Flexible cable management system

A cable support assembly which includes at least one elongate flexible spine member and a plurality of open ended support members mounted on the flexible spine member and spaced apart from one another such that the open ended support members define a support surface.

BACKGROUND 
1. Technical Field 
The present disclosure relates to cable management systems and more 
particularly to flexible cable management systems for cable management and 
installation applications. 
2. Description of Related Art 
Currently available cable management systems require the procurement and 
installation of turning components and transitions. The presently 
disclosed flexible cable management system is designed to allow for either 
lateral or vertical curves thus eliminating the need for turning 
components and transitions. 
SUMMARY 
The presently disclosed cable management system is designed to allow for 
the installation, organization, routing and protection of cable. It is 
designed in such a way as to bend into curves in either lateral or 
vertical directions without tools, heat, fixtures or chemical alterations 
and as such is different from any other product. It therefore eliminates 
the need to procure and to install turning components and transitions. The 
design of the presently disclosed cable management system with multiple 
fastener points, allows for single person installation. This will create 
significant savings in person hours for the design and installation of the 
invention in user installations. 
Equally spaced spoke design and integrated proprietary enter/exit 
components allow the cable to leave the presently disclosed flexible cable 
management system at any point and in any direction to reach its 
destination. The enter/exit components are designed in such a way as to 
prevent copper or fiber optic cable from kinking or bending in too tight 
of a radius which would have a negative effect on the performance of the 
cables signals. 
A cable support apparatus is provided, which includes an elongate flexible 
spine member selectively bendable into a number of different 
configurations; and a plurality of support members, each of the plurality 
of support members being attached to the elongate flexible spine member at 
least at two points along the length thereof, the plurality of support 
members positioned relative one another to permit substantial bending by 
hand of the elongate flexible spine member, each of the plurality of 
support members defining at least one area adapted to receive and support 
a cable therein. 
In a further embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cable support 
apparatus, which includes an elongate flexible spine member selectively 
bendable into a number of different configurations; and a plurality of 
support members attached to the elongate flexible spine member along the 
length thereof, the plurality of support members positioned relative one 
another to permit substantial bending by hand of the elongate flexible 
spine member, each of the plurality of support members defining at least 
one area adapted to receive and support a cable therein and further having 
sides defining an opening having an extended portion on one side thereof. 
The extended portion may extend inwardly toward the opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1, the presently 
disclosed flexible cable management system 100 is shown having both 
lateral and vertical bends formed therein. Such bends can be formed 
without the use of tools or other devices. Multiple fastener points 3 
allow the flexible cable management system 100 to be secured in whatever 
position it has been bent, by means of a washered fastener 7 to a concrete 
surface 10 or a wall board anchor 9 to a wall board surface 11. A 
plurality of cables 13 are installed within the flexible cable management 
system and are capable of being secured to any of a plurality of cable 
support members such as spokes 5 with a standard cable fastener 14. 
Sections of flexible cable management system 100 can be joined together at 
a connector tail 1. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, an enter/exit component 2 is 
illustrated in the three views. The enter/exit component 2 is indexed to 
the flexible cable management system 100 by means of a spoke index and 
secured by wire ties passed through attachment holes 4. A cable may be 
secured to enter/exit component 2 by means of wire ties passed through 
wire tie attachment holes 12 and further held in place by means of cable 
containment tabs 15. A cable radius 17 is formed in enter/exit component 2 
to preclude the installed cable from bending too tightly or kinking. 
In FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, a flexible spine 6, spokes 5 and enter/exit 
component 2 are shown in their assembled positions. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, various means for attaching the 
flexible cable management system 100 are illustrated. In FIG. 4A, flexible 
cable management system 100 is shown anchored to a concrete surface 10 at 
fastening point 3 by means of washered fastener 7. In FIG. 4B, flexible 
cable management system 100 is anchored to a wall board 11 at a fastener 
point 3 by means of a wall board fastener 9. Two support sections are 
shown joined together at connector tails 1 by means of a standard clamp 8, 
in FIG. 4C. 
The flexible cable management system 100 includes a series of formed wire 
spokes 5 welded to a single spine 6. The wire spokes 5 are formed in a 
fashion to allow the maneuvering and protection of the cables 13 that are 
installed in the system. Having a single spine allows the flexible cable 
management system 100 to be bent by hand in any direction necessary. Each 
spoke 5 has two fastener points 3 which allow the flexible cable 
management system 100 to be secured to the installation surface at 
multiple points along its length. Preformed proprietary enter/exit 
components 2 attach to spokes 5 of the flexible cable management system 
100 at any point allowing the cable 13 to exit the flexible cable 
management system 100 without the risk of damage due to kinking. Flexible 
cable management system 100 is designed in such a way that it can be 
installed beneath raised floor, on existing floors, on walls and risers or 
suspended from a ceiling. 
