Patent Application
20080037946
In the following description like reference numerals indicate like components to enhance the understanding of the invention through the description of the drawings. Also, although specific features, configurations and arrangements are discussed hereinbelow, it should be understood that such is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other steps, configurations and arrangements are useful without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The first partially cylindrical segment 22 is dimensioned and configured to receive or fit at least partially around the transmission cable 12, which, as discussed hereinabove, can be an optical fiber transmission cable. Similarly, the second partially cylindrical segments 24, which typically are formed on either side of the first partially cylindrical segment 22, are each dimensioned and configured to receive or fit at least partially around the tether cable 14, such as any suitable tether cable used to provide support for an optical fiber transmission cable. Although only two second partially cylindrical segments 24 are shown, it should be understood that any suitable number of second partially cylindrical segments 24 can be included as part of each of the first member 16 and the second member 18.
As shown, with each of the first member 16 and the second member 18, the first partially cylindrical segment 22 and the one or more second partially cylindrical segments 24 are formed alongside one another and generally are parallel and co-planar with one another. That is, the longitudinal axis of the first partially cylindrical segment 22 and the longitudinal axes of the second partially cylindrical segments 24 are substantially parallel and co-planar. Therefore, when the transmission cable 12 is operably positioned or received within the first partially cylindrical segment 22 and one or more tether cables 14 are operably positioned or received within a respective second partially cylindrical segment 24, the transmission cable 12 and the tether cables 14 are substantially parallel and co-planar with respect to one another.
The first member 16 and the second member 18 are configured in such a way that, when the first member 16 and the second member 18 are operably joined together, the first member 16 and the second member 18 form a closure that will fit around the transmission cable 12 and at least one tether cable 14. The first member 16 and the second member 18 typically are operably joined together by contacting or pressing together the flanged surfaces 26 of the first member 16 with the corresponding flanged surfaces 26 of the second member 18, as shown generally in
As discussed hereinabove, the flanged surfaces 26 of the first member 16 and the flanged surfaces 26 of the second member 18 each can contain one or more keying features, such as a key protruding from the flanged surface 26 or a keyway formed in the flanged surface 26. For example, as shown in the
In this manner, if the second member 18 is configured similarly to the first member in the above-described example, each key 32 from each of the first member 16 and the second member 18 will mate with a corresponding keyway 34 from the other member when the flanged surfaces 26 of the first member 16 and the second member 18 are joined together, regardless of which flanged surface 26 of the first member 16 is joined with which flanged surface 26 of the second member 18. Because the keys 32 and the keyways 34 are disposed at opposing corners of each of the first member 16 and the second member 18, each of the first member 16 and the second member 18 are identically keyed regardless of which way the respective member is oriented, i.e., which flanged surface 26 is above or below the other flanged surface 26.
Typically, each of the first member 16 and the second member 18 are configured similarly, although such is not necessary. However, as just discussed, when the first member 16 and the second member 18 are configured similarly, the first member 16 and the second member 18 can be operably joined regardless of the orientation of either the first member 16 or the second member 18. Moreover, having the same configuration for both the first member 16 and the second member 18 greatly simplifies the manufacturing process of the closure apparatus members.
Each of the first member 16 and the second member 18 are made of any one or more suitable materials that can provide a sufficiently firm closure apparatus around the transmission cable 12 and one or more of the tether cables 14. For example, each of the first member 16 and the second member 18 can be made from one or more of the following materials: polymer-based materials, such as polycarbonate or nylon, and metal-based materials, such as die cast aluminum, precision formed aluminum, stamped aluminum, or stainless steel.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and substitutions can be made to the embodiments of the invention herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their full scope of equivalents.
