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Mercury Cable & Energy Receives Notice of Allowance of HVCRC Patent from USPTO

The following is a portion of the examiner's statement of reasons for allowance: "This invention deals with a core for an electrical conductor comprising: - an inner core component comprising a plurality of glass based stranded members in a first resin matrix; - an intermediate cladding component surrounding the inner core component and comprising a plurality of carbon stranded members in a second resin matrix; and - an outer cladding component surrounding the intermediate cladding component and comprising a plurality of glass based stranded members in a third resin matrix, wherein the first resin matrix and the second resin matrix are substantially independent of each other and meet at a boundary (claim 1). This invention also deals with an electrical conductor comprising a core surrounded by an electrical conductor, the core further comprising: an inner core component comprising a plurality of glass based stranded members in a first resin matrix; - an intermediate cladding component surrounding the inner core component and comprising a plurality of carbon stranded members in a second resin matrix; and an outer cladding component surrounding the intermediate cladding component and comprising a plurality of glass based stranded members in a third resin matrix, wherein the first resin matrix and the second resin matrix are substantially independent of each other and meet at a boundary (claim 14). This invention also deals with a method of forming a core for an electrical conductor comprising the steps of forming an inner core component from a plurality of first fiber strands embedded within a first resin matrix; at least partially curing the resin matrix of the inner core component; forming an intermediate cladding component having a plurality of second fiber strands embedded within a second resin matrix about the inner core component; forming an outer cladding component having a plurality of third fiber strands embedded within a third resin matrix about the intermediate cladding component; and curing resin matrix of each of the intermediate cladding component and the outer cladding component (claim 28). The above stated claim limitations, are not taught or suggested by the prior art of record and therefore the claims have been allowed."

"We are pleased to see the acceptance of the HVCRC patent submission by the USPTO, said Ron Morris, General Counsel of Mercury. "The issuance of this patent gives us a great deal of confidence in our ability to protect our proprietary HVCRC Smart Conductor intellectual property in the United States and worldwide."

For more detailed information please visit http://www.mercurycable.com or http://www.uspto.gov/

Mercury Cable & Energy is a privately-held developer of High Voltage Composite Reinforced Conductors (HVCRC), Smart Conductors for the Smart Grid. The patented HVCRC Smart Conductor is superior to existing conductors in a number of key performance areas including:

· Up to double the current carrying capacity of ACSR

· Substantially reduces high-temperature sag

· Requires fewer structures for new line construction

· Increases capacity of existing rights-of-way and structures through retrofitting

· Eliminates bi-metallic corrosion

· Significantly reduces line losses compared to same-diameter conventional and composite conductors at equal operating temperatures

Mercury Cable & Energy
Todd Harris, President
949-276-5375
tharris@mercurycable.com