US5042904A — Communications cable and method having a talk pat…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 105 words

A communications cable comprising: at least one longitudinally extending primary signal conductor; a core containing said primary signal conductor; a jacket surrounding said core, said jacket formed of a deformable material having a plurality of longitudinal cavities formed therein at radially spaced locations about said core; a talk path in at least one of said longitudinal cavities, so as to be readily accessible for use in communication along the cable during cable service; and marking means on the outer surface of said jacket for indicating the location of said talk path relative to said jacket for assisting the field technicians in locating said talk path.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 105 words

A communications cable comprising: at least one longitudinally extending primary signal conductor; a core containing said primary signal conductor; a jacket surrounding said core, said jacket formed of a deformable material having a plurality of longitudinal cavities formed therein at radially spaced locations about said core; a talk path in at least one of said longitudinal cavities, so as to be readily accessible for use in communication along the cable during cable service; and marking means on the outer surface of said jacket for indicating the location of said talk path relative to said jacket for assisting the field technicians in locating said talk path.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The communications cable of claim 1 wherein said at least one primary signal conductor comprises an electrical conductor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The communications cable of claim 1 wherein said at least one primary signal conductor comprises an optical fiber.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The communications cable of claim 3 wherein said core comprises a buffer tube, and wherein said optical fiber is located within said buffer tube.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The communications cable of claim 3 wherein said core comprises a longitudinally extending strength member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 11 words

The communications cable of claim 1 wherein said jacket is polyethylene.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 12 words

The communications cable of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal cavities contain air.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

The communications cable of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal cavities contain a water blocking material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The communications cable of claim 1 wherein said talk path comprises a pair of electrical conductors.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 14 words

The communications cable of claim 1 wherein said talk path comprises an optical fiber.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The communications cable of claim 1 wherein said marking means comprises ink of a color contrasting to the color of said jacket.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The communications cable of claim 1 wherein said marking means comprises embossed outer surface areas of said jacket.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The communications cable of claim 1 wherein said marking means comprises an extruded stripe of a color contrasting to the color of said jacket.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 107 words

A fiber optic cable comprising: at least one optical fiber; a core containing said optical fiber; a jacket encompassing said core, said jacket formed from a deformable material having a plurality of spaced longitudinal cavities formed therein at radially spaced locations about said core; a talk path in at least one of said longitudinal cavities, so as to be readily accessible to field technicians for use in communication along the cable during cable service; and marking means on the outer surface area of said jacket for indicating the location of said talk path relative to said jacket for assisting the field technicians in locating said talk path.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 107 words

A fiber optic cable comprising: at least one optical fiber; a core containing said optical fiber; a jacket encompassing said core, said jacket formed from a deformable material having a plurality of spaced longitudinal cavities formed therein at radially spaced locations about said core; a talk path in at least one of said longitudinal cavities, so as to be readily accessible to field technicians for use in communication along the cable during cable service; and marking means on the outer surface area of said jacket for indicating the location of said talk path relative to said jacket for assisting the field technicians in locating said talk path.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The fiber optic cable of claim 14 wherein said core comprises a longitudinally extending strength member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 12 words

The fiber optic cable of claim 14 wherein said jacket comprises polyethylene.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

The fiber optic cable of claim 14 wherein said longitudinal cavities contain air.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

The fiber optic cable of claim 14 wherein said longitudinal cavities contain a water blocking material.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

The fiber optic cable of claim 14 wherein said talk path comprises a pair of electrical conductors.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The fiber optic cable of claim 14 wherein said talk path comprises an optical fiber.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The communications cable of claim 14 wherein said marking means comprises ink contrasting to the color of said jacket

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 18 words

The communications cable of claim 14 wherein said marking means comprises embossed outer surface areas of said jacket.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

The communications cable of claim 14 wherein said marking means comprises an extruded stripe of a color contrasting to the color of said jacket.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 139 words

