Abstract:
Systems and methods for providing for a single piece, hinged cable routing device for use with cables. The device includes sections hingedly connected allowing each section to flex and bend. The device can include fingers on an upper portion of the device. Upon pushing a cable through the fingers, the cable securely remains in position within the device. In a preferred embodiment, the device connects cables to an amplifier housing in a cable television network. When the amplifier housing closes, the device folds securely within the amplifier housing ensuring the cable remains in a position within the amplifier housing that avoids electrical interference and noise.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to cable routing devices, and, more particularly, to stems and methods of providing a single piece, hinged cable routing device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Cable television (CATV) systems typically include transmission equipment, such as headend equipment that receives satellite signals and demodulates the signals to baseband. The baseband signal is then converted to a radio frequency (RF) signal or optical signal for transmission over a distribution system, such as, for example, a fiber optic cable, from the headend to receiving equipment, such as a set top box. The set top box couples to the subscriber&#39;s equipment, such as, for instance, a television set. The distribution system can encompass multiple distribution lines that can include local or long distance trunk lines, such as coax cable lines, directional couplers, and amplifiers that provide additional power to spread the signals to cable television taps along the CATV system. 
     Amplifiers are normally contained in a housing on a line. One side of the cable from the head end couples to one side of the housing. The cable feeds through the housing to amplification equipment and out of the housing to receiving equipment or taps having output ports for relaying the signal to subscribers. 
     Amplifier housings typically encompass two halves that close. Normally the amplifiers have electronics in both halves of the housings that are connected with a flexible cable that goes from one side of the half to the other. Folding the cables into the amplifier housing can cause noise problems. For example, the cables may be bent too tightly or the cables may stick out when folded and become caught in the housing when closed. Even if the cables do not get pinched by the housing, presently, the position where the cables fold up is unpredictable causing the cables to end up too close to the electronic components housed within the housing causing electrical interference. 
     Thus, a need exists for an apparatus that allows cables to be housed within an amplifier housing without getting pinched between the halves of the amplifier housing and does not cause electrical interference and noise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention addresses the prior problems and provides for a single piece, hinged cable routing device (also referred to as a “carrier”) for an amplifier housing. The unitary carrier includes sections flexibly joined with “living hinges” that allow the carrier to bend as it folds and unfolds when the amplifier housing is opened and closed. The device can include fingers along one side that allow for ease of installation of wires and cables. Preferably, the device is a single injection molded part having two ends and attaches to one half of the amplifier housing at one end and attaches to the other half of the amplifier housing at the other end. 
     One, multiple or combinations of the objects of this invention include the following: 
     To provide systems and methods for a device that holds a cable that couples to an amplifier such that the cable always folds into the same location when the housing is closed. 
     To provide systems and methods for a device that holds a cable in an amplifier housing such that it does not cause electrical noise problems. 
     To provide systems and methods for a device that folds completely when enclosed within a housing. 
     To provide a device that eliminates cables being damaged out in the field when an amplifier housing closes. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of this document and the Figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an amplifier housing having modules and a single piece, hinged cable routing device of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the single piece, hinged cable routing device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the single piece, hinged cable routing device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the single piece, hinged cable routing device of FIG. 1 flexing around its living hinges. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the flexibility of the single piece, hinged cable routing device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the single piece, hinged cable routing device of FIG. 1 as it would appear completely folded within a closed amplifier housing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1-6 show various views of a single piece, hinged cable routing device of this invention. 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the single piece, hinged cable routing device  10  (also referred to as a “carrier”) attached to an upper half  12  and a lower half  14  of an amplifier housing  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the carrier  10  is positioned in the middle of the amplifier housing  16 . An amplifier module  18  utilized in a cable television or communications network can be reversible. That is, the amplifier module  18  can be positioned in the amplifier housing  16  with a RF input entering from the left or right ends of the amplifier housing  16 . A centrally located carrier  10  allows the amplifier housing  16  to face the same direction regardless of whether the RF input enters from the left or right end of the amplifier housing  16 . 
     The amplifier housing  16  includes components for boosting the signal from a transmitter such as a headend device. Normally, amplifiers include modules such as those containing electronic components  18 , and a power supply module  20 . The electronic components  18  can reside on both the top half  12  and the bottom half  14  of the amplifier housing  16 . Cables  22  snake through the carrier  10  to connect the cable  22  from the top half  12  to the bottom half  14  of the amplifier housing  16 . 
