CABLE RETAINER CONFIGURED TO MAXIMIZE SPACE FOR A CABLE IN A PROFILE

A cable retainer may be structurally configured to be coupled with a profile of a fiber distribution cabinet so as to retain a cable in the profile and maximize space in the profile. The cable retainer may include an inner retaining portion structurally configured to be received in a cable receiving portion in a profile of a fiber distribution cabinet, a neck portion extending from the inner retaining portion and structurally configured to be received in an opening through a wall portion of the profile to the cable receiving portion, an outer retaining portion structurally configured to extend from the neck portion in a direction away from the inner retaining portion. The inner retaining portion may be structurally configured to pass through the opening when disposed in a first orientation relative to the opening, and wherein the inner retaining portion is structurally configured to be prevented from passing through the opening when disposed in a second orientation relative to the opening. The neck portion may be structurally configured to permit the inner retaining portion to be rotated relative to the profile from the first orientation to the second orientation when the neck portion is received in the opening such that the inner retaining portion is configured to engage an inner surface portion of the wall portion and the outer retaining portion is configured to engage an outer surface portion of the wall portion so as to couple the retainer with the profile and retain a cable in the cable receiving portion. The inner retaining portion may be configured to extend into the cable receiving portion by a thickness of the inner retaining portion such that the thickness of the inner retaining portion is configured to be less than about 1.9 mm so as to maximize a space in the cable receiving portion between the inner retaining portion and the bottommost wall portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a cable retainer. In particular, the disclosure relates to a cable retainer configured to maximize space for a cable or other item in a slot of a profile in a fiber distribution cabinet.

BACKGROUND

In electronic enclosures, such as in a fiber distribution cabinet, one or more cables (or other items) often need to be routed in an orderly manner within the enclosures. The routing of the cables can take place in various manners, such as securing the cables in a particular manner within the enclosure. A common method of routing and securing cables within an enclosure is to use a slotted profile, which may be attached to the enclosure. The slotted profile may include a slot for retaining and routing the cable(s) within the enclosure. In such a profile, the slot may be configured to receive the cable(s) to route the cables within the enclosure. In some instances, such a profile may be known as a “T-slotted profile”.

In the use of such a profile, there may be a cap or retaining device that is inserted into a top open portion of the slot of the profile to retain the cable within the slot of the profile. However, such a cap or retainer may protrude within the slot and not leave enough room for the cable(s) in the slot of the profile.

It may be desirable to provide a retainer for a profile configured to maximize space for retaining the cable(s) within the slot of the profile.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a cable retainer may be structurally configured to be coupled with a profile of a fiber distribution cabinet so as to retain a cable in the profile and maximize space in the profile. The cable retainer may include an inner retaining portion structurally configured to be received in a cable receiving portion in a profile of a fiber distribution cabinet, a neck portion extending from the inner retaining portion and structurally configured to be received in an opening through a wall portion of the profile to the cable receiving portion, an outer retaining portion structurally configured to extend from the neck portion in a direction away from the inner retaining portion, and a receiving portion in the outer retaining portion structurally configured to receive and retain a received element. The inner retaining portion may be structurally configured to pass through the opening when disposed in a first orientation relative to the opening, and wherein the inner retaining portion is structurally configured to be prevented from passing through the opening when disposed in a second orientation relative to the opening. The outer retaining portion may be configured to prevent insertion of the outer retaining portion into the opening. The neck portion may be structurally configured to permit the inner retaining portion to be rotated relative to the profile from the first orientation to the second orientation when the neck portion is received in the opening such that the inner retaining portion is configured to engage an inner surface portion of the wall portion and the outer retaining portion is configured to engage an outer surface portion of the wall portion so as to couple the retainer with the profile and retain a cable in the cable receiving portion. The inner retaining portion may be configured to extend into the cable receiving portion by a thickness of the inner retaining portion such that the thickness of the inner retaining portion is configured to be less than 25% of a dimension of the cable receiving portion from the inner surface portion of the wall portion to a bottommost wall portion of the cable receiving portion so as to maximize a space in the cable receiving portion between the inner retaining portion and the bottommost wall portion.

