Abstract:
A fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting device and system that can be used to route fiber-optic cable, or other types of cable, to various locations within a room or a building structure, and into and out of electronic equipment enclosures and cabinets, without risk of damage to the cable. The device and system enable routing of fiber-optic (or other types) cables in any direction within a 360° radius without pinching or cutting the cable.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting device and system.  
           [0003]    2. Background of the Invention  
           [0004]    In the telecommunications industry, fiber-optic cables are often routed through rooms and buildings using ceiling-mounted or overhead cable routing systems. Such cable routing systems may be used to provide overhead cable routing between and among the various communication equipment in a data processing center, central office, telecommunications room, and the like (generally referred to herein as an “equipment room”). A typical component of such overhead routing systems is a segmented aluminum trough that may be manufactured in short segments that may be pieced together to form all or part of the overhead cable routing system. To facilitate routing of a fiber-optic cable from the aluminum trough to the equipment below, an end of the trough may be bent. However, bending the end of the trough may form sharp edges and v-shaped channels that each may increase the likelihood of damage to the fiber-optic cables. Obviously, damage to the cables may lead to failure of the cable and unnecessary expense and maintenance.  
           [0005]    Routing fiber-optic cables into and out of electronic equipment enclosures presents problems similar to those just described. The bend radius of the fiber-optic cable as it passes into or out of the enclosure must be maintained at a predetermined minimum. In addition, sharp edges at the ingress/egress location can lead to damage and failure of the fiber-optic cables.  
           [0006]    It is therefore desirable to provide a fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting device and system that overcomes the above-described shortcomings of the prior art  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention is directed to a fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting device and system that can be used to route fiber-optic cable, or other types of cable, to various locations within a room or a building structure, and into and out of electronic equipment enclosures and cabinets, without risk of damage to the cable. The device and system of the present invention will enable routing of fiber-optic (or other types) cables in any direction within a 360° radius without pinching or cutting the cable.  
           [0008]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a bend limiting device comprises a generally funnel-shaped structure having smooth outer and inner walls over which a fiber-optic cable may be routed without risk of damage to the cable. A routing channel is defined longitudinally through the cable routing and bend limiting device through which one or more fiber-optic cables may be directed. The bend limiting device may be used together with a support or cable trough through which one or more fiber-optic cables may be routed. The combination of the bend limiting device and cable trough provides a fiber-optic cable routing system capable of carrying a plurality of fiber-optic cables and routing those cables to a plurality of electronic equipment without risk of damage to the fiber-optic cables and ensuring that the cables do not bend more than predetermined amount.  
           [0009]    In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting device may be used in connection with an electronic enclosure to provide a smooth path over which fiber-optic cables may be routed into and out of the enclosure. Two fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting devices constructed in accordance with the present invention may be used together (one inside and one outside of the enclosure) to provide a smooth transition for routing of fiber-optic cables both inside and outside of the enclosure.  
           [0010]    The present invention offers benefits over prior art fiber-optic cable routing devices and systems. For example, present cable troughs are generally constructed of aluminum and are formed into various shapes to accomplish bend limiting features. However, in accomplishing those features using a single piece of aluminum, sharp edges and v-shaped openings are formed in the aluminum which tend to pinch or cut the various cables. The present invention offers a cable routing path that is smooth and continuous with customizable cable trough sizes having curved surfaces and bend limiting features.  
           [0011]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings, which are not to scale, are designed solely for the purpose of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    In the drawing figures, which are not to scale, and which are merely illustrative, and wherein like reference numerals depict like elements throughout the several views:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a top view of a cable trough of the fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting system of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of two fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting devices connected together and on opposite sides of a side wall of an electronic enclosure;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 4; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electronic enclosure having two fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting devices constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    The present invention is directed to a fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting device and system. The device is generally funnel-shaped with smooth and continuous outer and inner walls. A fiber-optic cable may be routed over and along either or both of the outer and inner walls without risk of damage to the cable from sharp edges or bending beyond a predetermined bend radius. A first cable routing path is defined, at least in part, by the outer wall and a second cable routing path is defined, at least in part, by the inner wall. A routing channel is defined through the device and bounded by the inner wall. A fiber-optic cable may be routed on and along the outer wall and the inner wall, may pass through the routing channel as the fiber-optic cable is routed from an overhead routing system, or into and out of an electronic equipment enclosure. The device includes certain mounting and alignment features that facilitate mounting of one device to another device, and that also facilitate mounting of one or more devices to another structure (e.g., a trough or enclosure, as described below).  
         [0020]    The system of the present invention comprises one cable routing and bend limiting device and a cable trough having a plurality of user-selectable locations at which the device may be mounted. The device includes certain locking features that are complementary with certain features of the trough. For example, the device includes releasable locking tabs that are sized and shaped to releasably secure the device in an aperture defined through the trough at one of the plurality of user-selectable mounting locations. The device may thus be snapped in place at a user-selectable location to facilitate routing of a fiber-optic cable from the inventive system to an electronic equipment enclosure.  
         [0021]    As used herein, the term “enclosure” is intended to be broadly construed and to refer to any type of structure that may be used to house or mount electronic equipment.  
