AU517841B2 - Flat cable assembly and installing method - Google Patents

Description

i; Piti ;t :II FORM 1 Ti~ ia~

4i A U M 1F COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALI j

PATNTS Ar 1952

58 49 4 98o APLICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

I/We, THOMAS BETTS CORPORATION TWENTY DOLLARS a corporation organized under the laws of the state of New Jersey, ~Ye

920 Route 202, Raritan, New Jersey 08869 LoxrxGEr AT SUB-OFiCrF I ISMAY 1980 U.S.A. Melbour. hereby apply for the grant of a standard patent for an invention Sentitled"Flat Cable and Installing Method".

which is described in the accompanying posi~nx ido/complete specification.

Details of basic application(s): Number of basic Name of Convention country in Date of basic application which basic application was filed application

06/042,709 United States of America May 25, 1979

06/042,544 United States of America May 25, 1979

A JCATION ACCEPTEO AND AE_ N CAPUCAON ACCFEE Pr TO VALUE OF I ]i l M.,,D l m-LOW6D

My/our address for service is care of CLEMENT HACK CO., Patent Attorneys, 140 William Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia.

DATED this 14th day of May, 1980

THOMAS BETTS CORPORATION

i..CK CO,

a 1A To: The Commissioner of Patents.

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1952

DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF A CONVENTION OR NON-CONVENTION APPLICATION FOR A PATENT OR PATENT OF ADDITION

58449 /80 No. 58449/80 Name(s) of In support of the application/made by Applicant(s) Thomas Be ts Corporation

Title for a patent for an invention entitled Flat Cable and Installing Method Name(s) and I/We, James D. Hay address(es) Vice President General Counsel of person(s) 920 Route 202 making Raritan, New Jersey 08869 U.S.A. declaration do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:-

1. I am/waxxcsaa scldac axasDe authorised by the abovementioned applicant to make this declaration on its behalf.

2. Tha basic application(s) as defined by Section 141 of the Act was/were made in the following country or countries on the following date(s) by the following applicant(s) namely:- Country,filing date and name in U. S.A. on 25th May ._197.9 of Applicant(s) by Raymond F. Piasecki and TPd T. Cr Knn for the or in_ TT_. on 25th May, 19 79 each basic by Ted L C. Kuo .,application

3. The said basic application(s) was/were the first application(s) made in a Convention country in respect of the invention the subject of the application. Name(s) and 4. The actual inventor(s) of the said invention is/are address(es) as noted in paragraph 2. of the or ach actual inventor *'See reverse 5. The facts upon which the applicant(s) is/are entitled side of this to make this application are as follows:- form for Thomas Betts Corporation is the assignee of applicants guidance in dentified in paragraph 2. completing Ted L. C. Kuo. 46 Glenwood Road, Fanwanp. Tni nn this part .New Jersey, and Raymonnd P.ia;ski, 22 Knosman .Drive, Leonardo, Monmouth, New .TJrsvy T .q DECLARED atRaritanN.J.U.S.A his 22nd day of May_ 1980

Jamies D. Hay

Vice Presiden neral Counsel

Li This form may be completed and filed after the filing of a patent application but the form must not be signed until after it has been completely filled in d by the marginal notes. The place and date of signing must be filled in. Company stamps or seals should not be used. No legalisation is necessary I I MMMI I

