IP Library Granted Patent US 7,678,998
Granted Patent B2
US 7,678,998 · App. 12/119,199 · Granted Mar 16, 2010

Cable assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,678,998
App. No.
12/119,199
Granted
Mar 16, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cable assembly is provided including an encapsulated cable having one or more elements and an intermediary section. The encapsulated cable extends along a length direction. The intermediary section extends along the length direction and is attached along a length of the encapsulated cable and extends outwardly therefrom. The intermediary section is configured to receive one or more fasteners for securing the cable assembly to an external surface without the one or more fasteners contacting the one or more elements.

Claims (46)

1. A cable apparatus comprising:

a first set of elements extending in a length direction;

a second set of elements extending in the length direction;

encapsulation material encapsulating the first set of elements and the second set of elements;

an intermediary section extending between the first set of elements and the second set of elements,

wherein the intermediary section is configured to receive one or more fasteners for securing the cable apparatus to an external surface without the one or more fasteners contacting the first set of elements or the second set of elements;

a band extending in a length direction, the band being located in the intermediary section; and

a groove extending down a center of the intermediary section for guiding proper placement of the one or more fasteners and for allowing the intermediary section to be easily separated along the groove.

2. The cable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulation material is selected from the group consisting of silicone, urethane, polyvinyl chloride, and polytetrafluoroethylene and the intermediary section is formed of the encapsulation material.

3. The cable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first set of elements and the second set of elements each comprise a wire of an electrically conductive metal.

4. The cable apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first set of elements and the second set of elements each comprise a plurality of wires, the plurality of wires being spaced from each other in a width direction, perpendicular to the length direction.

5. The cable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first indentation extending in the length direction between the intermediary section and the first set of elements; and

a second indentation extending in the length direction between the intermediary section and the second set of elements,

wherein the first indentation and the second indentation have a narrower thickness than the intermediary section.

6. The cable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first barrier protruding from the intermediary section and extending in the length direction along a first edge of the intermediary section; and

a second barrier protruding from the intermediary section and extending in the length direction along a second edge of the intermediary section.

7. The cable apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first barrier, the second barrier, and/or the intermediary section is ruled to facilitate positioning the one or more fasteners.

8. The cable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of additional sets of elements extending in the length direction, the encapsulation material encapsulating the plurality of additional sets of elements; and

a plurality of additional intermediary sections extending between each of the plurality of additional sets of elements, and between the second set of elements and one of the plurality of additional sets of elements;

wherein the plurality of additional intermediary sections are configured to receive one or more fasteners for securing the cable apparatus to an external surface without the one or more fasteners contacting the second set of elements or the plurality of additional sets of elements.

9. The cable apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

a plurality of additional bands extending in a length direction, each of the plurality of additional bands being located in a respective one of the plurality of additional intermediary sections.

10. The cable apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the encapsulation material is formed of silicone and the band is a fiberglass reinforced silicone strip.

11. The cable apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the intermediary section is transparent and the band is ruled to facilitate positioning of the one or more fasteners.

12. The cable apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the band includes a plurality of holes and/or markers for guiding installation of the one or more fasteners.

13. The cable apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each of the intermediary section and the plurality of additional intermediary sections has a recess, indentation, or groove extending in the length direction for facilitating splitting and branching the cable apparatus into an array.

14. A cable apparatus comprising:

at least three sets of elements extending in a length direction;

encapsulation material encapsulating the at least three sets of elements, the encapsulation material being formed of silicone;

a plurality of intermediary sections extending between each of the at least three sets of elements, the plurality of intermediary sections being formed of silicone;

a fiberglass reinforced silicone strip within each of the plurality of intermediary sections, the fiberglass reinforced silicone strip extending in the length direction;

wherein the plurality of intermediary sections are configured to receive one or more fasteners extending through the fiberglass reinforced strip within each of the plurality of intermediary sections, the one or more fasteners for securing the cable apparatus to an external surface without the one or more fasteners contacting the at least three sets of elements; and

a plurality of barriers protruding from the plurality of intermediary sections and extending in the length direction along edges of each of the plurality of intermediary sections.

15. The cable apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:

a plurality of indentations extending in the length direction between each of the plurality of intermediary sections and a respective one of the at least three sets of elements, the plurality of indentations having a narrower thickness than the plurality of intermediary sections, the plurality of indentations for facilitating splitting and branching the cable apparatus into an array.

16. The cable apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of intermediary sections each have a recess, indentation, or groove extending in the length direction for facilitating splitting and branching the cable apparatus into an array.

17. The cable apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of barriers, the plurality of intermediary sections, and/or the fiberglass reinforced silicone strip within each of the plurality of intermediary sections are ruled to facilitate positioning the one or more fasteners.

18. A cable apparatus comprising:

a first set of elements extending in a length direction;

a second set of elements extending in the length direction;

encapsulation material encapsulating the first set of elements and the second set of elements;

an intermediary section extending between the first set of elements and the second set of elements, wherein the intermediary section is configured to receive one or more fasteners for securing the cable apparatus to an external surface without the one or more fasteners contacting the first set of elements or the second set of elements; and

a band extending in a length direction, the band being located in the intermediary section, wherein the band includes a plurality of markers for guiding installation of the one or more fasteners.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT AT REEL/FRAME 065484/0933 Recorded Nov 5, 2025
From: NXT CAPITAL, LLC, AS AGENT
To: CICOIL, LLC
Reel/Frame 073486/0231 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2023
From: NXT CAPITAL, LLC, AS AGENT
To: TPC WIRE & CABLE CORP.
Reel/Frame 065496/0684 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2023
From: CICOIL, LLC
To: NXT CAPITAL, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 065484/0933 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2023
From: TPC ENGINEERING HOLDINGS, INC.
To: CICOIL, LLC
Reel/Frame 062711/0874 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2023
From: TPC WIRE AND CABLE CORP.
To: TPC ENGINEERING INTERMEDIATE, INC.
Reel/Frame 062415/0102 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2023
From: TPC ENGINEERING INTERMEDIATE, INC.
To: TPC ENGINEERING HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 062415/0160 →
RELEASE OF THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 051150/0605 Recorded Feb 18, 2021
From: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC
To: CICOIL, LLC
Reel/Frame 055329/0503 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2021
From: TPC WIRE & CABLE CORP.
To: NXT CAPITAL, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 055273/0793 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2019
From: CICOIL, LLC
To: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 051150/0605 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2019
From: CICOIL, LLC
To: TPC WIRE & CABLE CORP.
Reel/Frame 051121/0512 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2008
From: LIND, HOWARD; PALAHNUK, JOHN
To: CICOIL, LLC
Reel/Frame 020936/0597 →