Cable routing clip with movable gate

A cable routing clip for mounting on a wall having clip arms extending from one side of a crosspiece and mounting tabs extending from the other side, the clips arms and the mounting tabs generally linearly arranged, the clip defining a slot for receiving cables, and a movable gate extending from a distal end of one of the clip arms across the slot to the distal end of the other clip arm. A cable routing clip for mounting on a wall having clip arms extending from one side of a crosspiece and mounting tabs extending from the other side, the clip defining a slot for receiving cables, and a movable gate extending from a distal end of one of the clip arms across the slot to the distal end of the other clip arm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fiber optic cable and other cable management for use in telecommunications systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Telecommunications equipment utilizing optical fiber for signal transmission is often mounted within equipment racks that permit a high density of connections to be made in a small space. A high density of connections means that a large number of optical fiber cables will need to be routed to and from the equipment, also in a small space. While the high density of connections possible with optical fiber is one of the principal reasons for utilizing optical fiber in this sort of environment, organizing the large number of optical fiber cables connected to the equipment can be difficult. This difficulty most often arises with respect to the cross-connect or jumper cables connected to these telecommunications racks. Copper systems also experience similar cable management issues.

The outside plant or interfacility cables connected to such equipment are cables which by their nature do not require frequent disconnect or reconnect, and which are also bundled more densely, with multiple fibers being held within a single cable. In contrast, the cables connected to the front of these equipment racks are single fiber cables which may be disconnected or reconnected often in the course of normal use and configuration of the equipment. The higher number of individual cables and the need to be able to readily move connections require the provision of clear cable segregation, labeling and organization proximate to the front connections of these telecommunications installations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention relates to a cable routing clip with a rear crosspiece and two clip arms. The clip arms define an open-ended slot. In one embodiment, a movable gate extends from the first clip arm across the slot, the clip arms and the mounting tabs being generally linearly arranged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 through 10, a cable routing clip10for organizing cables is shown. Clip10is useful in a variety of structures, including a cable riser200discussed below, for managing telecommunications cables. Clip10includes two clip arms12and14, which have inner faces16and18, respectively and outer faces20and22, respectively. A crosspiece24extends between the two clip arms12and14, and crosspiece24has a front side26and a rear side28. Clip arms12and14have outer ends30and32, respectively. Retaining tabs34and36are mounted at outer ends30and32and extend across a slot38which defined by crosspiece24, and clip arms12and14. Retaining tabs34and36have outer faces40and42. Outer faces20and22of clips arms12and14, and outer faces40of retaining tab34are sized and shaped to receive indicia of the cables held within slot38. Outer face42of retaining tab36may also be shaped to receive such indicia. Retaining tabs34and36cooperate to extend fully across the width of slot38. As shown inFIG. 2, the retaining tabs actually overlap by an amount A. Retaining tabs34and36are less than the height of clip arms12and14and are offset from each other to form a gap44. Cables may be placed within or removed from slot38by passing the cables through gap44. Clip10is made of a resilient, deformable material so that cables that might have a diameter or size greater than the width of gap44can still be inserted into slot38through gap44. The overlap A of retaining tabs34and36is sufficient to permit some outward deformation of clip arms12and14and still have retaining tabs34and36extending across slot38. InFIG. 6, retaining tabs34and36are shown angled slightly in toward slot38. Cable movement within slot38may cause a cable to apply pressure to the inside of retaining tabs34or36. Biasing the tabs inward toward slot38will aid the tabs in resisting this pressure and maintain closure of slot38so that no cable are allowed to escape.

Extending longitudinally from rear side28of crosspiece24are mounting tabs46and48, adapted for mounting clip10to a wall of a telecommunications equipment rack, a cable riser, or other suitable location. Mounting tabs46and48are generally parallel with clip arms12and14and generally extend co-linearly with clip arms12and14, respectively. Mounting tabs46and48are designed to fit into vertical tabs slots in sheet metal walls, such as shown inFIGS. 20 through 23, discussed below. Tabs46includes a ramped face50and a locking notch54, which is spaced apart from rear side28by a distance B. Tab48, ramped face52and locking notch56are similarly configured. Distance B is based upon the thickness of the wall into which clip10will be inserted. Thicker walls will require a larger distance B and thinner walls will permit a smaller distance B. When tabs46and48are inserted into mounting slots in a wall, ramped faces50and52press against the inner side of the mounting slots to force tabs46and48to be deformed outward. After the ramped faces have passed through the mounting slots, tabs46and48, being made of resilient, deformable material return to their original shape and locking notches54and56engage the opposite side of the wall to hold clip10in place with face28against the wall. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 through 7, mounting tab48has a recess58, so that tab48does not extend to the same height as tab46. In situations where the insertion orientation of clip10needs to be fixed, the mounting slot for receiving tab48can be made shorter than the mounting slot for receiving tab46, thus forcing clip10to mounted in the desired orientation.