(12) PATENT ABRIDGMENT .AJ{LL (19) AU (11) AU-Bl-58 449/80

(54) FLAT CABLE ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLING METHOD (71) THOMAS BETTS CORPORATION (21) 58 449/80 517 841 (22) 15.5.80 (23) 15.5.80 (24) 25.5.79 (31) 042709 (32) 25.5.79 (33) US 042544 25.5.79 us (43) 27.11.80 (44) 27.8.81 (51) 3 H01B 7/OS H01B 7/18 H01B 7/36 H02G 1/06 H02G 3/26 H05B 3/36 (72) Kuo, T.L.C. and Piasecki, R.F. (74) HA (56) 66 312/65 04.3, 06.7 14 324/55 213 157 06.7, 24.3 21 115/53 159 144 06.7, 24.3 (57) Claim 1. An electrical cable assembly comprising: a substantially flat electrical cable having a plurality of flat conductors in an electrically insulati-ve casing; a self-sustaining f~lexible electrically conductive member extending lengthwise with sa.id cable, overlying said casing, and said conductive member hav- ing a width extent extending substantially across the width of the plurality of said conductors in said casing having successive lengthwise extents respectively secured and unsecured to a conduc- tor of said cable; and an electrically conductive means in regis- try with each such secured conductive member extent for providing electrical connection of said conductive member and said conductor, one such unsecured conductive member extent constituting an end portion of said conductive member, such end portion being separable from said casing, whil, the secured portion adjacent said end por- tion remains secured to said casing and to said end portion, where- by electrical connections may be made to said conductors through said casing.

Di 31-4

.i AUn1 KALIA

PATENTS ACT 1952

COMPLETE SPECIFICA 5N7 (ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Application Number: Class I Class Lodged: 58449 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published:

49. "dte Lr Priority: S

a Related Art:

ame of Applicant(s): THOMAS BETTS CORPORATION

Address of Applsant(s): 920 Route 202, Raritan, New Jersey 08869, U.S.A.

Actual Inventor(s): Ted L.C. KUO Raymond F. PIASECKI

Address for Service: CLEMENT HACK CO., 140 William Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000 Australia

Complete Specification for the invention entitled:

FLAT CABLE AND INSTALLING METHOD

The following statement is a full description of thisinvention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us

A o.

I- T&B 824

I FIELD OF THE INVENTION: The present invention relates generally to electrical cable systems, and, more particularly, to flat multiconductor cable assemblies which are installed on a floor substrate beneath carpeting. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: One presently known type of undercarpet cable system includes a flat multiconductor cable 1'hich is assembled between a plastic shield and a metallic shield. The cable assembly, comprising the cable and its two protective shields, is installed between a floor and overlying carpeting. The multiconductor cable includes a plurality of flat electrical conductors which are con- tained in a casing comprised of a thin sheet of electrical insulation. The plastic shield provides a cushion for the multiconductor cable so as to resist the abrasion and possible piercing of the cable insulation by projections extending upwardly from the floor, such projections being especially prevalent if the floor is made of concrete or a similar coarse building material. The metallic shield resists piercing of the cable insulation by an object inserted through the carpet. By electrically grounding the metallic shield, any electrically conductive object which may pierce the metallic shield and contact a "hot", electrically energized, conductor of the multi- conductor cable will be grounded so as to protect a person who contacts the object from electrical hazard. Inasmuch as the multiconductor cable and the two shields may not be positively attached to each other either before, during or after their installation, there is the possibility that the cable could be installed with- out the shields or that, once installed, the shields could move relative to the cable, thereby leaving a portion of the cable exposed either aside the metallic shield or the plastic shieiA. Such exposed cable runs a greater risk of place and date or slgning Iiust be filled in. Company stamps or seals should not be used. O PLl/ L'!/79 No legalisation is necessary

2 T&B 824

being pierced than a properly covered cable and, therefore, presents an electrical hazard. Where the metallic shield is properly posi- tioned above the cable, there remains the possibility that the metallic shield will not be properly grounded, for instance, by failure to electrically connect it to ground. Like a properly grounded shield which is im- properly installed so as to expose a portion of the cable, a cable having a nongrounded metallic shield presents a potentially hazardous situation. Such known undercarpet wiring system includes a network of cable assemblies, the individual cable assemblies being electrically connected. In such a system, the metallic shield of each assembly is grounded by use of connectors for electrical connection of ad- joining metallic shields. In such arrangement, shield grounding integrity is dependent on physical continuity of the shield. Thus, if the shield is interrupted as by cutting, the free remnant of the shield will not be electrically continuous to ground, with resulting hazard. The formation of cable networks may require changes in the running direction of the cable assembly. The shields and cable of each cable assembly have not heretofore been collectively and simultaneously folded since known folding practice causes a reversal of the positions of the shields with respect to the cable, i.e., prior to folding the metallic shield would be above the cable and the plastic shield would be below the cable but, as a result of folding, t1 e metallic shield would be below the cable and the plastic shield would be above the cable. Such a reversal in the relative positions of the shields is obviously undesirable. For maintaining the metallic shield above the cable in the past, the direction of the cable assembly has been changed by folding the lower plastic shield along a predetermined bend line, folding the multiconductor cable

3 T&B 824

1 along substantially the same bend line as the lower plastic shield, and then stacking the folded cable on top of the folded plastic shield. After folding the metallic shield along substantially the same bend line as the plastic shield and the cable, the folded metallic shield was stacked on top of the folded cable. The bending and stacking technique described above suffers from several problems. First,. inasmuch as the plastic shield, multiconductor cable, and metallic bca *a ar aa 10 shield are not directly connected to each other, a slight oan t difference in the bending line of any one of them will complicate the proper vertical alignment of the cable with at least one of the shields after the change of direction r* a

aao has been made in the cable assembly. Second, stacking the so a 15 bent portions of the shields and cable on top of each other increases the profile of the cable assembly in the vicinity of the bend lines, thereby resulting in the possible forma- too tion of a lump in the overlying carpet. Moveover, such a a stacking is often difficult to achieve due t6 the tendency

a a 20 of loops formed ir the shields and cable at the bend lines *p af

*o af to slip on each other. Third, conductors which lie to the side of the medial longitudinal axis of the cable, undergo a reversal in position relative to the medial longitudinal o axis of the cable, go from left to right thereof as earc 25 a result of such folding. Such change may confuse an 'U, installer and give rise to error, particularly where termination apparatus at opposite ends of a folded cable assembly have commonly polarized terminals. Finally, any folding technique requires that the cable assembly be handled manually by an installer. Inasmu.h as the edges of the cable and shields are very thin and rela- tively rigid, there is a risk that they will cut the installer, and known efforts have not sought to diminish such hazard. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The present invention has as its object the provision of a cable assembly and cable assembly folding prac- tice which will lessen or overcome the foregoing disadvantages and potential hazards attending prior undercarpet wiring efforts.

In attaining these objects, the invention provides an

electrical cable assembly comprising: a substantially flat

electrical cable having a plurality of flat conductors in an

electrically insulative casing; a self-sustaining flexible

electrically conductive member extending lengthwise with said

cable, overlying said casing, and said conductive member having

a width extent extending substantially across, the width of the 0k go*. plurality of said conductors in said casing having successive 'S lengthwise extents respectively secured and unsecured to a

coo 0conductor of said cable; and an electrically conductive means

in registry with each such secured conductive member extent for

providing electrical connection of said conductive member and said conductor, one such unsecured conductive member extent S00 constituting an end portion of said conductive member, such end 00

portion being separable from said casing, while the secured

portion adjacent said end portion remains secured to said casing

and to said end portion, whereby electrical connections may/,be made to said conductors through said casing.

The invention also provides a method for laying the

cable assembly of claim 1 on a substrate in manner maintaining

electrically-grounded overlayer protection therefor in the

course of change in cable running direction from a first direc- tion to a second direction, said cable assembly having the

No. 58449/80 Proposed:EJU1B electricAlly conductive member on one side of said cable and electxically connected to a conductor in said cable, which is to be grounded, comprising the steps of:

Ca) laying said cable assembly on said substrate in

said girst direction with said cable interposed between said

substrate and said secured conductive member;

folding said cable assembly about a first fold

line selected such that said cable assembly runs from said

first direction into a third direction different from said

LO first direction and opposite to said second direction; and

folding said cable assemibly about a second

fold line selected such that said cable assembly runs from

said third direction into said second direction wherein said

electrically conductive member overlies said cable and

provides said electrically-grounded overlayer protection.