A cable retainer may be structurally configured to be coupled with a profile of a fiber distribution cabinet so as to retain a cable in the profile and maximize space in the profile. The cable retainer may include an inner retaining portion structurally configured to be received in a cable receiving portion in a profile of a fiber distribution cabinet, a neck portion extending from the inner retaining portion and structurally configured to be received in an opening through a wall portion of the profile to the cable receiving portion, an outer retaining portion structurally configured to extend from the neck portion in a direction away from the inner retaining portion. The inner retaining portion may be structurally configured to pass through the opening when disposed in a first orientation relative to the opening, and wherein the inner retaining portion is structurally configured to be prevented from passing through the opening when disposed in a second orientation relative to the opening. The neck portion may be structurally configured to permit the inner retaining portion to be rotated relative to the profile from the first orientation to the second orientation when the neck portion is received in the opening such that the inner retaining portion is configured to engage an inner surface portion of the wall portion and the outer retaining portion is configured to engage an outer surface portion of the wall portion so as to couple the retainer with the profile and retain a cable in the cable receiving portion. The inner retaining portion may be configured to extend into the cable receiving portion by a thickness of the inner retaining portion such that the thickness of the inner retaining portion is configured to be less than 25% of a dimension of the cable receiving portion from the inner surface portion of the wall portion to a bottommost wall portion of the cable receiving portion so as to maximize a space in the cable receiving portion between the inner retaining portion and the bottommost wall portion.

A cable retainer may be structurally configured to be coupled with a profile of a fiber distribution cabinet so as to retain a cable in the profile and maximize space in the profile. The cable retainer may include an inner retaining portion structurally configured to be received in a cable receiving portion in a profile of a fiber distribution cabinet, a neck portion extending from the inner retaining portion and structurally configured to be received in an opening through a wall portion of the profile to the cable receiving portion, an outer retaining portion structurally configured to extend from the neck portion in a direction away from the inner retaining portion. The inner retaining portion may be structurally configured to pass through the opening when disposed in a first orientation relative to the opening, and wherein the inner retaining portion is structurally configured to be prevented from passing through the opening when disposed in a second orientation relative to the opening. The neck portion may be structurally configured to permit the inner retaining portion to be rotated relative to the profile from the first orientation to the second orientation when the neck portion is received in the opening such that the inner retaining portion is configured to engage an inner surface portion of the wall portion and the outer retaining portion is configured to engage an outer surface portion of the wall portion so as to couple the retainer with the profile and retain a cable in the cable receiving portion. The inner retaining portion may configured to extend into the cable receiving portion by a thickness of the inner retaining portion such that the thickness of the inner retaining portion is configured to be less than about 1.9 mm so as to maximize a space in the cable receiving portion between the inner retaining portion and the bottommost wall portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred compositions, embodiments and methods of the present disclosure, which constitute the best modes of practicing the present disclosure presently known to the inventors. The figures are not necessarily to scale. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for any aspect of the present disclosure and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

It is also to be understood that this present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and/or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting in any way.

FIG.1illustrates an enclosure100according to the present disclosure. The enclosure100may including wiring or cables102and profiles104. The profiles104may be configured as slotted profiles that have one or more slots. The slots may be configured to receive and retain the wiring102such that the wiring102may be arranged in the enclosure with at least part of the wiring102within one or more slots of at least one of the profiles.

Referring toFIGS.2and3, an exemplary profile104is illustrated. The profile104is illustrated with slots or channels202. The profile104may include only one slot202or a plurality of slots202. In the embodiment illustrated, there are four slots202in the profile104, although any number of slots202could be used in various embodiments. The slots202may be configured to receive the wires102so that the wires can be routed and retained in the slots202of the profile102. In various embodiments, a retainer212may be inserted into the profile104to retain the wires102in the slot202, as further discussed herein.

The profile104may have an outer surface205, in which slots with an inverted T-shape are present, although other shapes could be used. As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the slot202may include a bottom wall or portion204, side walls206and top walls208. The side walls206may extend substantially vertically, although the side walls206could be angled or have a portion of the side walls angled with angled portions207. The top walls208may extend substantially horizontally inward from the side walls206and may have a gap or opening210between inner edges of each top wall208. The opening210may be configured with a width to receive the wires102. The retainer212may be inserted into the opening210of the profile to retain or secure the wires102in the slot202of the profile104.

