Patent Publication Number: US-2016233006-A1

Title: Interlocking ribbon cable units and assemblies of same

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of and priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/113,859, filed Feb. 9, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to cables, and more particularly to the mounting of cables. 
     BACKGROUND 
     State of the art cellular Radio Access Networks (RANs) are migrating to smaller cell sizes in order to deliver higher effective bandwidths to hand sets and create additional coverage. Some embodiments of these new small cell sites (sometimes deemed “MetroCells”) mount an antenna, a radio, and potentially a Baseband Unit on existing or new poles, which may be power poles, lighting poles, or the like. It is common to locate the cellular distribution antenna as high on the pole as possible for coverage, and locate the electronics, including the radio at “ladder height.” Ladder height (typically about 10 feet above street level) is low enough to maintain with a ladder and one technician, but high enough to deter vandalism. In this instance, a cable assembly of RF power cables, typically 50 ohm coaxial cable, connects the radio at ladder height to the antennae at the top of the pole. The cable assembly can have as few as one RF power transmission connection and may also have control conductors. The cable is often a low profile cable for reduced probability of weather damage or vandalism. 
     SUMMARY 
     As a first aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to a ribbon cable. The ribbon cable comprises: a plurality of elongate signal-carrying members, the plurality of signal-carrying members arranged in a generally planar configuration; and a jacket that surrounds the signal-carrying members, the jacket having first and second opposed side edges. Each of the first and second side edges includes interlocking features configured to interlock with an adjacent ribbon cable with interlocking features. 
     A chain of interlocked ribbon cables comprising first and second ribbon cables according as discussed above can be created. The interlocking features of the first side edge of the first ribbon cable are interlocked with the interlocking features of the second side edge of the second ribbon cable to form the chain. 
     As a second aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to an assembly that includes a structural member and a chain of ribbon cables as described above. In some embodiments, the structural member is a pole (such as the leg of an antenna tower or a monopole), and the chain of ribbon cables entirely encircles the pole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an interlocking ribbon cable according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of two ribbon cables of  FIG. 1  interlocking at their side edges. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an interlocking ribbon cable according to alternative embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of three ribbon cables of  FIG. 3  interlocking at their side edges. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of three ribbon cables of  FIG. 3  interlocked and mounted on a leg of an antenna tower. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the ribbon cables and tower leg of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain 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 that are pictured and described 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. It will also be appreciated that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in any way and/or combination to provide many additional embodiments. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms that are used in this disclosure have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the above description is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in this disclosure, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that when an element (e.g., a device, circuit, etc.) is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
     Referring now to the figures, a ribbon cable according to embodiments of the invention, designated at  10 , is shown in  FIG. 1 . The ribbon cable  10  is elongate and includes a plurality of conductors  12  encased in a jacket  14  that separates the conductors  12  from each other. The conductors  12  may be coaxial conductors, twisted pair conductors, or the like of the type known to those of skill in this art. Also, in some alternative embodiments, the conductors may be replaced with optical fibers or fiber optic cables, or the cable may be a hybrid cable that includes both optical fibers and electrical conductors. In some instances, such as the illustrated embodiment, the conductors  12  may be encased in inner jackets  13  to form individual cables, with the jacket  14  overlying the inner jackets  13 ; in other instances, the jacket  14  may be formed directly over the conductors  12 . As is also the case in the illustrated embodiment, the jacket  14  may include web sections  15  between conductors that provide pliability and flexibility to the ribbon cable  10 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the side edges of the jacket  14  include hooks  16 ,  18  that provide interlocking capability. The hook  16  is open toward one side of the cable  10 , whereas the hook  18  is open toward the opposite side of the cable  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , adjacent ribbon cables  10 ,  10 ′ can be interlocked in side-by-side relationship by intermeshing the hooks  16 ,  18 . It will be understood that additional interlocking ribbon cables can be added to the side edges of the ribbon cables  10 ,  10 ′ to form a “daisy chain” of interlocking ribbon cables. 
     Those skilled in this art will appreciate that other interlocking features may be employed with ribbon cables according to embodiments of the invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative ribbon cable  110  with conductors  112  and a jacket  114  that includes a nub  116  on one side edge and a clip  118  on the opposed side edge. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the nub  116  of one ribbon cable  110  can be interlocked with the clip  118  of an adjacent ribbon cable  110 ′. It can also be seen in  FIG. 4  that the nub  116  can rotate slightly within a capturing clip  118 , which can enable adjacent ribbon cables  110 ,  110 ′ to pivot slightly relative to each other. 
     Those skilled in this art will recognize that other interlocking features may also be employed, including different configurations of hooks, fingers, latches, nubs, channels, grooves, “hook-and-loop” surfaces, and the like, that can interlock with the features of an adjacent ribbon cable. In some embodiments, the features are identical on the sides edges of each ribbon cable, and in other embodiments the features are different on the side edges of each ribbon cable, with the features on one side edge being interlockable with the features of the opposite side edge. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a chain  120  of interlocked ribbon cables  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ can be mounted to overlie a structure, such as the leg  200  of an antenna tower, a power pole, the outer wall of a building, or the like. The chain  120  of ribbon cables  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ can be mounted to lay reasonably flat against the structure, which can (a) help to protect the cables against damage, (b) reduce the risk of an object “catching” on the cables, and (c) improve aesthetic appearance of the mounted cables. The presence of interlocking features, such as the nub  116  and clip  118 , that can pivot and/or the presence of flexible web segments  115  between the conductors of the ribbon cable can facilitate flexure of the chain  120  as it is wrapped around the structure. 
     In some embodiments, the ribbon cables may encircle the pole or other structure entirely; in other embodiments, the ribbon cables may only partially encircle the pole, and the cables may mounted to the pole via other fastening means, such as hook-and-loop material, adhesives, ties, straps, threaded fasteners, or the like. 
     The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.