The foregoing and other objects and features

of the invention will be further evident from the fol-

-No. 58449/80

Proposed; 1 JUL 198

6 T&B 824

1 lowing detailed description of preferred embodiments and practices and from the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like parts throughout. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cable assembly constructed in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of cable assemblies, each one being similar to the cable assembly of Fig. i, which are spliced together; Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical connections between the spliced cable assemblies shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a folding practice for use with the cable assembly illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the folded assembly of Fig. 4 partially unfolded for indicating a shield removal feature of the disclosure. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cable assembly of Fig. i, having edge protectors in accordance with a further aspect of the disclosure. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a cable assembly incorporating shield curls for edge protection; and Figs. 8-13 show further embodiments of cable edge protectors. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND PRACTICES: Referring to Fig. i, there is shown a flexible cable assembly 10 including a flexible multiconductor cable 12, an electrically conductive member constituted -a -se bv- S .5-fai ill- by/flexible metallic shield 14 positioned above the cable 12, and a flexible plastic shield 15 positioned below the cable 12. The multiconductor cable 12, the metallic shield 14, and the plastic shield 15 have about the same width and are flat such that the cable assembly 'C,

7 T&B 824

1 10 can be installed underneath a carpet (not shown) or some other similar type of floor covering. The multiconductor cable 12 contains a plur- ality of flat electrical conductors 16, 18, 20, which are contained within a casing constituted by a thin sheet 22 of electrical insulation. The insulation 22 is preferably made from a laminate of polyester and poly- vinylchloride. The polyvinylchloride is about four mils thick and is contiguous with the conductors 16, 18, 20, while the polyester is about one and one-half mils thick and forms the outer surface of the cable 12. The conductors 16, 18, 20, which are made from copper or any other good electrically conductive material, extend side-by-side along the entire length of the multiconductor cable 12. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the conduc- tors 16 and 20, adjacent to the opposite longitudinally extending edges of the multiconductor cable 12, may be employed as hot conductors; the middle conductor 18 serving as a ground conductor. The ground conductor 18 is permanently connected, both mechanically and elec- trically, to the metallic shield 14 by a plurality of welds 24 which are arranged at intervals along the length of the cable assembly 10. Alternatively, the ground conductor 18 may be electrically and mechanically connected to the metallic shield 14 by a plurality of spaced-apart rivets or any other suitable fasteners. y hc muli-fe~eot4uotor cable 12 and th mdtallic- shield 14 cou electrically and mechanically con- nected along the entire leng- e cable assembly so that the connection ic conti.uoua. thL1r L1±, -intermittenta Indicia, such as color-coded markings may be provided on the insulation 22 above and below the conductors 16, 18, 20 to distinguish them from each other.

Ai

II

-8 T&B 824

1 The metallic shield 14 is made from a thin sheet of good electrically conductive metal, such as copper. Preferably, the metallic shield 14 and the conductors 16, 18, 20 are made from the same metal to prevent galvanic corrosion between the metallic shield 14 and the ground conductor 18. The metallic shield 14 functions as a protective barrier for resisting piercing of the multiconductor cable 12 by an object inserted through an overlying carpet. Even if a metallic object were to penetrate the metallic shield 14 and contact one of the hot conductors 16 and 20, the hot conductor will be grounded through the shield 14 and the ground conductor 18. The plastic shield 15 is employed to provide a cushion for the multiconductor cable 12. As such, the plastic shield 15 can be made of any suitable flexible plastic, such as polyester, sufficiently strong to protect the multiconductor cable 12 from abrasion and possible piercing as a result of its installation on a floor, especially if th floor is made from concrete. The plastic shield 15, which may be permanently attached to the multiconductor cable 12 in any suitable manner, also inhibits the penetration of the multiconductor cable 12 by any projections extending upwardly from the floor. Preferably, shield 15 is secured to cable 12 insulation by heat-sealing thereof at locations spaced lengthwise of the shield. The selective securement of shield 14 to cable 12 at locations mutually spaced lengthwise of the cable gives rise to successive shield extents which are re- spectively unsecured and secured to the cable. Thus, the extent of shield 14 downwardly of weld 24 in Fig. 1 is not secured to the cable. The successive extent of shield 14, adjacent weld 24', is secured to the cable. The next successive shield extent, upwardly of weld 24 in Fig. 1 is again not secured to the cable. This pattern

