US5082719A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water resistant communications cable
Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Inc
•
Filing: 1989-07-12
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Granted: 1992-01-21
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Expires: 2009-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A communications cable comprising a core of at least one transmission medium and a plastic jacket includes provisions for preventing the movement of water within the cable. An impregnated tape (35) is interposed between the core and the jacket and is wrapped about the core to form a longitudinal overlapped seam. The tape comprises a substrate tape (37) which is impregnated with a superabsorbent material which upon contact with water swells and inhibits the further movement of the water. The tape and its thickness are controlled so that the thickness is minimal while the tensile strength of the tape and its porosity prior to impregnation are optimized.
Inventors
- 👤 Candido J. Arroyo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4429; G02B6/44384; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/20; Y10T442/2484
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A waterblocking tape, which comprises: a single non-woven substrate tape which comprises a spunbonded non-woven plastic material and which prior to any treatment thereof has a relatively high tensile strength; and a superabsorbent material which impregnates said substrate tape to fill substantially cells thereof such that said substrate tape after impregnated with said superabsorbent material has a relatively low porosity compared to its porosity prior to impregnation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A waterblocking tape, which comprises: a single non-woven substrate tape which comprises a spunbonded non-woven plastic material and which prior to any treatment thereof has a relatively high tensile strength; and a superabsorbent material which impregnates said substrate tape to fill substantially cells thereof such that said substrate tape after impregnated with said superabsorbent material has a relatively low porosity compared to its porosity prior to impregnation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tape of claim 1, wherein said substrate tape has a relatively small thickness and is a spunbonded polyester material which comprises continuous filament polyester fibers that are randomly arranged, highly dispersed and bonded at filament junctions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tape of claim 1, wherein said tape has been impregnated with a mixture which comprises water and a superabsorbent material in which the mixture comprises about 4 to 7% by weight of solids.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tape of claim 1, wherein said superabsorbent material is a film comprising an acrylate polymer which includes acrylic acid and sodium acrylate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tape of claim 4, wherein said impregnated tape has a unit weight which is equal to about 1.1 to 1.8 ounces per square yard.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tape of claim 1, wherein the density of the impregnated tape is about 10 to 80% greater than the density of the unimpregnated substrate tape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tape of claim 1, wherein said superabsorbent material is a film which includes acrylate acrylamide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tape of claim 1, wherein the porosity of said tape prior to the impregnation thereof is in the range of about 120 to 1000 CFM/ft 2 at 0.5 inch of water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tape of claim 1, wherein said tape has a thickness which does not exceed about 0.010 inch and a tensile strength which is at least about 5 lbs/inch of width.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tape of claim 9 wherein said tape prior to impregnation thereof has a porosity in the range of about 300 to 1000 CFM/ft 2 at 0.5 inch of water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tape of claim 1, wherein said waterblocking material is selected from the group consisting of (a) polyacrylic acid; (b) polyacrylamide; blends of (a) and (b); salts of (a) and (b); and copolymers of (a) and (b).
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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) | 1995-01-20 | 1995-07-22 | 1996-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-20 | 1999-07-22 | 2000-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-20 | 2003-07-22 | 2004-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |