Abstract:
A device for preventing damage to a wire. The device includes a first curved end for connecting the device to a supporting structure. The device also contains a second curved end for supporting at least one skein of the wire on the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention, in various embodiments, relates generally to devices, methods and systems for preventing damage to cable or wire such as, for example, voice or data wire.  
         [0002]     Cable or wire is often installed inside raceway or conduit structures such as walls and ceilings. Sometimes, when cable or wire is pulled through a span within a raceway or a conduit structure, it is not pulled through the entire span at one time. Instead it is first pulled from a beginning point to an opening in the raceway or conduit structure at an intermediate point. Excess cable or wire is pulled through the opening in the raceway or conduit structure. The cable or wire is then pulled back through the opening at the intermediate point, through the raceway or conduit structure to a next intermediate point along the span or to a termination point. Excess cable or wire at the intermediate point or points is often placed on the floor.  
         [0003]     Sometimes, when cable or wire is placed on the floor, those present may step on it. Stepping on cable or wire is especially common on large job sites where many workers in different trades are present. Cable or wire can be damaged when it is stepped on. Many types of cable or wire are made up of combinations of smaller strands of wire. The smaller strands are often twisted together in a series of twisted pairs. These twisted pairs help to minimize interference between the signals in each individual strand. Twisted pairs are often separated in a cable or wire only by a narrow wall made of plastic or another insulating material. When the cable or wire is stepped on, the walls between the twisted pairs may break. Also, the twisted pairs may become untwisted. Either of these events may increase the interference between the signals in the individual strands. Increased interference between the strands may cause signals to be degraded or lost in the affected cable or wire.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     The present invention, in various embodiments, is directed to a device for preventing damage to a wire. The device has a first curved end for connecting the device to a supporting structure. The device also has a second curved end for supporting at least one skein of the wire on the device.  
         [0005]     The present invention, in various embodiments, is directed to a method for preventing damage to a wire. The method includes pulling the wire through a portion of a span within a conduit structure to an intermediate point. The method also includes hanging excess of the wire at the intermediate point on a skein holding device. The skein holding device has a first curved end for connecting the skein holding device to a supporting structure and a second curved end for supporting at least one skein of wire on the skein holding device. The method also includes pulling the wire through another portion of a span within the conduit structure to a termination point.  
         [0006]     Other systems, methods, and/or products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     Further advantages of the present invention may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a side-view drawing of a skein holding device according to various embodiments;  
         [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a top-view drawing of a skein holding device according to various embodiments;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a side-view drawing of a skein holding device with a hinged portion according to various embodiments;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a top-view drawing of a skein holding device with a hinged portion according to various embodiments;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a drawing of a skein holding device attached to a ladder and holding a skein of cable or wire according to various embodiments;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a drawing of a skein holding device attached to a ladder and holding a skein of cable or wire according to various embodiments;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a drawing of a skein holding device attached to a ladder and holding a skein of cable or wire according to various embodiments;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4B  is a drawing of a skein holding device attached to a ladder and holding a skein of cable or wire according to various embodiments;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of a skein holding device attached to a ceiling and holding a skein of cable or wire according to various embodiments;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6A  is a drawing of a system for preventing damage to cable or wire according to various embodiments;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6B  is a drawing of a system for preventing damage to cable or wire according to various embodiments; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method for preventing damage to cable or wire according to various embodiments. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements such as, for example, various manufacturing details and components. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these and other elements may be desirable. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.  
         [0021]     The term “supporting structure” as used herein refers generally to any structure to which a skein holding device could be secured. “Supporting structures” include, for example, ladders, ceiling components, wall components, etc. The term “conduit structure” as used herein refers generally to raceway or other structures through which a span of cable or wire may be run. “Conduit structures” include, for example, ceilings, walls, ceiling beams, etc.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a side-view of a skein holding device  10  according to various embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 1B  illustrates a top-view of the skein holding device  10  according to various embodiments. The skein holding device  10  may have a mounting end  12  and a hanging end  14 . The hanging end  14  may have an inside surface  11 . According to various embodiments, the skein holding device  10  is made of hard rubber, plastic, or aluminum. Also according to various embodiments, the skein holding device  10  is partially or totally covered with a coating such as a rubber coating.  
