US4729629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bonded sheath cable with lubricant over seam
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp
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Filing: 1987-02-26
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Granted: 1988-03-08
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Expires: 2007-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A bonded sheath cable is disclosed of the type having a metallic shield wrapped around a cable core so as to form a longitudinal seam. A jelly-like lubricant overlays the metallic shield seam area and serves to decouple the bond between the metallic shield and an outer plastic jacket. The lubricant allows for relative movement between the longitudinal ends of the metallic shield and the overlying jacket layer without damaging the jacket layer if the bond between the overlapping ends of the metallic shield is broken and the cable twisted during installation or in some other manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasunori Saito
- 👤 Kenji Morita
- 👤 Yves P. P. Simons
- 👤 Fred T. McDuffee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4415; G02B6/4416; G02B6/4407; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A bonded sheath cable comprising: a cable which includes at least one conductor; a layer of plastic material which encloses said cable; a metallic shield which is wrapped around said layer of plastic material to form a longitudinal overlapped seam having overlying and underlying edge portions formed by overlapping adjacent longitudinal edges of said shield, said edge portions being bonded together; a layer of viscous lubricating material which is applied along the length of said longitudinal overlapped seam; and a jacket layer of plastic material which is bonded to substantially all of the outer surface of said shield except for the overlapped seam area to which said lubricating material has been applied; whereby said jacket layer is decoupled from said overlapped seam area of said shield in order to allow such relative movement therebetween as may be necessary to resist tearing of said jacket layer when the cable is subjected to twisting forces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A bonded sheath cable comprising: a cable which includes at least one conductor; a layer of plastic material which encloses said cable; a metallic shield which is wrapped around said layer of plastic material to form a longitudinal overlapped seam having overlying and underlying edge portions formed by overlapping adjacent longitudinal edges of said shield, said edge portions being bonded together; a layer of viscous lubricating material which is applied along the length of said longitudinal overlapped seam; and a jacket layer of plastic material which is bonded to substantially all of the outer surface of said shield except for the overlapped seam area to which said lubricating material has been applied; whereby said jacket layer is decoupled from said overlapped seam area of said shield in order to allow such relative movement therebetween as may be necessary to resist tearing of said jacket layer when the cable is subjected to twisting forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 1 wherein said cable is an optical fiber communications cable comprising at least one light transmitting waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 1 wherein said cable is a conventional electrical communications cable comprising at least one electrical conductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 1 wherein said layer of plastic material and said jacket layer comprise polyethylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 1 including a water blocking material applied between said layer of plastic material and said metallic shield.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 1 wherein said metallic shield is a corrugated metallic tape having at least one surface coated with a copolymer material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 6 wherein both surfaces of said tape are coated with a copolymer material and said overlapped edge portions are bonded by heat sealing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 6 wherein said copolymer material is ethylene acrylic acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 1 wherein said overlying and underlying edge portions of said shield are adhesively bonded together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 1 wherein said lubricating material comprises a jelly-like petroleum based material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 1 wherein said lubricating material comprises a jelly-like silicone based material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 1 wherein said overlying and underlying edge portions have a coextensive width of about 5-15 millimeters and the width of said lubricating material applied to said overlapped seam is not greater than 1/3 of the circumference of said shield.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 1 wherein said lubricating material is applied along the longitudinal edge of said overlying edge portion and extends laterally therefrom in each direction no greater than 80 percent of the width of said overlapped seam formed by said overlying and underlying edge portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
159 words
A bonded sheath cable comprising: an optical fiber communications cable comprising a plurality of light transmitting waveguides; a layer of plastic material which encloses said optical fiber cable; a corrugated metallic tape which is wrapped around said layer of plastic material to form a longitudinal overlapped seam with overlying and underlying edge portions formed by overlapping adjacent longitudinal edges of said tape, said edge portions being bonded together; a layer of jelly-like lubricating material which is applied along the length of said overlapped seam; and a jacket layer of plastic material which is bonded to substantially all of the outer surface of said tape except for the overlapped seam area to which said lubricating material has been applied; whereby said jacket layer is decoupled from said overlapped seam area of said tape in order to allow such relative movement therebetween as may be necessary to resist tearing of said jacket layer when the cable is subjected to twisting forces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
159 words
A bonded sheath cable comprising: an optical fiber communications cable comprising a plurality of light transmitting waveguides; a layer of plastic material which encloses said optical fiber cable; a corrugated metallic tape which is wrapped around said layer of plastic material to form a longitudinal overlapped seam with overlying and underlying edge portions formed by overlapping adjacent longitudinal edges of said tape, said edge portions being bonded together; a layer of jelly-like lubricating material which is applied along the length of said overlapped seam; and a jacket layer of plastic material which is bonded to substantially all of the outer surface of said tape except for the overlapped seam area to which said lubricating material has been applied; whereby said jacket layer is decoupled from said overlapped seam area of said tape in order to allow such relative movement therebetween as may be necessary to resist tearing of said jacket layer when the cable is subjected to twisting forces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 14 wherein said layer of plastic material and said jacket layer comprise polyethylene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 14 including a water blocking material applied between said layer of plastic material and said metallic tape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 14 wherein said tape is coated with a copolymer material and said overlapped edge portions are bonded by heat sealing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 17 wherein said copolymer material is ethylene acrylic acid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 14 wherein said overlying and underlying edge portions of said tape are adhesively bonded together.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 14 wherein said lubricating material is petroleum based.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 14 wherein said lubricating material is silicone based.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 14 wherein said overlying and underlying edge portions have a coextensive width between about 5-15 millimeters and the width of said lubricating material applied to said overlapped seam is not greater than 1/3 of the circumferences of said tape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A bonded sheath cable according to claim 14 wherein said lubricating material is applied along the longitudinal edge of said overlying edge portion and extends laterally therefrom in each direction no greater than 80 percent of width of said overlapped seam formed by said overlying and underlying edge portions.
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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) | 1991-03-08 | 1991-09-07 | 1992-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-08 | 1995-09-07 | 1996-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-08 | 1999-09-07 | 2000-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |