Strain Relief Device and Method for Fiber Optic Cables

• US 20110069931A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jay, Raymond G., Cote, Monique L., Frazier, Brent M., Giraud, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/100
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4477 with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element

Abstract

A fiber optic strain relief device is provided. The device has a base that attaches to a piece of equipment and/or hardware. A length of strap positions in the base and forms a loop. The loop is adapted to at least partially encircle a portion of a cable positioned at the base. A strap tightener incrementally shortens the length of the strap, reducing the loop and tightening the strap around the cable. The strap tightener may be a ratchet assembly comprising an actuator, a ratchet cap, a pin, a ratchet lock and a release. The length of strap inserts into a slot in the pin. The ratchet assembly operates to tighten the length of strap encircling the portion of the cable by incrementally rotating the pin. The release allows the strap to be loosened around the fiber optic cable.

Claims

1. A fiber optic cable strain relief device, comprising:

a base;

a length of strap positioned in the base and adapted to at least partially encircle a cable positioned at the base;

a strap tightener, wherein the strap tightener is configured to shorten the length of strap in incremental steps, thereby, tightening the length of strap encircling the cable; and

a release, wherein the release operates to allow the strap to be loosened around the fiber optic cable.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a cable support, and wherein tightening the length of strap encircling the cable forces the cable towards the support.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of strap forms a loop with a fixed end and a slot end, wherein the fixed end positions in the base.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the fixed end has a bead along an edge, and wherein the fixed end positions in the base by feeding the strap through a strap slot beginning with the slot end until the bead contacts the strap slot, and wherein the bead is larger than a width of the strap slot stopping the bead from exiting the base.

5. The device of claim 3, further comprising a pin having a pin slot, wherein the slot end inserts through the of the pin slot.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the tightener comprises an actuator in mechanical communication with the pin, wherein operating the actuator incrementally rotates the pin, and wherein the rotation of the pin incrementally shortens the length of the strap, reducing the size of the loop, and tightening the strap around the cable.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the actuator has an actuator body and a thumb lever for operating the actuator, and wherein pressing down the thumb lever rotates the actuator body and the pin a certain amount resulting in the incremental rotation of the pin.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the pin is releasably retained in the incremental rotated position.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the release comprises a release button, and wherein pushing the release button releases the pin from the retained position allowing the pin to free-wheel and the strap to be loosened from around the cable.

10. A fiber optic cable strain relief device, comprising:

a base;

a length of strap positioned in the base and forming a loop, wherein the loop is adapted to at least partially encircle a cable positioned at the base; and

a ratchet assembly comprising,

an actuator, a ratchet cap, a pin, a ratchet lock, and a release wherein the ratchet assembly operates to tighten the length of strap encircling the cable to provide strain relief and to allow the strap to be loosened around the fiber optic cable, and wherein the length of strap inserts into a slot in the pin, and wherein the release operates to allow the strap to be loosened around the fiber optic cable.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the actuator has one or more actuator teeth and the ratchet cap has one or more ratchet teeth, and wherein at least one of the one or more actuator teeth engage with at least one of the one or more ratchet teeth to cause the ratchet cap to rotate in a direction when the actuator body rotates in the direction.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the ratchet cap has at least one rib and the pin has a pin head with radial teeth, and wherein the at least one of the ribs engages with at least one of the radial teeth to cause the pin to rotate in a direction when the ratchet cap rotates in the direction.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the ratchet assembly protects against over-tightening of the strap on the cable.

11. The device of claim 11, wherein the actuator has an actuator body and a thumb lever for operating the actuator, and wherein pressing down the thumb lever rotates the actuator body and the ratchet cap resulting in the incremental rotation of the pin, and wherein the rotation of the pin incrementally shortens the length of the strap, reducing the loop, and tightening the strap around the cable.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a lever stop, wherein the lever stop limits the travel of the thumb lever.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the ratchet assembly further comprises a torsion spring, wherein the torsion spring biases the actuator body returning the actuator body to its original unrotated position.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the ratchet assembly further comprises a ratchet lock, and wherein the ratchet lock releasably retains the ratchet cap and the pin in the incrementally rotated position.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the ratchet lock has lock teeth, and the pin comprises a pin head having lateral teeth, wherein at least one of the lateral teeth engages at least one of the lock teeth to allow the pin head to rotate in a direction but restrict the pin head from rotating in the reverse direction.

19. A method for strain relieving a cable, comprising the steps of:

providing a base;

providing a strap having a length inserted through the base, wherein the length is adapted to at least partially encircle a cable;

incrementally shortening the length of the strap to tighten the strap around the cable and force the cable toward the base;

retaining strap at the shortened length; and

releasing the strap from being retained in the shortened length and allowing the length of the strap to be increased and reducing the force on the cable.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a ratchet assembly, wherein the ratchet assembly is operated to incrementally shorten the length of the strap.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the ratchet assembly includes a release button, and wherein the release button is used to release the strap from being retained in the shortened length.