Patent Application
20180094751
Aspects of the present disclosure involve a cable support structure and more particularly a device for protecting fiber optic cable while it is being installed.
Telecommunication and computer networks frequently use fiber optic cable as an alternative to other cables, such as copper cable, because of its increased bandwidth and speed, among other factors. Fiber optic cable itself is much more fragile than other cables, such as copper cable, because it has a glass core. In a data center, for example, fiber optic cable is often deployed between network devices, such as servers, routers, switches, and the like, and is often supported and held in place by overhead cable racks or under floor tiles.
Given the fragile nature of fiber optic cables, installing the cable in a telecommunication or data center environment poses many challenges. Before the cable is interconnected between various possible network devices or placed in the cable racks, the cable is often staged or laid out on the floor of the data center. By laying out the cable beforehand, it can be easily cut to length and prepositioned to be pulled into the racks without causing excessive damage to the cable. While laying out the cables, it is important to not crush, stress, kink, or otherwise damage the cable. Damaged fiber optic cables may not properly transmit signals and often require replacement. To make matters worse, damaged cable is often only discovered after the cable is installed and connected, thus, requiring additional time for removal and replacement of the damaged cables. During the installation process, the cable is susceptible to being crushed by being stepped on by personnel or run over by moveable equipment as it is laid out on the floor. Additionally, long lengths of cable lying on the floor can present a tripping hazard to personnel. Finally, when lifting cables from the floor to their permanent positions (e.g., overhead cable rack), there is a risk of kinking or bending the cable because of the distance the cable may be raised.
With these thoughts in mind, among others, aspects of the cable support device, disclosed herein, were conceived and developed.
Aspects of the present disclosure may involve a cable support device including a first member and a second member. The first member may include a base portion, a first portion, and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion. The first portion and the second portion may extend upwards from opposite ends of the base portion. The support member may downwardly extend from the base portion of the first member and may include a bottom portion configured to couple with a safety cone.
In certain instances, the support member may be height-adjustable.
In certain instances, the support member may further include a moveable rod configured to slide relative to the bottom portion and a clamp that secures the moveable rod at a given height.
In certain instances, the support member may further include tapered telescoping hollow tubes configured to form an interference fit with each other to maintain a given height.
In certain instances, the base portion, the first portion, and the second portion together form a u-shaped structure and partially enclose an area.
In certain instances, the device may further include a second member pivotally connected to the first portion and configured to be secured to the second portion.
In certain instances, the support member may further include a joint configured to move about an axis.
In certain instances, the support member may further include a moveable rod with a plurality of holes positioned longitudinally on the moveable rod, each of the plurality of holes configured to receive a pin, the pin extending beyond a wall of the moveable rod and interfacing with the support member to secure a height of the moveable rod relative to the bottom portion.
In certain instances, the bottom portion of the support member includes an insert receivable in an opening of the safety cone.
In certain instances, the bottom portion of the support member may include a conical structure including a bottom opening configured to receive and overlay a vertex of the safety cone.
In certain instances, the insert is positioned on an inner side of the conical structure.
In certain instances, the insert includes a member having a frustum-shape.
In certain instances, the bottom portion of the support member includes a conical structure including a bottom opening configured to receive and overlay a vertex of the safety cone.
In certain instances, the bottom portion of the support member is coupled to the safety cone by an interference fit.
In certain instances, the first member and the support member may define a substantially planar member.
In certain instances, the bottom portion may include an insert receivable in an opening of the safety cone.
In certain instances, the bottom portion may further include a first and a second slot, the insert positioned between the first and second slot.
In certain instances, the device may further include a second member pivotally connected to the first portion and configured to be secured to the second portion.
Aspects of the present disclosure involve a cable support structure for providing temporary support and protection to one or more cables prior to interconnecting the cable between devices. More particularly, the cable support structure provides an elevated support to position a cable above the floor of a server room or other environment, for example, to protect it from damage while also positioning the fragile cable to an intermediate position between the floor and the server racks, for example. Additionally, the cable support structure provides a visual warning to personnel of a tripping hazard. The cable support structure is capable of use with a safety cone and can be used either individually or as part of a system for running cables between various pieces of equipment in a network.