A method of making a communications cable having a talk path in the cable jacket wherein the talk path may be readily accessed by a field technician, and wherein the cable has enhanced crush, impact, and cut-through resistance, said method comprising the steps of: forming a cable core for carrying at least one longitudinally extending primary signal conductor; extruding a jacket of a deformable material around the core wherein the jacket contains a plurality of longitudinal cavities formed therein at radially spaced locations about the core; said extruding step comprising placing a talk path in at least one of the longitudinal cavities; and marking the portion of the outer surface area of the cable jacket overlying the talk path to indicate the location of the talk path, so that a field service technician may readily locate the talk path.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 139 words

A method of making a communications cable having a talk path in the cable jacket wherein the talk path may be readily accessed by a field technician, and wherein the cable has enhanced crush, impact, and cut-through resistance, said method comprising the steps of: forming a cable core for carrying at least one longitudinally extending primary signal conductor; extruding a jacket of a deformable material around the core wherein the jacket contains a plurality of longitudinal cavities formed therein at radially spaced locations about the core; said extruding step comprising placing a talk path in at least one of the longitudinal cavities; and marking the portion of the outer surface area of the cable jacket overlying the talk path to indicate the location of the talk path, so that a field service technician may readily locate the talk path.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of filling the longitudinal cavities with a water blocking material.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 130 words

A method of forming a cable jacket around a communications cable core having a talk path in the cable jacket wherein the talk path may be readily accessed by a field technician, and wherein the cable has enhanced crush, impact, and cut-through resistance, said method comprising the steps of: extruding a jacket of a deformable material around the core wherein the jacket contains a plurality of longitudinal cavities formed therein at radially spaced locations about the core; said extruding step comprising placing a talk path in at least one of the longitudinal cavities; and marking the portion of the outer surface area of the cable jacket overlying the talk path to indicate the location of the talk path, so that a field service technician ma readily locate the talk path.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 130 words

A method of forming a cable jacket around a communications cable core having a talk path in the cable jacket wherein the talk path may be readily accessed by a field technician, and wherein the cable has enhanced crush, impact, and cut-through resistance, said method comprising the steps of: extruding a jacket of a deformable material around the core wherein the jacket contains a plurality of longitudinal cavities formed therein at radially spaced locations about the core; said extruding step comprising placing a talk path in at least one of the longitudinal cavities; and marking the portion of the outer surface area of the cable jacket overlying the talk path to indicate the location of the talk path, so that a field service technician ma readily locate the talk path.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of filling the longitudinal cavities with a water blocking material.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 133 words

A method of making a connection to a talk path contained within a longitudinal cavity of a jacket of a cable without disrupting a core of the cable, the talk path being for use by a field service technician during servicing of the cable, the location of the talk path being marked lengthwise along the jacket, said method comprising the steps of: locating the lengthwise mark along the cable jacket indicating the talk path position; cutting and removing an outer portion of the cable jacket at the mark location, thereby exposing the underlying talk path contained within the longitudinal cavity without disrupting the core of the cable; and connecting a field communications device to the talk path, to thereby establish a connection to the talk path for use by the field service technician.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 133 words

A method of making a connection to a talk path contained within a longitudinal cavity of a jacket of a cable without disrupting a core of the cable, the talk path being for use by a field service technician during servicing of the cable, the location of the talk path being marked lengthwise along the jacket, said method comprising the steps of: locating the lengthwise mark along the cable jacket indicating the talk path position; cutting and removing an outer portion of the cable jacket at the mark location, thereby exposing the underlying talk path contained within the longitudinal cavity without disrupting the core of the cable; and connecting a field communications device to the talk path, to thereby establish a connection to the talk path for use by the field service technician.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-08-26	1995-02-25	1995-08-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-08-26	1999-02-25	1999-08-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-08-26	2003-02-25	2003-08-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Communications cable and method having a talk path in an enhanced cable jacket

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