Abstract:
A cable supporting device includes a channel member. The channel member has a curved section bounding an interior. A top flange, a bottom flange, and an outer wall define a channel. The channel has an opening facing the interior.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    Various exemplary embodiments relate to storing cable, for example fiber optic cable and fiber optic drop wire along an aerial transmission route. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Modern telecommunication systems utilize a number of materials and mediums to transmit information. Recently, cables, such as fiber optic cables, have become more popular in the communication industry and have begun to replace electrical wires. Fiber optic cables include transparent optical fibers made of glass or plastic and are capable of transmitting voice, video, and data. Compared to electrical wires, fiber optic cables permit signals to travel longer distances with less loss and less electromagnetic interference. 
         [0003]    One type of fiber optic cable used to transmit data across aerial transmission lines is all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) cables. Such cables typically have a strong non-metallic sheath that supports the optical fibers making up the cable. ADSS cables may also have a reinforcing strand at its core. All-dielectric cable has the advantage that it can be used in close proximity to electrical power lines, whereas conventional communication cables are required to be run in a separate zone, usually at least forty inches below the power cables and above ground neutral. Other types of fiber optic cable lines include, encased with ground wire, encased within phase conductor, and wrapped around phase conductor or ground wire cables. 
         [0004]    Fiber optic cable is typically installed on aerial transmission routes in long lengths so as to minimize the number of splices, each of which degrades optical signals and is expensive. Because of certain problems related with splicing, such as increased noise, it is generally more desirable to overbuild for the amount of cable and store the cable as opposed to splicing cable in the future. To allow for rerouting, due to pole movement and for repairs, slack is provided in the form of surplus lengths of cable at intervals along the route. With increased storage intervals, it is less probable that lengths of cable must be rehung if rerouting is necessary. Storing surplus cable poses problems as optical cable has a minimum bend radius and is vulnerable to damage (fiber breakage) from bending and twisting, if the minimum radius is exceed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to an exemplary embodiment, a cable supporting device includes a channel member. The channel member has a curved section bounding an interior. A top flange, a bottom flange, and an outer wall define a channel. The channel has an opening facing the interior. 
         [0006]    According to another exemplary embodiment, a cable supporting device includes a channel member. The channel member has a top flange, a bottom flange, and an outer wall defining an inward facing channel. The inward facing channel extends around a curved back section, a first side section, and a second side section. 
         [0007]    According to another exemplary embodiment, a cable distribution system includes a plurality of poles and a cable extending along the plurality of poles. A cable supporting device includes a channel member having a top flange, a bottom flange, and an outer wall defining a channel. The channel extends around a curved back section, a first side section, and a second side section defining an interior of the cable support. The channel has an opening facing the interior. A surplus portion of the cable is positioned in the channel of the cable supporting device. 
         [0008]    A further exemplary embodiment is directed to a method of supporting cable. A cable supporting device is attached to an overhead line extending along a plurality poles. The cable supporting device has a channel member with an inward facing channel and a curved back section. A loop of a cable is formed and at least a portion of the loop is positioned in the channel member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The aspects and features of various exemplary embodiments will be more apparent from the description of those exemplary embodiments taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a transmission line according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a transmission line and cable loop according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of transmission line and cable loop with a cable support according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a cable support according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the cable support of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the cable support of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the cable support of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective, sectional view of the cable support taken along line A-A in  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective, sectional view of the cable support taken along line A-A in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative embodiment of an overhead transmission line  10  including a series of poles  12  inserted into the ground supporting standard power transmission lines and a fiber optic cable line  14 . The poles  12  utilize different clamps and connectors for the power and fiber optic cable lines  14 . One or more poles  12  include a surplus length or loop  16  of cable as depicted in  FIG. 2 . A cable guide  18  having one or more slots is attached to the pole  12  to assist in guiding and supporting the cable loop  16 . 
         [0020]    Storage of surplus cable should include measures to prevent the cable from exceeding the manufacture&#39;s minimum bending limits under variable conditions. According to an exemplary embodiment, one or more cable supports  20  attach to the cable line  14  to support the ends of the loop  16  and prevent the ends from bending beyond the minimum limit. According to the illustrative embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , two portions of the loop  16  are inserted into the cable guide  18  to separate the loop  16  into a first section and a second section. A first cable support  20  receives the first section of the loop  16  and is positioned on the line  14  so that the cable is taut or otherwise stretched to a required distance. A second cable support (not shown) receives the second section of the loop  16  and is positioned on the line  14  on the opposite side of the pole  12  so that the cable is taut or otherwise stretched to a required distance. The cable supports  20  may be attached to the line  14  by various mounting hardware, such as sleeves, clamps, and fasteners. The portions of the cable between the cable support  20  and the cable guide  18  can be secured to the line  14  using bands or tie wraps as needed. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 4-9  depict an exemplary embodiment of a cable support  20 . The cable support  20  includes channel member  22  having a curved portion that retains a section of the cable approximately at or above a minimum bend radius associated with the cable. In the exemplary embodiment, the cable support  20  has a substantially horseshoe-shaped channel member  22  having an open front, an angled first side section  24 , an angled second side section  26 , and a curved back section  28 . First and second transitions  30  connect the first and second side sections  24 ,  26 , respectively, to the back section  28 . The channel member  22  includes an outer wall  32 , a top flange  34 , a bottom flange  36 , a first open end  38 , and a second open end  40 . The top and bottom flanges  34 ,  36  extend from the outer wall towards the interior of the cable support  20  to create an inward facing channel. 
