IP Library Granted Patent US 9,053,841
Granted Patent B2
US 9,053,841 · App. 12/433,440 · Granted Jun 9, 2015

Traceable and theft deterrent reclaimable product

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,053,841
App. No.
12/433,440
Granted
Jun 9, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A theft deterrent cable may be provided. First, a plurality of unique codes may be created. Then a plurality of indicia may be placed periodically and longitudinally on the interior of the cable that may not be viable from the exterior of the cable. The plurality of indicia may respectively correspond to the plurality of unique codes. An indicator may be placed on the exterior of the cable. In a database, the plurality of unique codes may be assigned to an organizational entity. The organizational entity may comprise a first enterprise. Next, an indication that the cable is to be transferred from the first enterprise to a second enterprise may be received. In response to the received indication, the plurality of unique codes may be assigned in the database from the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising a second enterprise.

Claims (29)

1. A theft deterrent cable, comprising:

a plurality of indicia placed periodically and longitudinally on the cable, the plurality of indicia respectively corresponding to a plurality of unique codes, wherein the plurality of indicia are not visible from an exterior of the cable, wherein the exterior of the cable comprises a plurality of stranded conductors forming an exterior conductive layer, the exterior conductive layer being an outermost layer of the cable; and

an indicator in the exterior conductive layer wherein the indicator comprises a one of the plurality of stranded conductors having a surface layer comprising a first material coated on a second material, the first material being shinier than a third material comprising others of the plurality of stranded conductors.

2. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises tin and the third material comprises copper.

3. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of indicia are tamper proof.

4. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of indicia are laser etched into the cable.

5. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of indicia are chemically etched into the cable.

6. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of indicia are placed on the cable via high temperature/high adhesion ink.

7. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of indicia are placed on the cable via a high speed indexing printing wheel.

8. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of unique codes are encrypted in the plurality of indicia.

9. The cable of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of indicia includes a sequential number portion corresponding to a sequential number that is incremented by an amount equal to a predetermined distance along the cable.

10. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the one of the plurality of stranded conductors consists of the second material and the first material, the others of the plurality of stranded conductors consist of the third material.

11. A theft deterrent cable, comprising:

a plurality of indicia placed periodically and longitudinally on the cable, the plurality of indicia respectively corresponding to a plurality of unique codes, wherein the plurality of indicia are not visible from an exterior of the cable, the exterior of the cable comprising a plurality of stranded conductors being an outermost layer of the cable; and

an indicator comprising at least one of the plurality of stranded conductors comprising a first material disposed on the at least one of the plurality of stranded conductors comprising a second material, the first material being visibly different from a third material comprising at least a surface of all others of the plurality of stranded conductors wherein the first material is different from the second material.

12. The cable of claim 11 , wherein the first material comprises tin.

13. The cable of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of indicia includes a sequential number portion corresponding to a sequential number that is incremented by an amount equal to a predetermined distance along the cable.

14. The cable of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of indicia are laser etched into the cable.

15. The cable of claim 11 , wherein the first material is shinier than the third material.

16. The cable of claim 11 , wherein the first material comprises tin and the third material comprises copper.

17. The cable of claim 11 , wherein the first material comprises tin.

18. The cable of claim 11 , wherein the second material comprises copper.

19. The cable of claim 11 , wherein the second material comprises copper and the third material comprises copper.

20. The cable of claim 11 , wherein the first material comprises tin, the second material comprises copper, and the third material comprises copper.

21. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stranded conductors consists of the first material and the second material, all others of the plurality of stranded conductors consist of the third material.

22. A theft deterrent cable, comprising:

a plurality of indicia placed periodically and longitudinally on the cable, the plurality of indicia respectively corresponding to a plurality of unique codes, wherein the plurality of indicia are not visible from an exterior of the cable, the exterior of the cable comprising a plurality of stranded conductors; and

an indicator comprising at least one of the plurality of stranded conductors comprising a first material disposed on the at least one of the plurality of stranded conductors comprising a second material, the first material being visibly different from a third material comprising at least a surface of at least another of the plurality of stranded conductors wherein the first material is different from the second material, wherein the second material comprises copper and the third material comprises copper.

23. The cable of claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stranded conductors consists of the first material and the second material, the at least another of the plurality of stranded conductors consists of the third material.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; NOVINIUM HOLDINGS, INC.; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 072299/0141 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Oct 23, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC (F/K/A COLEMAN CABLE, INC.); TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC (F/K/A TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION); SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 069235/0104 →
CONVERSION Recorded Jun 26, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 033244/0969 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 21, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, INC.; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032308/0469 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 12, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, INC.; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032251/0277 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2010
From: HOLCOMBE, CHARLES L.; BURCHFIELD, RONALD J.; GODFREY, CAROL J.; SPRUELL, STEPHEN L.; WARE, JR., JOHN N.; EASTERWOOD, JR., EDWARD J.; WILSON, W. STEVE; HULLENDER, FRANK; GLORE, CHARLES DOUGLAS
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 023919/0516 →