         [0023]     In various embodiments, the mounting end  12  of the skein holding device  10  has a narrow hook shape for mounting the skein holding device  10  on, for example, a narrow orifice. In other embodiments, the mounting end  12  of the skein holding device  10  has a wide hook shape for mounting the skein holding device  10  on, for example, a larger orifice. According to various embodiments, the mounting end  12  also includes a clamp or latch (not shown).  
         [0024]     The hanging end  14  of the skein holding device  10  has, in various embodiments, a wide hook shape. A wide hook shape on the hanging end  14  can, for example, allow the hanging end  14  to accommodate large quantities of cable or wire, or quantities of cable or wire that are thick. In another embodiment, the hanging end  14  of the skein holding device  10  has a narrow hook shape. A narrow hook shape on the hanging end  14  can, for example, allow the hanging end  14  to accommodate small quantities of cable or wire, or wire that is thin. According to various embodiments, the hanging end  14  of the skein holding device  10  has grooves (not shown) along its inside surface  11 . The grooves, in various embodiments, are roughly the same diameter as the cable or wire to be held by the skein holding device  10 . The grooves can, for example, help to prevent cable or wire from slipping out of the hanging end  14 . According to various embodiments, the hanging end  14  has a clamp or latch (not shown). A clamp or latch on the hanging end  14  can, for example, help to secure cable or wire to the hanging end  14 .  
         [0025]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a side-view and a top-view, respectively, of a skein holding device  10  according to various embodiments of the present invention. In various embodiments, the hanging end  14  of the skein holding device  10  is attached at a hinge  16  and secured by a fastener such as, for example, a nut and thumbscrew  18 .  
         [0026]      FIGS. 3A, 3B ,  4 A,  4 B, and  5  show various skein holding devices  10  mounted to supporting structures according to various embodiments. In various embodiments, the mounting end  12  of the skein holding device  10  is fastened to the top of a ladder  20  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . In various embodiments, the mounting end  12  of the skein holding device  10  is fastened to a rung of a ladder  20  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . In various embodiments, the mounting end  12  of the skein holding device  10  is hung over a drop ceiling tee support  30 , or ceiling beam as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In various embodiments, the mounting end  12  of the skein holding device  14  may be hung from a beam or other component of a wall or ceiling.  
         [0027]     In various embodiments, the mounting end  12  of the skein holding device  10  can be secured to various supporting structures by additional means. For example, in various embodiments, the mounting end  12  has a coating such as a rubber coating to increase friction between the skein holding device  10  and the supporting structure. Also, in various embodiments, a clamp or latch (not shown) is present on the mounting end  12  as described hereinabove. A clamp or latch can further secure the skein holding device  10  to the supporting structure.  
         [0028]     According to various embodiments, the hanging end  14  of the skein holding device  10  is used to hang cable or wire from the skein holding device  10  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3A, 3B ,  4 A,  4 B, and  5 . Cable or wire may be secured to the hanging end  14  in a variety of ways. For example, gravity can be used to keep the cable or wire in place as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A, 3B ,  4 A,  4 B, and  5 . In various embodiments, a rubber coating over the hanging end  14  increases friction between the cable or wire and the hanging end  14 . In various embodiments, grooves (not shown) on the inside surface  11  of the hanging end  14 , as described hereinabove, increase friction between the cable or wire and the hanging end  14 . Increased friction between the cable or wire and the hanging end  14  makes it more difficult for the cable or wire to slip out of the hanging end  14 . Also, in various embodiments, a clamp or latch (not shown) on the hanging end  14 , as described herein above, may prevent cable or wire from slipping out of the hanging end  14 .  
