Optical waveguides – Accessories
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-04
2001-02-27
Palmer, Phan T. H. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
C385S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195494
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to optical fiber communication apparatus and more specifically, to apparatus for limiting the movement of optical cables so as to avoid damage during connecting and disconnecting the cables in space-restricted areas.
The telecommunications industry is using more and more optical or light fibers in lieu of copper wire. Optical fibers have an extremely high band width, thereby allowing significantly more information than can be carried by a copper wire. However, optical fibers also require more careful handling and attention during use to avoid damage or unsatisfactory operation. For example, even the most robust optical fibers must not be bent or coiled with a too small radius to avoid degradation of the transmission qualities of the optical fiber. Transmission degradation can occur if the optical fiber is coiled or bent in a tight loop even though there is no physical damage done to the optical fiber or cable.
Therefore, it is important to control the bends and coils that a fiber-optic is subjected to during installation and subsequent maintenance operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide simple and inexpensive equipment to help control coil size and limit the bend radius experienced by an optical fiber during installation and maintenance.
It is a further object of this invention to provide equipment which operates in conjunction with existing equipment and which provides support for optical fibers during connecting and disconnecting of the fibers.
The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providing apparatus for controlling the movement of the optical cables during installation or maintenance operations. The apparatus comprises at least one cable, such as an optical cable, and a support structure which is associated with the cable. An attachment member is selectively supported by the support structure at a first location, and the attachment member is movable between the first location and a second location. The fiber-optic cable is secured to the attachment member. A cam plate is also secured to the attachment member and the cam plate defines a pair of cam tracks. A pair of cam followers or pins are supported in a fixed position with respect to the support structure and the cam followers are received in the cam tracks such that the movement of the attached member and the attached cable is controlled by movement of the cam followers in the cam tracks. Thus, it is seen that the movement of the attachment member is limited by the extent that the cam followers are allowed to travel relative to the cam tracks.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5734776 (1998-03-01), Puetz
patent: 5758003 (1998-05-01), Wheeler et al.
Abbott George G.
BuAbbud George H.
Jones Day Reavis & Pogue
Marconi Communications Inc.
Palmer Phan T. H.
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