US4765712A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fiber cable
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
•
Filing: 1986-01-31
•
Granted: 1988-08-23
•
Expires: 2006-01-31
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber cable includes a core (22) comprising optical fibers (24-24) in ribbon or single fiber form and a sheath system (50) which provides flexibility for ease of handling and installation, strength to resist tensile and torsional stresses and rodent and/or lightning protection. The core is enclosed by a tube (28) which is made of a plastic material, a shield system (52) and outer plastic jacket (54). The shield system provides rodent and/or lightning protection. Strength is provided by a plurality of longitudinally extending strength members (58-58) which are disposed in a single layer concentric with the core and which in a preferred embodiment are disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the shield and with substantial portions of their perpheries embedded in the plastic of the outer jacket.
Inventors
- 👤 William D. Bohannon, Jr.
- 👤 Michael D. Kinard
- 👤 Mickey R. Reynolds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:09
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An optical fiber cable, which comprises: a core comprising at least one optical fiber; a tube which is made of a plastic material and which encloses said core; and a sheath system which comprises: a single metallic shield which encloses said tube; a jacket which is made of a plastic material and which is bonded adhesively to an outer surface of said metallic shield to enhance substantially the torsional stability of the cable and to inhibit relative movement between portions of the sheath system; and a plurality of longitudinally extending strength members which are disposed in a single layer between said tube and said jacket which is bonded to an outer surface of said metallic shield and which are decoupled sufficiently from other portions of said sheath system in a longitudinal direction along the cable to cause said cable to be relatively flexible.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
An optical fiber cable, which comprises: a core comprising at least one optical fiber; a tube which is made of a plastic material and which encloses said core; and a sheath system which comprises: a single metallic shield which encloses said tube; a jacket which is made of a plastic material and which is bonded adhesively to an outer surface of said metallic shield to enhance substantially the torsional stability of the cable and to inhibit relative movement between portions of the sheath system; and a plurality of longitudinally extending strength members which are disposed in a single layer between said tube and said jacket which is bonded to an outer surface of said metallic shield and which are decoupled sufficiently from other portions of said sheath system in a longitudinal direction along the cable to cause said cable to be relatively flexible.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 1, wherein said single metallic shield is corrugated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of strength members is wrapped helically about a longitudinal axis of said cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of strength members extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 1, wherein said strength members are capable of resisting tensile and compressive forces which are applied axially of said cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 1, wherein said shield comprises a laminate which includes a layer of a first metallic material and a layer of a second metallic material which are bonded together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 6, wherein said first metallic material is copper and said second metallic material is stainless steel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 7, wherein said first metallic material is disposed adjacent to an outer surface of said tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 8 wherein the first and second metallic materials are bonded together metallurgically.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 8, wherein the first and second metallic materials are bonded together adhesively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 10, wherein said layers of metallic material are bonded together by a system which comprises a plurality of layers of adhesive materials.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 11, wherein a layer of a first adhesive material is bonded to an outer surface of said first metallic material, a layer of a second adhesive material is bonded to an inner surface of said second metallic material and a layer of a third adhesive material is interposed between said first and second layers of adhesive materials.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cable of claim 12, wherein said first adhesive material is a terpolymer comprising ethylene, an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an ester of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and said second adhesive material is the same as said first adhesive material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The cable of claim 13, wherein said first adhesive material is a terpolymer comprising about 85-90% by weight of ethylene, about 3-5% by weight of any acrylic acid, and an acrylic acid ester, and wherein said acrylic acid and said acrylic acid ester together comprise about 10-15% by weight of said terpolymer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of said shield includes an adhesive system which causes said jacket to become bonded to said shield.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 15, wherein said adhesive system which causes said outer jacket to become bonded to said shield includes a terpolymer material which is bonded to said shield and a plastic material which is bonded to said terpolymer and to said jacket.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 1, which also includes an inner jacket which is made of a plastic material and disposed concentrically about said tube and wherein said plurality of strength members are disposed adjacent to said tube and at least partially embedded in said inner jacket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 17, wherein an outer surface of said inner jacket is bonded adhesively to an inner surface of said shield.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
An optical fiber cable, which comprises: a core comprising at least one optical fiber; and a tube which is made of a plastic material and which encloses said core; and a sheath system which comprises: a single metallic shield which encloses said tube; a jacket which is made of a plastic material and which encloses and is bonded to an outer surface of said shield to enhance substantially the torsional stability of the cable and to inhibit relative movement between portions of the sheath system; and a plurality of longitudinally extending strength members being disposed in engagement with an outer surface of said shield and having substantial portions of the peripheries thereof embedded in said jacket, said strength members being decoupled sufficiently from other portions of said sheath system in a longitudinal direction along the cable to cause said cable to be relatively flexible.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
144 words
An optical fiber cable, which comprises: a core comprising at least one optical fiber; and a tube which is made of a plastic material and which encloses said core; and a sheath system which comprises: a single metallic shield which encloses said tube; a jacket which is made of a plastic material and which encloses and is bonded to an outer surface of said shield to enhance substantially the torsional stability of the cable and to inhibit relative movement between portions of the sheath system; and a plurality of longitudinally extending strength members being disposed in engagement with an outer surface of said shield and having substantial portions of the peripheries thereof embedded in said jacket, said strength members being decoupled sufficiently from other portions of said sheath system in a longitudinal direction along the cable to cause said cable to be relatively flexible.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 19, wherein said shield includes a strip of copper which has been wrapped about said tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 19, wherein said shield includes a strip of stainless steel which has been wrapped about said tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 19, wherein said shield comprises a laminate which includes a layer of a first metallic material and a layer of a second metallic material which are bonded together.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 22, wherein said first metallic material is copper and said second metallic material is stainless steel and wherein said layer of first metallic material is disposed adjacent to an outer surface of said tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 22, wherein said shield is corrugated and said layer of first metallic material is adjacent to said tube.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 24, wherein said metallic materials are bonded together metallurgically.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 24, wherein said metallic materials are bonded together adhesively.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 26, wherein said layers of metallic material are bonded together by a system which comprises a plurality of layers of adhesive materials.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
63 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 27, wherein a first layer of said adhesive system is bonded to an outer surface of said first metallic material, a second layer of said adhesive system is bonded to an inner surface of said second metallic material and a third layer of said adhesive system is interposed between said first and second layers of adhesive materials.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
64 words
The cable of claim 28, wherein said first layer of adhesive material is a terpolymer comprising ethylene, an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an ester of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and said third layer of adhesive material is compatible with the plastic material of said jacket of said second layer of adhesive material is the same as said first layer of adhesive material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 19, wherein an outer surface of said shield includes an adhesive system which causes said jacket to become bonded to said shield.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 19, wherein said single metallic shield is corrugated.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of strength members is wrapped helically about a longitudinal axis of said cable.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical fiber cable of claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of strength members extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3360409A
Cited
US4078853A
Cited
US4241979A
Cited
DE3222541A1
Cited
US4518034A
Cited
US4552432A
Cited
US4557560A
Cited
JPH1086448A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-23 | 1992-02-22 | 1992-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-23 | 1996-02-22 | 1996-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-23 | 2000-02-22 | 2000-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |