Bend radius guide

Details Bend radius guide Bend radius guide

1999-12-13

2001-08-07

Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)

Electricity: conductors and insulators

Conduits, cables or conductors

Accessories

C174S059000, C385S134000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06271476

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to fiber optic cable distribution enclosures and, in particular, a device providing bend radius control of fiber optic cable entering and exiting said enclosures.
Fiber optical cable allows for high data transmission rates over long distances but its usage is limited by a minimum bend radius. It is desirable to control the radius of the fiber optic cable to prevent the fiber from being bent beyond the minimum bend radius. In addition, it is desirable to eliminate microbending, which occurs, for example, when a fiber optical cable is pulled over a sharp corner. Microbending results in unacceptable high attenuation of the optical signal and degrade or interrupt signal transmission.
Fiber optic cable that is brought into a building for use in transmitting coded or modulated signals, such as telephone (voice), cable (video), or computers (data) signals, must be distributed throughout the building to each location that requires access to the information being transmitted. To facilitate that distribution, an enclosure is typically utilized to house and manage the dispersal of the fiber.
FIG. 1
shows an example of such a distribution enclosure
10
, which is described fully in U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,633, and is incorporated herein by reference. Distribution enclosure
10
allows cables to enter and exit the enclosure at openings
12
. In many cases, as many as 72 fibers are distributed within a single enclosure and several of these enclosures are attached to a rack. In larger systems, a room full of these racks serves as a central hub from which thousands of fibers are distributed.
The multitude of fibers entering and exiting distribution enclosures and the proximity of hardware equipment in a fiber optic cable distribution system, such as described above, result in a high incidence of microbending. Any fiber entering or exiting an enclosure can be subject to microbending by being pulled tight across a sharp edge or pinched between two pieces of hard plastic or sheet metal. The improper functioning caused by the microbending of fibers entering or exiting a distribution enclosure degrades the operability of the entire distribution system.
Prior art devices have been used to protect fiber optic cable from sharp surfaces. A rotatable grommet, shown generally at
20
in FIG.
2
and described fully in U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,140, incorporated herein by reference, is designed for opening or closing access to a distribution panel opening
12
through which fiber optic cable travels. The rotatable grommet
20
protects the fiber optic cable from a sharp edge of the enclosure
10
but does not substantially control the bend radius of the fiber optic cable. Although the device of
FIG. 2
is well suited for its intended purpose, it is understood that improvements in the control of fiber optic cable bend radius is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of prior art are overcome or alleviated by the bend radius guide of the present invention. The bend radius guide provides effective cable management and bend radius control to prevent microbending of fiber optic cables entering and exiting cable distribution enclosures. Using arcuate surfaces, the guide protects fiber optic cable against microbending at distribution enclosure openings in directions horizontal or vertical to the enclosure depending upon the placement of the guide. When used in conjunction, bend radius guides prevent microbending in both horizontal and vertical directions concurrently. Bend radius guides used in conjunction can protect numerous fiber optic cables while still allowing access to individual cables through an angled slot formed by the joining of two guides.
The bend radius guide requires no tools or fasteners for installation. The secure installation of this device is achieved through a snap on fit between an undercut in the device and raised dimples on the enclosure walls. The bend radius guide has a universal design, allowing installation in any cutout (front or back, left or right, top or bottom) on a variety of cable distribution enclosures.


REFERENCES:
patent: D. 387652 (1997-12-01), Carlson, Jr.
patent: 5694511 (1997-12-01), Pimpinella et al.
patent: 5758004 (1998-05-01), Alarcun et al.
patent: 5806140 (1998-09-01), Carlson et al.
patent: 5898129 (1999-04-01), Ott et al.
patent: 5921402 (1999-07-01), Magenheimer
patent: 5945633 (1999-08-01), Ott et al.
patent: 6012683 (2000-01-01), Howell
patent: 6023024 (2000-02-01), Stjerneby
patent: 6076779 (2000-06-01), Johnson

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