IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FOR VISUALLY IDENTIFYING CABLES OR DUCTS OVER THEIR ENTIRE LENGTH

• US 20080123323A1
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrice Brunet
• Original Assignee: Patrice Brunet
• Inventors: Brunet, Patrice
• Granted Patent: US 7,748,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

The identification device comprises at least one electroluminescent wire that extends along the cable or duct to be identified. The electroluminescent wire is designed to be electrically supplied in a temporary manner, so as to display the path of the cable or duct. This device is applicable to the identification of electrical cables, or pneumatic and hydraulic ducts, or fibre-optic cables or cords.

Claims

1. A visual identification device for visually identifying cables over their entire length, the visual identification device comprising:

at least one electroluminescent wire extending along the cable to be identified, the at least one electroluminescent wire being configured to display a path of said cable,

wherein each end of the at least one electroluminescent wire is configured for at least one of electrical connection and optical connection to a device or apparatus, and

wherein the at least one electroluminescent wire is configured to receive power at at least one powering area of the at least one electroluminescent wire remote of the ends of the cable, said power being supplied by a power supply source that is non-permanently associated with the at least one electroluminescent wire.

2. The visual identification device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electroluminescent wire is incorporated during manufacture of the cable, said at least one electroluminescent wire being either placed on a surface of the cable or duct, or embedded in the cable or duct but made visible via a transparent or translucent sheath.

3. Visual identification device according to claim 1, said device with said at least one electroluminescent wire is manufactured separately and added to the cable the device being applied and fastened to a surface of the cable or duct.

4. Visual identification device according to claim 3, wherein the a least one electroluminescent wire is fastened to the cable bonding using a non-permanent flexible adhesive, allowing “

repositionable”

fastening.

5. Visual identification device according to claim 4, further including an accessory for installing the at least one electroluminescent wire by adhesive bonding the at least one electroluminescent wire to the cable.

6. Visual identification device according to claim 3, wherein the device is applied and fastened to the surface of the cable or duct via mechanical fastening of the electroluminescent wire to the cable or duct, the cable and the electroluminescent wire are encased in one and a same transparent or translucent sheath slit longitudinally or helically.

9. Visual identification device according to claim 1, further including a connection means disposed at at least one of said at least one powering area for supplying power to the electroluminescent wire, said connection means being made in the form of a power connector fixed to said at least one electroluminescent wire and surrounding the cable, the power connector being configured to cooperate with a power injector formed from two opposed half-shells, which include internal electrical contacts, the two half-shells being configured to be closed up so as to grip the cable.

10. Visual identification device according to claim 9, characterized in that the power connector has a spherical general shape, while the power injector comprises two hemispherical half-shells.

11. Visual identification device according to claim 10, characterized in that the power connector has two coaxial opposed cylindrical parts, which extend a spherical part of this connector towards an outside and on which two contacts are respectively positioned.

12. Visual identification device according to claim 9, wherein the power injector has a pliers configuration including two branches, said two branches of the pliers bearing the two, especially hemispherical, half-shells respectively.

13. Visual identification device according to claim 9, wherein the connection means for supplying power to the at least one electroluminescent wire are designed to be used in combination with the power injector which, as a complement to the arrangements needed for the electrical connection, includes an adaptable electronic unit designed to supply power to the at least one electroluminescent wire according to characteristics specific to a particular electroluminescent wire and/or particular visual effects that are desired,.

14. Visual identification device according to claim 10, further including a label-holder accessory, comprising two hemispherical parts that form a retaining clamp on the power connector, the label-carrying accessory being advantageously made of an electrically insulating material.

15. Visual identification device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to identify fibre-optic cables or “

patch cords”

.

16. Visual identification device according to claim 6, wherein said sheath is a flexible and removable sheath in the case of the cable.

17. Visual identification device according to claim 9, wherein said connection means is placed near each of the ends of the cable.

18. Visual identification device according to claim 9, wherein said connection means is placed at an intermediate point along the length of the cable.

19. Visual identification device according to claim 13, wherein said particular visual effects are at least one of flashing effects or particular illumination colors.

7-8. -8. (canceled)