Abstract:
A cable retaining ring includes a base having at least one mounting opening or at least one mounting projection for connecting the cable retaining ring to a cable support tray, an elongate interior defining a cable retention region, a gap through the ring for allowing a cable to be placed into or removed from the interior, and a slide mounted on the ring and shiftable between a first position substantially blocking the gap to prevent the cable from being placed into or removed from the interior and a second position unblocking the gap.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/485,698, filed May 13, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a cable retaining ring having a sliding closure element and toward a cable support tray including the ring, and, more specifically, toward an elongate cable retaining ring having a gap and a slide for selectively blocking the gap and toward a cable support tray including the ring. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Data centers, telecommunication facilities and other locations may include numerous optical or electronic devices stacked in racks. Many of these devices include jacks for receiving optical or electrical connectors at the ends of optical or electrical cables, and a large number of such cables may be connected to the equipment on a given shelf or rack. To help organize and support these cables, projecting troughs may be provided near the location where the cables connect to the devices. It is known to provide a plurality of fiber retainer rings on the troughs which surround one or more cables to retain and guide the cables. 
         [0004]    The rings generally include a flexible portion that can be pushed or pulled to temporarily open a gap in the ring through which cables can be inserted into the ring. It may require a moderate amount of force to flex conventional rings into a cable-receiving configuration, and the rings may lose flexibility over time leaving a small gap where before two portions of the ring met securely. It may be possible to insert a cable into a ring by pressing the cable against the flexible ring portion to simultaneously open the gap and insert the cable. However, removing cables from such a ring requires a worker to displace the flexible portion of the ring with one hand and hold open the gap while removing the one or more cables with his other hand. It would be desirable to provide a cable retaining ring that can be opened and closed with one hand and which retains is closed shape even after a gap therein is opened and closed numerous times. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    These problems and others are addressed by embodiments of the present invention, a first aspect of which comprises a cable retaining ring that includes a base having at least one mounting opening or at least one mounting projection for connecting the cable retaining ring to a cable support tray. The ring has an elongate interior defining a cable retention region, a gap through the ring for allowing a cable to be placed into or removed from the interior, and a slide mounted on the ring. The slide is shiftable between a first position substantially blocking the gap to prevent the cable from being placed into or removed from the interior and a second position unblocking the gap. 
         [0006]    Another aspect of the invention comprises a cable support tray that includes a body portion configured to support at least one electronic or optical or telecommunications module, a cable support trough at one end of the body, and at least one cable retaining ring mounted on the cable support trough. The at least one cable retaining ring includes an elongate interior defining a cable retention region, a gap through the ring for allowing a cable to be placed into or removed from the interior, and a slide mounted on the ring. The slide is shiftable between a first position substantially blocking the gap to prevent the cable from being placed into or removed from the interior and a second position unblocking the gap. 
         [0007]    A further aspect of the invention comprises a cable retaining ring including a base having mounting means for mounting the cable retaining ring to a cable support tray, an elongate interior defining a cable retention region, a gap through the ring for allowing a cable to be placed into or removed from the interior and closure means for selectively closing the gap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and other aspects and features of the present invention will be better understood after a reading of the following detailed description together with the attached drawings wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a retaining ring having a slide closure according to a first embodiment of the present invention with the slide in a closed position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the retaining ring of  FIG. 1  with the slide in an open position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the retaining ring of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the retaining ring of  FIG. 1  with the slide removed. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the slide of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a retaining ring according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of a retaining ring according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of a retaining ring according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the retaining ring of  FIG. 1  adjacent to a support tray. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the retaining ring of  FIG. 1  holding a plurality of cables. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a plurality of cable support trays supporting optical telecommunications modules, the cable support trays including cable support troughs with retainers of the present invention mounted thereon. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of a retaining ring according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0022]    Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may be exaggerated for clarity. 
         [0023]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity. 
         [0024]    As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” and “between about X and Y” should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as “between about X and Y” mean “between about X and about Y.” As used herein, phrases such as “from about X to Y” mean “from about X to about Y.” 
         [0025]    It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”, “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting”, etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly on”, “directly attached” to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature. 
         [0026]    Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, “lateral”, “left”, “right” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the descriptors of relative spatial relationships used herein interpreted accordingly. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a cable retaining ring  10  having an elongate interior  12  and an outer periphery designated generally by the numeral  14 . The ring  10  has a base  16  that is linear and a generally flat bottom surface  18  for mounting on a flat mounting surface  19 , illustrated in  FIG. 9  and described hereinafter, and the base  16  has a first end  20  and a second end  22 . The ring also includes a first, generally C-shaped side  24  having a first end  26  connected to the first end  20  of the base  16  and a second end  28 , and a second, generally U-shaped side  30  having a first end  32  connected to the second end  22  of the base and a second end  34 . The portion of the ring  10  referred to herein as the top  36  of the ring is located between the second end  28  of the ring first side  24  and the second end  34  of the ring second side  30  and includes a guide  38 , a gap  40  and a slide  42  mounted on the guide  38  for selectively opening and closing the gap  40 . A first hooked tab  44  projects from the first side  24 , generally in the plane of the flat bottom surface  18  of the base  16  and has an upstanding boss  46  pointing toward the plane of the top  36 , and a second, generally linear tab  48  projects from the second side  30 , also generally in the plane of the flat bottom surface  18  of the base  16 . The first and second tabs  44 ,  46  are used to secure the ring  10  to the mounting surface  19  without the need for tools. 
