Flexible cable guide

A flexible cable guide and enclosure is disclosed for guiding one or more optic fiber cables between an outside of the enclosure and a moveable tray inside the enclosure on which devices terminating the one or more are mounted. A first end of the cable guide is secured to an outside of the enclosure and a second end is secured to the tray for movement therewith. The flexible cable guide ensures that the optic fiber cables transition smoothly from the outside of the enclosure to the devices.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flexible cable guide. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and cable guide that guide fibre optic cables from outside an enclosure to a device mounted on a moveable tray within the enclosure.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Enclosures which house fiber optic equipment such as cross-connects or the like terminate a large number of fiber optic cables. Additionally, in many installations given limited space, enclosures are only easily accessible via the front of the enclosure for servicing or modifying connections or the like which requires that fiber optic cables both enter and exit the enclosure via the front. In order to provide ease of access to modules held within the enclosures, especially to the rear and without the necessity of removing the modules, slideable trays are provided which can be pulled forward to allow access to the modules. One drawback of such designs is that fiber optic cables entering the front of the enclosure become snagged on the trays which can lead to them being damaged or broken, or hindering the movement of the tray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to address the above and other drawbacks there is provided a fiber optic cross connect system for interconnecting a first external equipment with a second external equipment. The system comprises an enclosure comprising a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side defining a tray receiving space therebetween, a slideable tray arranged horizontally and moveable between a stored position wherein the tray is within the tray receiving space and an extended position wherein the tray is substantially in front of the tray receiving space, an elongate fiber optic terminating equipment arranged on the tray for movement therewith and comprising a first interface arranged along a rearward edge and a second interface arranged along a forward edge, a first plurality of fiber optic cables each comprising a first end terminated at the first interface and a second end for termination at the first external equipment, a second plurality of fiber optic cables each comprising a first end terminated at the second interface and a second end for termination at the second external equipment, a flexible cable guide for guiding the first plurality of fiber optic cables and comprising a first end attached to an outside of the first side of the enclosure and defining an entrance, a second end attached to the tray adjacent the first side and an intermediate section between the first end and the second end comprising a plurality of spaced cable retainers interconnected by a elongate flexible side band, each of the cable retainers defining a cable passage wherein the plurality of cable passages together define a cable passageway arranged along the side band, the intermediate section comprising a curve delimited by the side band, the first end and the second end defining an access to the cable passageway in a direction the cable tray is extendable.

There is also provided a flexible cable guide for guiding a plurality of fiber optic cables from outside of an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side defining a tray receiving space therebetween, to inside the enclosure for termination at a network equipment on a tray, the tray slideable horizontally between a stored position wherein the tray is within the tray receiving space and an extended position wherein the tray is substantially in front of the tray receiving space. The guide comprises a first end for attachment to an outside of the first side of the enclosure and defining an entrance, a second end for attachment to the tray adjacent the first side, and an intermediate section between the first end and the second end comprising a plurality of spaced cable retainers interconnected by an elongate flexible side band, each of the cable retainers defining a cable passage wherein the plurality of cable passages together define a cable passageway arranged along the side band. When the first end is attached to the enclosure and the second end is attached to the tray, the intermediate section maintains a constant curve during sliding of the tray, the side band delimits an outside of the constant curve and both the first end and the second end define an access to the cable passage in a direction of extending the cable tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIG. 1, a flexible cable guide, generally referred to using the reference numeral10, will be described. The flexible cable guide10is illustratively foreseen for use in a cross connect system12. The cross connect system12illustratively comprises an enclosure14dimensioned for mounting on a19″ rack16or the like. The enclosure14comprises a top, bottom, first side and second side and defines a tray receiving space which houses one or more trays18which are arranged horizontally and slideably mounted and moveable between a stored position where the tray18is within the enclosure14and an extended position where the tray18is positioned in front of the enclosure14and accessible, for example by a technician or the like.

Still referring toFIG. 1, elongate fiber optic terminating equipment20such as fiber optic cassettes are illustratively arranged on the tray18for movement therewith. The terminating equipment20comprises a first interface terminating one or more of a first plurality of fiber optic cables22and a second interface for terminating one or more of a second plurality of fiber optic cables24and illustratively such that the first plurality of fiber optic cables22and the second plurality of fiber optic cables24are interconnected. Such cassettes20are removably mounted in trays18for example through the provision of tabs26which engage with tab receiving mounts28in the tray18.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A and 2B, as discussed above each of the trays18is moveable on runners30, which run in complementary channels32attached to an inner surface of the enclosure14, between a stored position (FIG. 2A) and an extended position (FIG. 2B). A lever34is provided to release a latch (not shown) which holds the tray18in the stored position. The first plurality of fiber optic cables22are held in a cable way36which provides side access to the rear38of the tray18. The flexible cable guide10is placed in the cable way36and removably secured at a first end40to an outside of the enclosure14and at a second end42to the tray18for movement therewith.