         [0022]    The inward facing channel provides at least one advantage over a cable support having an outward or upward facing channel. For example, cables stored in the cable support will have a tendency to bow outward or upward, potentially displacing the cables from the channel and the support. An inwardly facing channel resists this movement and helps to retain the cables. 
         [0023]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the channel member  22  has one or more slots  42  positioned in the top and bottom flanges  34 ,  36 . The exemplary embodiment includes three slots  42  with one positioned on the first side section  24 , one positioned on the second side section  26 , and one positioned on the back section  28 . A pair of ribs  44  extends from the outer wall  32  opposite each slot  42 . The slots  42  and ribs  44  can be used to retain bands or tie wraps wrapped around the channel member  22  as needed. 
         [0024]    According to a further exemplary embodiment, a first cross brace  50  extends outward from the top flange  34  and at least partially across the back section  28  of the cable support  20 . The first cross brace  50  includes a top surface  52 , a depression  54 , a first end  56 , a second end  58 , a first sidewall  60 , and a second sidewall  62 . First and second angled shoulders  64 A,  64 B extend from the top flange  34  to the top surface  52  at the first end  56  and the second end  58 . The first and second ends  56 ,  58  are curved to match the profile of the curved back section  28 , although other shapes and configurations may be used. The depression  54  is spaced below the top surface  52  and includes first and second outer sections  66 ,  68  connected by a narrowed middle section  70 . The top surface  52  includes a first tab  72  and a second tab  74  extending towards the center of the first cross brace  50  that bounds the narrow middle section  70 . The depression  54  includes one or more openings  76 . The openings  76  and the depression  54  are configured to receive mounting components (not shown), for example mounting brackets and fasteners, to connect the cable support  20  to the cable line  14 . 
         [0025]    According to an exemplary embodiment, a second cross brace  80  extends outward from the top flange  34  from the first side section  24  to the second side section  26 . The second cross brace  80  includes a top surface  82 , a depression  84 , first and second ends  86 ,  88 , and first and second side walls  90 ,  92 . First and second angled shoulders  94 A,  94 B extend from the top flange  34  to the top surface  84  at the first end  86  and the second end  88 . The first and second ends  86 ,  88  are angled to match the profile of the first and second side sections  24 ,  26 , although other shapes and configurations may be used. The depression  84  is spaced below the top surface  82  and includes first and second outer sections  96 ,  98  connected by a narrowed middle section  100 . The top surface  82  includes a first tab  102  and a second tab  104  extending towards the center of the second cross brace  80  to narrow the middle section  100 . The depression  84  includes one or more openings  106 . The openings  106  and the depression  84  are configured to receive mounting components (not shown), for example mounting brackets and fasteners, to connect the cable support  20  to the cable line  14 . 
         [0026]    In various alternative embodiments, the size, shape, and configuration of the cable support  20  varies. For example, the cable support  20  may have a closed configuration with a curved front and back. Other alternative embodiments can utilize fewer, or more than, two cross braces  50 ,  80  and the position of the cross braces  50 ,  80  may be varied from what is shown in the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 4-9 . 
         [0027]    The cable support  20  can be made from a plastic, metal, ceramic, or composite material, or any combination thereof. In various exemplary embodiments, the cable support  20  is made from an injection molded plastic, or any other stiff, lightweight material. 
         [0028]    The cable support  20  can be a unitary structure or it can be formed from separate connected pieces. For example, the first and second cross braces  50 ,  80  may be formed separately and welded to the channel member  22 . 
         [0029]    Certain applications and additional components that can be used according to the described embodiments although not shown would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art when viewing this disclosure. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,085,468, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety to show additional exemplary components, but is not meant to affect or limit the scope of the claims of this application. The foregoing detailed description of the certain exemplary embodiments has been provided for the purpose of explaining various principles and practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand that other various embodiments and modifications are suited to the particular use contemplated. This description is not necessarily intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the exemplary embodiments disclosed. Any of the embodiments and/or elements disclosed herein may be combined with one another to form various additional embodiments not specifically disclosed. Accordingly, additional embodiments are possible and are intended to be encompassed within this specification and the scope of the appended claims. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. 
         [0030]    As used in this application, the terms “front,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “upward,” “downward,” “outward,” and other orientational descriptors are intended to facilitate the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the structure of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention to any particular position or orientation. Terms of degree, such as “substantially” or “approximately” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.