A PROFILE FOR MARKING ELONGATE MATTER

Abstract: An extrudable flexible material profile (1), for marking electric leads, cables, hoses and other elongate objects (12). The profile comprises a centre portion (4) oriented along the longitudinal axis of the profile. Locking means (3) extend in parallel with said longitudinal axis (13) at each side of the centre portion (4) which by mutual coupling-up are making it possible for the profile to form a closed hollow section. The material thickness of the profile is dimensioned for flexibility in the centre portion (4) and for rigidity in the lock means (3).

Description: TITLE A profile for marking elongate matter TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention refers to an extrudable flexible material profile, for marking electrical leads, cables, ' hoses and other elongate objects, comprising a centre portion oriented along the longitudinal axis of the profile. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A procedure for marking of strips with the method described in the invention is known before, i.e. to use an electronic thermo print head and lamination technology, which is used here in a new application. The device is also known before, but is in this application used for direct marking and manufacturing of a marking module. It is also known devices and procedures for marking elongate material by means of electric hand tools or machines. It is even known to mark electric cables by threading differently coloured and/or already marked sleeves onto cables. These sleeves are kept in boxes with different compartment beside the installer and are clamped or threaded onto the cable. Two examples of this procedure are described in SE 7804949-1 and US 4,641,443 which discloses various mark profiles attachable from the side. The marking systems mentioned above are flexible but time-consuming to mount. It is also known to use already marked sleeves supporting the whole identity number, these are less time consuming to mount but are not flexible due to that they must be ordered in advance according to specification. For a long time, there has existed a need of a marking system which is both time efficient and flexible. SE 456199 discloses a solution to the problem which for some reasons has not been accepted on the market, which in contrast to this invention comprises sleeves which are marked by means of a pair of portable marking tongs which deform a sleeve consisting of several colour layers. THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM The purpose of present invention is to provide a method, a device for carrying out the method as well as a marking module for using the method that combines the advantages of the known main types, without incorporating their drawbacks. THE SOLUTION For this object, the invention is characterized in locking means extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis at each side of the centre portion which by mutual coupling-up are making it possible for the profile to form a closed hollow section, and that the material thickness of the profile is dimensioned for flexibility in the centre portion and for rigidity in the locking means. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described hereinafter with reference to an embodiment which is shown in the enclosed drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the marking module in perspective view, Fig. 2 shows the marking module in perspective view in a flat ribbon-shaped condition , Fig. 3 shows the marking module in profile with the entire lock closed in position for the smallest cable diameter, Fig. 4 shows the marking module in profile with only the outer locking means closed in position for the biggest cable diameter, and Fig. 5 discloses the marking method. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The marking module consists of an extrudable profile of flexible material that includes a centre portion 4 oriented along the longitudinal axis 13 of the profile and locking means 3 extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis 13. The centre portion 4 continues via fold notches 2 into shank portions 11 extending in parallel with said longitu¬ dinal axis 13 between the centre portion 4 and a locking means 3 provided on each side of said portion. After mutual coupling-up of the lock means 3, the profile forms a closed hollow profile which surrounds the conductor 12. The thickness of the profile material is dimensioned for flexibility in the centre portion 4 and for rigidity in the locking means 3. The profile is installed on the conductor 12 from the side, which facilitates mounting. The method and the device for performing the method must be portable and feasible so that the marking symbols can be affixed onto the marking profile at the installation site according to the user's need and needs for flexibility. According to Fig. 1, the marking module comprises a band shaped profile 1 which is folded at the fold notches 2 round the cable 12 into a triangular shape which encompasses the cable, and which is locked together by means of the lockings 3 formed on the shanks 11. The triangular shape is achieved partly by the fold notches 2 and partly by the somewhat angled transition of the shanks 11 over to the lockings 3. The locking which for example is shown in Fig. 3, is of catch type with two hermaphrodite-shaped lock halves 3, of the number of male locking means and their acute-angel is designed for achieving the best possible guidance. The marking can be adapted to a wide range of dimensions since the locking can be made in steps. In a unbuttoned position, the innermost locking step is designed to follow the conductor's periphery line, see Fig. 4. The triangular shaped closed profile is in itself expandable, in combination with the length of the marking module, that makes it adaptable to a large number cable diameters. The marking module is preferably manufactured in a transparent plastic material, for example SURLYN ionomer, and the marking symbols affixes to the centre section 4, i.e. the back side of the locking, onto the module's inside/cable side. A protective film 5 in contrasting colour is adhesively mounted over the marking symbols near to the cable. The protective film 5 can thereby function as means for defining the fold notches. Another embodiment is obtained by applying the marking symbols to a transparent film that is laminated onto the top or outer side of the above described marking module which now gets a contrasting colour. A third embodiment is obtained by applying the marking directly on top or outer surface of the marking module with or without a protective film. The marking symbols are applied as is shown in Fig. 5 upon the marking module by means of a method where the marking module by means of a unfolded band-shaped profile runs in contact with an electric thermo print head 6 together with a colour ribbon 7 with a certain contact pressure, subsequently the profile is laminated together with a selfadhesive film 5 by means of two compression rollers 8 one of which is driving. Then the marking module is cut into an appropriate length. The device shown in Fig. 5 for the above described method, comprises an electric operated portable unit, mainly comprising a keyboard or similar symbol selection unit, an electronic thermo print head 6, a feed motor and feed mechanism, a compression wheel for lamination 8 and marking support roller 10, electronics for memory and guiding, a display, a separation knife 9, magazines containing the marking module band, a colour ribbon and the self adhesive protective film, all enclosed in one or more protective casings. The thermo print head can for instance be replaced by an ink jet or a line printer head. In Fig. 1-4 the centre section 4 and the shanks 11 have been shown in a large magnification. In real life, these portions have a thickness of between 0,1 and 1 mm. The material in the lock means 3 is thicker than in the portions 4 and 11. The invention is not limited to the above described embodiments, but more variants are possible within the scoop of the accompanying subclaims. For instance, the centre portion 4 can continue directly over to the lock means 3, without separate shank portions. Further, the marking module can comprise a layer of compressible material, for example foam plastic enabling the same marking module to be used for marking of different elongate material with different thicknesses, without risk of the marking module sliding along the elongate material. Alternatively, the centre section 4 and the shanks 11 can be provided with a layer of double adherable tape, to fix the marking module on narrow section leaders.

