Abstract:
A road crossing tool to assist in, and enable, a one-person installation of fiber optic cable which must be connected to a utility pole first, before being connected to a house on the opposite side of the road. Since fiber optic cable is not readily spliced in the field, as compared to copper wire cable which is readily spliceable, the fiber cable is supplied pre-connectorized with fixed lengths. This causes slack, or un-necessary cable length, which must be stored at the building/house site rather than atop the utility pole. This tool permits the installer to have good visibility of the roadway after making the cable connection to the utility pole and prior to hoisting the cable to its intended elevated height over the roadway before making the cable connection to the house and storing the slack at the house. This eliminates the need for a two person installation which would otherwise be required.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a tool that facilitates installation of a line from a utility pole located adjacent a traveled roadway to a building located on the opposite side of the roadway and, more particularly, relates to enabling one-person installation of optical fiber telecommunication cable from a utility pole on one side of a traveled roadway to a building located across that roadway. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   The installation of telephone cable from high telephone poles to a similarly high connection point on homes, businesses and other facilities is a physical challenge. The installer-technician needs to make the appropriate connection while braving the elements atop a telephone pole, or while supported within an elevated installation bucket. Location of the building to which the other end of the wire shall be connected can add to the challenge. Moreover, telephone companies prefer to dispatch only one installer-technician per job, rather than two in the interests of cost-effectiveness, if at all possible. 
   In the past, where copper wire line may have been the standard communication wire, that copper cable could be cut to exact length to run from its connection point at the building to its connection point at the telephone pole, without slack. In that scenario, using only a single installer, the connection to the building may be made first and the connection to the telephone pole is made second, regardless of whether or not a road crossing is required. The reason for this particular sequence is because the telephone pole is almost always located immediately adjacent the roadway. This sequence takes into account good road traffic visibility from the telephone pole&#39;s location. 
   For example, if the connection to the building is made first, even if roadway traffic is not visible from the building because of blocking foliage or because of a large setback from the roadway, only one installer technician needs to be deployed to the copper wire installation. This is because of the location of the telephone pole next to the roadway. After connection to the building, the installer-technician can carry the loose end of the copper wire across the street to the location of the telephone pole, and stay on the ground with the wire on the roadway surface allowing cars to drive over it without causing damage to the wire. From the side of the roadway next to the telephone pole, the installer has a good view of traffic in both directions. The technician can climb the pole (or use an automated elevator-bucket) and when the traffic is clear can pull the wire up quickly to the standard eighteen foot height, and make the installation to the telephone pole without unused cable excess while traffic flows underneath the wire. In this instance, only one installer technician is needed per installation, regardless of whether the building to be connected is on the same side of the street or the opposite side of the street as the telephone pole, because of road visibility from the telephone pole location. 
   However, with optical fiber telephone cable, the situation is quite different because the reverse installation sequence must be used. Fiber cable comes with pre-attached, factory-installed, connectors on cable of standard lengths, such as 100 ft. or 150 ft. lengths. Fiber cable cannot easily be cut and readily be spliced to exact lengths in the field, as copper cable can. If, for example, the total span from utility pole to building connection point is 110 feet, the installer needs to use the 150 foot standard optical cable, causing a 40 foot unavoidable cable slack. The slack must be stored at the building, not on the telephone pole, according to current protocol. Therefore, the telephone pole connection must be made first, which makes the installation at the building almost impossible unless there is a second person present standing at the roadway to signal the installer at the building when roadway traffic is clear. When the clear signal is given by the second person, the installer can pull up the cable to appropriate height on the building and make the installation and form the slack cable into a loop for storage at the building location. 
   Approximately fifty percent of the homes in a neighborhood are located on the side of the street opposite from the location of the telephone pole. The requirement of two people per fiber optic cable installation versus one person for copper installation is a cost problem, even for fifty percent of the installations. What is needed is a mechanical assistant to enable fiber optic cable installations by only one human installer, regardless of which side of the street the telephone pole is located relative to the house or building being connected. The present invention offers such a welcome solution to this problem of the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Embodiments of the present invention include apparatus and methodology for facilitating installation of a line by a single human installer-technician. In a particular embodiment, the line is a pre-connectorized fiber-optic telephone line having a standard fixed length. One end of the line is connected from a first connector elevated above ground, possibly around eighteen feet, and mounted on an erected utility pole. The pole is located at one side of a roadway. There may be vehicular traffic on the roadway. The other end of the line is connected to another like-elevated connector which may be mounted on a building located on the opposite side of the roadway. Excess length of line, line slack, if any, is stored at the building side. 
