Appeal No. 1998-1445 Page 2
Application No. 08/489,680
signals from a distribution cable directly into subscribers'
homes. Because a coaxial drop cable may be twisted and turned
during installation, its dielectric material must be stiff
enough to support its associated outer conductor during the
twisting and turning, thereby preventing buckling or
flattening of the outer conductor, which would impair the
signal transmission characteristics of the cable.
The coaxial drop cable of the invention includes an
elongate center connector formed of a conductive material,
e.g., copper. A dielectric material, e.g., a closed cell
polyethylene, surrounds and adheres to the center connector.
To support the outer conductor and to prevent buckling, the
dielectric material has a stiffness of at least 1000 pounds
per linear inch. To increase the stiffness of the dielectric
material, the dielectric material has a density of at least
0.30 g/cm .3
The annular outer conductor, also formed of an
electrically conductive material such as aluminum or copper,
surrounds and adheres to the dielectric material. To ensure
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