Abstract:
A system for managing and routing one or more data cables is disclosed. This system comprises a telecommunications enclosure and a cable routing station. The telecommunications enclosure has an external surface that houses at least one data cable. The cable routing station is coupled to the external surface of the telecommunications enclosure and is adapted to selectively route one or more of data cables away from the telecommunications enclosure.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications, and, in particular, to cable routing management systems for a telecommunication chassis.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Telecommunication chassis store and organize a variety of telecommunication line cards and other equipment. A chassis often contain numerous communication links from the separate line cards that are coupled to other chassis, the backplane, other line cards, remote locations and the like. Managing the numerous links is cumbersome in preventing the links from damage or kinks that can disturb data transmission becomes difficult as it travels from the chassis to other locations or within the chassis. Often the chassis contains line cards with optical fibers. These optical fibers require bends in the fibers to curve within a certain bend radius to ensure the strength and integrity of the optical signals.  
         [0003]     In previous telecommunication chassis, management of multiple fibers faced two problems. The first is managing the multiple fibers so that the bend radius of the fiber is within standards for minimum data loss of optical fibers. The second problem is managing cables around a system that contained sharp edges and corners that could injure the technician and chafe the fiber casing. Damaging the fiber casing can cause optical signals to be lost or distorted resulting in technicians to be deployed for repair work.  
         [0004]     For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the telecommunications industry for a safe and effective method of routing data cables from telecommunication chassis.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The above-mentioned problems of managing and routing multiple data cables within the standard bend radius of optical fibers and other problems are resolved by the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment, a system for managing and routing one or more data cables is disclosed. This system comprises a telecommunications enclosure and a cable routing station. The telecommunications enclosure has an external surface that houses at least one data cable. The cable routing station is coupled to the external surface of the telecommunications enclosure and is adapted to selectively route the one or more of data cable away from the telecommunications enclosure.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment, a cable routing station for managing and routing one or more data cables is disclosed. The cable routing station comprises a rear face, a bottom plate and a plurality of cable routing clips. The rear face has a front surface and a first edge extending along the length of the front surface. The bottom plate extends from the first edge of the rear face. The plurality of cable routing clips are coupled to the front surface of the rear face and are adapted to route the data cables in a select direction.  
         [0008]     In still another embodiment, another cable routing station for managing and routing one or more data cables is disclosed. The cable routing station comprises a mounting plate, at least one long cable routing clip and at least one eyebrow. The mounting plate has a front surface and a first edge extending along the length of the front surface. Each long cable routing clip is coupled to the front surface of the mounting plate and is adapted to guide data cables into the cable routing system. Each eyebrow has an engaging surface that has a select radius along a length of the engaging surface and is coupled to the front surface of the mounting plate. Data cables abut to the eyebrows to conform to the bend radiuses of the eyebrow.  
         [0009]     In yet another embodiment, another cable routing station for managing and routing one or more data cables is disclosed. The cable routing station comprises: a mounting plate, a bottom plate, at least one hook, at least one cable hinge holder. The mounting plate has a front surface and a first and second edge. The bottom plate is coupled to the mounting plate extending along the length of the front surface approximately along the first edge. Each hook is coupled to the front surface of the mounting plate approximately along the second edge of the mounting plate. Each cable hinge holder is coupled to the bottom plate. Also, each closed cable hinge holder and each hook is adapted to route data cables in a select direction.  
         [0010]     In further another embodiment, method of managing data cables in a telecommunication system is disclosed. This method comprises routing data cables housed in a telecommunication chassis out of the chassis. This method also comprises routing data cables that were routed out of the chassis into a cable routing station attached to the chassis. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the description of the preferred embodiments and the following figures in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a data cable routing telecommunications system.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cable routing station.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2   b  is a top view of one embodiment of a cable routing station.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2   c  is a front view of one embodiment of a cable routing station.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2   d  is an exploded view of a section of a cable routing station of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cable routing station.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3   b  is a front view of one embodiment of a cable routing station.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific illustrative embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.  