The cable support structure 114 is used to temporarily support and preposition one or more new cables 118 as the cables 118 are being positioned in the rack and connected between devices 104 in the data center 100.
As seen in
The support structure 200 may also include an insert 216, which extends from an upper internal surface 218 of the hollow cone 206 towards the open bottom end 208 of the cone 206. The insert 216 can be inserted in a top opening 220 of the safety cone 202 such that the internal surface 212 of the hollow cone 206 generally abuts an external surface 214 of the safety cone 202 when the insert 216 is positioned within the top opening 220 of the cone 202. The insert 216 may be made from either a flexible resilient material or a rigid material. The insert 216 may include an end or portion shaped like a frustum 222. The frustum 222 has a cross-sectional area that increases from a smaller bottom end 224 to a larger top end 226. Typically, safety cones define an opening and are flexibly resilient; thus, even a rigid insert with a larger diameter than the opening may be pressed through the opening. The cross-sectional area of the top end 226 is larger than an opening 220 in the safety cone 202 so that some force is required to insert the frustum 222 into the top opening 220 of the safety cone 202. The larger cross-sectional area of the top end 226 also requires some force to pull the frustum 222 free of the opening 220.
At the top end 226 of the frustum 222 there is a post 228 that has a smaller cross-sectional area than the top end 226 of the frustum 222, such that there is a ledge or step 230 to prevent the insert 216 from being pulled back out of the opening 220 of the safety cone 202. The post 228 is connected or joined to an upper end 232 of the hollow cone 206 at a point above the top or vertex 210 of the safety cone 202.
Still referring to
In a closed configuration, the closure 238 and lower support 236 are pivotally connected at the hinge 240 and secured at the latch 242 such that they enclose an area 250. The cables are supported by the lower support 236 and the closure helps retain the cables within the area 250. In an open configuration, the closure 238 and lower support 236 are pivotally connected at the hinge 240 but are not contacting or otherwise coupled at the latch 242. The open configuration allows the support structure 234 to provide support for the cables, but cables can be introduced to the area 250 through a gap between the non-contacting ends of the lower support 236 and closure 238 at the latch 242.
The cable cradle 234 may also be formed as a single piece from a flexible material. The cable cradle may be shaped like a horseshoe or resemble an upside down Greek letter Omega as shown in
In a second example embodiment, as shown in
At the top end 326 of the frustum 322 there is an annular recess or channel 328 that may snap into a corresponding annular flange defined in the opening of the safety cone. At the top end 354 of the annular channel 328 there is a vertical support 352. The cross-sectional area of the vertical support 352 is larger than the cross-sectional area of an opening in the top of a safety cone. The vertical support 352 creates a second step or ledge 356 that prevents the insert 316 from being pushed further into the opening of a safety cone. The frustum 322 and/or annular channel 328 may be dimensioned to provide an interference fit with the cone to hold the support 300 stably in place.
The vertical support 352 extends upwards from the upper end 354 of the annular channel 328 and supports a cable cradle 334. The cable cradle 334 has the same general shape and configuration as the cable cradle 234 in
In a closed configuration, the retainer 338 and base section 336 are pivotally connected at the hinge 340 and secured at the latch 342 such that they enclose an area 350. The cables are supported by the base section 336 and the retainer helps retain the cables within the area 350. In an open configuration, the retainer 338 and base section 336 are pivotally connected at the hinge 340 but are not contacting at the latch 342. The open configuration allows the support structure 334 to provide support for the cables. The open configuration also allows the placement of cables into the area 350 through the opening between the non-contacting ends of the base section 336 and retainer 338 at the latch 342.