Referring now toFIG. 7, a cross-section of clip arms12and14is shown. Cables passing through slot38may be directed to one side or the other after they pass through the slot. To prevent violation of bend radius rules for these cables, inner faces16and18of clip10are curved.

Referring now toFIGS. 8 through 10, an alternative bridge mounting approach for clip10is shown. In certain installations, it may be necessary or desirable to mount clips to the front of a wall without having the mounting tabs protruding beyond the rear of the wall. A wall segment70is shown, with a front face60to which a clip10will be mounted. A bridge62is formed in the wall70, protruding from the front face60and having mounting slots64and66on either side. Mounting tabs46and48are inserted into slots64and66as described above and locking notches54and56engage the rear of bridge62. Bridge62extends far enough out from front60of wall70so that mounting tabs46and48do not protrude beyond rear face68when clip10is mounted on wall70. Mounting slots64and66shown inFIGS. 8 through 10are not sized to force the insertion of clip10in a particular orientation.

Referring now toFIGS. 11 through 19, the details of a further cable clip100with cable segregator101are shown. Clip100is useful on a variety of structures, including riser200, for managing cables, as will be discussed below in greater detail. Clip100includes a side102and two ends,104and106. Side102and ends104and106combine to form an open sided housing110defining an area108within the housing. Into area108extend a series of fingers112from side102, which define a series of cable slots114between them. A slot114is also defined between a finger112and end104and a finger112and end106. As shown in the FIGS. a total of seven fingers112cooperate with ends104and106to form a total of eight cable slots114. Each cable slot114includes a pair of widened cable holding openings116, giving clip100a capacity of sixteen cables. Cable slots114are sized so that a ribbon optical fiber cable120can be inserted as shown inFIGS. 15 and 16. Preferably, openings116are also sized and shaped to hold a round 3 mm optical fiber cable118. While slots114are smaller in width than the diameter of cable118, clip100is made of a resilient, deformable material which, in cooperation with the cover of cable118will permit slots114to expand enough to permit the insertion of cable118. To prevent ribbon cable120from accidentally escaping from slot114, lip122on finger112provides an entrance to slot114which is slightly narrower than the width of cable120. To further prevent accidental escape of cables from slots114, a gate pivot124and a gate latch126are provided, as shown inFIGS. 16 and 17. A gate128with a hinge130that pivots about pivot124and a catch132which releasably latches to latch126and which is made of a deformable, resilient material and which extends along the ends of fingers112to close off slots114, will serve prevent accidental cable escape.

FIG. 18Ashows slots114in more detail. Within slot114are regions of varying width. Beginning at the open end of slot114, opposite side102, a width168provides an entry for cables being inserted into slot114. Moving toward side102, the width of slot114then tapers to width170, defined by the separation of opposing lips122. Continuing toward side102, the width expands to a nominal width172. Slot114then includes opposing openings116, defining an expanded width174. Continuing again in the direction of side102, the slot returns to a nominal width176before expanding again with opposing openings116defining an expanded width178. Between the last set of opposed openings166and side102, slot114returns to a nominal width180

Also included as part of housing110may be trumpet flares134,136and138extending from end104, end106and side102, respectively. These trumpet flares serve as radius protection devices for cables118and120extending through slots114if the cables are required to change direction after they pass through slots114.

Clip100is adapted for mounting on a wall of a telecommunications equipment rack or to the wall of a cable riser attached to such a rack. This sort of installation is also shown inFIGS. 20 through 23, described below.FIG. 19shows the shape of a cutout134in cable riser wall136in which a clip100could be mounted. A rear groove138in clip100is defined by pairs of rear tabs140for receiving a rear edge142of cutout134. A lower groove144is defined by a pair of walls146receives a lower edge148of cutout134, and a lower recess152with an end wall164is provided at the front end of groove144to receive a lower tab150. An upper groove154is defined by a pair of walls156receives an upper edge158of cutout134. From upper edge158extends an upper tab160which is received in an upper recess162formed in the bottom of upper groove154. To mount a clip100to a wall136in a cutout134, the following procedure is used: open gate130; holding clip100so that rear groove138is parallel to wall136, angle end106of clip100into cutout134so that upper edge158and upper tab160engage upper groove154and upper recess162; apply pressure to ends104and106of clip100to slightly deform the ends toward each other; pivot lower end104into cutout134so that lower edge148and rear edge142are engaged by lower groove144and rear groove138, respectively; with clip100still slightly deformed by pressure on ends104and106, lower tab will move past end wall164and into recess152; and releasing the pressure on ends104and106to allow clip100to regain its default shape and have end wall64engage lower tab150to hold clip100within cutout134.

Referring now toFIGS. 20 through 25, a cable riser200with cable routing clips10and cable clips100with segregators101is shown. Riser200is attached to a telecommunications equipment rack202, in which may be mounted a wide variety of telecommunications equipment which have a large number of ribbon cables120or 3 mm cables118attached to them. Riser200as shown is designed to work with a equipment rack202containing a total of 32 cable connection modules, with each module including up to 16 optical fiber connections and having up to 16 optical fiber cables exiting from each module into riser200. A clip100is provided along an inner wall204of riser200for each module in rack202. The trumpet flares of these clips100serve to provide bend radius protection to the cables exiting rack202through clips100into riser200as these cables transition from horizontal passage within rack202to vertical passage within riser200. Riser200is composed of inner wall204, a rear angle wall206, a rear wall208, an intermediate bulkhead210and an outer wall212. InFIG. 21, mounting tabs46and48of clips10can be seen extending through bulkhead210and outer wall212. A series of holes214through rear wall208allow riser200to be mounted adjacent a rack202using screws or other similar fasteners. A series of holes216through flange218of bulkhead210and also extending through rear wall208allow bulkhead210to be mounted within riser200using screws, bolts or similar fasteners. As shown inFIG. 24, riser201is a mirror image of riser200for mounting on the opposite side of rack202.

Clips10are mounted within riser200so as to provide a distinct cable path220to each set of up to 16 cables extending through each of the clips100. A total of 32 cables paths220, each capable of handling up to 16 cables are defined, as shown in FIG.22. Each cable path220is indicated by a circled number associated with the top most clip10in that cable path. The numbers for each cable path correspond to numbers assigned to each clip100, with the topmost clip100labeled1and the bottommost clip100labeled32, as shown on FIG.23. Sixteen cable paths220are located within the inner channel222, defined by inner wall204, angled wall206, rear wall208, and bulkhead210, providing cable routing and organization to cables exiting from the topmost sixteen clips100mounted on inner wall204. Sixteen additional cable paths220are located within outer channel224, defined by bulkhead210, rear wall208and outer wall212, providing cable routing and organization for cables exiting the bottommost sixteen clips100mounted on inner wall204.

Clips100are in one of six groups, as shown inFIGS. 23 and 25. The groupings of clips100correspond to the location of the cable pathway for each clip100as defined by clips10mounted in riser200. The first five clips100, numbered1through5, are in Group I and cables exiting from this group of clips feed into paths220numbered1through5, which are mounted on inner wall204and on angled wall206. Group II includes the next 6 clips100, numbered6through11, and the cables from these clips feed into paths220numbered6through11, which are mounted on rear wall208within inner channel222. Group III includes the clips100numbered12through16and cables from these clips feed into paths220numbered12through16, which are mounted on bulkhead210within inner channel222. Group IV includes clips100numbered17through21and cables from the clips feed into paths220numbered17through21mounted on bulkhead210within outer channel224. Group V includes clips100numbered22through27and cables from the clips feed into paths220numbered22through27mounted on rear wall208within outer channel224. Group VI includes clips100numbered28through32and cables from the clips feed into paths220numbered28through32mounted on outer wall212within outer channel224.

