Electric rope

Abstract

This invention teaches a rope that can be electrified. The rope is comprised of an outer sheath and an inner core. The outer sheath includes non-conductive elements braided with one or more conductive elements. The conductive elements are wound in a parallel helical pattern and do not touch each other. The inner core is a braid comprising non-conductive and conductive elements. In both cores, the conductive elements comprise one or more metal strands and the non-conductive elements comprise one or more monofilaments of synthetic or natural fibers. Should a breakage occur in the conductive elements of the outer sheath, the conductive elements of the inner core provide conductivity across the breakage and throughout the length of the rope by intermittently contacting the conductive elements of the outer sheath. An optional colored tracer can be braided into the outer sheath to provide better visibility since the non-conductive elements are preferably a neutral color, such as white.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.