Undercarpet cable

• US 4,644,099 A
• Filed: 04/11/1985
• Issued: 02/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: Allied Corp. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Basconi, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NIMMO, MORRIS
• Application Number:
  US06/722,048
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 174/10, 174/70 C, 174/117 F, 174/117 FF, 174/115, 174/117 R
• US Class Current: 174/117.00F
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0823 Parallel wires, incorporated in a flat insulating profile
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/38 with arrangements for facilitating removal of insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/285 in modular floors, e.g. access floors

Abstract

An undercarpet cable comprises a signal-carrying core surrounded by a jacket having a rectangular cross section. Adjoining the jacket on opposite sides are two tapered side members that are easily peeled from the jacket to facilitate attaching a connector to the jacketed core.

Claims

1. An electrical cable for undercarpet use comprising:

(a) an elongated electrically conductive core surrounded by an electrically insulating jacket having a rectangular cross section including a top and a bottom, and

(b) two elongated side members disposed on opposite sides of the jacketed core, each side member having a generally triangular cross section, including

(i) a substantially flat bottom, substantially colinear with the bottom of the jacket and the substantially flat bottom of the other side member,

(ii) a side, normal to its substantially flat bottom, which side is generally adjacent to the jacket and joined to the jacket by a longitudinal section that is adapted to be easily severed to separate the side member from the jacket, and

(iii) a generally tapered top, which extends from the top of the side to the substantially flat bottom.

2. The cable of claim 1 in which each longitudinal section has a tapered cross section, with minimum thickness at its contact with the jacket.

3. The cable of claim 1 in which each longitudinal section has a substantially rectangular cross section, with the long dimension of the rectangle substantially parallel to the bottom of the jacket.

4. The cable of claim 1 in which the top of each side member joins the substantially flat bottom of the side member in a rounded vertex.

5. The cable of claim 1 further comprising an elongated rip cord embedded in the jacket in such a way that the jacket may be torn by pulling on the rip cord.

6. The cable of claim 1 in which the core comprises a central conductor, surrounded by a conductive shield, from which it is separated by a dielectric.

7. The cable of claim 6 further comprising an elongated conductive drain wire, electrically connected to the shield and disposed substantially coplanar with the central conductor.

8. The cable of claim 7 further comprising an elongated rip cord, substantially coplanar with the central conductor and the drain wire and embedded in the jacket in such a way that the jacket may be torn by pulling on the rip cord.