Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A cable which is suitable for aerial use, said cable comprising: a core comprising at least one longitudinally extending transmission medium; a relatively supple system having a core wrap portion which encloses said core and a portion which includes an elongated waterblocking member which is disposed about said core wrap portion and which is effective to inhibit the longitudinal flow of water; a metallic shielding system which encloses said portion of said supple system which encloses said core, said shielding system being such as to provide a substantially high conductivity and a relatively high tensile strength; a jacket which is made of a plastic material and which encloses and which is bonded to at least that portion of said shielding system which has a relatively high tensile strength, wherein said shielding system includes a metallic inner shield which is interposed between said core wrap portion and said elongated waterblocking member and a metallic outer shield which encloses said elongated waterblocking member and which is bonded to said jacket; and a longitudinally extending support strand which is spaced from said outer metallic shield and which is capable of supporting a length of said cable spanning aerially between two supporting structures; said jacket including a first portion which encloses and is bonded to said outer metallic shield and a second portion which encloses said support strand, said first and second portions of said jacket being connected by a web of said plastic material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A cable which is suitable for aerial use, said cable comprising: a core comprising at least one longitudinally extending transmission medium; a relatively supple system having a core wrap portion which encloses said core and a portion which includes an elongated waterblocking member which is disposed about said core wrap portion and which is effective to inhibit the longitudinal flow of water; a metallic shielding system which encloses said portion of said supple system which encloses said core, said shielding system being such as to provide a substantially high conductivity and a relatively high tensile strength; a jacket which is made of a plastic material and which encloses and which is bonded to at least that portion of said shielding system which has a relatively high tensile strength, wherein said shielding system includes a metallic inner shield which is interposed between said core wrap portion and said elongated waterblocking member and a metallic outer shield which encloses said elongated waterblocking member and which is bonded to said jacket; and a longitudinally extending support strand which is spaced from said outer metallic shield and which is capable of supporting a length of said cable spanning aerially between two supporting structures; said jacket including a first portion which encloses and is bonded to said outer metallic shield and a second portion which encloses said support strand, said first and second portions of said jacket being connected by a web of said plastic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said relatively supple core wrap material core wrap comprises a dielectric plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said metallic inner shield comprises aluminum and said metallic outer shield comprises steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said inner shield is wrapped about said relatively supple core wrap material to have a longitudinal overlapped seam with a waterblocking material disposed between longitudinal overlapping edge portions of said inner shield.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said outer shield is formed about said inner shield to have an overlapped seam and wherein overlapping longitudinal edge portions of said outer shield have a waterblocking material disposed therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cable of claim 5 wherein said waterblocking material which is disposed between overlapping edge portions of said outer shield comprises a yarn which is provided with a superabsorbent material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said metallic outer shield is provided with a layer of an adhesive material which causes said jacket to become bonded to said outer shield.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cable of claim 7, wherein said adhesive material comprises an adhesive copolymer material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said inner and outer shields are sufficiently close to allow a single bonding clamp to engage both shields to establish electrical continuity across a splice location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said layer of waterblocking material comprises two longitudinally extending tapes having a water swellable powder disposed therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said outer shield is formed about said inner shield such that longitudinal edge portions thereof cooperate to provide a longitudinally extending seam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein a layer of waterblocking material comprises a longitudinally extending water blocking tape comprising a substrate tape which is wrapped about said core between said core and said jacket, said tape being impregnated with a waterblocking material which is swellable upon contact with moisture to block entry of moisture into said core and movement longitudinally along the cable, and having a thickness that is controlled to optimize the tensile strength of the tape and its porosity which prior to its being impregnated is relatively high.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The cable of claim 12, wherein said tape comprises a non-woven material and 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 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cable of claim 13, 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 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cable of claim 12 wherein said waterblocking material is selected from the group consisting of: (a) polyacrylic acid, (b) polyacrylamide; (c) blends of (a) and (b); (d) salts of (a) and (b); and (e) copolymers of (a) and (b).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein a seam of said outer shield is formed so that an outer longitudinal edge portion thereof is directed inwardly toward said core.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said web has a height which extends in a direction between centerline longitudinal axes of said core and said support strand and a width which extends normal to said direction and wherein said web has a width of about 0.3 cm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cable of claim 17, wherein said web has a height in the range of about 0.3 to 0.46 cm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
146 words
A cable which is suitable for aerial use, said cable comprising: a core comprising at least one longitudinally extending transmission medium; a relatively supple system having a portion which encloses said core and a portion which includes a waterblocking constituent which is effective to inhibit the longitudinal flow of water; a metallic shielding system which encloses said portion of said supple system which encloses said core, said shielding system being such as to provide a substantially high conductivity and a relatively high tensile strength; and a jacket which is made of a plastic material and which encloses and which is bonded to at least that portion of said shielding system which has a relatively high tensile strength, wherein said relatively supple system includes a laminate having an inwardly facing layer which comprises a plastic dielectric material and an outwardly facing layer which comprises a waterblocking material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
146 words
A cable which is suitable for aerial use, said cable comprising: a core comprising at least one longitudinally extending transmission medium; a relatively supple system having a portion which encloses said core and a portion which includes a waterblocking constituent which is effective to inhibit the longitudinal flow of water; a metallic shielding system which encloses said portion of said supple system which encloses said core, said shielding system being such as to provide a substantially high conductivity and a relatively high tensile strength; and a jacket which is made of a plastic material and which encloses and which is bonded to at least that portion of said shielding system which has a relatively high tensile strength, wherein said relatively supple system includes a laminate having an inwardly facing layer which comprises a plastic dielectric material and an outwardly facing layer which comprises a waterblocking material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cable of claim 19, wherein said shielding system includes a metallic alloy material having suitable conductivity and suitable tensile strength.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
122 words
A cable, which comprises: a core comprising at least one longitudinally extending transmission medium; a relatively supple system having a core wrap portion which encloses said core and a portion which includes an elongated waterblocking member which is disposed about said core wrap portion and which is effective to inhibit the longitudinal flow of water; a metallic shielding system which encloses said portion of said supple system which encloses said core, said shielding system being such as to provide a substantially high conductivity and a relatively high tensile strength; and a jacket which is made of a plastic material and which encloses and which is bonded to at least that portion of said shielding system which has a relatively high tensile strength.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
122 words
A cable, which comprises: a core comprising at least one longitudinally extending transmission medium; a relatively supple system having a core wrap portion which encloses said core and a portion which includes an elongated waterblocking member which is disposed about said core wrap portion and which is effective to inhibit the longitudinal flow of water; a metallic shielding system which encloses said portion of said supple system which encloses said core, said shielding system being such as to provide a substantially high conductivity and a relatively high tensile strength; and a jacket which is made of a plastic material and which encloses and which is bonded to at least that portion of said shielding system which has a relatively high tensile strength.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cable of claim 21, wherein said shielding system includes a metallic alloy material having suitable conductivity and suitable tensile strength.