US4957347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Clad optical conduit and method of manufacture
Assignee: ROGER K HUGHES AS SUCCESSOR AND TRUSTEE
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Filing: 1989-01-30
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Granted: 1990-09-18
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Expires: 2009-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A flexible, clad, monofilament optical conduit having a flexible light transmitting polymeric core having a relatively high refractive index which is surrounded by a shrunk, heat shrinkable cladding having a relatively low refractive index in comparison to that of the core and which has a relatively small, uniform gap between the outer periphery of the core and the inner periphery of the heat shrinkable cladding, and a method of manufacture whereby a plurality of such conduits are simultaneously produced by polymerization of the conduit core forming material within a length of unshrunken heat shrinkable material which in turn is contained within a relatively thick, durable protective tubing and removal of the relatively thick protective tubing subsequent to polymerization and then shrinking the heat shrinkable material to form a relatively uniform gap between the core and the clad.
Inventors
- 👤 Jamshid Zarian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:52
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/032; B; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/06; B29C48/12; G02B6/02033; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/4471; G02B6/4476; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/3616; G02B6/3624; G02B6/38; G02B6/3801
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A flexible, clad monofilament conduit comprising: a cylindrical, flexible polymeric core having a relatively high refractive index; a tubular, flexible, cladding surrounding the core; and means for establishing a relatively narrow and substantially uniform gap containing air between the outer periphery of the core and the inner periphery of the cladding.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
A flexible, clad monofilament conduit comprising: a cylindrical, flexible polymeric core having a relatively high refractive index; a tubular, flexible, cladding surrounding the core; and means for establishing a relatively narrow and substantially uniform gap containing air between the outer periphery of the core and the inner periphery of the cladding.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The conduit of claim 1 wherein the cladding is a heat shrinkable fluorocarbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The conduit of 1 claim wherein the cladding is made of fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The conduit of claim 1 wherein the cladding is made of perfluoralkoxy resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The conduit of claim 1 wherein the cladding is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An optical conduit comprising: a cylindrical, optically conductive core having a relatively high refractive index; a tubular heat shrinkable cladding having a relatively low refractive index and in a shrunk condition surrounding the core and providing a relatively narrow, substantially uniform gap between the outer periphery of the core and the inner periphery of the cladding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
An optical conduit comprising: a cylindrical, optically conductive core having a relatively high refractive index; a tubular heat shrinkable cladding having a relatively low refractive index and in a shrunk condition surrounding the core and providing a relatively narrow, substantially uniform gap between the outer periphery of the core and the inner periphery of the cladding.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
The process of making a flexible, clad monofilament conduit comprising the steps of: selecting a length of relatively durable polymeric tubular jacket; cutting a slit along the length of the jacket; selecting a length of tubular cladding made of un-shrunken heat shrinkable fluoropolymer tubing; inserting a length of the tubular cladding inside the jacket; placing a polymerizable monomer mixture inside the tubular cladding; polymerizing the mixture to form a flexible tubular core; removing the jacket; and applying heat to the cladding effective to radially shrink the cladding to form a relatively narrow, uniform gap between the outer periphery of the core and the inner periphery of the cladding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
The process of making a flexible, clad monofilament conduit comprising the steps of: selecting a length of relatively durable polymeric tubular jacket; cutting a slit along the length of the jacket; selecting a length of tubular cladding made of un-shrunken heat shrinkable fluoropolymer tubing; inserting a length of the tubular cladding inside the jacket; placing a polymerizable monomer mixture inside the tubular cladding; polymerizing the mixture to form a flexible tubular core; removing the jacket; and applying heat to the cladding effective to radially shrink the cladding to form a relatively narrow, uniform gap between the outer periphery of the core and the inner periphery of the cladding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A flexible, clad monofilament conduit comprising: a cylindrical, flexible polymeric core having a relatively high refractive index; a tubular, flexible, un-shrunken heat shrinkable cladding surrounding the core; and a tubular, thermoplastic jacket made of a polymeric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A flexible, clad monofilament conduit comprising: a cylindrical, flexible polymeric core having a relatively high refractive index; a tubular, flexible, un-shrunken heat shrinkable cladding surrounding the core; and a tubular, thermoplastic jacket made of a polymeric material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
The product made by the process of: selecting a tubular, flexible, un-shrunken, heat shrinkable material to be used to form a cladding; selecting a monomer mixture; placing the mixture inside of the cladding; polymerizing the mixture to form a solid, flexible, generally cylindrically shaped core surrounded by the un-shrunken, heat shrinkable cladding to form an un-shrunk conduit; and heating the un-shrunk conduit at a relatively high temperature and for a time sufficient to shrink the heat-shrinkable cladding about the core to minimize a gap between the core and the cladding.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
The product made by the process of: selecting a tubular, flexible, un-shrunken, heat shrinkable material to be used to form a cladding; selecting a monomer mixture; placing the mixture inside of the cladding; polymerizing the mixture to form a solid, flexible, generally cylindrically shaped core surrounded by the un-shrunken, heat shrinkable cladding to form an un-shrunk conduit; and heating the un-shrunk conduit at a relatively high temperature and for a time sufficient to shrink the heat-shrinkable cladding about the core to minimize a gap between the core and the cladding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The product of claim 9 further including the step of placing the tubular, flexible, un-shrunken, heat shrinkable cladding inside of a tubular polymeric jacket material, said step being performed prior to the step of placing the monomer mixture inside of the cladding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The product of claim 9 wherein the tubular, flexible, un-shrunken, heat shrinkable material is a fluoropolymer.
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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) | 1993-09-17 | 1994-03-19 | 1994-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-17 | 1998-03-19 | 1998-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-17 | 2002-03-19 | 2002-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |