Patent Publication Number: US-6669515-B1

Title: Apparatus for securing cable

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but the copyright owner otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention generally relates to cables, wires, and other electrical conductors and, more particularly, to terminal and junction boxes with apertures, openings, and strain relief couplings. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     “Aerial Service Wire” provides telephone service to a customer. Aerial service wire is telephone cable that spans from a utility pole to the customer&#39;s premises. Aerial service wire, however, may also run underground to the customer&#39;s premises. When aerial service wire spans from a utility pole to the customer&#39;s premises, the aerial service wire is clamped and hung from a terminal at the utility pole. 
     Aerial service wire, however, can be pulled out of the terminal. Aerial service wires are hung from the terminal using a three-piece clamp. This three-piece clamp is commonly called a “P-clamp.” Once the P-clamp is assembled to the aerial service wire, the P-clamp is then hung from inside the terminal. One problem, however, is that the aerial service wire may pull out of the terminal. If the P-clamp fails, or if the P-clamp becomes unhooked from the terminal, tension in the aerial service wire pulls the aerial service wire out of the terminal. The aerial service wire may even rip from the terminal, thus impairing a customer&#39;s telecommunications service. 
     One solution has been to “bunny ear” the aerial service wire. After the aerial service wire is hung from within the terminal, some telecommunications service providers instruct the technician to knot the outer insulation of the aerial service wire. That is, the technician is instructed to slit the outer insulation of the aerial service wire. Once the outer insulation is slit, the technician then ties the outer insulation into a knot. The loops in the knot, or the “bunny ears,” are snipped from the knot. The knot acts as an obstruction to help prevent the aerial service wire from pulling through an aperture in the terminal. 
     Knotting the outer insulation, however, is not a workable solution. First, the knotting requirement is a time-consuming procedure. Even though the technicians are instructed to knot the outer insulation, some technicians are pressed for time and skip the knotting procedure. Second, when the outer insulation is slit and knotted, the copper conductors within the aerial service wire are increasingly exposed to the ambient environment. Sometimes the copper conductors are themselves slit when cutting the outer insulation. This environmental exposure degrades the quality of the customer&#39;s communication service. There is, accordingly, a need in the art for an apparatus that allows a technician to quickly secure aerial service wires within terminals and other enclosures. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned problems, a nd other problems, are reduced by an apparatus for securing cable. This invention helps prevent aerial service wires, electrical conductors, fiber optic cables, and other cables from pulling out of terminals and enclosures. This invention, in particular, is a barrier that secures to the cable. This barrier secures to a portion of the cable routed within the terminal or the enclosure. The barrier has a larger diameter than an aperture through which the cable passes. Because the barrier has a larger diameter than the aperture, the barrier helps prevent the cable from pulling out of the terminal/enclosure. The barrier of this invention quickly and easily installs onto the cable, thus allowing the technician to quickly reduce tension in the cable. This invention also saves money by permitting the technician to complete more repairs per week. 
     One embodiment of this invention describes an apparatus for securing cable. This apparatus comprises a barrier adhered to the cable. The barrier has a base, and the base has a diameter greater than an aperture through which the cable passes. Because the base has a larger diameter than the aperture, the base of the barrier hinders, or even prevents, the barrier (and thus the adhered cable) from being pulled through the aperture. The barrier, however, allows the cable to push through the aperture. 
     Another embodiment of this invention describes an apparatus for securing cable. This embodiment comprises a barrier clamped to the cable. The barrier has an upper end, a lower end, and an interior passage extending from the upper end to the lower end. The interior passage has an inner wall defining a passage axis extending from the upper end to the lower end. The interior passage is open at the upper end and open at the lower end such that an end of the cable is inserted into the lower end, pushed through the interior passage, and pushed out the upper end. The barrier also has a base. The base has a diameter greater than an aperture through which the cable passes, so the base of the barrier hinders the cable from pulling through the aperture. The barrier, however, allows the cable to push through the aperture. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description of the Invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating an operating environment for this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic further illustrating the operation of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic showings further details of the barrier shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic showing an alternative embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic showing yet another alternative embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic showing still another alternative embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic showing another alternative embodiment of this invention; and 
     FIGS. 8-13 are schematics showing yet other alternative embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating an operating environment for this invention. This invention is an apparatus  10  that secures to an electrical conducting cable  12 . The cable  12  routes through an aperture  14  in a terminal box or enclosure  16 . The apparatus  10  acts as a barrier  18  and hinders, or even prevents, the cable  12  from pulling through the aperture  14 . Although the barrier  18  secures to the cable  12 , the cable  12 , however, can push through the aperture  14 . The apparatus  10  of this invention, then, hinders or prevent the cable  12  from pulling out of the enclosure  16 , yet this invention permits the cable  12  to be pushed into the enclosure  16 . 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic further illustrating the operation of this invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the componentry shown in FIG.  1 . The cable  12  routes through the aperture  14  in the enclosure  16 . The barrier  18  secures to a portion  20  of the cable  12  routed within the enclosure  16 . As FIG. 2 shows, the barrier  18  has a base  22 . The base  22  has a diameter “D” (shown as reference numeral  24 ) greater than the diameter of the aperture  14  through which the cable  12  passes. Because the diameter  24  of the base  22  is greater than the aperture  14 , the barrier  18  hinders the cable  12  from pulling through the aperture  14 . Because the barrier  18  preferably secures to the portion  20  of the cable  12  routed within the enclosure  16 , the barrier  18  allows the cable  12  to push through the aperture  14  and into the enclosure  16 . The barrier  18  thus helps prevent the cable  12  from pulling out of the enclosure  16 , yet, the barrier  18  permits slack in the cable  12  when pulled from within the enclosure  16 . 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic showings further details of the barrier  18  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The barrier  18  generally has a polyhedral shape and is preferably formed of molded material. FIG. 1 shows the barrier  18  having a pentahedral shape resembling a wedge  26 . The barrier  18  has a side surface  28  that secures to the cable  12 . As FIG. 3 shows, the side surface  28  includes a planar portion  30  that abuts the cable  12 . The side surface  28  is preferably adhered to the cable  12 . An adhesive  32  is applied between the side  30  and the cable  12  to secure the barrier  18 . The planar portion  30  of the side surface  28  maximizes an adhesive region contacting specially-shaped conductors, such as a rectangularly-shaped aerial service wire  34 . Because the diameter “D” (shown as reference numeral  24 ) of the base  22  is greater than the diameter of the aperture  14 , the barrier  18  helps prevent the aerial service wire  34  from pulling through the aperture  14 . Because the barrier  18  preferably secures to the portion  20  of the aerial service wire  36  routed within the enclosure (shown as reference numeral  16  in FIGS.  1  and  2 ), the barrier  18  allows the aerial service wire  34  to push through the aperture  14  and into the enclosure. The barrier  18  thus helps prevent the aerial service wire  34  from pulling out of the enclosure, yet the barrier  18  permits slack in the aerial service wire  34  when pulled from within the enclosure. 
     The barrier  18  may have any shape. Although the barrier  18  is shown having a pentahedral shape, the barrier  18  may have any shape. The barrier  18  could be squarely-shaped, rectangularly-shaped, spherically-shaped, or any other shape that helps prevent the cable  12  from pulling out of the enclosure. Whatever the shape of the barrier  18 , the barrier  18  has some portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture  14 . 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic showing an alternative embodiment of this invention. Here the barrier  18  includes destination indicia  36 . The destination indicia  36  indicate a telecommunications customer being served by the cable  12  (or by the aerial service wire  34 ). The destination indicia  36  is associated with information content related to the utility/telecommunications customer (e.g., a customer&#39;s address, account number, telephone number, telecommunications service provider, utility service provider, etc.). The destination indicia  36  could also be associated with trackability information (e.g., name of component manufacturer, component model number, repair history, etc.). As FIG. 4 shows, the destination indicia  36  may be alphanumeric characters, symbols, combinations thereof, and bar codes (e.g., “123 Palmer” Street). When the barrier  18  is marked with the destination indicia  36 , contrasting colors may be used to better distinguish the destination indicia  36  (e.g., black alphanumeric characters and/or symbols on a white surface). Further, the destination indicia  36  may be marked, printed, etched, affixed, attached, stamped, or adhered to the barrier  18 . Alternatively, other methods of marking the destination indicia  36  may be used, such as, for example, applying a film, substrate, magnetic material, or the like to the barrier  18 . 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic showing yet another alternative embodiment of this invention. Here the barrier  18  includes a destination wire tag  38 . The destination wire tag  38  has a tag body  40  and means for securing the destination wire tag  38  to the cable  12  (or to the aerial service wire  34  shown in FIG.  3 ). The destination wire tag  38  has a surface  42  marked with the destination indicia  36 . The destination indicia  36  comprise a preconceived pattern associated with information content of the cable  12  (or the aerial service wire  34 ). The destination wire tag  38  may be manufactured from a variety of materials, such as, for example, paper, cloth, metal, polymer, plastic, ceramic, glass, crystal, and other appropriate materials. Further, the destination wire tag  38  may be designed using a variety of shapes to suit the application. The destination wire tag  38  may include a separable, transparent sub-surface area located on the surface  42 , the sub-surface area engaging the destination indicia  36  to locate the destination indicia  36  on the surface  42 . Further, the destination wire tag  38  may be manufactured using any appropriate material that can withstand exposure to temperatures, humidity, ozone, and other environmental conditions. 
     The destination wire tag  38  secures to the cable  12 . The destination wire tag  38  is preferably secured to the cable  12  using one or more ties  44 . These ties  44  resemble common metal “bread ties” or plastic ties. The destination wire tag  38  could also secure to the cable  12  using adhesives, magnets, clips, screws, clamps, hooks, and any other mechanical and/or chemical securement. 