The pattern for loading cable would generally be counter clockwise for a riser200and clockwise for a riser201. As shown in the FIGS. path220numbered32will hold the cables from clip100numbered32. Clip100numbered32is the lowest mounted clip100in riser200and path220numbered32is the furthest clockwise-located path220in riser200. Clip100numbered31is the next lowest mounted clip100and the cable from this clip will be held within path220numbered31, located counterclockwise from path220numbered32within outer channel224of riser200. Moving to the next highest mounted clip100, up to clip100numbered17, the cables from each successive numbered clip will be held by the next counterclockwise located cable path within outer channel224. Moving up to clip100numbered16, the cables from this clip will pass into most clockwise mounted path220numbered16within inner channel222. Moving up to clip100numbered15, the cables from this clip will be held by the next counterclockwise mounted path220numbered15. Moving to the next highest mounted clip100, up to clip100numbered1, the cables from each successive numbered clip will be held by the next counterclockwise located cable path within inner channel222. The same cable loading pattern can be applied within riser201, except that the cables from each successive higher mounted clip100feeding into a particular channel will be held by the next successive clockwise mounted path220.

With the potential of 512 total cables passing through riser200, some manner of coding the clips10which combine to make up the 32 different paths220is desirable. The maximum number of paths220within each group of clips100is six. Therefore, if six distinctly marked or colored versions of clip10are provided, each path220within riser200can be uniquely identified by a combination of color or marking, designation of inner or outer channel, and which wall within the channel the clips are mounted on. For example, a series of black clips10along outer wall212in the outer channel224would define path220for routing the cables from clip100numbered28. White clips10along bulkhead210in inner channel222would define path220for routing cables from clip100numbered15. Alternatively, indicia signifying which path220a clip10belongs to could be placed on front face40, first outer face20or second outer face22, depending on how the clip is mounted within the riser, so that the indicia could be easily seen by a person in front of the riser.

If higher densities of cabling are required for a particular telecommunications equipment rack, riser200could include more than one intermediate bulkhead210and thereby provide a greater number of channels and thereby of cable paths220. Alternatively, if the density of cabling for an equipment rack is not as high, bulkhead210could be removed from riser200and the number of paths220reduced. The coding scheme for clips10described above is adaptable to both higher and lower density alternatives of riser200.

Referring now toFIGS. 26 through 33, an alternative embodiment cable clip300is shown, without a segregator extending from side102into area108. Clip300includes a gate328connected to housing110by a thinned area capable of being repeatedly flexed, forming a living hinge330. Gate328includes a curved inner surface314and a pair of outer stiffening ribs312, which cooperate to resist deflection of gate328. At an end of gate328opposite hinge330is a catch332which includes an outer wall306and an inner wall310which define an opening308. Opening308receives a latch326which is on end106of housing110. Latch326includes a ramped surface302, a ledge304and a leading edge305. As gate328is swung closed across area108, pivoting about hinge330, leading edge305enters opening308. As gate328is closed further, ramped surface302engages outer wall306of catch332, deflecting catch332downward. Ramped surface302passes through opening308followed by ledge304. When ledge304has extended through opening308beyond outer wall306, latch332returns to its original position and ledge304is captively held within opening308by outer wall306, releasably holding gate328in a closed position.

While in the closed position, inner wall310of gate328is adjacent a surface303on end106beneath catch326. In addition, outer shoulders316and318located on the end of gate328opposite hinge330on either side of catch332, engage extensions360and362, respectively, which project from end106away from side102on either side of latch326. Inner wall310cooperates with surface303, and extensions360and362cooperate with shoulders316and318to allow gate328to help resist deflection of end106into area108.

FIG. 34shows a cutout334for mounting clip300to wall136. To position clip300into cutout334, the procedure described above with regard to positioning clip100within cutout134is followed. Removal of clip300from cutout334involves a reversal of the procedure, wherein ends104and106must be compressed toward each other into area108to disengage upper tab160from upper groove154and opening162. When clip300has been positioned within cutout334and gate328is moved to the closed position, the cooperation of inner wall310with surface303and extensions360and362with shoulders316and318allows gate328to provide additional resistance against deflection of ends104and106. In this way, gate328can help prevent an accidental removal of clip300from cutout334. Further, the cooperation of catch332and latch326will aid in preventing accidental opening of gate328that might be caused by accidental deflection of either ends104and106or of gate328. Outer ribs312also help gate328resist deflection, such as might be caused by a cable within area108pressing against inner surface314.

Referring now toFIGS. 35 through 37, an alternative embodiment cable routing clip400with a movable gate440closing access through the front into slot38. Gate440is hingedly attached to distal end30of clip arm12by a living hinge402. As shown inFIGS. 36 and 37, at distal end32of clip arm14is a catch406which engages a latch404on gate440to hold gate440in the closed position.