9 T&B 824

1 preferably repeats along the cable length, with uniform or non-uniform shield extents, giving rise to redundant electrical connection of shield 14 to cable 12. Elec- trically conductive means are in registry with each secured shield extent. For example, the body of material comprising weldment 24, extends through the cable insula- tive casing, opposed terminal portions of the body having electrical connection to the shield and to an exclusive one of the cable conductors, respectively. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cable assembly is joined to another identical cable assembly 26, having a metallic shield 28, a plastic shield 29, and a multiconductor cable 30 which is joined to the multi- conductor cable 12 by connectors 32. It is not neces- sary to mechanically and electrically connect the lapping ends of metallic shields 14 and 28 to each other and to ground in order that they are properly grounded, inasmuch as the metallic shields 14, 28 are electrically connected to ground through.welds 24 (indicated by arrows in Fig. 3 to illustrate the flow of electric current therethrough), the ground conductor 18 of the multiconductor cable 12, the corresponding one of the connectors 32, a ground con- ductor 34 of the multicond-.ctor cable 30, and welds (indicated by arrows in Fig. 3 to illustrate the flow of electric current therethrough) which mechanically and electrically connect the ground conductor 34 of the multiconductor cable 30 to the metallic shield 28. Thus, pOr-oti 1. the lapping end /of shields 14 and 28 may be peeled back (see Fig. 2) to inspect or observe the cables 12 and or the connectors 32. Referring now to Fig. 4 in which various ele- ments described above with respect to Fig. i are desig- nated by corresponding reference numerals increased by 100, there is shown a method for laying a cable assembly 110 which is to run in a first direction indicated by

10 T&B 324

1 arrow 136 and includes a multiconductor cable 112, a metallic shield 114, spaced weldments 124 and a plastic shield 115. The cable assembly is requfred to run from such first direction 136 into second direction 140. In accordance with the present dis- closure, such cable assembly direction change is accommodated with maintenance of electrically-grounded overlayer protection and with retention of conductor polarization at the cable assembly ends. The cable assembly is laid in first direction 136 on a floor or over substrate with cable 112 interposed between the substrate and shield 114. The cable assembly is now folded about first fold line 138, which is selected such that the assembly runs from first direction 136 into a third direction 142, different from first di- rection 136 and opposite to second direction 140. Following a short run in third direction 142, the cable assembly is folded about second fold line 144, which is selected such that the assembly runs from third direction 142 into second direction 140. While electrically-grounded overlayer protection is lost in the third direction.142 cable assembly run, wherein plastic shield 114 is atop cable 112, recovery of electrically-grounded overlayer protection is achieved for such third direction run upon commencement of the second direction run, wherein shield 114 again reverses position to ride atop cable 112. Thus, shield 114 rides atop all cable surface in facing relation to carpeting. Similarly, a plural positional reversal attends cable conductors in the direction change, thereby retaining polarization. Conductor 116 is polarized in position to the left of ground conductor 118 in the run of the cable assembly in direction 136. Immediately beyond fold line 138, the reverse is true, conductor 116 being to the right of conductor 118 in the direction of cable

-i T&B 824

1 assembly run. Beyond fold line 144, however, conductor 116 returns to leftward position relative to the ground conductor. Terminal apparatus for connection to the opposite cable assembly ends may now be commonly polar- ized, bear like color or other indicia having correspondence with indicia of the cable assembly. Referring now to Fig. 5, the folded cable assembly of Fig. 4 is shown partially unfolded, i.e., the fold about fold line 138 is opened. In accordance with a further feature of the present disclosure, shield material may now be selectively removed for purposes of lessening the profile of the cable assembly in the vicinity of fold line 138. All or portions of shield areas 114a and 114b, which are directly folded upon each other and which are interior to the fold and, ac- cordingly, unfunctional as protective overlayers, may be cut from the assembly. Shield electrical continuity to ground is unaffected by this practice based on the above- discussed electrical connection redundancy as between the shield and the cable. Referring to Fig. 6, there is shown a further aspect of tne present disclosure wherein various eleiftents which correspond to elements described above with respect to Fig. 1 are designated by corresponding reference num- erals increased by 200. A multiconductor cable 212 in- cluded electric insulation 222 which is made from a pair of thin sheets 280 that are laminated together. In order to diminish the cutting ability of each longitudinally extending edge of the multiconductor cable 212, longitud- inally extending edges 282 of the lower one of the sheets 280 extend laterally beyond longitudinally extending edges 284 of the upper one of the sheets 280 to decrease the thickness of the insulation 222 and, hence, increase the tendency of the insulation 222 to deform when con- tacted by the exposed or unprotected skin of an individual

