Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-09-11
Nguyen, Chau N. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Combined
C174S1130AS
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288337
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiconductor cable in which a plurality of cables, each comprising at least a conductor and an insulator covering the periphery of the conductor, are arranged in a row and shaped into a bent form.
2. Related Background Art
In a medical instrument such as an endoscope or an electronic instrument such as a thin-sized portable computer, for example, a plurality of signal lines in a predetermined form are arranged in a narrow space such as the inside of a tubular component. Terminals of these plurality of signal lines are connected to sensors, connectors, and the like, for example, while in alignment therewith. If the sensors, connectors, and the like are located in a direction intersecting the direction in which the signal lines extend (the longitudinal direction of the wiring), it is necessary for the signal lines to be bent with a variable angle toward the sensors, connectors, and the like, while being aligned near their terminals, so as to yield a bent form.
Specific examples of signal lines to be thus aligned and shaped into a bent form include those having at least a conductor and an insulator covering the periphery of the insulator (hereinafter collectively referred to as a cable) such as a simple coated line comprising a conductor and a casing, as an insulator, covering the periphery of the conductor; a coaxial cable comprising a center conductor, an insulator covering the periphery of the center conductor, and an outer conductor covering the periphery of the insulator; one further comprising a sheath around the outer conductor; and the like.
Known as a conventional multiconductor cable in which a plurality of cables in such a mode are aligned and shaped into a bent form is one using a grooved jig. The grooved jig comprises a thin sheet formed with a plurality of bent grooves disposed in parallel. The cables are successively fitted into these grooves in the order of their alignment while being bent, so as to yield bent forms arranged in a row. The cables thus fitted are secured to the grooved jig with an adhesive tape or the like, for example. It is easy to attach them to sensors, connectors, and the like upon termination. The grooved jig used here is removed after the attaching operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
When such a grooved jig is employed, a plurality of cables are fitted into their respective grooves one by one while being bent, so as to align with each other. Therefore, in order to prevent the bent cables from becoming detached from their grooves as they tend to restore their original shape due to their elasticity, the aligning operation has to be carried out while pressing the cables at a plurality of positions along the grooves, whereby the workability will be degraded.
For improving the workability, there has been known a method comprising the steps of linearly extending a plurality of cables having the same length while aligning them in parallel without using the above-mentioned grooved jig or the like; terminating them so as to connect sensors, connectors, and the like to their terminals; and then collectively bending the cables near their terminals in a direction for attaching the sensors, connectors, and the like. This method, however, is problematic in that cables on the inner peripheral side of the bending direction may slacken, so that the alignment of the individual cables in a part distanced from the attaching portion may be disordered, whereby it becomes difficult to effect high-density wiring into a narrow space. If these plurality of signal lines are turned around in the direction opposite from the bending direction so as to absorb the slackness, on the other hand, then various restrictions in terms of design may occur in that arrangement and directions of sensors, connectors, and the like are limited while it is difficult to secure the wiring space.
In order to overcome such a problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multiconductor cable in which, while a plurality of cables are aligned, a predetermined number of cables are drawn out with a bent form in a state arranged in a row, wherein the workability at the time of yielding the bent form is improved.
The multiconductor cable in accordance with the present invention is a multiconductor cable in which a plurality of cables, each having at least a conductor and an insulator covering a periphery thereof, are aligned at a predetermined part thereof by an alignment member, wherein the alignment member comprising a pipe in which the plurality of cables are inserted, with a slit extending in an axial direction thereof and having a width ranging from about 1 to 2 times the outside diameters of all of said cables, and a predetermined number of cables among the plurality of cables being drawn out from within the pipe and secured while being aligned in the slit in the axial direction of the pipe.
In thus configured multiconductor cable, a simple operation of feeding a plurality of cables into the slit of the pipe in conformity with a predetermined order of arrangement causes these plurality of cables to change their angles from their linear state, so as to be arranged in a row in the slit without changing their order, drawn out from within the pipe, and secured to the pipe. Therefore, while the linear state of the plurality of cables before reaching the slit is mostly maintained, it becomes easier to align these cables and yield a bent form thereof.
Here, specific examples of the cables include a coated cable comprising a conductor and a sheath, as an insulator, covering the periphery of the conductor; a coaxial cable comprising a center conductor, an insulator covering the periphery of the center conductor, and an outer conductor covering the periphery of the insulator; one further comprising a sheath around the outer conductor; and the like.
Preferably, the slit extends from one end portion of the pipe to an intermediate portion of the pipe. When such a configuration is employed, a simple operation of successively feeding cables into the slit and shifting them toward the closed end of the slit arranges the cables in a row, whereby it becomes much easier to arrange the cables and yield a bent form thereof. Also, in the case where one side of the slit is closed, even when an external force acts on the pipe, the slit width is prevented from narrowing, so that a predetermined width is secured, whereby the cables are prevented from being damaged by the slit portion.
In the case where both end portions of the pipe are provided with slits, as compared with the case where a long slit is provided so as to extend from only one end portion of the pipe, the retention force for securing the slit width becomes greater, thus preventing the cables from being damaged by the slit portion.
Also, when a plurality of slits are disposed in a circumferential direction of the pipe, bent forms can be provided in a plurality of directions while the plurality of cables are aligned.
If the external surface of the pipe has a flat surface, then the pipe will not rotate when mounted on an instrument with this flat surface, whereby the mounting will become easier and more reliable.
If this pipe is disposed at the midsection of at least one cable among a plurality of cables, then it will also be applicable to cases where a part of cables are branched out partway.
The pipe is preferably formed such that the periphery thereof is constituted by a combination of two or more constituent members at any position in the axial direction of the pipe. In such a configuration, when attaching the pipe to midsection of a plurality of cables, the constituent members can be combined together so as to form and attach the pipe without necessitating an operation of passing the pipe from an end portion of the cables, whereby the workability would improve. Further, when moving the pipe to its aimed position, the pipe and the cables can be kept from coming into contact with each other, whereby the cables can be prevented from being damaged.
Al
Kikuchi Hideo
Sato Kazuhiro
Nguyen Chau N.
Smith , Gambrell & Russell, LLP
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.
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