Abstract:
A cable support system has a base that adhesively adheres to an attachment surface. Telescopic segments connect to the base and extend and retract in length. A cable receptacle attaches to an end portion of a final segment of the telescopic segments. A control system wirelessly receives instructions from a portable communication device, and at least one mechanical drive mechanism connects to the final segment of the telescopic segments and responds to the control system to extend and retract at least the final segment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/737,299, filed Dec. 16, 2003 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,059, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The subject invention generally and in various embodiments relates to devices for supporting objects such as cables, for example, used in connection with work performed on elevated structures. 
     In many commercial and industrial settings, work sites may include utility structures or other elevated structures. Scaling such elevated structures is often required by workers performing maintenance, installation and/or other related functions on equipment located at the work site. In elevated work environments, it may be difficult for workers to manipulate work tools, work materials and/or cables, while also maintaining a reasonably stable physical position. 
     In certain situations, service technicians may work aloft on elevated structures to perform installation or maintenance duties on aerial cables and utility poles, for example. With reference to the scenario shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, two service technicians  2 ,  4  collaborate to attach a cable  6  between first and second elevated structures  8 ,  10 . The first elevated structure  8  may be a residential home, for example, and the second elevated structure  10  may be a utility pole. As shown, one end of the cable  6  is attached to the utility pole  10  and the other end of the cable  6  is held by the first service technician  2  in position next to the home  8 . It can be seen that the second service technician  4  is needed to support a portion of the cable  6  which, due to its weight, sags toward a street  12  located between the home  8  and the utility pole  10 . The second service technician  4  supports the cable  6  to enable the first service technician  2  to connect the cable  6  to the home  8 . In addition to supporting the cable  6 , the second service technician  4  is needed to direct traffic on the street  12 , for example, and/or to address other street  12  conditions that are impacted by installation of the cable  6 . 
     It can be appreciated that commercial entities and other organizations that employ workers in elevated environments are aware of the potential risks attendant upon work performed in such environments. Commercial entities therefore devote substantial time and resources to promote safe conditions for work performed in elevated environments. Promoting worker safety may involve instituting intensive training programs and/or providing a variety of support devices, support systems, backup devices and systems, and/or other strategies for promoting the stability and safety of workers. Despite the best efforts of entities to enhance the safety of their workers and reduce the risks presented by tools, work materials, or other objects potentially descending from elevated structures, however, it is nonetheless difficult to eliminate all risks to workers in elevated environments. 
     Based on the foregoing discussion, it can be seen that improved devices are needed for supporting objects such as cables, for example, in association with work performed on elevated structures. 
     SUMMARY 
     In embodiments of the present invention, a cable drop support system is provided. The cable drop support system includes a base adapted for attachment to a surface; at least one segment connected to the base; and, a cable receptacle attached to a portion of the at least one segment, the cable receptacle being structured for receiving therein at least a portion of a cable. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, a cable drop support system is provided. The cable drop support system includes a base adapted for attachment to a surface, wherein the attachment surface includes a surface area portion of a service vehicle; a first segment connected to the base; at least a second segment attached to the first segment, the first and second segments being structured in a telescoping configuration; and, a cable receptacle attached to a portion of at least one of the segments, the cable receptacle being structured for receiving therein at least a portion of a cable, the cable receptacle including a generally upwardly open U-shaped configuration. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, a cable drop support system is provided. The cable drop support system includes a base adapted for attachment to a surface, wherein the attachment surface includes a surface area portion of a service vehicle; a first segment connected to the base; at least a second segment attached to the first segment, the first and second segments being structured in a telescoping configuration; a cable receptacle attached to a portion of at least one of the segments, the cable receptacle being structured for receiving therein at least a portion of a cable, the cable receptacle including a generally upwardly open U-shaped configuration; and, at least one control system operatively associated with the cable drop support system, the control system configured for receiving instructions communicated through at least one communication media from at least one communication device, wherein the communication device is selected from the group consisting of a remote control device, a laptop, a personal digital assistant, and a telephone. 
