System and method for applying an adhesive coated cable to a surface

Abstract

A system and method for installing a fiber or cable on a wall or ceiling of a structure includes providing a fiber, wire or cable pre-coated with a hot melt adhesive that simply needs to be activated by the application of sufficient heat for a sufficient amount of time immediately before installation. Rolls or cartridges of wire or cable pre-coated with the hot melt adhesive are provided. The hot melt adhesive coated wire or cable is fed through a heated chamber, preferably a tip on a portable heating device such as a battery operated soldering iron, which activates the pre-coated hot melt adhesive prior to utilizing the heating tip to apply pressure to the adhesive wire directly to a wall or ceiling thereby adhering the fiber, wire or cable to the desired surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adhesive coated cable arrangement comprising:
 a cable including a signal carrying element surrounded by at least one layer having an exterior surface; and   a thermally activated adhesive bonded to the exterior surface with the assistance of a tie-layer, the thermally activated adhesive being suitable for adhering the cable to a surface of a wall or ceiling when activated.   
     
     
         2 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive covers a majority of the exterior surface. 
     
     
         3 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the cable has a round transverse cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         4 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive provides 360 degree coverage of the cable. 
     
     
         5 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the cable has a round transverse cross-sectional shape, wherein the signal carrying element includes an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is surrounded by a buffer layer that includes polyvinyl chloride, and wherein the buffer layer defines the exterior surface. 
     
     
         6 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the cable has an outer diameter less than 1000 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive includes ethylene-vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         8 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a low tack coating that covers the thermally activated adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the low tack coating has a melting temperature that is less than a melting temperature of the thermally-activated adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the low tack coating includes wax. 
     
     
         11 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the low tack coating has a thickness that is less than 20 percent as thick as the thermally activated adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein thermally activated adhesive has a thickness in the range of 200-400 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the cable is round and wherein the thermally activated adhesive has a thickness that is in the range of 10-50 percent of an outer diameter of the cable. 
     
     
         14 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive includes ethylene-vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         15 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive includes a UV stabilizing additive. 
     
     
         16 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive has a viscosity of 5000-20000 centipoise at 350 degrees F. 
     
     
         17 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive has a viscosity of 7000-15000 centipoise at 350 degrees F. 
     
     
         18 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive has a viscosity of 10000-13000 centipoise at 350 degrees F. 
     
     
         19 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive has an open time of at least 2 seconds at 65 degrees F. 
     
     
         20 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive has an open time in the range of 2-5 seconds at 65 degrees F. 
     
     
         21 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive has a melting point in the range of 150-250 degrees F. 
     
     
         22 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive has a melting point in the range of 180-220 degrees F. 
     
     
         23 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive has a melting point in the range of 190-210 degrees F. 
     
     
         24 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the cable includes PVC, wherein the thermally activated adhesive layer includes EVA, and wherein a tie layer including piperazine assists bonding between the thermally activated adhesive layer and the exterior surface of the cable. 
     
     
         25 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the wax includes a non-ionic paraffin wax having a melting temperature less than 150 degrees F. 
     
     
         26 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally activated adhesive layer has a thickness of 250 to 350 microns. 
     
     
         27 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the low tack coating has a thickness that is less than 15 percent as thick as the thermally activated adhesive. 
     
     
         28 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 27 , wherein the low tack coating has a thickness that is less than 10 percent of the thickness of the thermally activated adhesive layer. 
     
     
         29 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the thermally activated adhesive is in the range of 20-40 percent of the outer diameter of the cable. 
     
     
         30 . The adhesive coated cable arrangement of  claim 29 , wherein the thickness of the thermally activated adhesive is in the range of 15-35 percent of the outer diameter of the cable.