Patent ID: 6992253

Claim:
An interim manufacturing step subassembly of a longitudinal section of a flexible cable comprising: a core structure having a longitudinal axis and provided at its opposite end portions with cylindrical grip foundation surfaces concentric with said axis; a one and another grip assemblies at corresponding one and another opposite ends of said core structure, each grip assemblies being of the type having at its axially inwardly disposed end a Chinese-finger-toy-type cylindrical open-mesh-sleeve concentric with said longitudinal axis, the open-mesh-sleeve of the respective grip assemblies being fitted over the cylindrical outer surfaces of grip foundations at the corresponding ends of the core structure; a set of at least three strength strands to restrain the open-mesh-sleeves of said one and another grip assemblies to positions having a predetermined maximum distance of longitudinal separation, said set of strength strands being equiangular radially spaced in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; the opposite ends of strength strands of said set being made fast to the associated open-mesh-sleeve; the construction and arrangement by which the strength strands are made fast to the associated open-mesh-sleeves being such that the span of each strength strand between the open-mesh-sleeve of the one and other grip assemblies is taut; each strength strand of said set having a linear portion thereof proximate each of its ends which is interlaced in a longitudinal direction through a plurality of successive ones of an axially outward series of open spaces of the associated open-mesh-sleeve; and the marginal end portion at said each of the ends of said each strand is tied to the associated open-mesh-sleeve.