     Other systems, methods, and/or products according to embodiments of the present invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or products be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  includes a schematic illustrating a prior art method for performing cable installation between elevated structures; 
         FIG. 2  includes a partially schematic, partially isometric view of embodiments of support systems provided in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  includes schematic representations that provide details of various aspects of the embodiments of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  includes a schematic representation of embodiments of support systems provided in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  includes an isometric view illustrating embodiments of support systems provided in accordance with the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 6  includes a schematic illustrating various embodiments of support systems and methods for employing support systems to install cable between elevated structures in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, the term “elevated structure” includes, for example and without limitation, telephone poles and other utility structures for supporting utility related equipment and services such as, for example, telephone services, Internet services, electricity services and/or television/cable services; as well as scaffolding, radio towers, oil rigs, buildings, residences, construction sites for buildings and other erections, structures that require elevation of a worker, and/or any other elevated structure suitable for use in association with various embodiments of the invention. 
     As used herein, the term “cable” includes, for example and without limitation, metal wire (e.g., copper wire), telephone line, fiber optic cable, telecommunications cable, electrical transmission/distribution lines, lines for promoting support of elevated structures (e.g., guide wires), and/or any other type of cable suitable for application to one or more aspects of the present invention, such as a cable attached to an elevated structure, for example. 
     As used herein, the term “service vehicle” includes a truck, a van, a car, and/or any other vehicle, whether mobile or stationary, that can be adapted for use in association with various embodiments of the present invention. In certain embodiments, for example, a suitable service vehicle includes an appropriate surface or surfaces for mounting a cable drop support system structured in accordance with the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , various embodiments of a cable drop support system  22  are shown in accordance with the present invention. The cable drop support system  22  includes a base  24  that is adapted for attachment to a surface  26  that, in various aspects, includes a surface area portion of a service vehicle (not shown), for example. The base  24  includes one or more attachment devices such as bolt housings  28 ,  29 , for example, to permit the base  24  to be removably attached or substantially permanently attached to the surface  26 . It can be appreciated that removable attachment of the base  24  to the surface  26  permits portability and transportation of the cable drop support system  22  between/among different service locations, for example. It can be appreciated that the base  24  can be attached to the surface  26  with bolts, screws, adhesives, welds and/or any other suitable attachment devices. 
     In various embodiments of the invention, at least a first segment  30  is removably or substantially permanently connected to the base  24 . In certain aspects, at least a second segment  32  extends from the first segment  30  to provide a series of consecutive segments  30 ,  32  that offers an enhanced overall extension length for the cable drop support system  22 . It can be appreciated that more than two segments can be suitably employed in various embodiments of the present invention to provide an overall extension length for the cable drop support system  22 . In other aspects, a cable receptacle  34  is attached to a portion of the final segment  32  in the series of consecutive segments  30 ,  32 . In various embodiments, the cable receptacle  34  includes a generally upwardly open U-shaped configuration structured for receiving and supporting therein at least a portion of a cable (not shown). 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, the cable drop support system  22  includes one or more control systems  36  for receiving instructions from one or more communication devices  38  through one or more different kinds of communication media  40 . The control systems  36  include conventional hardware and/or software configured for receiving instructions and directing the functions of one or more drive mechanisms  42 , for example, installed within the base  24  of the cable drop support system  22 . Examples of the control systems  36  include, without limitation, one or more computer systems  36 A, one or more processors  36 B, and/or one or more manual controls  36 C, among other types of suitable control systems  36 . In certain aspects, the segments  30 ,  32  are structured/dimensioned in a telescoping configuration (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to permit at least a portion of the final segment  32  to extend from or collapse into the preceding segment  30  of the series of segments  30 ,  32  during operation of the cable drop support system  22 . In various embodiments, the extension or collapse of the telescoping segments  30 ,  32  is enabled by the function of the drive mechanisms  42 , which include gears and/or other appropriate mechanical components structured/configured to enable the telescoping action of the segments  30 ,  32 . 