The transition portion 468 extends towards the cable cradle 434 from the coupling portion 466 and may include a planar or differently shaped member. The cable cradle 434 has the same general shape and configuration of the cable cradle 234 in
In a second configuration, the retaining bar 438 is pivoted or rotated relative to the base support 436 at the pivotal connection 440 such that the retaining bar 438 does not contact the second spur 446. Because the retaining bar 438 and second spur 446 do not contact, the cable cradle 434 is open to allow one or more cables to be laid in the area 450.
In another example embodiment, as illustrated in
The base 504 may also include an insert 516, which extends from an upper internal surface 518 of the conical frustum 506 towards the open bottom end 508. The insert 516 can be shaped like a frustum, bulb, or some other shape that has a cross-sectional area that increases from a smaller bottom end 524 to a larger top end 526. The cross-sectional area of the top end 526 is larger than an opening in a safety cone so that some force is required to push the insert 516 into the top opening of the safety cone. The larger cross-sectional area of the top end 526 also requires some force to pull the insert free of the opening. At the top end 526 of the frustum 522 there is a vertical column 528 which has a smaller cross-sectional area than the top end 526 of the frustum 522. The vertical column 528 is connected or joined to an upper end 532 of the conical frustum 506 at a point above the top or vertex of the safety cone.
The vertical column 528 extends upwardly from the upper end 532 of the conical frustum 506 towards an upper end 596. There is an opening 584 that extends through the insert 516 and column 528 from the bottom end 524 of the frustum 522 to the top end 584 of the column. The opening 584 allows for a hollow tube 586 to slide vertically. The hollow tube 586 can be releasably fixed at whatever height may be required for a given installation via any known mechanism in the art. The opening 592 of the hollow tube 586 further allows a second hollow tube 588 to slide vertically and extend upwards. Nested inside the opening 594 of the second hollow tube 588 is a stanchion 590. The respective tubes may be telescoped and fixed relative to each other at the height by various possible mechanisms such as a ball detent, interference fit, locking pin, twist lock, cam lock, threaded connection, collar clamp, or other such mechanism. The nested column 528, hollow tube 586, second hollow tube 588, and stanchion 590, form a telescoping height adjustable support 598 which allows the cable cradle 534 to be positioned at varying heights. Although the height adjustable support 598 in
A joint 501 that moves about an axis can be incorporated into the height adjustable support 598 or other support embodiment. Although a rotating joint 501 is illustrated at a top end 503 of the height adjustable support 598, other positions are possible. The rotating joint 501 allows the cable cradle 534 to rotate or pivot relative to the base 504. This rotation allows cables to be extracted from the opening 550 of the cable cradle in a wider range of directions without subjecting the cables to additional stresses from bending. The rotating joint may include a bearing or other pivoting connection.
The rotating joint 501 supports a cable cradle 534. The cable cradle 534 has the same general shape and configuration as the cable cradle 234 in
In a first configuration, the catch 538 and underlying support 536 are pivoted or rotated relative to each other such that they enclose an area 550. In this configuration, the fastening mechanism 542 can alternately secure or fasten the catch 538 and underlying support 536 together. This configuration allows the underlying support 536 to support and retain one or more cables and the catch 538 helps prevent the cables from falling out of the area 550.
In a second configuration, one or more cables can be either introduced or removed from the area 550. In this configuration, the catch 538 and underlying support 536 are only in contact at the pivoting joint 540. This allows cables to be introduced to or removed from the area 550 through a gap between the catch 538 and the underlying support 536 at the end of the second prong 546.
Although several specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein, those skilled in the art could make changes to the disclosed embodiments without varying or departing from the scope of the disclosure. Any directional references included in the description are only meant to aid the reader's understanding of the disclosure and are not limitations on the disclosure unless described as such. Furthermore, any joints or connections are meant to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to various specific embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative examples and that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to them. Many possible variations, modifications, improvements, alterations, and additions to the present disclosure are possible. These variations, modifications, improvements, alterations, and additions may fall within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims that follow. It is intended that everything contained in the description or drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the disclosure as defined in the claims which follow.