     The barrier  18  itself could include color-coding. This color-coding would be used to indicate a telecommunications customer being served by the cable  12 . The color-coding would be associated with information content related to the utility/telecommunications customer (e.g., the customer&#39;s address, account number, telephone number, telecommunications service provider, utility service provider, etc.). The color-coding could also be associated with trackability information (e.g., the name of a component manufacturer, component model number, repair history, etc.). The color-coding could be a single color and/or contrasting colors. The color-coding could also include bar coding. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic showing still another alternative embodiment of this invention. Here the barrier  18  clamps to the cable  12 . The barrier  18  has an upper end  46 , a lower end  48 , and an interior passage  50 . The interior passage  50  extends from the upper end  46  to the lower end  48 . The interior passage  50  has an inner wall  52  defining a passage axis L P -L P  (shown as reference numeral  54 ). The passage axis L P -L P  extends from the upper end  46  to the lower end  48 . The interior passage  50  is open at the upper end  46  and open at the lower end  48 . An end  56  of the cable  12  inserts into the lower end  48 , pushes through the interior passage  50 , and pushes out the upper end  46 . A diameter of the interior passage  50  is sized to frictionally clamp the cable  12  within the interior passage  50 . 
     The barrier  18  also has a base  58 . The base  58  has a diameter “D” (shown as reference numeral  60 ) greater than the aperture  14  through which the cable  12  passes. The base  58  of the barrier  18 , as earlier explained, hinders the cable  12  from pulling through the aperture  14 , yet the barrier  18  allows the cable  12  to push through the aperture  14 . Because the barrier  18  preferably secures to a portion of the cable  12  routed within the enclosure (shown as reference numeral  16  in FIGS.  1  and  2 ), the barrier  18  allows the cable  12  to push through the aperture  14  and into the enclosure. The barrier  18  thus helps prevent the cable  12  from pulling out of the enclosure, yet the barrier  18  permits slack in the cable  12  when pulled from within the enclosure. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic showing another alternative embodiment of this invention. Here the barrier  18  comprises a left halve  62  and a right halve  64 . The left and right halves  62 ,  64  fold about a hinge  66  to clamp the cable  12  in the interior passage  50 . FIG. 7 shows the barrier  18  in a deformed view to emphasize the preferably pliable construction of the left and right halves  62 ,  64 . The end  56  of the cable  12  inserts into the lower end of the interior passage  50 , pushes through the interior passage  50 , and pushes out the upper end of the interior passage  50 . The diameter of the interior passage  50  is sized to frictionally clamp the cable  12  within the interior passage  50 . This embodiment also comprises means for fastening the left halve  62  to the right halve  64 . A tab  68 , for example, engages a receiver  70 . The tab  68  includes a hooked portion  72  to engage the receiver  70  and to fasten the left halve  62  to the right halve  64 . The hooked portion  72  is preferably sized to permit the blade of a screwdriver (not shown) to disengage the hooked portion  72  from the receiver  70 , thus unclamping the cable  12  from within the interior passage  50 . The left and right halves  62 ,  64  could also be fastened using adhesives, magnets, clips, clasps, screws, clamps, hooks, and any other mechanical and/or chemical securement. The means for fastening the left halve  62  to the right halve  64  may be constructed on any side or any portion of the barrier  18 . 
     FIGS. 8-13 are schematics showing yet other alternative embodiments of this invention. While FIGS. 1 through 7 show the barrier  18  having a pentahedral shape (e.g., the wedge-shape  26  discussed with reference to FIG.  3 ), FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the barrier  18  may have any shape that helps prevent the cable  12  from pulling out of the enclosure (shown as reference numeral  16  in FIGS.  1  and  2 ). FIG. 8 shows the barrier  18  having a generally cylindrical outer side wall  74 , FIG. 9 shows the barrier having a frustoconical outer surface  76 , and FIG. 10 shows the barrier  18  having a spherical outer surface  78 . The barrier  18  has the interior passage  50  extending from the upper end  46  to the lower end  48 . The cable  12  is frictionally clamped within the interior passage  50 . Whatever the shape of the barrier  18 , the barrier  18  has some portion having a diameter “D” (shown as reference numeral  60 ) greater than the aperture  14  through which the cable  12  passes. FIGS. 11-13 illustrate the barrier  18  may include the left and right halves  62 ,  64 . FIG. 11 shows the barrier  18  having the generally cylindrical outer side wall  74 , FIG. 12 shows the barrier having the frustoconical outer surface  76 , and FIG. 13 shows the barrier  18  having the spherical outer surface  78 . FIGS. 11-13 also show the barrier  18  in a deformed view to emphasize the preferably pliable construction of the left and right halves  62 ,  64 . Whatever the shape of the barrier  18 , the left and right halves  62 ,  64  fold about the hinge  66  to clamp the cable  12  in the interior passage  50 . Because the barrier  18  preferably secures to a portion of the cable  12  routed within the enclosure (shown as reference numeral  16  in FIGS.  1  and  2 ), the barrier  18  allows the cable  12  to push through the aperture  14  and into the enclosure. The barrier  18 , however, helps prevent the cable  12  from pulling out of the enclosure  18 . 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to various features, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and unskilled in the art will recognize the invention is not so limited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.