Patent Application
20050109904
The present invention, in various embodiments, relates generally to devices, methods and systems for preventing damage to cable or wire such as, for example, voice or data wire.
Cable or wire is often installed inside raceway or conduit structures such as walls and ceilings. Sometimes, when cable or wire is pulled through a span within a raceway or a conduit structure, it is not pulled through the entire span at one time. Instead it is first pulled from a beginning point to an opening in the raceway or conduit structure at an intermediate point. Excess cable or wire is pulled through the opening in the raceway or conduit structure. The cable or wire is then pulled back through the opening at the intermediate point, through the raceway or conduit structure to a next intermediate point along the span or to a termination point. Excess cable or wire at the intermediate point or points is often placed on the floor.
Sometimes, when cable or wire is placed on the floor, those present may step on it. Stepping on cable or wire is especially common on large job sites where many workers in different trades are present. Cable or wire can be damaged when it is stepped on. Many types of cable or wire are made up of combinations of smaller strands of wire. The smaller strands are often twisted together in a series of twisted pairs. These twisted pairs help to minimize interference between the signals in each individual strand. Twisted pairs are often separated in a cable or wire only by a narrow wall made of plastic or another insulating material. When the cable or wire is stepped on, the walls between the twisted pairs may break. Also, the twisted pairs may become untwisted. Either of these events may increase the interference between the signals in the individual strands. Increased interference between the strands may cause signals to be degraded or lost in the affected cable or wire.
The present invention, in various embodiments, is directed to a device for preventing damage to a wire. The device has a first curved end for connecting the device to a supporting structure. The device also has a second curved end for supporting at least one skein of the wire on the device.
The present invention, in various embodiments, is directed to a method for preventing damage to a wire. The method includes pulling the wire through a portion of a span within a conduit structure to an intermediate point. The method also includes hanging excess of the wire at the intermediate point on a skein holding device. The skein holding device has a first curved end for connecting the skein holding device to a supporting structure and a second curved end for supporting at least one skein of wire on the skein holding device. The method also includes pulling the wire through another portion of a span within the conduit structure to a termination point.
Other systems, methods, and/or products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Further advantages of the present invention may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements such as, for example, various manufacturing details and components. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these and other elements may be desirable. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.
The term “supporting structure” as used herein refers generally to any structure to which a skein holding device could be secured. “Supporting structures” include, for example, ladders, ceiling components, wall components, etc. The term “conduit structure” as used herein refers generally to raceway or other structures through which a span of cable or wire may be run. “Conduit structures” include, for example, ceilings, walls, ceiling beams, etc.
In various embodiments, the mounting end 12 of the skein holding device 10 has a narrow hook shape for mounting the skein holding device 10 on, for example, a narrow orifice. In other embodiments, the mounting end 12 of the skein holding device 10 has a wide hook shape for mounting the skein holding device 10 on, for example, a larger orifice. According to various embodiments, the mounting end 12 also includes a clamp or latch (not shown).
The hanging end 14 of the skein holding device 10 has, in various embodiments, a wide hook shape. A wide hook shape on the hanging end 14 can, for example, allow the hanging end 14 to accommodate large quantities of cable or wire, or quantities of cable or wire that are thick. In another embodiment, the hanging end 14 of the skein holding device 10 has a narrow hook shape. A narrow hook shape on the hanging end 14 can, for example, allow the hanging end 14 to accommodate small quantities of cable or wire, or wire that is thin. According to various embodiments, the hanging end 14 of the skein holding device 10 has grooves (not shown) along its inside surface 11. The grooves, in various embodiments, are roughly the same diameter as the cable or wire to be held by the skein holding device 10. The grooves can, for example, help to prevent cable or wire from slipping out of the hanging end 14. According to various embodiments, the hanging end 14 has a clamp or latch (not shown). A clamp or latch on the hanging end 14 can, for example, help to secure cable or wire to the hanging end 14.
In various embodiments, the mounting end 12 of the skein holding device 10 can be secured to various supporting structures by additional means. For example, in various embodiments, the mounting end 12 has a coating such as a rubber coating to increase friction between the skein holding device 10 and the supporting structure. Also, in various embodiments, a clamp or latch (not shown) is present on the mounting end 12 as described hereinabove. A clamp or latch can further secure the skein holding device 10 to the supporting structure.
According to various embodiments, the hanging end 14 of the skein holding device 10 is used to hang cable or wire from the skein holding device 10 as shown, for example, in
According to various embodiments, the same skein holding device 10 may be adapted to mount to various supporting structures, including for example a ladder, a ceiling beam, and a wall beam. In various embodiments, the same skein holding device 10 may be adapted for holding cable or wire while mounted to supporting structures that cause the hanging end to be oriented at different angles. This may be accomplished by pivoting the hanging end 14 at a hinge 16 as shown, for example, in
According to various embodiments, the system includes a ladder 20. The skein holding device 10 can be fastened to the ladder as shown in
At step 104, a skein holding device 10 is fastened to a supporting structure. According to various embodiments, the skein holding device 10 is fastened to a ladder 20 as shown in
In various embodiments, the skein 22 is removed from the skein holding device 10 and pulled through the raceway or conduit structure to a next point at step 110. The next point may be another intermediate point 34, or a termination point 42. At step 112, if the next point is another intermediate point, the method returns to step 104. Then, the processes of steps 104-112 may be repeated. If at step 112 the next point is a termination point, then the process may proceed to step 118. At step 118, the wire 24 may be functionally connected to the termination point 42.
While several embodiments of the invention have been described, it should be apparent that various modifications, alterations and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to persons skilled in the art with the attainment of some or all of the advantages of the present invention. It is therefore intended to cover all such modifications, alterations and adaptations without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
