least two outer legs and an inner leg, so arranged that the clip can be positioned over an outer surface of a sleeve at an end thereof with the outer legs outside the sleeve and the inner leg inside the sleeve to form at least two terminal conduits in the sleeve; the inner leg comprising a heating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A clip according to claim 1, in which the inner leg is integral with the outer legs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A clip according to claim 1, in which the inner leg comprises the heating means and a heat-activatable sealing material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A clip according to claim 1, in which the heating means is self-regulating with respect to temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A clip according to claim 1, which additionally comprises a temperature regulator by means of which the heat generated by the heating means can be regulated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A clip according to claim 1, in which the heating means is powerable by electrical power.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A clip according to claim 6, in which the heating means is an electrical resistance heater.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A clip according to claim 7, in which the heating means comprises a resistance wire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A clip according to claim 7, in which the heating means comprises a conductive polymeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A clip according to claim 9, in which the conductive polymeric material has a positive temperature co-efficient of resistance, by means of which the heating means is self-regulating with respect to temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A clip according to claim 1, in which the inner leg comprises: an electrically powerable heating means; a hot-melt adhesive; and a control means for the electrical power responsive to the viscosity of the adhesive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
An assembly for enclosing a branch-off between substrates, which comprises a sleeve which can surround the substrates and a clip, which comprises at least two outer legs and an inner leg, positioned with the outer legs outside the sleeve and the inner leg inside the sleeve to form at least two terminal conduits in the sleeve; the inner leg comprising a heating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
An assembly for enclosing a branch-off between substrates, which comprises a sleeve which can surround the substrates and a clip, which comprises at least two outer legs and an inner leg, positioned with the outer legs outside the sleeve and the inner leg inside the sleeve to form at least two terminal conduits in the sleeve; the inner leg comprising a heating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
An assembly according to claim 12, in which the sleeve is recoverable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
An assembly according to claim 13, in which the sleeve is heat-recoverable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly according to claim 12, in which the sleeve has an internal surface which comprises a heat-activatable sealing material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly according to claim 14, in which the sleeve includes a heating means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly according to claim 16, in which the sleeve includes a heating means powerable by electrical power.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
An assembly according to claim 16, in which the heating means is self-regulating with repsect to temperature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
An assembly according to claim 18, in which the heating means of the clip is self-regulating with respect to temperature, and the self-regulating characteristics of the clip and sleeve are such that the maximum temperatures ordinarily reached at the inner leg and at the sleeve differ by 20° C. or less.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
An assembly according to claim 12, in which the heating means for the inner leg and for the sleeve each are powerable by electrical power from the same source.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A heating and sealing member positionable within an end portion of a sleeve, and which comprises an elongate member having self contained heating means and an outer surface comprising a heat-activatable sealing material in thermal contact with the heating means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A heating and sealing member positionable within an end portion of a sleeve, and which comprises an elongate member having self contained heating means and an outer surface comprising a heat-activatable sealing material in thermal contact with the heating means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A member according to claim 21, in which the heating means is powerable by electrical power and is self-regulating with respect to temperature.
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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) | 1990-02-02 | 1990-08-04 | 1991-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-02 | 1994-08-04 | 1995-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-02 | 1998-08-04 | 1999-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |