GB2314547A

GB2314547A - Heat-curled cable marker

Info

Publication number: GB2314547A
Application number: GB9613323A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Michael Cunningham
Original assignee: Critchley Ltd
Current assignee: Critchley Group Ltd
Priority date: 1996-06-25
Filing date: 1996-06-25
Publication date: 1998-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-25
Also published as: GB2314547B; GB9613323D0

Abstract

A cable marker strip comprising a sheet 1 (1A, 1B, 1C) of polymeric material pre-formed to favour a curved state is transformed, preferably by the use of heat, from a flat state in which identification markings can be applied, to its curved state to curl and locate itself around a cable 2. The marker strip 1 may curl enough to define a cylindrical sleeve shape with ends 3A overlapping, or with no overlap (fig 4) when around the cable. The marker strip 1 may curl into a helical shape with longitudinal sides of the marker strip 1 abutting. The marker strip 1 may have a backing of pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive adhesive, or a water-proof hot-melt adhesive and may be transparent. Marker sheets may be attached to a carrier sheet (4, fig 7) by a release adhesive (5, fig 7) to ease passage of the marker sheets through a printing device.

Description

Improvements relating to Cable Markers One type of cable marker comprises a sleeve which can be pre-marked with identification markings and then slid over a cable (or the like). It is possible to provide the sleeve in a flattened state to enable the marking to be applied with ease but there is then a limit to the extent to which markings can be printed over the sleeve surface.

Furthermore such a sleeve can only be slid over a cable before it is fixed in place, for example in an electrical assembly.

According to the present invention there is provided a cable marker strip formed from a sheet of polymeric material which can be changed from a flattened state to a favoured curved state upon application of a suitable trigger for example heat, whereby, in the flattened state, identification markings can readily be applied to the front surface of the sheet and, in the subsequent favoured state the sheet can be allowed to curve around the cable to locate the marker strip onto the cable.

With the strip in its flattened state markings can be applied all over the surface without difficulty. This enables up to 3600 identification when the strip is subsequently applied to the cable or the like. Furthermore the strip can by applied to a cable, effectively to create a sleeve-like identification, after assembly of the cable into a unit, which might mean that the cable ends are inaccessible.

In one preferred form the sheet is so formed that, in its favoured state, it defines a cylindrical shape with two sides of the sheet meeting, or with an obvious overlap of one side of the sheet over the opposed side of the sheet.

Another possibility is for the sheet in its favoured state to be caused to curve into a helical form to define a cylindrical shape, with two opposed sides of the strip meeting along the turns of the helix.

The sheet may desirably be provided with a backing of a pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive adhesive over the whole or part of the rear surface of the sheet. This will then hold the sheet over the cable (by the adhesive) initially in place on the cable or the like and so that it does not slide along the length of the cable. Furthermore, if a waterproofing hot-melt adhesive is applied over the back of the sheet then a waterproof seal of the formed sleeve onto the cable can be achieved.

A sheet of material could be attached to a carrier strip with other such sheets by a release adhesive layer, to facilitate passage of the sheets through a printing device.

The invention may be performed in various ways and some preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a plan view of one form of marker strip sheet of this invention and an illustration of the application of that sheet to a cable; Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 for a first alternative form of marker strip of the inven tion; Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 for a second alternative form of marker strip of the invention; and Figure 7 illustrates how the marker strip sheets can be mounted onto a backing sheet for printing.

The cable marker strip shown in Figure 1 comprises a sheet 1A of polymeric material which has been pre-formed so that it favours a curved state, and has then been heat-set into a flat state. This allows markings to be printed onto the front face of the sheet 1A by a convenient printing device. The sheet 1A is then applied to a cable 2 (Figure 2) and is heated subsequently to an extent to cause the sheet 1A to adopt its favoured curved state. In this instance the ends 3A of the sheet overlap to a significant extent. The markings applied to the sheet 1A can then be viewed from all sides around the cable 2.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4 the sheet 1B is of more elongate form and is pre-formed such that, on application of a heat trigger, it will create a cylinder with the ends 3B of the sheet 1B meeting to form a seam. Again reference markings can be viewed all the way around the cable 2.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6 the marker strip 1C has marks applied repetitively along the length thereof. The strip 1C is so formed that, in its favoured state, it creates a helix, after application of a heat trigger, as shown in Figure 6. Again the markings can be viewed all the way around the cable 2.

The marker strips 1 can readily be applied, in their flattened state, to a backing sheet 4 by means of a release adhesive 5 (Figure 7). The backing sheet 4 can then be fed through a printer for ease of application of identification markings to the marker strips 1. As an alternative a series of marker strips 1 could be provided in a reel form so that individual strips can be cut off (after marking) before application to the cable. It would also be possible to provide a lamination over the identification markings, after printing, to create enhanced mark permanence.

An pressure sensitive adhesive is applied over the marker strip in a narrow band, to enable the sheet 1 to be located on a cable, prior to applying the heat trigger. It is also possible to cover the rear surface of the various types of marker strip 1 with a pressure sensitive or heat sensitive adhesive (covered by a release liner, if necessary). Then, when the marker strip 1 has been applied to a cable 2, the adhesive will secure the marker strip in place onto the cable by means of the adhesive.

The sheet 1 could be formed from a transparent plastics material. Then the markings could be printed, in reverse, on what is to be the rear face of the sheet (i.e. the inner curved surface after the heat trigger has been applied).

This will then give abrasion protection for the markings, which can be viewed through the transparent sheet. The marks could be applied by, for example, a thermal transfer printing process.

Claims

1. A cable marker strip formed from a sheet of polymeric material which can be changed from a flattened state to a favoured curved state upon application of a suitable trigger, for example heat, whereby, in the flattened state, identification markings can readily be applied to the front surface of the sheet and, in the subsequent favoured state the sheet can be allowed to curve around the cable to locate the marker strip onto the cable.

2. A marker strip according to Claim 1, wherein the favoured state causes the sheet to define a cylindrical shape with two sides of the sheet meeting.

3. A marker strip according to Claim 1, wherein the favoured state causes the sheet to define a cylindrical shape with an obvious overlap of one side of the sheet over the opposed side of the sheet.

4. A marker strip according to Claim 1, wherein the favoured state causes the sheet to curve into a helical form to define a cylindrical shape, with two opposed sides of the strip meeting along the turns of the helix.

5. A marker strip according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the sheet has a backing of a pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive a adhesive over the whole or part of the rear surface of the sheet.

6. A marker strip according to Claim 5, wherein the adhesive is a waterproofing hot-melt a adhesive.

7. A marker strip according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the sheet of material is attached to a carrier strip with other such sheets by a release adhesive layer, to facilitate passage of the sheets through a printing device.

8. A marker strip according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the sheet material is transparent.

9. A marker strip substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.