   The apparatus is also located on the opposite side of the roadway and it includes a base for resting upon the ground, whether earth or hard surface. There is a vertical mast or member, such as a hand-manageable pole or group of interconnecting poles, extending upward from the base. There is a mechanism mounted at the top of the pole which permits the line to be fed through it in a first direction (e.g., from the telephone pole towards the building). The height of the mechanism may be approximately equal to the elevation of the first connector. The mechanism also engages the line to prevent it from displacement in a direction opposite to the first direction (e.g., from the building towards the utility pole). This permits the installer to connect the other end of the line to the other connector on the building, make the line taut, and store the slack, if any at the building site. The mechanism then disengages the line in response to a downward displacement on the vertical member caused by the installer pulling downward on it against the taut line. The connections of one end to the utility pole and of the other end to the building are not disturbed by this downward displacement. 
   A particular embodiment of this apparatus includes the mechanism having two spring-loaded rollers, each roller being rotatable only in one direction. The spring forces tend to pull the rollers together into a first position in which the axes of rotation of the rollers are generally parallel. There is a latch that helps to maintain the roller devices in the first position, wherein each of the rollers rotates in its one direction when the line is pulled or displaced in the first direction (e.g., towards the building from the utility pole). The rollers are arranged to firmly grip the line between the rollers when attempted displacement of the line in the direction opposite to the first direction attempts to cause each roller to rotate in a direction opposite to its one direction. The rollers can include a ratcheting mechanism to permit rotation only in one direction. There is a rotatable trigger tab connected to the axis of rotation of one of the rollers which is arranged to strike the latch when that roller is angularly displaced about its axis of rotation in response to force being applied to that roller by the taut line resulting from a downward pull on the vertical member by the installer. This prevents the latch from maintaining its first position and disengages the line. 
   It is thus a general object of the present invention to provide an improved technique for permitting installation of a line or cable across a roadway by a single installer, regardless of the type of line or cable. 
   It is another general object of the present invention to provide an improved technique for cable installation where the cable connection to a utility pole adjacent the roadway must be made before the connection to a building located on the other side of the roadway. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for installing fiber optical telephone lines or cables. 
   It is thus advantageous to utilize embodiments of the present invention when a single installer is performing line installation, such as fiber optical telephone line installation. 
   Other objects and advantages shall become apparent after reviewing the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary environment in which embodiments of the present invention may be useful; 
       FIG. 2  is an exemplary diagram of the present invention showing its base, vertical member and cable-holder mechanism atop the vertical member; 
       FIG. 3  is an exemplary diagram of the cable-holder mechanism of  FIG. 2  shown engaging a line or cable; 
       FIG. 4A  is another view of a portion of the cable-holder mechanism of  FIG. 3  showing its latch and rotatable trigger tab; 
       FIG. 4B  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 4A  showing more detail; and, 
       FIG. 5  is an exemplary diagram of the mechanism of  FIG. 3  shown in a position in which the line-holder mechanism may be disengaged from the line. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  depicts an environment in which embodiments of the present invention may be useful. Houses or buildings  101  and  102  are shown located on opposite sides of roadway  103 . Utility pole  104  is shown on the same side of the roadway as house  102 . Cable section  106  between house  102  and utility pole  104  is not impacted by roadway traffic since its connection to the house from the utility pole does not span the roadway. But, cable section  107 , which is continuous with cable section  108  or  108 ′ is problematical because the connection from utility pole  104  to house  101  spans roadway  103 . (Cable section  108  is intended to show the cable in a flexible state before its connection to house  101 , and cable section  108 ′ is intended to show the same cable section in a taut state after its connection to house  101 , slack not shown. The lengths of cable sections  108  and  108 ′ are identical because they are the same section, but under two different conditions. Cable section  107  runs from utility pole to road crossing tool  105  and is continuous with cable section  108  [ 108 ′]. Cable section  108 ′ runs from tool  105  to house  101 .) With vehicles traveling on the roadway, if house setback distance D is relatively large, or if the view of the roadway from the connection point on house  101  is obstructed by trees, etc. (not shown), then more than one installer is needed to safely complete this installation, unless embodiments of the present invention are used. 
   In the connection of broadband fiber-optic telephone and data cable, the connection must be made at the utility pole first because of factory-generated fixed length cables having pre-mounted connectors on both ends. Since actual distances from utility pole to building connection point shall almost always be different from a factory-generated “standard” length cable, the cable slack (not shown) is stored at the house location rather than on top of the utility pole, as earlier described. 