Referring now toFIG. 3A, in a first embodiment the flexible cable guide10is illustratively manufactured in one piece from a pliable material such as a flexible plastic or rubber or the like. The flexible cable guide10comprises an elongate ribbon-like side band44which illustratively comprises a series of transverse notches46spaced regularly along a length thereof, thereby improving flexibility. A plurality of cable retainers48are spaced along the side band44. The retainers48each comprise a recloseable cover50allowing one or more fiber optic cables22to be secured using the cable guide10, or removed. A divider52is provided separating each retainer48into two (2) cable passages54when closed. The first end40and the second end42each comprise a plurality of flexible fingers56which serve to retain the cables22within the cable guide10while allowing them to be removed as necessary. Together the retainers48and their respective cable passages54define a cable passageway arranged generally along the side band44.

Referring back toFIG. 1andFIG. 2Bin addition toFIG. 3A, the first end40of the cable guide10is secured to the outside of the enclosure14at a point proximate to where the first plurality of fiber optic cables22will enter the enclosure14. The second end42is secured to the tray18for movement therewith. An intermediate portion of the cable guide10is flexible and curved and such that the side band44delimits an outside of the curve. A person of ordinary skill in the art will now understand that as the tray18is moved between the stored position and the extended position the location of the curve within the intermediate section of the side band44will change in order to accommodate the movement of the tray18. In this manner movement of the first plurality of fiber optic cables22is limited and such that they are not subject to excess strain and the like. Additionally, the first plurality of fiber optic cables22of one tray18are prevented from fouling or otherwise impeding the movement of the other trays18.

Still referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2Bin addition toFIG. 3A, during installation of the first plurality of fiber cables22the tray18is first placed in the extended position and the covers50opened. One or more fiber optic cables22are placed within selected one of the passages54and interconnected with respective ones of the cassettes20. The covers50may then be closed the tray18placed in stored position ofFIG. 2A. If fiber optic cables22must be removed or additional cables22added, the tray18is simply placed again in the extended position and the covers50opened.

Referring now toFIG. 3Bin addition toFIG. 3A, in order to removably secure the first end40to an outside of the enclosure14a plurality of horizontally extending mounting plates52are provided. The mounting plates52are arranged in vertical alignment and equally spaced such that the first ends40of each of the flexible cable guides10may be slid horizontally between successive ones of the mounting plates52. The ends40are retained in place through the combination of pairs of opposed raised guides54and pairs of flexible bosses56which are held within channels58moulded or otherwise formed within the mounting plate52. In this manner the first end40can be released and re-secured such that additional optical fibers (not shown) can be mounted within the cable guide10.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 and 5, in an alternative embodiment the covers50which provide access to the cable retainers48are removeable and fabricated from a relatively rigid material such as plastic or the like. Each cover50is secured to its respective cable retainers48at a proximate end via a hinge assembly60comprising a pair of clips62which receive a shaft64and about which the cover50can rotate. Each cover50can be opened thereby allowing one or more fiber optic cables22to be retained by or removed from the cable guide10. Each cover50may be subsequently be closed and retained in place by a tab66formed on an inside of a distal end68of each cover50and which engages a respective one of a plurality of tab receiving cut outs70moulded in the side band44. A bevelled surface72is provided adjacent each cut out70to ease closing. When closed, a middle portion of each cover50is stabilised by a boss74which engages a slot76in the cover50. Covers50of different trays18can be colour coded to improve cable management and the like.

Still referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, in an alternative embodiment the cable guide10further comprises a pull tab78at the first end40to aid in removing the first end40from between the mounting plates52. In order to ease reinsertion of the first end40between the mounting plates52an upper guide80and a lower guide82are provided which engage an outer edge88of respectively an upper mounting plate52and a lower mounting plate52. The first end40is held between the mounting plates52by a flexible clip90which engages a cut out92in an upper one of the mounting plates52.

Still referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, in an alternative embodiment a plurality of flexible fingers94are provided at both ends of the cable guide10to removeable retain the one or more fiber optic cables22there between. Additionally, the second end42comprises a flange96comprising a conical aperture98for receiving a screw100or the like for securing the second42to the tray18. The screw100works together with a ridge102which engages an aperture (not shown) in the tray18in order to retain the second end42securely for movement with the tray18.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of specific embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.