         [0029]     According to various embodiments, the same skein holding device  10  may be adapted to mount to various supporting structures, including for example a ladder, a ceiling beam, and a wall beam. In various embodiments, the same skein holding device  10  may be adapted for holding cable or wire while mounted to supporting structures that cause the hanging end to be oriented at different angles. This may be accomplished by pivoting the hanging end  14  at a hinge  16  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2A and 2B .  
         [0030]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  show systems according to various embodiments of the present invention. In various embodiments, a span of wire  24  begins at a beginning point  40 . In various embodiments, the beginning point  40  is a piece of equipment, such as for example a network hub, a call center, a breaker box, a telephone, or a personal computer. In various embodiments, the span of wire ends at a termination point  42 . According to various embodiments, the termination point  42  is another piece of equipment, such as for example, a network hub, a call center, a breaker box, a telephone, or a personal computer. In various embodiments, the raceway or conduit structure that the wire  24  spans is a drop ceiling as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  by drop ceiling tee supports  30  and drop ceiling panels  32 . In various embodiments, the cable or wire is pulled through other raceway or conduit structures such as, for example, ceiling beams, and walls.  
         [0031]     According to various embodiments, the system includes a ladder  20 . The skein holding device  10  can be fastened to the ladder as shown in  FIG. 6A . In another embodiment, the skein holding device  10  is fastened to one of the tee supports  30  as shown in  FIG. 6B , or to another supporting structure. In various embodiments, wire  24  is run from the beginning point  40  to the intermediate point  34 . At the intermediate point  34 , the wire  24  is consolidated into a skein  22 . According to various embodiments, the skeins  22  are hung from the skein holding device  10  to prevent the skeins  22  from resting on the ground.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates a method of preventing damage to wire according to various embodiments of the present invention. At step  100 , according to various embodiments, the wire  24  is functionally connected to a beginning point  40 . In various embodiments, the wire is pulled through a raceway or conduit structure to a first intermediate point  34  at step  102 . The raceway or conduit structure can be, for example, a ceiling beam, a wall, or another conduit. In various embodiments, the raceway or conduit structure is a drop ceiling. According to various embodiments, one or more drop ceiling panels  32  are removed from the drop ceiling to create the intermediate point  34 . In various embodiments, the wire  24  may be dropped between two tee supports  30  at intermediate point  34  and consolidated into a skein  22 .  
         [0033]     At step  104 , a skein holding device  10  is fastened to a supporting structure. According to various embodiments, the skein holding device  10  is fastened to a ladder  20  as shown in  FIG. 6A . According to another embodiment, the skein holding device  10  is fastened to a tee support  30  as shown in  FIG. 6B . In various embodiments, the skein holding device  10  is fastened to another supporting structure. According to various embodiments, the skein of wire  22  is hung from the skein holding device  10  at step  106 . The skein  22  may be connected and fastened to the skein holding device  10  at step  108 . According to various embodiments, the skein  22  is held in place by a variety of methods including, for example, a latch or clamp as described herein above. While the skein  22  is fastened to the skein holding device  10 , various tasks may take place including, for example, fastening the wire  24  along the existing span and connecting the wire  24  to various pieces of equipment.  
         [0034]     In various embodiments, the skein  22  is removed from the skein holding device  10  and pulled through the raceway or conduit structure to a next point at step  110 . The next point may be another intermediate point  34 , or a termination point  42 . At step  112 , if the next point is another intermediate point, the method returns to step  104 . Then, the processes of steps  104 - 112  may be repeated. If at step  112  the next point is a termination point, then the process may proceed to step  118 . At step  118 , the wire  24  may be functionally connected to the termination point  42 .  
         [0035]     While several embodiments of the invention have been described, it should be apparent that various modifications, alterations and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to persons skilled in the art with the attainment of some or all of the advantages of the present invention. It is therefore intended to cover all such modifications, alterations and adaptations without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.