i

12 T&B 824

1 who is handling or installing the multiconductor cable 212. Of course, the upper one of the sheets 280 could be made wider than the lower one of the sheets 280. Alternatively, the sheets 280 can be the same width but vertically misaligned, so that an edge of each one of the sheets 280 overhangs a cor- responding edge of the other one of the sheets 280. Each longitudinally extending edge of a metallic shield 214 is provided with a resilient strip 286 of plastic, such as polyester. The flexi- bility of the plastic strips 286 is such that they are easily deformed when contacted by the exposed or unprotected skin of a handler or installer, thereby diminishing the cutting ability of the longitudinally extending edges of the metallic shield 214. The strips 286 could be replaced with a single plastic strip having a width which is greater than the width of the metallic shield 214. Furthermore, strips similar to the strips 286 could be applied to the multiconductor cable 212 so as to render unnecessary any lateral extension of the longitudinally extending edges 282, 284 of the sheets 280. In the safety embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the side marginal edges of electrically conductive shield 214-1 are curled, as shown at 214-la, such that the shield surface contiguous with upper insulative sheet 280 is continuous and the end of the curled edge is disposed atop shield 214-1. The shield accordingly presents a rounded edge surface to the cable assembly user outwardly of the ends of sheets 280 and plastic shield 215. The cable insulation is also protected :rom possible cutting by the shield edge end by the khosen direction of the curl. Referring now to Figs. 8-13, there are shown further embodiments of the edge protectors of Figs. 6 and 7. The various elements illustrated in Figs. 8-13

Ji

13 T&B 824

1 which corruspond Lu elements dlcribed ibove with respect to Fig. 6 are designated by corresponding reference numerals increased by 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600, respectively. The embodiments depicted in Figs. 8-11 are especially useful in diminishing the cutting ability of a longitudinally extending edge of a multiconductor cable similar to the one shown in Fig. 6 and, therefore, will be described with particular reference to such a cable. Although the remaining embodiments, those shown in Figs- 11-13, may also be used on a multiconductor cable similar to the one shown in Fig. 6, they will be described in connection with a metallic shield similar to the one illustrated in Fig. 6. Any of the edge pro- tector embodiments may be used on a plastic shield similar to the one shown in Fig. 1, if it is desired to diminish the cutting ability of a longitudinally extending edge thereof. In Fig. 8, a longitudinally extending edge of a multiconductor cable 312 is serrated so that it has a plurality of pointed projections 388. Due to the de- creasing vertical cross-sectional area of each of the projections 388, they may be readily deformed, thereby diminishing the cutting ability of the longitudinal edge. A longitudinally extending edge of a multiconductor cable 412 shown in Fig. 9 is slit so as to form a plurality of relatively blunt, readily deformable projections 490. As shown in Fig. 10, a plurality of relatively blunt, readily deformable projections 592, which extend later- ally outwardly from a longitudinally extending edge of a multiconductor cable 512, are spaced further apart than the projections 490 of Fig. 9. A longitudinally extending edge of a metallic shield 614 shown in Fig. 11 is provided with corrugations 694 to increase its contact area, thereby diminishing its

14 T&B 824

1 cutting ability. As shown in Fig. 12, the contact area of a longitudinally extending edge of a metallic shield 714 is increased by providing it with a con-- tinuous cylindrical bead 796 which forms a blunt surface to diminish the cutting ability of the edge. A plural- ity of spaced-apart generally round beads 898 are pro- vided on a longitudinally extending edge of a metallic shield 814 shown in Fig. 13 to diminish its cutting ability. Materials such as plastic, paint, glue and varnish can be used to form the bead 796 or the beads 898. Various changes to the foregoing, specifically disclosed embodiments and practices will be evident to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing preferred embodiments are intended in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The true spirit and scope- of the invention is set forth in the following claims. I T IS CLAI-E ISo