Claims: CLAIM 1. Extrudable flexible material profile (1), for marking electrical leads, cables, hoses and other elongate objects (12), comprising a centre portion (4) oriented along the longitudinal axis of the profile, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in locking means (3) extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis (13) at each side of the centre portion (4) which by mutual coupling-up are making it possible for the profile to form a closed hollow section, and that the material thickness of the profile is dimensioned for flexibility in the centre portion (4) and for rigidity in the locking means (3). 2. A profile according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that shank portions (11) extend in parallel with said longitudinal axis (13) between the centre portion (4) and each locking means (3). 3. A profile according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the centre portion (4) and the shank portions (11) are connected by means of two fold notches (2) which makes it possible for the profile to form a closed triangular section. 4. A profile according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lock means (3) are designed so that the size of the closed loop formed by the centre portion (4) and the lock means is adjustable by locking in several steps. 5. A profile according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the centre portion (4), holds the marking symbols. 6. A profile according to the claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least the centre portion (4) is transparent, that the marking symbols are mounted onto the inside of the centre portion, and that a protective film (5) with a colour contrasting the marking symbols is mounted onto the inside of the centre portion. 7. A profile according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the marking symbols are placed on a transparent protective film that is laminated on the outer surface of the centre portion (4) which has a contrasting colour. 8. A profile according to any of preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the centre portion (4) is primarily plane when the lock means (3) is in an inactive position.

Inventors: BERG HANS, HAGSTROEM KJELL, BERG, HANS, HAGSTROEM, KJELL
Applicants: BERG HANS, HAGSTROEM KJELL, NUFLEX HB
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01B7
IPC codes: G09F3, H01B7