Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-07
2001-09-11
Sanghavi, Hemang (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
C385S136000, C385S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289160
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fiber-optic cable routers and guides and, more particularly, to a fiber-optic cable routing and storage device that prevents excessive bending of the fiber-optic cable and which provides flexibility in defining a fiber-optic cable routing path for cables of various lengths.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is often necessary to splice already-installed fiber-optic cables to provide for connection to a different end-point. Such fiber-to-fiber splices require removal of a section of the fiber cable so that the spliced end(s) may be properly prepared. This, in turn, changes the length (i.e., shortens) of the cable. Since fiber-optic cables are typically installed with a certain amount of slack in the cable, splicing changes the amount of slack that must be accommodated. Following a splice it thus becomes necessary to accommodate a different length of fiber cable. In addition, a minimum radius must be provided to prevent damage to the fiber-optic cable.
There thus exists a need in the art for a fiber-optic routing and storage device that provides flixibility in accommodating fiber-optic cable slack and that also ensures the minimum bend radius for the cable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a fiber-optic cable routing and storage device that can be used to accommodate the slack of various different lengths of fiber-optic cable and that includes a fiber-optic cable routing path that ensures a minimum bend radius for the routed cable.
The present invention is directed to a fiber-optic cable routing and storage device comprising a fiber-optic cable router that defines at least a part of a fiber-optic cable routing path over which a fiber-optic cable may be routed and which limits bending of the fiber-optic cable to less than a predetermined amount. The routing and storage device also includes a selectively deflectible mount for movably securing the cable router to a tray, with the cable router being selectively movable on and along the tray. The routing and storage device further includes a plurality of guides disposed along the cable routing path for preventing movement of the fiber-optic cable off of the cable routing path.
The present invention is also directed to a fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting system comprising a plurality of fiber-optic cable routers each including a selectively deflectible mount for movably securing each of the plurality of cable routers to a tray. Each of the plurality of cable routers is selectively and separately movable on and along the tray. The plurality of cable routers each defines a generally arcuate part of a fiber-optic cable routing path over which a fiber-optic cable may be routed and which limits bending of the fiber-optic cable to less than a predetermined amount. The cable routing path is defined in part by the relative position of each of the plurality of cable routers with respect to each other on the tray.
The present invention is further directed to a fiber-optic cable routing and bend limiting system comprising a first fiber-optic cable router including a selectively deflectible mount for movably securing said first cable router to a tray. The first cable router is selectively movable on and along the tray. The system also includes a second fiber-optic cable router including a selectively deflectible mount for movably securing the second cable router to the tray. The second cable router is selectively movable on and along the tray. The first and second cable routers each define a generally arcuate part of a fiber-optic cable routing path over which a fiber-optic cable may be routed and which limits bending of the fiber-optic cable to less than a predetermined amount. The cable routing path is defined in part by the relative position of the first and second cable routers with respect to each other on the tray.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings, which are not to scale, are designed solely for the purpose of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5142661 (1992-08-01), Grant et al.
patent: 5647045 (1997-07-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 5781686 (1998-07-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 5922997 (1999-07-01), Lecinski
Doan Jennifer
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Sanghavi Hemang
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
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