7~. I ,j

Claims (1)

1. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS;

   i, An electrical cable assembly comprising: a substan-

   tially flat electrical cable having a plurality of flat cond-

   uctors in an electrically insulative casing; a self-sustaining

   flexible electrically conductive member extending lengthwise

   with said cable, overlying said casing, and said conductive

   member having a width extent extending substantially across the

   width of the plurality of said conductors in said casing having

   successive lengthwise extents respectively secured and unsecured

   to a conductor of said cable; and an electrically conductive

   means in registry with each such secured conductive member

   extent for providing electrical connection of said conductive

   member and said conductor, one such unsecured conductive

   member extent constituting an end portion of said conductive

   member, such end portion being separable from said casing,

   while the secured portion adjacent said end portion remains

   secured to said casing and to said end portion, whereby

   electrical connections may be made to said conductors through

   said casing.

   2. The cable assembly claimed in claim 1, further

   including a plastic shield on said cable on the surface

   opposite said conductive member.

   3. The cable assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein each

   said electrically conductive means provides electrical

   connection of said conductive member and an exclusive one of

   said flat conductors.

   4. The cable assembly claimed in claim 3 wherein each

   said electrically conductive means comprises a body of

   electrically conductive material extending through said casing y -15- IJUL 1981 and having opposed terminal portions electrically connected respectively to said conductive member and said one flat conductor.

   The cable assembly claimed in claim 4 wherein said

   body comprises a weldment.

   6. The cable assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said

   cable is elongate and has longitudinally spaced end margins

   and wherein such secured conductive member extents are

   longitudinally spaced from at least one of said end margins,

   whereby an unsecured conductive member extent is juxtaposed

   with said one end margin.

   7. The cable assembly claimed in claiml wherein said

   casing comprises a thin flat sheet, the longitudinally

   extending edges of said sheet being provided with safety means

   for diminishing the cutting ability of said edges thereof.

   8. The cable assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein the

   edges of said conductive member extending lengthwise with said

   cable include safety means for diminishing the cutting ability

   of said edges thereof.

   9. The cable assembly claimed in claim 8 wherein said

   safety means comprises resilient strip material secured to

   said conductive member and extending beycnd said edges thereof.

   The cable assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein said

   casing includes indicia means for distinguishing said flat

   conductors from each other.

   Applciation No. 58449/80 16 Proposed:

   Ki iI., The cable assembly claimed in claim 10 wherein said indicia means. includes a pluralityr of color-coded markings.

   12, A method for laying t'he cable assembly of claim 1

   on a substrate in manner maintaining electrically-grounded

   overlayer protection therefor in the course of change in cable

   running direction from a first dixection to a second direction,

   said cable assembly having the electrically conductive member

   on one side of said cable and electrically connected to a

   conductor in said cable which is to be grounded, comprising the

   steps of:

   laying said cable assembly on said substrate in I

   said first direction with said cable interposed between said C

   substrate and said secured conductive member;

   folding said cable assembly about a first fold

   line selected such that said cable assembly runs from said 4

   first direction into a third direction different from said

   first direction and opposite to said second direction; and

   folding said cable assembly about a second fold line selected such that said cable assembly runs from said

   third direction into said second direction wherein said

   electrically conductive member overlies said cable and provides

   said electrically-grounded overlayer protection.

   13. The method claimed in claim 12 wherein said conduct-

   ive member is electrically connected to said conductor which is

   to be grounded at a plurality of locations mutually space along

   the length of said cable.

   No. 58449/80 -16a- Proposed: I JUL 1981

   )I

   17 T&B 824

   1 14. The method claimed in claim 12 including the further step of removing said conductive member from 3 said cable adjacent said first fold line. 1 15. The method claimed in claim 14 including the further step of removing from said cable that portion of said conductive member which is folded directly on 4 itself in practice of step

   Dated this 14th day of May, 1980.

   THOMAS BETTS CORPORATION By its Patent Attorneys,

   CLEMENT HACK CO. 00 0 Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. *000

   *n 00 *R

   0S I, IS 00* 0