         [0022]     Embodiments of the present invention provide a system of managing and routing data cables such as telecommunication data cables and the like. Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system of managing and routing telecommunication data cables such that the bend radius of the cable is within standards for minimum data loss of optical fibers. Moreover, some embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system of managing cables without exposure to sharp edges and corners that could injure the technician and chafe the cable casing.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a first embodiment of a data cable routing telecommunications system generally shown at  100  according to the teachings of the present invention. System  100  includes cable routing station  102  attached to an external surface of telecommunications chassis  104  by one or more fasteners  116 - 1  to  116 -N. Telecommunications chassis  104  has a front end  105 , a back end  113 , a top end  109 , a left end  107  and a right end  111 . In this embodiment cable routing station  102  is coupled to the top end  109  and approximately adjacent to the front end  105  of the telecommunications chassis  103 . Cable routing station  102  of this embodiment includes a rear face  106  perpendicularly attached to bottom plate  108 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in this embodiment the cable routing clips  110 - 1  to  110 -N are attached to a front surface  115  of the rear face  106 . Also attached to rear face  106  are eyebrows  112 - 1  and  112 - 2  and two long cable routing clips  114 - 1  and  114 - 2 . Moreover, also attached to bottom plate  108  are fasteners  116 - 1  to  116 -N.  
         [0024]     In operation, one or more communication cables (not shown) are routed from the front end  105  of chassis  100  between long cable routing clips  114 - 1  and  114 - 2 . Some of the cables are routed through long cable routing clip  114 - 1  and the other of the cables are routed through  114 - 2 . A section of the cables abut the respective eyebrows  112 - 1  and  112 - 2  conforming to the bend radius of an engaging surface  117 - 1  and  117 - 2  of an associated eyebrow  112 - 1  and  112 - 2 . In other embodiments, the entire cable abut its respective eyebrow. The cables are then routed through the respective routing clips  110 - 1  through  110 - 7 .  
         [0025]      FIGS. 2   a, b,  and  c  are illustrations of one embodiment of a cable routing station  200  similar to the cable routing station  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . Cable routing station  200  includes a rear face  206 . Rear face  206  includes a front surface  207  and a first edge  209 . Cable routing station  200  also includes a bottom plate  208  that is coupled to the rear face  206 . Moreover, as illustrated in this embodiment the bottom plate  208  extends from the first edge  209  of the rear face at a select angle from the front surface  207 . In this embodiment cable routing clips  210  are attached to rear face  206 . The cable routing clips are positioned a select distance from each other. Also attached to rear face  206  are eyebrows  212 - 1  and  212 - 2  and two long cable routing clips  214 - 1  and  214 - 2 . Further, attached to bottom plate  208  are fasteners  216 . The fasteners  216  are used to attach the cable routing station to an enclosure that houses data cables. In other embodiments, more or less numbers of cable routing clips, eyebrows and long cable routing clips are used.  FIG. 2   d  is an exploded view of a section of a cable routing station  200  of one embodiment of the present invention that illustrates the routing of data cables  230 - 1  and  230 - 2  through long routing clips  214 - 1  and  214 - 2  and eyebrows  212 - 1  and  212 - 2 . As illustrated, a section of each data cable  230 - 1  and  230 - 2  conform to the radial bend of their associated eyebrow  212 - 1  and  212 - 2 . Although, this embodiment is illustrated as routing two data cables, it will be understood in the art that other numbers of data cables can be routed and that the present invention is not limited to routing only two data cables.  
         [0026]     In one embodiment the combination of long cable routing clips  214 - 1  and  214 - 2  between two eyebrows  204 - 1  and  204 - 2  is located an approximate the center of the cable routing station  200 . In other embodiments this combination is not placed in the center of the cable routing station  200 . An example of this embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 2   a.  The long cable routing clips  214 - 1  and  214 - 2  are longer than cable routing clips  210  to allow the cable to abut to the eyebrows  204 - 1  and  204 - 2 . With this arrangement, a data cable routed through an associated long routing clip  214 - 1  or  214 - 2  will bend across an engagement surface  215 - 1  on  215 - 2  of an associated eyebrow  204 - 1  and  204 - 2 . Each engagement surface  215 - 1  and  215 - 2  of each eyebrow  204 - 1  and  204 - 2  has a select bend radius along its length. In one embodiment the bend radius is the standard bend radius of optical fibers without slipping. In another embodiment the bend radius is approximately 1 and ¼ inches. In one embodiment, cable routing clips  210  rotate around an axis perpendicular to rear face  206 . This allows flexibility for the cables to travel through the routing system without bending the cable past the standard bend radius of optical fibers.  