   In a typical installation using embodiments of the present invention, installer  109  may first make the connection to house  102  with cable section  106 . Cable section  106  is not electrically or optically connected to cable sections  107 / 108 . Thereafter, installer  109  may make the connection of cable  107  to utility pole  104 . At this point, all of cable  107 / 108  may be at the base of the utility pole (cable not shown in this position), and road crossing tool  105  is also located at the base of utility pole  104  (road crossing tool not shown in this position). Same installer  109 ′ next places base  201  ( FIG. 2 ) of road crossing tool  105  on the other side of the roadway and near the roadway to allow good visibility of the roadway from that location. The installer returns to the utility pole side to pick up cable  107 / 108  and mast section  202 ,  203 ,  204  ( FIG. 2 ) with cable-holder  205  ( FIG. 2 ) attached thereto. When traffic sufficiently clears, the cable and the mast section with attached cable-holder are carried across the roadway and installer  109 ′ threads the cable through cable holder  205 , inserts the mast into the base, and pulls on the cable until cable section  107  is taut and safely elevated (typically eighteen feet) above the roadway. All of this motion and activity can take less than thirty seconds to a minute, and shall not delay traffic significantly. With the installer standing immediately adjacent the roadway because of the advantages obtained using the road crossing tool, he/she can signal to oncoming traffic to momentarily stop, if necessary. Safety cones and other standard safety measures are undertaken as well. Then, while cable section  107  is held in its elevated place by tool  105 , with traffic passing safely thereunder, connection  108  can be safely and conveniently made to house  101 . Only one installer ( 109 / 109 ′) is needed for this installation, where two people were required before using this road crossing tool. 
   In another typical installation, after connection to the utility pole  104  is made, the installer can place the base of the road crossing tool across the roadway and next to the roadway. The installer can also place the mast with cable holder across the roadway on the ground next to the base. The installer can then, when traffic permits, carry the unconnected end of the cable across the street allowing it to unravel onto the roadway. Vehicles can drive over the cable without damaging it. The installer can then thread the end of the cable into the cable holder, momentarily leaving cable section  107  in a slack condition on the roadway, and insert the vertical mast into the base. When the traffic slows down, which the solitary installer can easily judge from the good vantage point on the edge of the roadway, the installer can quickly pull on the cable to raise it to full height safely above the ensuing traffic flow. 
     FIG. 2  depicts the road crossing tool, including base  201 , mast sections  202 ,  203  and  204  and cable-holder mechanism  205  atop the mast. The mast sections are modular poles which can be inserted into each other to make whatever connection height is desired. The base is sufficiently weighted to ensure stability of the mast when vertically inserted into the base. The mast pole sections can be made from fiberglass or some other lightweight, strong and non-conductive material. Cable-holder mechanism  205  can be fabricated from steel or a combination of steel and aluminum, and includes metal springs, ratcheted or rubberized rollers and other functionality to be described. 
     FIG. 3  depicts cable-holder mechanism  205  in a closed position, showing cable  107 / 108 ′ inserted therethrough. Cable  107 / 108 ′ is shown as being drawn taut which would be its condition after cable portion  108 ′ is connected to house  101 . Top of mast  204  is shown at the bottom of mechanism  205 . Metallic “U” support  301  is connected from mast section  204  and supports fixed side legs  302   a  and  302   b . Hinge  303  is attached to the end of side leg  302   a  in a manner to connect to movable side leg  304   a . Spring  317 , shown stretched in this view, is connected between fixed leg  302   a  and movable leg  304   a . Movable side leg  304   a  is fixedly connected to movable side leg  304   b  by way of axel  305  and fixed brace  305   a . An upper roller component is formed from rotatable arms  306   a  and  306   b  in combination with roller  307 . Ridges  313  on roller  307  are useful for gripping cable  107 / 108 ′. Axel  307   a  is the axis of rotation for roller  307  as well as being a support brace between arms  306   a  and  306   b . The upper roller component is spring loaded via spring  316 , the spring being connected between movable leg  304   a  and rotatable arm  306   a . The force of spring  316  tends to pull roller  307  down against the cable. Similarly, a lower roller component is formed from rotatable arms  311   a  and  311   b , which rotate around axel  312 , in combination with roller  309 . Axel  312  also serves as a support brace across U support  301 . Ridges  314  on roller  309  are useful for gripping cable  107 / 108 ′. Axel  309   a  is the axis of rotation for roller  309  as well as being a support brace between arms  311   a  and  311   b . The lower roller component is spring loaded via spring  315 , the spring being connected between fixed side leg  302   a  and movable arm  311   a . The force of spring  315  tends to pull roller  309  up against the cable. 