During installation, the technician will lay out the path of the cable runs 
on the primary floor of an installation area between the stantions of the 
raised floor. The technician would then place eight foot sections of the 
flexible cable management system 100 on the layout lines, bending by hand 
where necessary either laterally, up a wall or down a riser. Then, using a 
standard power charged stud gun and washered fasteners, randomly secure 
the flexible cable management system 100 to the installation area floor by 
means of the built in fastener rings. Anti-kink enter/exit components 2 
would be installed on spokes 5 of the flexible cable management system 100 
where it is necessary for cables 13 to exit the system to reach their 
destination. After the network of flexible cable management system 100 is 
completed, the technician would place copper and/or fiber optic cable into 
flexible cable management system 100 and randomly secure it using cable 
ties, to spokes 5 of flexible cable management system 100. Flexible cable 
management system 100 allows cable to be organized, routed and protected 
against crushing or kinking. 
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternative embodiment of the cable 
management system of the present disclosure is shown generally as flexible 
cable tray 200. Many of the overall characteristics of cable management 
system 100 are also featured in cable tray 200. Accordingly, the following 
description will focus mainly on the unique structural and functional 
aspects of cable tray 200. It is within the scope of the present 
disclosure, however, that the assembly, connection and fastening features 
described above in connection with cable management system 100 may apply 
to cable tray 200 as well. 
Cable tray 200 is particularly suited for use in installations wherein it 
is desirable or even necessary to route cable bundles overhead. The prior 
practice in some installations of simply laying cable on the top of 
suspended ceiling gridwork now violates electrical code requirements for 
many locations. Further, cabling such as fiber optic or copper data 
transmission cable is subject to signal attenuation due to damage, no 
matter how slight, which may often be the result of the cable being 
haphazardly positioned along the top of ceiling grid structure and thus 
exposed to such damage. Cable tray 200 provides a novel way of suspending 
cable bundles from the framework of the building structure itself, for 
example by bracketing the tray to studs or the like. 
Similar to cable management system 100, cable tray 200 is preferably 
constructed of wire stock and includes a flexible spine 206 which runs 
centrally along the length of cable tray 200. This configuration provides 
the maximum flexibility for cable tray 200 and, therefore maximum 
versatility during installation. A dual opening cable support member 205 
is formed by bending the wire stock to form cable receiving portions 220 
and 222 disposed one on either side of central spine 206. The two 
receiving portions may be defined by a single piece of wire stock which is 
bent to form a web section 224. Central spine 206 may be attached to web 
portion 224 either transversely along the top thereof, as shown in FIG. 5, 
or the bottom thereof, by any suitable known methods, for example, 
welding. 
The central location of spine 206 facilitates the self balancing feature of 
cable tray 200. In particular, once cable tray 200 is installed, cable is 
preferably loaded evenly into each of receiving portions 220 and 222 to 
effectuate a balanced load in cable tray 200. Looped ends 226 and 228 are 
provided on cable support 205 to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent 
damage due to contact of cables with rough edges during installation. 
As shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6, cable tray 200 may be flexed 
significantly to either side, to effectuate at least about a 90 degree or 
even greater turn of cable tray 200 without individual cable support 
sections 205 making contact with each other. Similarly, cable tray 200 may 
transition from a horizontal run to a vertical run. 
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a further alternative embodiment constructed in 
accordance with the present disclosure is shown generally as cable tray 
300. Cable tray 300 features partially enclosed cable receiving portion 
320. Spine 306 is attached to cable support members 305 transversely along 
a top segment thereof in similar manner as set forth above for cable tray 
200 and cable management system 100. Spine 306 is attached to cable 
supports 305 substantially directly over the center of gravity of the unit 
as a whole. In this manner, when cable tray 300 is loaded with cable 
evenly within receiving portion 320, there will not be any undesirable 
torque applied to spine 306 which is preferably attached to the building 
structure by suitable brackets or the like. End portions 326 and 328 are 
formed to bend away from the opening into receiving portion 320 to 
minimize the chance of even the slightest amount of damage to the cabling 
being placed in the receiving portion 320. 