     Electronics can be placed in both halves of the amplifier housing  16 . Alternatively, the electronic modules  18  reside on the bottom half  14  of the amplifier housing  16  and the power supply module  20  resides on the top half  12  of the amplifier housing  16 . The placement of the power supply module  20  on the top half  12  of the amplifier housing  16  provides for heat dissipation out of the top of the amplifier housing  16  and not through the bottom  14  of the amplifier housing  16 . Suitable amplifiers for use with this invention are the GainMaker™ series of products, provided by Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. of Norcross, Ga., such as System Amplifier 4 and Line Extender 4. 
     FIG. 2 shows a side view of the single piece, hinged cable routing device  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the carrier  10  encompasses an injection molded single piece of polypropylene, about 9.5 inches long and about 1.4 inches high. The carrier  10  can be pre-attached to the amplifier housing  16  by attaching one end  24  of the carrier  10  to the top side  12  of the amplifier housing  16 . The other end  26  of the carrier  10  can snap in place utilizing tabs  28  that mate to corresponding holes  30  (shown in FIG. 1) in the bottom half of the amplifier housing  16 . Optionally, the other end  26  of the carrier  10  can attach to the electronic module  18  of bottom half  14  of the amplifier housing  16 . Alternatively, the customer (e.g. a cable operator) can assemble the carrier  10  to the amplifier housing  16  in the field. 
     The carrier  10  includes living hinges  32  that flex but do not break when bent. The living hinges  32  allow the carrier  10  to bend in the same location when the carrier  10  folds and unfolds as the amplifier housing  16  opens and closes. 
     FIG. 3 shows a top view of the single piece, hinged cable routing device  10 . The carrier  10  has wire retention fingers  34  that provide for ease of inserting cables  22  into the carrier  10 . Each finger  34  includes a gap  35 . Cables  22  insert into the carrier  10  by pushing the cable  22  through the gap  35  in the fingers  34 . The fingers  34  allow for ease of installing the cable  22  but also secure the cable  22  in position such that the cable  22  will not inadvertently move out of position from the carrier  10 . In an alternative embodiment, the gap  35  is eliminated and the fingers  34  are molded together. In this embodiment, the cable  22  inserts by being threaded through the carrier  10 . Openings  36  in the carrier  10  provide for attaching the carrier  10  to the top side  12  of the amplifier housing  16  by, for example, screwing the carrier  10  to the amplifier housing  16 . The carrier  10  can be attached to the top side  12  of the amplifier housing  16  by a variety of methods including welding, bolting, gluing, and snapping the carrier  10  into position. 
     FIG. 4 shows a side view of the carrier  10  bending around the living hinges  32 . Cables  22  of a variety of sizes with a variety of bend radius requirements can be utilized with the carrier  10 . The segments  40 ,  41 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  and  48  of the carrier  10  can be designed to support the different bend radii. For example, cables  22  from about 0.25 to 2.1 inches in diameter can be fed through the carrier  10 . Depending on the diameter of the cable  22 , up to three cables  22  can be enclosed within the carrier  10 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the bendability of the single piece, hinged cable routing device  10 . This view is exemplary of the position of the carrier  10  when the amplifier housing  16  is in an open position. The carrier  10  connects to the top side  12  of the amplifier housing  16  utilizing the openings  36  in the carrier  10 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a side view of the single piece, hinged cable routing device  10  completely folded when the amplifier housing  16  is in a closed position. Flexing the living hinges  32  bends each section  40 ,  41 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  and  48  and thus the carrier  10  transitions to a folded position. In this position, the cable  22  is securely enclosed within the carrier  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the power supply  20  extends about one-half inch from the interior of the top half  12  of the amplifier housing  16  and the carrier  10  fits within this space when folded. The bend of the carrier  10  is such that cable  22  bending radius are maintained in a manner that interference is not introduced by an improper bend of the cable  22 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the carrier is molded to both the top side and bottom side of the amplifier housing. 
     In another alternative embodiment, the carrier encompasses two pieces that each attach to a half of the amplifier housing and are joined by a living hinge. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the carrier snaps into position utilizing tabs on both ends of the carrier mating to holes on both the top side and bottom side of the amplifier housing. 
     An advantage of this invention is that it avoids cables being pinched between the halves of the amplifier housing when the amplifier housing closes. 
     Another advantage of this invention is that the cable securely enclosed within the carrier avoids introducing electrical interference into the CATV system that arises when cables are placed too close to electrical components. 
     In light of the foregoing disclosure of this invention and description of certain preferred embodiments, those who are skilled in this area of technology will readily understand that various modifications and adaptations can be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of this invention. All such modifications and adaptations are intended to be covered by the following claims.