Cable for Stringed Musical Instruments
A center conductor having an effective outer diameter; a dielectric material around the center conductor, a semi-conductive layer around the dielectric material, an outer conductor, or shield, around the dielectric material; the shield having an effective inner diameter; wherein the center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 3.141×10 −4 in 2 or less; wherein the cable has a capacitance of about 15 pF/ft or less; wherein the cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of 25 lbf or greater; wherein the cable has a flex life of greater than about 30,000 cycles; and wherein the cable is a musical instrument cable.
1 . A cable comprising
(a) a center conductor having an effective outer diameter;
(b) a dielectric material around said center conductor;
(c) an outer conductor, or shield, around said dielectric material; said shield having an effective inner diameter;
(d) wherein said center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 3.141×10 −4 in 2 or less;
(e) wherein the cable has a capacitance of about 15 pF/ft or less;
wherein the cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of 25 lbf or greater;
(g) wherein the cable has a flex life of greater than about 30,000 cycles; and
(h) wherein said cable is a musical instrument cable.
2 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 1.767×10 −4 in 2 or less.
3 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said center conductor comprises copper.
4 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said center conductor comprises copper that has tensile strengths greater than about 35 ksi.
5 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said center conductor comprises an alloy.
6 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said center conductor comprises an alloy of beryllium and copper.
7 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said shield is a braid where the strands are at an angle less than 40 degrees from the axis of the braid.
8 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein a ratio of said shield effective inner diameter to said center conductor effective outer diameter is greater than about 8.
9 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein a ratio of said shield effective inner diameter to said center conductor effective outer diameter is greater than about 10.
10 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein a ratio of said shield effective inner diameter to said center conductor effective outer diameter is greater than about 12.
11 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said capacitance is about 12 pF/ft or less.
12 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said capacitance is about 10 pF/ft or less.
13 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of about 50 lbf or greater.
14 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of about 100 lbf or greater.
15 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said flex life is greater than about 150,000 cycles.
16 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said flex life is about 275,000 cycles.
17 . A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said musical instrument comprises a passive magnetic pickup.
18 . A cable as defined in claim 17 wherein said musical instrument is a stringed instrument.
19 . A cable as defined in claim 18 wherein said center conductor comprises an alloy of beryllium and copper and has a cross-sectional area of 1.767×10 −4 in 2 or less; a ratio of said shield effective inner diameter to said center conductor effective outer diameter is greater than about 8; said capacitance is about 10 pF/ft; said tensile strength is about 100 lbf; and said flex life is about 275,000 cycles.
20 . An article comprising the cable of claim 1 in combination with a passive magnetic pick-up.
21 . An article as defined in claim 20 further comprising a stringed musical instrument comprising said passive magnetic pickup.
22 . An article comprising the cable of claim 19 in combination with a passive magnetic pick-up.
23 . An article as defined in claim 22 further comprising a stringed musical instrument comprising said passive magnetic pickup.
24 . A cable comprising:
(a) a center conductor having an outer effective diameter;
(b) a reinforcement layer around said center conductor;
(c) a dielectric material around said polymer reinforcement;
(d) an outer conductor, or shield, around said dielectric material; said shield having an inner effective diameter;
(e) wherein said center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 3.141×10 −4 in 2 or less;
(f) wherein the cable has a capacitance of about 15 pF/ft or less;
(g) wherein the cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of 25 lbf or greater.
(h) wherein the cable has a flex life of greater than about 30,000 cycles; and
(i) wherein said cable is a musical instrument cable.
25 . A cable as defined in claim 24 wherein said reinforcement layer comprises ePTFE.
26 . A cable as defined in claim 24 wherein said reinforcement layer is selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymers, thermosetting or thermoplastic polymers, cellulose-based materials or metallic foils.
27 . A cable comprising
(a) a center conductor;
(b) a non-metallic strength fiber contacting said center conductor;
(c) a dielectric material around said center conductor;
(d) an outer conductor, or shield, around said dielectric material; wherein said center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 3.141×10 −4 in 2 or less;
(e) wherein the cable has a capacitance of about 15 pF/ft or less; wherein the cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of 25 lbf or greater;
(g) wherein the cable has a flex life of greater than about 30,000 cycles; and
(h) wherein said cable is a musical instrument cable.
28 . A cable comprising
(a) a center conductor;
(b) a strength fiber not contacting said center conductor;
(c) a dielectric material around said center conductor;
(d) an outer conductor, or shield, around said dielectric material; wherein said center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 3.141×10 4 in 2 or less;
(e) wherein the cable has a capacitance of about 15 pF/ft or less;
(f) wherein the cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of 25 lbf or greater;
(g) wherein the cable has a flex life of greater than about 30,000 cycles; and
(h) wherein said cable is a musical instrument cable.