Electricity: conductors and insulators – Overhead – Towers – poles or posts
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-25
2002-09-10
Dinkins, Anthony (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Overhead
Towers, poles or posts
C174S060000, C174S068100, C174S095000, C052S220700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06448495
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a cable raceway outlet which includes a cover for protecting the cable in the raceway proximate the raceway outlet. Such outlets are essential in the proper design and operation of fiber optic cable telecommunication systems. Fiber optic cable management often requires that fiber optic cables be routed between fiber optic distribution equipment and, for example, fiber optic line terminating equipment in buildings and other structures. Fiber optic cables are susceptible to damage if bent or crimped beyond a certain point. Standards have evolved which govern the degree of bend radius permitted in fiber optic cables of specified sizes.
Fiber optic cables are thus routed along raceways which are designed to protect the cable from damage while permitting access for modification, maintenance, connection and repair. These raceways are typically top-opening plastic troughs similar in configuration to rain gutters into which the cables are placed and along which the cables run from point-to-point. Fiber optic cables generally exit the raceway over one of the side walls and thus provision must be made to guide and support the cable to prevent damage from bending or crimping at this point of exit. Of course, the raceway outlet can also be used with other cable types, such as copper.
This invention provides a simple and inexpensive means of providing an outlet for such cables over the side of the raceway without any modification to the raceway itself. The outlet according to the invention is easily moveable, adaptable to many different raceway sizes and configurations, and provides all necessary support and bend restrictionli open top, while permitting easy access to the raceway when laying new cable or removing or repairing existing cable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a cable raceway outlet which can be easily installed on a wide variety of raceway sizes and configurations.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cable raceway outlet which is easily movable to different locations on the raceway.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cable raceway outlet which requires no tools or other equipment form installation or movement.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cable raceway outlet which protects the raceway opening at the point of attachment by means of a moveable cover.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cable raceway outlet which permits easy access to the raceway when necessary.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cable raceway outlet which protects fiber optic cable from damage by supporting the cable and restricting the bend radius of the cable when exiting or entering a fiber optic cable raceway.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cable raceway outlet which is useable with cable raceways made by various raceway manufacturers.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a cable raceway outlet mountable to a cable raceway having a side wall terminating in a top edge. The raceway outlet comprises a transition assembly for being mounted over the top of the top edge of the raceway for supporting a cable passing between the raceway and appoint outside the raceway, and a protective transition assembly cover for being positioned onto the transition assembly for enclosing the cable passing between the raceway and a point outside the raceway. A raceway cover is carried by the transition assembly cover for covering a top opening of the raceway defined by the side wall and a second, laterally spaced-apart side wall.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a clamping member is carried by the transition assembly for contacting one of an inner or an outer surface of the side wall, and a latching member carried by the transition assembly for contacting another of the inner or outer surface of the side wall. The latching member is adapted for movement between a clamping position wherein the latching member and the clamping member are urged towards each other and against respective surfaces of the raceway sidewalls thereby clamping the side wall of the raceway between the latching member and the clamping member, and a release position wherein the latching member and the clamping member are spaced-apart from each other sufficiently to permit the transition assembly to be removed from, placed on or moved along the length of the raceway.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the latching member comprises a pivot member extending along a length of the clamping member, and a cam mounted for pivotable movement on the pivot member between the clamping position wherein the cam is pivoted into an extended position against the sidewall of the raceway and the release position wherein the cam is pivoted into a retracted position in space-apart relation to the side wall of the raceway.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the transition assembly includes at least one curved cable support wall for being positioned above the top edge of the raceway.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the transition assembly includes first and second curved cable support walls for being positioned above the top edge of the raceway, the first curved wall defined by a radius perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the cable raceway, and the second curved wall defined by a radius parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the cable raceway.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, an enlarged void is defined by a wall of the transition assembly, the latching assembly and the clamping assembly for accommodating the top edge of cable raceways having an enlarged lip extending along the length of the top edge.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the transition assembly includes a plurality of parallel walls defining individual exit paths for individual cables or cable groups.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a cable raceway outlet mountable to a cable raceway having a side wall terminating in a top edge. The raceway outlet comprises a transition assembly for being mounted over the top of the top edge of the raceway for supporting a cable passing between the raceway and a point outside the raceway. A clamping member is carried by the transition assembly for contacting one of an inner or an outer surface of the side wall, and a latching member is carried by the transition assembly for contacting another of the inner or outer surface of the side wall. The latching member is adapted for movement between a clamping position wherein the latching member and the clamping member are urged towards each other and against respective surfaces of the raceway sidewalls thereby clamping the side wall of the raceway between the latching member and the clamping member, and a release position wherein the latching member and the clamping member are spaced-apart from each other sufficiently to permit the transition assembly to be removed from, placed on or moved along the length of the raceway. A protective transition assembly cover is provided for being positioned onto the transition assembly for enclosing the cable passing between the raceway and a point outside the raceway. A raceway cover is carried by the transition assembly cover for covering a top opening of the raceway defined by the side wall and a second, laterally spaced-apart side wall.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the raceway cover is pivotally-mounted for movement between an open position allowing access to the raceway and a closed position covering the top opening of the raceway.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second curved cable support walls are integrally-formed and include an intermediate cable support wall providing a gradual curved transition between the first and second cable support walls.
An
Auteri Robert P.
Mattei Michael
Adams, Schwartz & Evans P.A.
Dinkins Anthony
Fiber Management Solutions, Inc.
Patel Dhiru R
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