Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Extensible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-11-20
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Extensible
C174S086000, C361S730000, C439S165000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320131
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to cable routing devices, and, more particularly, to stems and methods of providing a single piece, hinged cable routing device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cable television (CATV) systems typically include transmission equipment, such as headend equipment that receives satellite signals and demodulates the signals to baseband. The baseband signal is then converted to a radio frequency (RF) signal or optical signal for transmission over a distribution system, such as, for example, a fiber optic cable, from the headend to receiving equipment, such as a set top box. The set top box couples to the subscriber's equipment, such as, for instance, a television set. The distribution system can encompass multiple distribution lines that can include local or long distance trunk lines, such as coax cable lines, directional couplers, and amplifiers that provide additional power to spread the signals to cable television taps along the CATV system.
Amplifiers are normally contained in a housing on a line. One side of the cable from the head end couples to one side of the housing. The cable feeds through the housing to amplification equipment and out of the housing to receiving equipment or taps having output ports for relaying the signal to subscribers.
Amplifier housings typically encompass two halves that close. Normally the amplifiers have electronics in both halves of the housings that are connected with a flexible cable that goes from one side of the half to the other. Folding the cables into the amplifier housing can cause noise problems. For example, the cables may be bent too tightly or the cables may stick out when folded and become caught in the housing when closed. Even if the cables do not get pinched by the housing, presently, the position where the cables fold up is unpredictable causing the cables to end up too close to the electronic components housed within the housing causing electrical interference.
Thus, a need exists for an apparatus that allows cables to be housed within an amplifier housing without getting pinched between the halves of the amplifier housing and does not cause electrical interference and noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention addresses the prior problems and provides for a single piece, hinged cable routing device (also referred to as a “carrier”) for an amplifier housing. The unitary carrier includes sections flexibly joined with “living hinges” that allow the carrier to bend as it folds and unfolds when the amplifier housing is opened and closed. The device can include fingers along one side that allow for ease of installation of wires and cables. Preferably, the device is a single injection molded part having two ends and attaches to one half of the amplifier housing at one end and attaches to the other half of the amplifier housing at the other end.
One, multiple or combinations of the objects of this invention include the following:
To provide systems and methods for a device that holds a cable that couples to an amplifier such that the cable always folds into the same location when the housing is closed.
To provide systems and methods for a device that holds a cable in an amplifier housing such that it does not cause electrical noise problems.
To provide systems and methods for a device that folds completely when enclosed within a housing.
To provide a device that eliminates cables being damaged out in the field when an amplifier housing closes.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of this document and the Figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3399909 (1968-09-01), Ambrose
patent: 4614383 (1986-09-01), Polley et al.
patent: 6076779 (2000-06-01), Johnson
Barnhardt III Hubert J.
Gardner Kelly A.
Massaroni Kenneth M.
Nguyen Khiem
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
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