Communication cables having fusible continuous shields

A cable comprising:

• at least one twisted pair of individually insulated electrical conductors;
• an electrically continuous shield formed around the at least one twisted pair, the shield providing electromagnetic interference shielding for the at least one twisted pair and the shield comprising:
• a base layer of dielectric material extending in a longitudinal direction;
• a plurality of longitudinally spaced segments of first electrically conductive material formed on the base layer, wherein a respective gap is positioned between each adjacent set of the longitudinally spaced segments;
• and
• a plurality of fusible elements comprising a respective fusible element spanning across the gap between each adjacent set of the longitudinally spaced segments, each fusible element providing electrical continuity between the adjacent set of longitudinally spaced segments and each fusible element comprising second electrically conductive material sized to result in the fusing element having a minimum fusing current between 0.001 amperes and 0.500 amperes,
• wherein the second electrically conductive material comprises one of (i) aluminum having a cross-sectional area between 0.157 and 1.339 square mils, (ii) copper having a cross-sectional area between 0.105 and 0.897 square mils, (iii) iron having a cross-sectional area between 0.506 and 4.324 square mils, (iv) lead having a cross-sectional area between 1.520 and 12.996 square mils, (v) nickel silver having a cross-sectional area between 0.257 and 2.197 square mils, (vi) platinum having a cross-sectional area between 0.261 and 2.230 square mils, and (vii) tin having a cross-sectional area between 1.204 and 10.298 square mils;
• and
• a jacket formed around the at least one twisted pair and the shield.

A cable comprising:

• a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors;
• an electrically continuous shield formed around the plurality of twisted pairs, the shield providing electromagnetic interference shielding for the plurality of twisted pairs that facilitates the cable satisfying at least one of a Category 6 or a Category 6A standard set forth in ANSI/TIA-568-C.2, the shield comprising:
• a base layer of dielectric material extending continuously in a longitudinal direction along a longitudinal length of the cable;
• a plurality of longitudinally spaced segments of first electrically conductive material formed on the base layer, with gaps formed between each adjacent set of the longitudinally spaced segments;
• and
• a plurality of fusible elements comprising a respective fusible element spanning between each adjacent set of the longitudinally spaced segments, each fusible element providing electrical continuity between the adjacent set of longitudinally spaced segments and each fusible element comprising second electrically conductive material sized to result in the fusing element having a minimum fusing current between 0.001 amperes and 0.500 amperes,
• wherein the second electrically conductive material comprises one of (i) aluminum having a cross-sectional area between 0.157 and 1.339 square mils, (ii) copper having a cross-sectional area between 0.105 and 0.897 square mils, (iii) iron having a cross-sectional area between 0.506 and 4.324 square mils, (iv) lead having a cross-sectional area between 1.520 and 12.996 square mils, (v) nickel silver having a cross-sectional area between 0.257 and 2.197 square mils, (vi) platinum having a cross-sectional area between 0.261 and 2.230 square mils, and (vii) tin having a cross-sectional area between 1.204 and 10.298 square mils;
• and
• a jacket formed around the plurality of twisted pairs and the shield.