     In various aspects, the communication devices  38  include, for example and without limitation, a remote control device  38 A, a laptop  38 B, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”)  38 C, and/or a telephone  38 D (e.g., a wireless, cellular or wireline telephone), among other types of suitable communication devices  38 . The communication devices  38  can communicate with one or more of the control systems  36  through the communication media  40 . The communication media  40  include, for example and without limitation, a wireless network  40 A and/or a wireline network  40 B. In one operational example, the cable drop support system  22  can be installed in a substantially collapsed state. In this example, a service technician activates the PDA  38 C to communicate through the wireless network  40 A with the computer system  36 A. The computer system  36 A receives commands input by the service technician through the PDA  38 C and directs the drive mechanism  42  to activate and initiate the telescoping function of the segments  30 ,  32 . In this manner, the service technician can control extension and/or collapse of the segments  30 ,  32  from a location that is remote with respect to the position of the cable drop support system  22 . 
     In addition, in various aspects, one or more external power sources  44  can be operatively associated with a power source  46  of the cable drop support system  22  to supply power for various functions of the cable drop support system  22 . The power sources  44  include, for example and without limitation, a conventional AC power source  44 A (e.g., an electrical outlet located at or near the work site), a service vehicle  44 B (e.g., a battery of the service vehicle can be used as a power source), and/or a generator  44 C (such as a gas-powered electric generator, for example) which may be portable or substantially fixed at the work site, among other suitable types of power sources  44 . In various aspects, the power source  46  of the cable drop support system  22  includes a conventional, rechargeable battery that does not require one of the external power sources  44  to supply power to the components of the cable drop support system  22 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , in various embodiments of the present invention, a cable drop support system  52  includes a base  54  mounted to a surface area portion  56  of a service vehicle  58 . The cable drop support system  52  includes a series of segments comprising at least first and second operatively associated telescoping segments  60 ,  62 . In various aspects, the final telescoping segment  62  in the series of segments is connected to a cable receptacle  64 . In other aspects, the cable receptacle  64  includes a generally upwardly open U-shaped configuration structured for receiving and supporting therein at least a portion of a cable  66 . The cable drop support system  52  includes one or more mechanical drive mechanisms  68  such as, for example, gears, chains, belts, ball bearings, and/or other like components operatively associated with a hand crank  70 , for example. It can be appreciated that the mechanical drive mechanisms  68  and the hand crank  70  are configured to work in conjunction (e.g., through manual or automated rotation/cranking of the hand crank  70 ) to enable the telescoping function of the segments  60 ,  62 . It can be seen that the extension of the segments  60 ,  62  provides an extended length between the cable receptacle  64  and the surface area portion  56  of the service vehicle  58 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , in other embodiments of the present invention, a cable drop support system  82  includes a substantially stationary segment  84  that is removably or substantially permanently attached to a base  86 . The base  86  is adapted for attachment to a surface  88  that, in various aspects, includes a surface area portion of a service vehicle (not shown), for example. In certain aspects, the base  86  includes one or more attachment devices such as bolt housings  90 ,  92  for example, to permit the base  86  to be removably or substantially permanently attached to the surface  88 . It can be appreciated that removable attachment of the base  86  to the surface  88  permits portability and transportation of the cable drop support system  82  between/among different service locations, for example. It can be appreciated that the base  86  can be attached to the surface  88  with bolts, screws, adhesives, welds and/or any other suitable attachment devices. In various aspects, a cable receptacle  94  is attached to a portion of the stationary segment  84 . In certain aspects, the cable receptacle  94  includes a generally upwardly open U-shaped configuration structured for receiving and supporting at least a portion of a cable (not shown) therein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an operational example illustrating use of a cable drop support system  102  in accordance with the present invention is provided. A first end of a cable  104  is attached to a first elevated structure  106  (e.g., a residence where telecommunications services are to be provided) by a service technician  108 . Once the first end of the cable  104  is attached to the first elevated structure  106 , the service technician  108  places a portion of the cable  104  into a cable receptacle  110  of the cable drop support system  102  in a collapsed or substantially collapsed position of the cable drop support system  102 , for example. The service technician  108  then activates a remote control device  112  that communicates instructions through a wireless medium  114  to a computer system  116  operatively associated with the cable drop support system  102 . The computer system  116  instructs a drive mechanism  118  to extend telescoping segments  120 ,  122  of the cable drop support system  102  (along with the portion of the cable  104  supported on the cable receptacle  110 ) into an extended position as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this example, the drive mechanism  118  includes a variety of conventional mechanical components that effect the telescoping action of the segments  120 ,  122  to provide the extended position. The drive mechanism  118  and the computer system  116  draw power from an internal battery power source  124  of the cable drop support system  102 . 
