Systems and methods for securing a tether to a distribution cable

• US 7,480,436 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Wells, Dennis Ray, Cobb, John Clifton III
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mooney; Michael P
• Application Number:
  US11/546,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20080085091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 385/100, 385/102, 385/109, 385/110, 385/112, 385/134
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4475 with provision for lateral branching G02B6/4431 takes precedence

Abstract

A securement system includes at least one retention arrangement securing a tether to a distribution cable; and a release device secured to the distribution cable. The release device extends along at least a portion of the length of tether. Pulling the release device away from the distribution cable disengages the retention arrangement to free the tether from the distribution cable. Multiple retention arrangements can be used to secure the tether.

Claims

1. A securement system comprising:

a distribution cable including a breakout location protected by an enclosure;

a tether extending from the enclosure and terminating at a connector body, the tether having a length;

at least one retention arrangement securing the tether to the distribution cable external to the enclosure; and

a release device secured to the distribution cable, the release device extending along at least a portion of the length of tether;

wherein pulling the release device away from the distribution cable disengages the retention arrangement to free the tether from the distribution cable;

wherein the at least one retention arrangement comprises a first material wrapped around the distribution cable and the tether cable;

wherein a first portion of the release device extends along the length of the tether between the first material and the tether and wherein a second portion of the release device loops back along an exterior surface of the first material to form a cutting edge portion of the release device.

2. The securement system of claim 1, wherein pulling the second portion of the release device causes the cuffing edge portion to rip the first material along at least a portion of the length of the tether.

3. A securement system comprising:

a distribution cable including a breakout location protected by an enclosure;

a tether extending from the enclosure and terminating at a connector body, the tether having a length;

at least one retention arrangement securing the tether to the distribution cable external to the enclosure; and

a release device secured to the distribution cable, the release device extending along at least a portion of the length of tether;

wherein pulling the release device away from the distribution cable disengages the retention arrangement to free the tether from the distribution cable;

wherein the release device extends generally from the enclosure to the connector body of the tether;

wherein opposite ends of the release device are secured to the distribution cable adjacent the enclosure, and wherein the cutting edge portion is positioned adjacent the tether connector body.

4. A securement system comprising:

a distribution cable including a breakout location protected by an enclosure;

a tether extending from the enclosure and terminating at a connector body, the tether having a length;

at least one retention arrangement securing the tether to the distribution cable external to the enclosure; and

a release device secured to the distribution cable, the release device extending along at least a portion of the length of tether;

wherein pulling the release device away from the distribution cable disengages the retention arrangement to free the tether from the distribution cable;

a second retention arrangement;

wherein the at least one retention arrangement comprises a first retention structure;

wherein the second retention arrangement comprises a plurality of loop structures wrapped around the distribution cable at spaced intervals;

wherein the release device is looped around the second retention arrangement, wherein pulling the release device breaks the second retention arrangement.

5. A securement system comprising:

a distribution cable including a breakout location;

a tether extending a length from the distribution cable at the breakout location to at least one connector;

foil wrapped around the distribution cable and the tether to form a foil enclosure, the foil enclosure extending from the breakout location to the at least one connector; and

a wire having a length of about twice the length of the tether cable, the wire including;

a first segment extending within the foil enclosure from a first end coupled to the distribution cable adjacent the breakout location to an intermediate end coupled to the distribution cable adjacent the at least one connector, and

a second segment extending back over at least part of the foil enclosure to a second end of wire, the second end being coupled to the distribution cable and including a ring;

wherein pulling the ring away from the distribution cable cuts the foil staffing at the at least one connector and moving towards the enclosure.

6. A securement system comprising:

a distribution cable including a breakout location;

a tether coupled to the distribution cable at the breakout location, the tether extending a length from the breakout location to a connection end, the connection end including a connector body;

a plurality of strips of tape coupling the tether to the distribution cable at spaced intervals along the distribution cable;

a flexible strand having a first end and a second end, the first end of the flexible strand secured to the distribution cable adjacent the connection end of the tether, the flexible strand being threaded to form a loop around each of the plurality of strips of tape;

a pin coupled to the second end of the flexible strand;

a first series of tie-wraps coupling the pin to the tether; and

a second series of tie-wraps coupling the pin to the distribution cable;

wherein pulling the flexible strand cuts each of the plurality of strips of tape; and

wherein continuing to pull the flexible strand draws the pin out of at least one of the first and second series of tie-wraps to release the tether cable from the distribution cable.

7. A securement system comprising:

a distribution cable including a breakout location protected by an enclosure;

a tether extending from the enclosure and terminating at a connector body, the tether having a length;

at least one retention arrangement securing the tether to the distribution cable; and

a release device secured to the distribution cable, the release device extending along at least a portion of the length of tether;

wherein pulling the release device away from the distribution cable disengages the retention arrangement to free the tether from the distribution cable;

wherein the at least one retention arrangement comprises a first material wrapped around the distribution cable and the tether cable; and

wherein a first portion of the release device extends along the length of the tether between the first material and the tether and wherein a second portion of the release device loops back along an exterior surface of the first material to form a cutting edge portion of the release device.

8. The securement system of claim 7, wherein pulling the second portion of the release device causes the cutting edge portion to rip the first material along at least a portion of the length of the tether.

9. A securement system comprising:

a distribution cable including a breakout location protected by an enclosure;

a tether extending from the enclosure and terminating at a connector body, the tether having a length;

at least one retention arrangement securing the tether to the distribution cable; and

a release device secured to the distribution cable, the release device extending along at least a portion of the length of tether;

wherein pulling the release device away from the distribution cable disengages the retention arrangement to free the tether from the distribution cable;

wherein the release device extends generally from the enclosure to the connector body of the tether; and

wherein opposite ends of the release device are secured to the distribution cable adjacent the enclosure, and wherein the cutting edge portion is positioned adjacent the tether connector body.

10. A securement system comprising:

a distribution cable including a breakout location protected by an enclosure;

a tether extending from the enclosure and terminating at a connector body, the tether having a length;

at least one retention arrangement securing the tether to the distribution cable; and

a release device secured to the distribution cable, the release device extending along at least a portion of the length of tether;

wherein pulling the release device away from the distribution cable disengages the retention arrangement to free the tether from the distribution cable;

wherein the at least one retention arrangement comprises a first retention structure;

wherein the securement system further comprising a second retention arrangement, wherein the second retention arrangement comprises a plurality of loop structures wrapped around the distribution cable at spaced intervals; and

wherein the release device is looped around the second retention arrangement, wherein pulling the release device breaks the second retention arrangement.