         [0027]     Rear face  206  curves back on both ends  217 - 1  and  217 - 2  and hems at the exposed edges  219 - 1  and  219 - 2 . For example, see the circled portion in  FIG. 2 . The curvature at both ends  217 - 1  and  217 - 2  of rear face  206  in one embodiment allows cables to be managed to the back end of a telecommunications chassis and on to telecommunication racks or the like. Eyebrows  204 - 1  and  204 - 2  also hem at the ends  221 - 1 ,  221 - 2 ,  223 - 1  and  223 - 2 . These hems prevent sharp edges from contacting the cables as well as protect workers placing the cables through cable routing system  200  from sharp edges.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are illustrations of another embodiment of a cable routing telecommunications system generally shown at  300  according to the teachings of the present invention. System  300  includes cable routing station  302  attached to telecommunications chassis  304 . Telecommunications chassis  304  has a front end  305 , a back end  311 , a top end  309 , a left end  307  and a right end  313 . Cable routing station  302  includes a bottom plate  308  and a rear face or mounting plate  306 . Mounting plate  306  has a front surface  315 , a first edge  317  and a second edge  319 . Bottom plate  308  is coupled to the mounting plate  306  extending along the length of the front surface  315  approximate the first edge  317 . In one embodiment, hooks  310 - 1  to  310 -N are attached consecutively to front surface  315  of mounting plate  306 . Attached consecutively to bottom plate  308  are cable hinge holders  312 - 1  to  312 -N. Cable tunnel  320  is coupled to the second edge  319  of the mounting plate  306 .  
         [0029]     In operation, one or more communication links (or communication cables) are routed up from the front end of chassis  305  and into cable hinge holders  312 - 1  to  312 -N. Each cable is then further routed up and around hooks  310 - 1  to  310 -N. In one embodiment, each of the hooks  310 - 1  to  310 -N is vertically positioned to the left or right of their associated cable hinges  312 - 1  to  312 -N. Cables are then routed through cable tunnel  320  to a respective end  321 - 1  or  321 - 2  of cable routing station  302 , then cables are to be managed to the back end of a telecommunications chassis and on to telecommunication racks or the like.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an embodiment of a cable routing station similar to the cable routing station shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  b.  Cable routing station  402  includes a bottom plate  408  attached to mounting plate  406 . Attached to mounting plate  406  is cable tunnel  420 . Also attached to mounting plate  406  are hooks  410 - 1  to  410 -N. bottom plate  408  has cable hinge holders  412 - 1  to  412 -N.  
         [0031]     In operation, one or more data cables are routed through cable hinge holders  412 - 1  to  412 -N. The cable hinge holders prevent the cable from moving out of path and becoming kinked, allowing for easier management of the cables. Each cable would then be routed around associated hooks  410 - 1  to  410 -N. As illustrated in  FIG. 3   b,  in this embodiment, each hook  410 - 1  to  410 -N is stationed vertically to the left or right of cable hinge holders  412 - 1  to  412 -N. This arrangement allows cables to bend around the hook within a certain bend radius of an optical fiber. This ensures the strength and integrity of the optical signals in optical fibers. Cables are then routed through cable tunnel  420  to the ends  421 - 1  or  421 - 2  of cable routing station  402 . The cables can then to be managed to the back end of a telecommunications chassis and on to telecommunication racks or the like. Similar to the other described embodiments the ends  421 - 1  and  421 - 2  are hemmed as illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of yet another embodiment of a cable routing telecommunications frame generally shown at  500  according to the teachings of the present invention. Frame  500  includes mounting plate  506  attached to bottom plate  512 . Mounting plate  506  is also attached to cable tunnel  520 . Mounting plate  506  also includes peg  518  whose function is similar hooks  410 . In one embodiment, bottom plate  512  contains screw holes or mounting apertures  514 - 1  to  514 -N for attachment to an enclosure housing communication cables. Cable tunnel  520  also includes access apertures  516 - 1  to  516 -N directly above screw holes  514 - 1  to  514 -N. The access apertures  516 - 1  to  516 -N allow access to the screw holes to aid in the attachment of the cable routing frame  500  to a telecommunications chassis or the like.  
         [0033]     In operation, cable tunnel  520  routes cables brought up from a telecommunications chassis or the like to the ends  515 - 1 ,  515 - 2 ,  507 - 1  and  507 - 2  of cable routing frame  500 . The cables are then to be managed to the back end of a telecommunications chassis and on to telecommunication racks or the like. Peg  518  support and route cables in space limited locations. Cable tunnel  520  and mounting plate  506  also hem at the exposed edges  515 - 1 ,  515 - 2 , seen circled in  FIG. 5 . These hems prevent sharp edges from contacting the cables as well as protect workers who route the cables through cable routing casing  500 .  
         [0034]     A number of embodiments of the invention defined by the following claims have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.