     Once the cable  104  is raised through the telescoping action of the segments  120 ,  122 , the service technician  108  can transport the balance of the cable  104  to a location on a second elevated structure  126  (e.g., a utility pole including access points for various telecommunications services) to complete the connection between the elevated structures  106 ,  126 . It can be seen that the cable drop support system  102  reduces the need for the service technician  108  to enlist the assistance of a second service technician, for example, to perform work (e.g., direct traffic or support a portion of the cable  104 ) between the two elevated structures  106 ,  126 . In one aspect, a service vehicle  128  functions on a street  130 , for example, or other thoroughfare or obstacle between the elevated structures  106 ,  126 , in place of a potential second service technician. 
     It can be appreciated that choice of materials for construction/manufacture of the various structural elements disclosed herein is driven, at least in part, by the motivation to provide system and apparatus embodiments that are relatively lightweight, relatively compact, readily manipulated and structurally sound. It can be further appreciated that such materials can be selected to promote convenience of transportation and manipulation of the various aspects and components of the present embodiments in association with work performed on elevated structures, for example. 
     The term “computer-readable medium” is defined herein as understood by those skilled in the art. It can be appreciated, for example, that method steps described herein may be performed, in certain embodiments, using instructions stored on a computer-readable medium or media that direct a computer system to perform the method steps. A computer-readable medium may include, for example and without limitation, memory devices such as diskettes, compact discs of both read-only and writeable varieties, digital versatile discs (DVD), optical disk drives, and hard disk drives. A computer-readable medium may also include memory storage that can be physical, virtual, permanent, temporary, semi-permanent and/or semi-temporary. A computer-readable medium may further include one or more data signals transmitted on one or more carrier waves. 
     As used herein, a “computer” or “computer system” may be, for example and without limitation, either alone or in combination, a personal computer (PC), server-based computer, server, main frame, microcomputer, minicomputer, laptop, personal data assistant (PDA), cellular phone, pager, processor, including wireless and/or wireline varieties thereof, and/or any other computerized device capable of configuration for processing data for either standalone application or over a networked medium or media. Computers and computer systems disclosed herein may include memory for storing certain software applications used in obtaining, processing, storing and/or communicating data. It can be appreciated that such memory may be internal or external, remote or local, with respect to its operatively associated computer or computer system. The memory may also include any means for storing software, including a hard disk, an optical disk, floppy disk, ROM (read only memory), RAM (random access memory), PROM (programmable ROM), EEPROM (extended erasable PROM), and other suitable computer-readable media. 
     The examples presented herein are intended to illustrate potential implementations of the embodiments of the present invention. It can be appreciated that such examples are intended primarily for purposes of illustration. No particular aspect of the embodiments described herein is intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The configuration and specific functions of a particular cable drop support system, for example, are provided merely for convenience of disclosure. 
     It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that these and other elements may be desirable. Because such elements are well known in the art, however, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. 
     It can be appreciated that, in some embodiments of the present embodiments, a single component/element can be replaced by multiple components/elements, and multiple components/elements replaced by a single component/element, to perform a given function. Except where such substitution would not be operative to practice the present embodiments, such substitution is within the scope of the present invention. 
     Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been described herein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, it can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations of the details, materials and arrangement of parts may be made within the principle and scope of the invention without departing from the invention as described in the appended claims.