         [0022]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, the various embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed. With reference first to FIG. 1, a fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting device, generally designated as  10 , is depicted secured to a cable trough  200 , shown in partial cross-section, and discussed in more detail below. The device  10  is generally funnel shaped, and comprised of a body  50  having a generally continuous and smooth outer wall  52  over and along which a fiber-optic cable (not shown) may be routed. The device  10  also includes a generally continuous and smooth inner wall  54  (see also, FIG. 5) that defines a routing channel  56  through the device  10 . A fiber-optic cable may be routed on and along the inner wall  54 , and through the routing channel  56  as the cable is routing from an overhead routing system, or into and out of an enclosure. The outer wall  52  and inner wall  54  provide a smooth surface over and upon which the fiber-optic cable may pass and ensure that the cable is not bent more than a predetermined amount as the cable is routed on and along the outer and inner walls  52 ,  54  of the device  10 . A first and second channel opening  32 ,  34  are defined at opposite ends of the device (on a routing channel  56 ) and located at an ingress and egress location of the device  10  (see also, FIG. 5). It should be noted that applicants&#39; use of the terms ingress and egress to describe the routing of a fiber-optic cable, and other similar directional terms, are used in an illustrative manner. The routing direction of a fiber-optic cable being a matter of design choice or application, and not limiting or otherwise defining the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0023]    The device  10  of the present invention also includes mounting and alignment features that facilitate mounting of one device  10  to another device  10 , and that also facilitate mounting of one or more devices  10  to another structure (e.g., a trough or enclosure, as described below). A plurality of locking tabs  22  are provided peripherally about the second channel opening  34 . Each tab  22  is sized and shaped to releasably secure the device  10  to another structure such as a cable trough  200 , for example and as depicted in FIG. 1. Each tab  22  is preferably at least partly flexible to facilitate easy insertion of the device  10  in a suitably sized aperture (see, e.g., aperture  206  of FIG. 2). When securing the device  10  to another structure (i.e., when inserting the device  10  in a suitably sized and shaped aperture), a ramped part  26  of each tab  22  encounters a surface of the structure causing the tab  22  to deflect. The ramped part  26  slides on and along the structure as the device  10  is inserted into the aperture  206  and to the structure. Each tab  22  also comprises an insertion wall  30  having an extension  28  that together define a surface  42  for supporting the device  10  in the aperture  206 . Each tab  22  also includes a locking part  44  that secures the device  10  in place in the aperture  206 . Thus, when a device  10  is secured in an aperture  206 , the surface  42  and locking part  44  hold the device  10  in place.  
         [0024]    The inventive cable routing and bend limiting device  10  may also be used in connection with a second such device  10 . With continued reference to FIG. 1 and with additional reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed. The inventive device  10  includes a plurality of tab apertures  36  disposed peripherally about the second channel opening  34  and in generally staggered relation to the locking tabs  22 . Aligned generally with each tab aperture  36  is a tab recess  24 . Two cable routing and bend limiting devices  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention may be secured to each other, as depicted in FIG. 4, due to the complementary design of the locking tabs  22  and tab apertures  36  and tab recesses  24 . That complementary design obviates the need for different devices  10  when two devices  10  are secured together (as depicted in FIG. 6). In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, the devices  10  are secured in place to a sidewall  302  of the enclosure  300  (see, e.g., FIG. 6) by the interlocking of the tabs  22  provided on each of the inventive devices  10 .  
         [0025]    With reference next to FIGS. 2 and 3, a fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed. The inventive system of this embodiment includes a generally u-shaped cable trough  200  and a cable routing and bend limiting device  10 . The trough  200  includes a base  210  having a plurality of apertures  206  defined therethrough and also defining a plurality of locations at which a device  10  may be releasably installed. Alternatively, an aperture  206  may not be defined in the base  210  but instead, a punchout  208  that may be selectively removed at a location at which a device  10  is to be installed. A punchout  208  comprises part of the base  210  that is partially severed but that remains secured to the base  210  until completely severed so as to define an aperture  206 . The trough  200  includes first and second sidewalls  214 ,  216  that extend generally upward from the base  210  (see, e.g. FIG. 1) and are generally perpendicular thereto. The sidewalls  214 ,  216  and base  210  define a channel  220  longitudinally along the trough  200  through which fiber-optic cables may be routed.  
         [0026]    The trough  200  may be mounted to a ceiling or overhead support or structure, as a matter of design choice, and using generally art-recognized mounting techniques. A plurality of troughs  200  may be arranged in any manner or configuration to suit the cable routing needs of the particular equipment room. At any desired location, as selectively defined by the location of the apertures  206  or punchouts  208 , as the case may be, a cable routing and bend limiting device  10  may be secured to the trough  200 , as depicted in FIG. 2. The device  10  provides a smooth transition for routing fiber-optic cables from the trough  200  to the equipment to which the fiber-optic cable connects. A fiber-optic cable  100  may be routed from the trough  200  through the second channel opening  34 , on and along the inner wall  54  and routing channel  56 , and out of the first channel opening  32 . If desired, excess cable may be wrapped around the device  10  over the outer wall  52 .  
         [0027]    In another embodiment of the present invention, and with reference next to FIG. 6, two fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting devices  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention may be provided on opposite sides of a sidewall  302  of an electronic enclosure  300 . The two devices  10  provide a smooth transition and ensure minimum bend radius of the fiber-optic cable is maintained for ingress and egress of fiber-optic cables to the enclosure  300 . As with the previously described embodiments, excess cable may be wrapped around the device  10 . The two devices  10  are secured to the enclosure as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, and using the locking features (e.g., tabs  22 , etc.) described in detail above. As depicted in FIG. 6, and as a routine matter of design choice, fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting devices  10  may be placed on one or both sides of the enclosure  300 .  
         [0028]    Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the disclosed invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.