Referring to FIGS. 9 through 11, a further alternative embodiment of the 
cable management system of the present disclosure is shown generally as 
flexible cable tray 400. Cable tray 400 is similar in many aspects to 
cable management systems 100 and 200 described above. Accordingly, the 
following description will focus on the unique structural and functional 
aspects of cable tray 400. It is within the scope of the present 
disclosure, however, that the assembly, connection and fastening features 
described above in connection with cable management system embodiments 100 
and 200 may apply to cable tray 400 as well. 
Similar to cable management system embodiments 100 and 200, cable tray 400 
is preferably constructed of wire stock and includes a flexible spine 406 
which runs centrally along the length of cable tray 400. Cable support 
members 407 are formed by bending the wire stock to form cable receiving 
portions 420 and 422. Cable support members 407 are attached in pairs, one 
on either side of central spine 406. As illustrated in FIGS. 9-11, the two 
receiving portions 420 and 422 are defined by forming two separate lengths 
of wire stock by bending them into the configuration of the cable 
receiving and holding areas, e.g., the open ended rectangular areas 
illustrated in FIG. 9. It is understood, however, that other geometric 
configurations may also be utilized. 
U-shaped horizontal terminal ends 424a and 424b are formed at the upper 
terminus of the respective inboard vertical leg of receiving portions 420 
and 422 of adjacent cable support members 407. Terminal ends 424a and 424b 
are preferably nested, as best shown in FIG. 10, when cable support 
sections are attached to spine 406 in a side by side relationship. In this 
manner, cable tray 400 retains sufficient flexibility so as to be bent by 
hand for the particular curvature required by the installation. As noted 
above for previous embodiments, the spine 406 may be attached either 
transversely along the top of u-shaped terminal ends, as shown in FIG. 9, 
or the bottom thereof, by any suitable known methods, for example, 
welding. In this manner, a double attachment point is established for each 
cable support member 405 with respect to flexible central spine 406, 
thereby greatly reducing moment forces created in the longitudinal 
direction of spine 406 at the connection and providing greater stability 
for each connection. 
Alternatively, side by side support members 407 may be formed from a single 
piece of wire stock bent to form an "s" shaped configuration such that 
three attachment points are formed between the cable support member and 
the spine. 
Terminal ends 424a and 424b are preferably connected such that they form 
mounting loops 427 which are configured and dimensioned to receive 
mounting hardware, for example, a threaded bolt and nut combination (see 
FIG. 13). This eliminates the need for additional separate mounting 
brackets or the like which would otherwise have to be attached to cable 
tray 400 in order to mount it to the overhead structure of the building. 
As with cable tray 200, the central location of spine 406 facilitates the 
self balancing feature of cable tray 400. Looped ends 426 and 428 are 
provided on cable support 405 to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent 
damage due to contact of cables with rough edges during installation. FIG. 
12, however, illustrates an alternative configuration of cable tray 400, 
designated as cable tray 400a, wherein the looped ends are formed with an 
inwardly directed bend illustrated by looped ends 426a and 426b. In this 
configuration, looped ends 426a and 426b are preferably formed such that 
the gaps formed by looped ends 426a and 426b with vertical portions 429 
and 431, respectively, are sufficiently narrow that the individual cables 
(not shown) coming in contact with looped ends are not damaged. An 
advantageous feature of this configuration is that cables positioned in 
cable tray 400a are less likely to be inadvertently moved out of the tray. 
This is particularly beneficial when cable bundles are being pulled 
through the tray, especially when being pulled around curved sections 
where there may be a tendency for the cables to rise near the opening. 
Referring to FIG. 13, a further alternative embodiment of the cable 
management system of the present disclosure is shown generally as flexible 
cable tray 500. Cable tray 500 is the same in all respects to the 
embodiment shown and described in FIGS. 7 and 8 for cable tray 300 except 
that terminal ends 527 are formed as described above for terminal ends 427 
of cable tray 400 to provide two attachment points for cable supports 505 
to spine 506. Additionally, looped ends 526 formed on the outboard 
vertical leg of cable supports 505, shown formed outwardly in FIG. 13, may 
be reversed and formed as described above for the embodiment of cable tray 
400 in order to provide the retention feature previously described. 
Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been 
described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be 
understood that the disclosure is not limited to those precise 
embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be 
affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the 
scope or spirit of the disclosure. All such changes and modifications are 
intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure as defined by 
the appended claims.