FIG.4illustrates various possible dimensions in mm of the profile104, although other dimensions could be used. The possible dimensions of the profile104may include the top walls208having a vertical thickness of about 3 mm, the slot202having a depth from a top of the top wall208to the bottom wall204of about 11 mm, a width between the side wall of about 21 mm and a width of the opening210of about 10.2 mm, as well as the other dimensions illustrated.

The retainer212may be structurally configured to fit into the opening210and to selectively lock into the opening210. The retainer212may also be structurally configured to be removable from the opening210upon manipulation by a user as further explained herein.

FIG.5illustrates an example profile104with a retainer212inserted into the opening210. The retainer212is structurally configured to be insertable into the opening210and locked into place to retain any cables, wires or other items in the slot202. In various embodiments, after the retainer212is inserted into the profile104, the retainer212may be turned or rotated to lock the retainer212in place in the profile104. The retainer212may be configured with an upper portion (outer retaining portion)218, a middle portion (neck portion)220and a lower portion (inner retaining portion)222.

When the retainer212is inserted into and locked in the profile104, the upper portion218and the middle portion220of the retainer212are structurally configured to be disposed on top of the profile104, while the lower portion222of the retainer212is structurally configured to engage the inner portion of the top walls208of the profile. The lower portion222may include vertically extending portions224that are structurally configured to engage with the top walls208of the slot when the retainer is inserted in the opening210and rotated.

FIGS.6and7illustrate four example profiles602,604,606and608. The profiles602,604,606and608have different upper portions but share the same lower portion. The profiles604,606and608may be configured with a receiving portion620, which may be in the form of an opening or slot. The receiving portion620may be configured to receive a cable or wire therein. The receiving portion620may have a vertical height of about 2.0 mm, although alternative heights could be used.

The retainers602,604,606and608have vertically extending portions224that extend vertically but the vertically extending portions224have a width so that they can fit within the opening210in the profiles210when the retainers602,604,606and608are inserted into the opening in the profile210. When the retainers602,604,606or608are rotated after being inserted into the opening, the vertically extending portions224are structurally configured to engage with the top walls208of the corresponding profile to lock the retainer in position. Additionally, any of the retainers disclosed herein may include a rotation engagement portion610as illustrated inFIGS.2and6-8. The rotation engagement portion610may be configured to receive a tool to assist in rotating the profile, such as a screwdriver. In various embodiments, the rotation engagement portion610may be a slot or opening formed in the retainer, although other types of rotation engagement portions could be used. In various embodiments, the profiles may also be rotated by hand.

FIG.7illustrates bottom, top and side views of the retainers602,604,606and608. The rotation engagement portions610are illustrated in the top view.

FIG.8illustrates various views and dimensions of the retainer606. A vertical height (or thickness) of the vertically extending portions224may be reduced to about 2.0 mm, as illustrated inFIG.5. As illustrated inFIG.8, a vertical height (or thickness) of the vertically extending portions224may be reduced to about 1.9 mm. The vertically extending portions224are given this “low profile” to provide an enhanced or increased space in the slot202for the cables, wires or other items. In this way, numerous cables or wires can be placed within the slot202and the vertically extending portions224of the retainers will leave sufficient space in the slots202for the cables or wires when the retainer is inserted into the profile and locked in place. Without such a low profile of the protrusion portions of the retainer, the protrusion portions could be pressed against the wires and could cause damage to the wires or not properly lock the retainer into position. The low profile of the vertically extending portions224thus provides enhanced space in the slot of the profile for the wires. For example, in the embodiment ofFIG.5, there may be 6 mm or more of enhanced or increased space in the slot202below the vertically extending portions224for retaining the wires in the slot202. The vertically extending portions224may thus have a reduced thickness of about 25% or less of the depth of the slot measured from the top wall208to the bottom wall204, although a lower percentage may be used when the slot has a greater depth than this example.

The protrusion portions may have a horizontal width of about 17 mm, as illustrated inFIG.8. Other dimensions of the protrusion portions could be utilized with various embodiments.