Composite Hybrid Cables and Methods of Manufacturing and Installing the Same
AssigneeStructured Home Wiring Direct, LLC
InventorsDrew Nathan Hunter, Timothy N. Berelsman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one instance, a composite hybrid cable is provided for allowing multiple constituent cables to be run through a wire chase or wall of a structure in a single pass by pushing. The ends of the constituent cables may be at different lengths and may have factory-installed connectors. The ends may be staggered and covered with a material to form a tapered leading edge to facilitate running the composite hybrid cable. Other cables and methods are presented.
Claims21
A composite hybrid cable for delivering signals within a structure, the composite hybrid cable comprising:
- a plurality of constituent cables, each having a first end and a second end;
- an outer jacket covering at least a majority of a length of the plurality of constituent cables, the outer jacket having a first end and a second end;
- wherein the composite hybrid cable is sufficiently stiff to be pushed through an aperture in a stud;
- wherein the first end of each of the plurality of constituent cables extends beyond the first end of the outer jacket and wherein the second end of each of the plurality of constituent cables extends beyond the second end of the outer jacket;
- wherein each of the plurality of constituent cables has a connector on the first end and the second end;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of constituent cables has a different length such that a first staggered array of cable ends is formed on one end and a second staggered array of cable ends is formed on another end.
A method for installing a composite hybrid cable in a building having walls, the method comprising:
- providing a composite hybrid cable comprising:
- a plurality of constituent cables, each having a first end and a second end,
- an outer jacket covering at least a majority of a length of the plurality of consistent cables, the outer jacket having a first end and a second end,
- wherein the composite hybrid cable is sufficiently stiff to be pushed through an aperture in a stud,
- wherein the first end of each of the plurality of constituent cables extends beyond the first end of the outer jacket and wherein the second end of each of the plurality of constituent cables extends beyond the second end of the outer jacket, and
- wherein each of the plurality of constituent cables has a different length such that a first staggered array of cable ends is formed on one end;
- covering at least the first staggered array of cable ends with a wrapping material to form a tapered lead;
- and
- pushing the tapered lead of the composite hybrid cable through at least one aperture or notch in a plurality of studs in one or more of the walls of the structure.
A method of manufacturing a composite hybrid cable, the method comprising:
- receiving a required length for the composite hybrid cable to be manufactured;
- providing a plurality of constituent cables each having a first end and a second end;
- sizing the plurality of constituent cables to have the required length within a margin of a couple feet and wherein each of the plurality of constituent cables has a different length such that the first ends of the plurality of constituent cables are not at the same location and the second ends of the plurality of constituent cables are not at the same location;
- installing a termination connector to each end of the plurality of constituent cables;
- and
- placing the composite hybrid cable on a storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.