The cooperation of latch404with catch406, including the interaction of ramped surfaces410and416in cooperation with the interaction of ramped surfaces420and424help prevent gate440from accidentally opening due to pressure exerted on either clip arm12or14, or on gate440. Pressure exerted on inner surface18of clip arm14would tend to move extension408deeper into recess414, preventing gate440from being forced open accidentally. Pressure exerted on an inner face442of gate440would be prevented from forcing gate440open by interaction of ramped surfaces410and416. The angling of ramped surfaces410and416as shown inFIG. 38also allows gate440to be biased to an open position, as shown inFIG. 37, and for such biasing to be resisted by catch406and latch404when gate440is closed. Pressure exerted against inner face16of clip arm12would tend to pull distal end30and living hinge402away from clip arm14, which would tend to move extension408deeper into recess414, preventing gate440from accidentally opening. So pressure exerted against any of the inner surfaces of cable routing clip400which might cause gate440to accidentally open are resisted by catch406and latch404. Such pressure on the inner surfaces of cable routing clip400might be caused by the pulling on cables which are held within slot38.

Catch406and latch404also are configured to resist pressure exerted against outer surfaces20or22of clip arms12and14, or against an outer surface444of gate440from accidentally opening gate440. Pressure exerted against outer surface20of clip12would push distal end30toward distal end32and tend to push extension408out of recess414. However, prior to extension408being displaced far enough to move out of recess414, ramped surfaces420and424would engage one another and move distal end32and recess414in the same direction as extension408. The angling of ramped surface420and424will also tend to push recess418away from extension422and draw ramped surfaces410and416into contact with each other, which will also help prevent the disengagement of catch406and latch404.

Similarly, pressure exerted on outer surface22of clip arm14will tend to displace distal end32toward distal end30, which will also bring ramped surfaces420and424into contact. The interaction of ramped surfaces420and424will push recess418away from extension422and draw ramped surfaces410and416into contact with each other, which will also help prevent the disengagement of catch406and latch404. Pressure exerted on outer surface444of gate440would also tend to bring ramped surfaces420and424into contact, which will in turn tend to push distal end32away from slot38and more deeply engage extension408within recess414.

To release gate440from the closed position ofFIG. 36, a user would exert pressure against finger tab412in the direction of an arrow446. Since cable routing clip400is made of a resilient deformable material, sufficient pressure in the direction of arrow446will deflect extension408enough to remove extension408from recess414and allow gate440to be freely moved to the open position of FIG.37. In moving gate440to the closed position shown, extension408of latch404first engages extension422of clip arm14and must deflect outward before extension408engages recess414. Once extension408reaches recess414, latch404returns to the nondeflected position, and thereby positively snaps into recess414.

As an alternative mounting method to that described above with regard to cable routing clip10, cable routing clip400may be mounted to a wall448, as shown inFIG. 40, with the following steps: placing gate440in an open position, as shown inFIG. 37; exerting pressure on outer surfaces20and22of clip arms12and14, causing clip arms12and14to be displaced into slot38toward each other, as shown inFIG. 39; this in turn will force some bending of crosspiece24and displace tabs46and48away from each other; tabs46and48are inserted into tab slots450and452, respectively, as shown inFIG. 41; and pressure is released from outer surfaces20and22of clip arms12and14, allowing cable routing clip400to return to the configuration shown in FIG.37. It is anticipated that either of the described methods can be used to mount either of the described embodiments of cable routing clip10or400to a wall448including appropriate length tab slots450and452.

When mounting cable routing clip10or400to a wall, it is desirable for the clip to fit securely to the wall without excessive movement. However, as stated above, this requires that distance B be approximately the same thickness as the wall. Alternatively, for mounting a clip10or400to a wall448with a thickness T which is less than distance B, as shown inFIG. 42, a feature such as a dimple454may be formed in wall448between tab slots450and452. Dimple454rests against outer surface28of crosspiece24and offsets outer surface28away from wall448. The amount of offset required, and thus the height of dimple454is determined by the difference between distance B and thickness T. This will permit a cable routing clip10or400to have a standard distance B between outer surface28of crosspiece24and locking notches54and56, and still be adaptable to mounting on walls of varying thickness, up to a maximum thickness of B.

With regard to the foregoing description, it is to be understood that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of the construction materials employed and the shape, size and arrangement of the parts without the scope of the present invention. It is intended that the specification and depicted aspects be considered exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the broad meaning of the following claims.