         [0028]    The guide  38 , visible in  FIG. 4  with the slide  42  removed, has a generally T-shaped cross section perpendicular to its width with a top  50  having a first edge  52  and a second, parallel, edge  54  and a leg  56  depending from the top  50  between the first edge  52  and the second edge  54 . The guide  38  has a first end  58  connected to the second end  34  of the second side  30  and a free end  60  facing the second end  28  of the ring first side  24  and spaced therefrom by the gap  40 . The width of the guide  38  between the first edge  52  and the second edge  54  is somewhat less than the width of the second end  34  of the second side  30  where it connects to the first end  58  of the guide. A receiver  62  is connected to the second end  28  of the first side  24  and comprises a base  64  connected to the second end  28  of the first side  24  and an open, generally C-shaped channel  66  facing the free end  60  of the guide  38 . The channel  66  includes a central wall  68 , best seen in  FIG. 3 , perpendicular to the length of the channel  66 . 
         [0029]    The slide  42 , illustrated by itself in  FIG. 5 , includes a top  70  and first and second inwardly curving arms  72 ,  74 , each defining, with the top  70 , first and second slots  76 ,  78 , for receiving the first and second edges  52 ,  54  of the top  50  of the guide  38  to allow the slide  42  to slide back and forth along the guide  42 . The slide  42  includes a first end  80  and a second end  82 , and the second end  82  includes a generally cylindrical connector element  84  having a central notch  86 . The first and second inwardly curving arms  72 ,  74  may include oppositely facing concavities  88  to facilitate gripping of the slide  42  by a user&#39;s fingers. The cylindrical connector element  84  has a diameter slightly greater than a width of the opening into the channel  66  of the receiver  62 . 
         [0030]    In use, the slide  42  is movable between a first position, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the first end  80  of the slide  42  spaced from the second end  34  of the second side  30 , in which position the slide  42  substantially blocks the gap  40 , and a second position, illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , with the first end  80  of the slide  42  adjacent the second end  34  of the second side  30  in which position the gap into the interior  12  of the ring  10  is open. In the first position, the cylindrical connector element  84  at the second end  82  of the slide  42  is located in the channel  66  of the receiver  62 , and the first end  80  of the slide  42  is spaced from the second end  34  of the second side  30 . Because the cylindrical connector element  84  has a greater width than the opening into the channel  66 , force must be used to snap the connector element  84  into the channel  66  and this snap fit or friction fit between the cylindrical connector element  84  and the channel  66  helps hold the slide  42  in the first or closed position. In this position, the central wall  68  in the channel  66  extends into the central notch  86  of the cylindrical connector element  88  to help ensure that the slide  42  is centered and to help resist movement of the cylindrical connector element  84  in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction. Cables  90 , illustrated in  FIG. 10 , can be placed into the interior  12  through the gap  40  when the slide  42  is in the second position and retained in the interior  12  when the slide  42  is in the first position. 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  illustrates the ring  10  being mounted to the mounting surface  19 . The mounting surface  19 , which may comprise a portion of a cable support tray  92 , illustrated in  FIG. 11 , includes a hole  94  in an upstanding wall  96  and a loop  98  spaced from the hole  94  by a distance approximately equal to the length of the base  16 . To mount the ring  10  to the mounting surface  19 , the second tab  48  on the second side  30  of the ring  10  is inserted into the loop  98  while the first tab  44  is pressed downwardly along the upstanding wall  96  toward the hole  94  until the first tab  44  enters the hole  94  and the boss  46  snaps into place on a side of the wall opposite from the ring  10 . The flexibility of the first and second tabs  44 ,  48  and the boss  46  allows for this tool-less installation, and the ring  10  can be flexed sufficiently to allow its removal from the mounting surface  19  in a similar manner. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cable retaining ring  100  according to a second embodiment of the present invention in which elements common to the first embodiment are identified with like reference numerals. The first side  24  of the ring  100  has a second end  28  that ends in a flat surface  102  rather than the receiver of the first embodiment. The retainer ring  100  further includes a slide  104  having a first end  106  facing the second end  34  of the second side  30  and a second end  108  that ends in a flat surface  110 . The slide  104  moves between a first position with the slide second end  108  in contact with or closely spaced from the flat surface  102  of the second end  28  of the first side  24 , substantially blocking the gap  40 , and a second position with the first end  106  of the slide  104  close to the second end  34  of the second side  30 , leaving the gap  40  open for the insertion or removal of cables  90 . The slide  104  of this embodiment does not include mechanical fasteners for making a connection with the second end  28  of the first side  24 . Instead, the slide  104  and/or the guide  38  are provided with detents (not illustrated) for holding the slide  104  in one of a number of predetermined positions relative to the guide  38 , or, alternately, the shape and size of the first and second arms  72 ,  74  of the slide  104  and the shape of the first and second edges  52 ,  54  of the T-shaped guide  38  are configured for a tight fit so that the slide  104  is frictionally retained on the guide  38  in whatever position it is placed by a user, a relatively large amount of force being required to move the slide  104  along the guide  38 . “Relatively large” in this context is intended to mean more force than would be needed to move a freely sliding slide  42 , but still a small enough amount of force that a user can readily slide the slide  42  to a desired position with a finger and thumb. This arrangement does not include a mechanical interconnection between the slide  104  and the first side  24  of the ring  10 , but the lack of complementary connector elements may lead to lower manufacturing costs in some cases. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cable retaining ring  112  according to a third embodiment of the present invention in which elements common to the first and second embodiments are identified with like reference numerals. In this embodiment, the first side  24  of the ring  10  has a second end  28  that ends in a slotted surface  114  having a groove  116  facing the free end  60  of the guide  38  and disposed in a plane generally parallel to the base  16 . The retaining ring  112  includes a slide  118  having a first end  120  facing the second end  34  of the second side  30  and a second end  122  that ends in a projecting tongue  124  sized to be received in the groove  116  and be retained therein with a friction fit or with an optional detent  126  receivable within a dimple  128  inside the groove  116 . The slide  118  moves between a first position with the tongue  124  in the groove  116 , holding the slide  118  in the first position substantially blocking the gap  40  and a second position with the first end  120  close to or contacting the second end  34  of the second side  30  leaving the gap  40  open for receiving or removing the cables  90 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cable retaining ring  130  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in which elements common to the first through third embodiments are identified with like reference numerals. In this embodiment, the second end  28  of the first side  24  of the ring  130  has a projecting shelf  132  having a raised ridge  134  projecting away from the base  16  and spaced from the second end  28 , and the retaining ring  130  further includes a slide  136  having a first end  138  facing the second end  34  of the second side  30  and a second end  140  having a projecting shelf  142  with a depending ridge  144  facing in the direction of the base  16  and including an angled distal face  146 . In use, the second end  140  of the slide  136  is moved toward the second end  28  of the ring first side  24  until the angled distal face  146  engages the raised ridge  134 . Continued sliding force on the slide  136  cams the projecting shelf  142  of the slide  136  over the raised ridge  134  until the depending ridge  144  passes over the raised ridge  134  to hold the slide  136  in place relative to the second end  28  of the first side  28 . A similar degree of force is required to shift the slide  136  toward the second end  34  of the second side  30  to reopen the gap  40 . Other complementary connector structures could be provided on second end  28  of the first side  24  and on an end of a slide for temporarily holding a slide in a position substantially blocking the gap  40  without exceeding the scope of the present invention. 
         [0035]      FIG. 12  illustrates a retaining ring  148  according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention in which elements common to the first through fourth embodiments are identified with like reference numerals. The retaining ring  148  is substantially identical to the retaining ring  10  of the first embodiment except for the structures of the base and the elements for connecting the retaining ring  148  to a support surface. The retaining ring  148  includes a base  150  having a bottom surface  152  and first and second transverse slots  154  each of which includes a first portion  156  that extends through the bottom surface  152  and a second portion  158  that is spaced from the bottom surface  152  by a lip  160 . The mounting surface  162  includes first and second tabs  164  that are generally parallel to the plane of the mounting surface  162  and spaced from the plane of the mounting surface  162  by a distance approximately equal to a thickness of the lips  160 . To mount the retaining ring  148  on the mounting surface  162 , the retaining ring  148  is placed on the mounting surface  162  with the first and second transverse slots  154  next to the first and second tabs  164  and moved toward the first and second tabs  164  until the first and second tabs  164  are received in the first and second transverse slots  154  with the tabs  164  projecting into the second portions  158  of the slots  154  and overlying the lips  160  to frictionally engage and retain the retaining ring  148  in a mounting location. 
         [0036]      FIG. 11  illustrates a housing  166  supporting a plurality of sliding trays  92  each of which supports four optical modules  168  with a plurality of jacks  172 . Each of the sliding trays  92  includes a cable support trough  170  projecting therefrom, and each of the cable support troughs includes a plurality of cable retaining rings  10 . Cable retaining rings according to the other embodiments of the invention could also be used in place of the cable retaining rings  10 . Cables  90  approach the housing  166  from above or below or from one side and are retained in the retaining rings  10  and can be removed from and inserted into the cable retaining rings  10  as described above. Individual fibers  174  having connectors  176  emerge from the cables  90  and are connected to various ones of the jacks  172 . While only one cable  90  and three individual fibers  174  are illustrated, in use multiple cables and fibers would be present and a majority of the jacks  172  would have connectors  176  mounted therein. 
         [0037]    The present invention has been described herein in terms of several presently preferred embodiments. However, modifications and additions to these embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It is intended that all such modifications and additions comprise a part of the present invention to the extent they fall within the scope of the several claims appended hereto.