SHIELDING TAPE WITH EDGE INDICATOR

• US 20110011638A1
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PCT International Incorporated (Andes Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: PCT International Incorporated (Andes Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gemme, Paul, Visser, Leonard
• Application Number:
  US12/605,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011638A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/350
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1016 composed of a longitudinal lapped tape-conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1813 Co-axial cables with at least one braided conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/366 being a tape, thread or wire extending the full length of the conductor or cable

Abstract

The present invention comprises a shielding tape comprising at least one shielding layer, at least one separator layer, a first (inner) edge, and a second (outer) edge. The shielding tape further includes an indicator extending along at least a portion of the outer edge. The indicator is for identifying the outer edge when the outer edge overlaps the inner edge when the shielding tape is positioned onto a cable. Alternatively, both edges may have an indicator. The present invention makes it easy to locate the outer edge of the shielding tape for an installer wishing to remove at least some of the shielding tape before crimping or compressing a connector onto the end of a cable.

Claims

1. A cable comprising:

(a) a center conductor;

(b) an outer shielding tape surrounding the center conductor, the outer shielding tape comprising;

(i) an inner edge;

(ii) an outer edge that overlaps the inner edge; and

(iii) an indicator extending along at least a portion of the outer edge, the indicator for identifying the outer edge.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.

3. The cable of claim 2, wherein the visual indicator is a solid line.

4. The cable of claim 2, wherein the shielding tape comprises a first color and the visual indicator comprises a second color, and wherein the first color and second color are different.

5. The cable of claim 2, wherein the outer edge comprises a visual indicator at intervals along the outer edge.

6. The cable of claim 2, wherein the outer edge comprises a continuous visual indicator along the outer edge.

7. The cable of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a tactile indicator.

8. The cable of claim 7, wherein the tactile indicator is also a visual indicator.

9. The cable of claim 7, wherein the tactile indicator comprises one or more raised areas along the outer edge.

10. The cable of claim 7, wherein the tactile indicator comprises one or more indentations along the outer edge.

11. The cable of claim 7, wherein the tactile indicator comprises a pattern cut into the outer edge.

12. The cable of claim 11, wherein the pattern is a sawtooth pattern.

13. The cable of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator and a tactile indicator.

28. The cable of claim 1, wherein both edges include an indicator.

14. A shielding tape comprising:

(a) a shielding layer bonded to a separator layer;

(b) an inner edge;

(c) an outer edge; and

(d) an indicator extending along at least a portion of the outer edge, the indicator for identifying the outer edge when the outer edge overlaps the inner edge when the shielding tape surrounds a conductor in a cable.

15. The shielding tape of claim 14, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.

16. The shielding tape of claim 15, wherein the visual indicator includes a solid line.

17. The shielding tape of claim 15, wherein the shielding tape comprises a first color and the visual indicator comprises a second color, and wherein the first color and second color are different.

18. The shielding tape of claim 15, wherein the outer edge comprises a visual indicator at intervals along the outer edge.

19. The shielding tape of claim 15, wherein the outer edge comprises a continuous visual indicator along the outer edge.

20. The shielding tape of claim 14, wherein the indicator comprises a tactile indicator.

21. The shielding tape of claim 20, wherein the tactile indicator is also a visual indicator.

22. The shielding tape of claim 20, wherein the tactile indicator comprises one or more raised areas along the outer edge.

23. The shielding tape of claim 20, wherein the tactile indicator comprises one or more indentations along the outer edge.

24. The shielding tape of claim 20, wherein the tactile indicator comprises a pattern cut into the outer edge.

25. The shielding tape of claim 24, wherein the pattern is a sawtooth pattern.

26. The shielding tape of claim 14, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator and a tactile indicator.

27. The shielding tape of claim 14, wherein both edges include an indicator.