Bands used for indicating a type of tubing

A method of labeling telecommunication cable is provided. At least one band including an indicator is provided. The bands are placed around and attach to the cable. The amount of bands or the color of the bands secured to the cable may indicate the type of cable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to telecommunication cable and, more particularly, to bands that are used for indicating the type of telecommunication cable.

A cellular network or mobile network is a wireless network distributed over land areas called cells, each served by at least one fixed-location transceiver, known as a cell tower or base station. In a cellular network, each cell uses a different set of frequencies from neighboring cells, to avoid interference and provide guaranteed bandwidth within each cell. When joined together these cells provide radio coverage over a wide geographic area. This enables a large number of portable transceivers (e.g. mobile phones, pagers, etc.) to communicate with each other and with fixed transceivers and telephones anywhere in the network, via base stations, even if some of the transceivers are moving through more than one cell during transmission. Currently, electrical cables are used within the cell towers. Each electrical cable may include a different sector type, wireless technology type, and branch type. Colored tape is secured to each cable to identify the cable type. However, the color of the tape fades, the tape falls off, and ultimately the tape needs to be replaced frequently.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved method of indentifying the cables of a cellular tower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a method of labeling telecommunication cable comprises: providing a plurality of bands each comprising: an inner surface and an outer surface; a first link having a first end and a second end; a second link having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first link is attached to the first end of the second link, wherein the second end of the first link comprises a female connector and the second end of the second link comprises a male connector; placing at least one of the plurality of bands around a cable; and connecting the male connector to the female connector, thereby securing the band to the cable, wherein the band secured to the cable indicates a type of cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a plurality of bands that are used to identify a sector type, a wireless technology type, and a branch type when clamped to various sized cable. Cable of the present invention is defined as an electrical wiring or a conduit that contains a plurality of electrical wiring. The present invention may be used for the telecommunications business, such as the cellular networks, to help identify cable for future maintenance. The colors of the rigid bands fade at a much slower rate as compared to the tape. Therefore, the bands of the present invention save a lot of time required to replace the tape currently used. Further, the bands of the present invention are easy and quick to snap onto the cable and are re-usable.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 19, the present invention includes a plurality of bands10. The bands10include an inner surface and an outer surface. Each of the bands may be formed of two pieces, a first link14and a second link18. The first link14and the second link18each include a first end and a second end. The first end of the first link14is attached to the first end of the second link18. The second end of the first link14includes a female connector20and the second end of the second link18includes a male connector16. To label telecommunication cable24, the bands10may placed over the cable24and the male connector18connects to the female connector20, thereby securing the bands10to the cable24. The bands10indicate a type of cable24that they are secured to.

As mentioned above, the cable24may include electrical wiring, such as an electrical wiring in a tower or grounded electrical wiring, and a conduit that houses a plurality of electrical wiring. The type of cable24may include, but is not limited to, a sector type, a wireless technology type, and a branch type. A sector type may include an alpha, beta or gamma sector type. The wireless technology type may include Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Advanced Wireless Services (AWS), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Personal Call System (PCS) and the like. The branch type may identify which cable belongs to what port.

In certain embodiments, the outer surface of each of the plurality of bands10may include an indicator44,48,52indicating the type of cable24. The indicator44,48,52may be a pattern or color. For example a first color44may indicate the cable24is a gamma sector, and a second color48may indicate the cable24includes LTE technology. In certain embodiments, the amount of bands attached to the cable24may indicate the type of cable24. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the cable24may include a plurality of bands with the same color52, where three of the same color52indicates a first port, and two of the same color52indicates a second port. In certain embodiments, the present invention may be used as a combination of colors and amount of bands to determine each cable's characteristics.

As illustrated in the Figures, the male connectors16may include a snap and the female connectors20may include a socket and a retainer bar22. The snap fits within the socket and locks onto the retainer bar22. In certain embodiments, the first end of the first link14includes a male connector16and the first end of the second link18includes a female connector20. Therefore, the first link14and the second link18may be separate components. As illustrated inFIGS. 18 and 19, the male connectors16and female connectors20may be interchanged on each of the ends of the first link14and second link18.

In certain embodiments, the first end of the first link14and the first end of the second link18are attached by a hinge34,42,56. Therefore, the band10may be joined as one piece. In such embodiments, the first link14may include first knuckles34interlocking with second knuckles42of the second link18. A hinge pin56may fit through the knuckles pivotally connecting the first link14to the second link18.

As illustrated inFIGS. 9-11, 16 and 17, the present invention may include an elongated band26having a first link30and a second link36. In such embodiments, the outer surface of each of the elongated bands26may include multiple indicators44,48,52, each of the indicators44,48,52indicating a sector type, a wireless technology type, and a branch type of the cable24. In such embodiments, the type of cable24may be predetermined. The elongated band26may then be formed with indicators44,48,52printed out on the outer surface. An single band26may be created to have a first color44indicating the cable24is a gamma sector, a second color48indicating the cable24includes LTE technology, and a plurality of indicators44,48,52with the same color52indicating a first port. The single elongated band26may be attached to the cable24.

A method of labeling telecommunication cable may include the following. The bands10,26described above are provided. At least one of the plurality of bands10,26is placed around a cable24. The male connector16is attached to the female connector20, thereby securing the band10,26to the cable24. An inner ridge66may be formed about the circumference of the inner surface of each of the bands10,26to make sure that the band10,26stays in place on the cable24. The band10,26secured to the cable24indicates a type of cable24.