   In operation, after cable  107 / 108  (prior to it being made taut and not shown in this view) was inserted by the installer between rollers  307  and  309  in the direction of arrow  110 , the installer pulls on cable  108  until cable portion  107  is made taut. When pulling on the cable, rollers  307  and  309  rotate in the directions of arrows  308  and  310  respectively. Rollers  307  and  309  cannot rotate in directions opposite to those of arrows  308  and  310  because they are ratcheted (not shown). Thus, the cable is held in that taut position by ridges  313  formed in roller  307  and ridges  314  formed in roller  309  which grip the cable as a result of forces generated by springs  316  and  315  pulling on rotatable arms  306   a  and  311   a , respectively, against the cable. As the cable is held in that position by the ridges in the rollers, the installer completes the installation resulting in the taut cable section  108 ′. Alternatively, the rollers can be rubberized to create friction to hold the cable in place with or without ridges. Operation of disengagement from cable holder  205  is discussed below in connection with  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     FIG. 4A  is a view of the other side of a portion of cable holder  205 , that side being partially hidden from view in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4B  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 4A  showing more detail. Reference should be made to both  FIGS. 4A and 4B  together with respect to the following discussion. Latch  401  is a metal arm that is shown in its closed position, latching under holding pin  406 . Latch  401  is rotatable around the axis of axel  305 , but is not operatively connected to axel  305 . Thus rotation of axel  305  does not necessarily cause latch  401  to move. But, cam  402 , located on the outside of movable leg  304   b , is operatively connected to axel  305  and is therefore constrained to rotate therewith. Cam  402  rotates in direction  404  when rotatable arm  306   a  and  306   b  move in direction  405 . Trigger-tab  403  is affixed to cam  402  and rotates therewith. When cam  402  rotates sufficiently, trigger tab  403  strikes latch  401  and moves it away from its closed position. Latch  401  was held in its closed position by the static force of spring  317  ( FIG. 3 ) pulling on movable leg  304   a , that force being transferred to latch  401  pulling against holding pin  406 . Slot  407 , formed in cam  402  permits adjustment of trigger tab  403  within that slot. Moving trigger tab in the direction of arrow  404  and fixedly positioning it in the slot reduces the “play” or hysteresis motion of movable arms  306   a/b . Conversely, moving trigger tab  403  in the direction opposite of arrow  404  and fixedly positioning it in the slot increases the play or hysteresis motion of movable arms  306   a/b . This allows the installer to use the road crossing tool with cables of different diameters. This adjustment permits, for example, the accommodation of a larger diameter cable than one previously installed without prematurely opening latch  401  during the installation of the larger cable. 
     FIG. 5  depicts cable holder  205  in its open position. This position in achieved by the installer pulling downward, i.e., in direction  501 . The mast has removable sections  202 ,  203  and  204 . One section can be removed allowing sufficient room for the installer to pull downward on the mast portion that remains connected to cable holder  205 . If cable  107 / 108 ′ had been connected to house  101 , the cable is then taut, and the upward force on roller  307  from being pulled downward against taut cable  107 / 108 ′ causes rotatable arms  306   a/b  to rotate around axel  305 , thereby causing triggering tab  403  to strike latch  401 . Once latch  401  is disengaged from its holding tab  406 , the effect of stretched spring  317  pulling on movable leg  304   a  causes the leg to rotate around hinge  303 . This opens the cable holder into the position shown, and by simple manual manipulation the cable holder can be removed from cable  107 / 108 ′ by the installer. 
   In an alternative embodiment, two cable guides or limit-stops (not shown) would be affixed to rotatable arms  306   a  and  306   b , one on either end of roller  307 . These guides could be formed by merely extending the length of rotatable arms beyond their current length, but keeping the axel  307   a  at its current location. These guides would serve to keep cable  107 / 108 ′ from sliding away from roller  307 , when the installer pulls downward on the mast as described above, by limiting motion of the cable to not exceed the end of roller  307 . Thus, if the downward pull were not substantially vertical, the mechanism would still properly function, as described above. In other words, the two limit stops, can each be formed at either end of roller  307 , the upper one of the roller devices, and can be configured to prevent the line from losing contact with roller device  307  by preventing the line from sliding off in the direction of the roller axis, when the downward force is applied. 
   While several illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art. Embodiments of the present invention have applicability in any field involving installation of cable across a roadway, including TV cable, power lines, etc. The optical fiber telecommunications cable depicted and referenced herein can carry voice and data information in a broadband capacity. Although such cable or line may be referred to hereinabove as optical fiber telephone cable, the entire broadband capability of such cable is intended. Such variations and alternative embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.