Bend radius control

• US 7,676,132 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mandry, Michael A., Guy, Maurice M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MACCHIAROLO, PETER J
• Application Number:
  US10/212,820
• Time in Patent Office: 2,772 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-137
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4478 Bending relief means

Abstract

A bend radius control device for routing and maintaining at least a minimum bend radius of a cable. The bend radius control device includes an arcuate member having a channel and at least one holding portion. The holding portion is configured to hold the bend radius device to one or more cables inserted therein, while the channel is configured to support the one or more cables. A grommet may be used to with the holding portions to aid the holding portion in holding one or more cables inserted in the bend radius control device. The arcuate member has a bend radius that is greater than or equal to the minimum bend radius of one or more cables inserted therein. The bend radius control device is similar in size to a number of cables inserted therein and may be used in a space saving environment.

Claims

1. A bend radius control apparatus comprising:

an arcuate member configured to define a cable pathway having a bend radius equal to or greater than a minimum bend radius of a fiber optic cable, wherein

said fiber optic cable comprises a core and a jacket, and

said arcuate member comprises

a first end and a second end;

a channel to receive said fiber optic cable defined between said first end and said second end of said arcuate member, and

at least one holding portion configured to hold said bend radius control apparatus to said fiber optic cable, said at least one holding portion comprising an insert configured to grip said fiber optic cable.

2. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one holding portion is formed from a flexible wall of said arcuate member.

3. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one holding portion comprises a slot defining an opening along a longitudinal side of said flexible wall.

4. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 3, wherein

a width of said opening defined by said slot is smaller than a diameter of said fiber optic cable,

said slot defining said opening along said longitudinal side of said flexible wall is configured to receive said fiber optic cable through said opening and to retain said fiber optic cable within said bend radius control apparatus once said fiber optic cable is received.

5. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one holding portion comprises a retaining member defining said slot.

6. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 5, wherein said retaining member comprises a plurality of wings.

7. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said insert comprises a grommet.

8. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 7, wherein

said grommet comprises a slot defining an opening along a longitudinal side of said grommet, and

said slot defining said opening along said longitudinal side of said grommet is configured to receive said fiber optic cable.

9. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 7, wherein said grommet comprises a compressible material.

10. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said bend radius control apparatus has a circumference substantially equal to a circumference of said fiber optic cable.

11. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said arcuate member comprises a cylindrical arcuate member.

12. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 4, wherein

said at least one holding portion comprises a first holding portion integral with said first end and a second holding portion integral with said second end.

13. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said arcuate member comprises a plastic material.

14. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a fastener coupled to an exterior surface of said arcuate member.

15. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 14, wherein said fastener comprises an adhesive backing.

16. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said bend radius control apparatus is attached to a printed circuit board.

17. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said bend radius control apparatus is attached to a patch panel.

18. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a fastener coupled to an exterior surface of said arcuate member at a distance from said first and second ends.

19. The bend radius control apparatus of claim 1, wherein said insert comprises a grommet.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a fiber optic cable;

an arcuate member coupled to said fiber optic cable and configured to define a cable pathway having a bend radius equal to or greater than a minimum bend radius of said fiber optic cable, wherein

said fiber optic cable comprises a core and a jacket, and

said arcuate member comprises;

a first end and a second end,

a channel to receive said fiber optic cable defined between said first end and said second end of said arcuate member, and

at least one holding portion configured to hold said arcuate member to said fiber optic cable, said at least one holding portion comprising an insert configured to grip said fiber optic cable.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said at least one holding portion is formed from a flexible wall of said arcuate member.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said at least one holding portion comprises a slot defining an opening along a longitudinal side of said flexible wall.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein

a width of said opening defined by said slot is smaller than a diameter of said fiber optic cable,

said slot defining said opening along said longitudinal side of said flexible wall is configured to receive said fiber optic cable through said opening and to retain said fiber optic cable within said arcuate member once said fiber optic cable is received.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said insert comprises a grommet.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein

said grommet comprises a slot defining an opening along a longitudinal side of said grommet, and

said slot defining said opening along said longitudinal side of said grommet is configured to receive said fiber optic cable.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said grommet comprises a compressible material.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a fastener coupled to an exterior surface of said arcuate member at a distance from said first and second ends.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said insert comprises a grommet.

29. A method comprising:

inserting a fiber optic cable within a bend radius control apparatus, wherein

said bend radius control apparatus comprises

an arcuate member configured to define a cable pathway having a bend radius equal to or greater than a minimum bend radius of said fiber optic cable, wherein

said fiber optic cable comprises a core and a jacket, and

said arcuate member comprises

a first end and a second end,

a channel to receive said fiber optic cable defined between said first end and said second end of said arcuate member, and

at least one holding portion comprising an insert configured to grip said fiber optic cable; and

holding said bend radius control apparatus to said fiber optic cable using said at least one holding portion.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said inserting comprises:

inserting said fiber optic cable in each of said at least one holding portion; and

inserting said fiber optic cable in said channel.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said inserting said fiber optic cable in said at least one holding portion comprises:

inserting said fiber optic cable through an opening in said at least one holding portion, said opening defined by a slot along a longitudinal side of said arcuate member.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein

said insert comprises a grommet, and

said inserting further comprises

inserting said fiber optic cable in said grommet.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

attaching said bend radius control apparatus to a surface.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

fastening said bend radius control apparatus to a substrate with a fastener at a distance from said first and second ends.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein said insert comprises a grommet.

36. An apparatus comprising:

means for controlling a bend radius of a fiber optic cable, wherein

said fiber optic cable comprises a core and a jacket, and

said means for controlling comprises

a first end and a second end,

means for supporting said fiber optic cable along a cable pathway having a bend radius equal to or greater than a minimum bend radius of said fiber optic cable,

means for gripping said fiber optic cable, and

means for receiving said means for gripping said fiber optic cable and for holding said apparatus to said fiber optic cable, and

means for fastening said means for controlling said bend radius of said fiber optic cable to a substrate.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein a portion of said means for receiving said means for gripping said fiber optic cable and for holding said apparatus to said fiber optic cable is formed from a flexible wall of said means for supporting said fiber optic cable.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said means for receiving said means for gripping said fiber optic cable and for holding said apparatus to said fiber optic cable comprises

means for defining an opening along a longitudinal side of said flexible wall.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein

a width of said opening is smaller than a diameter of said fiber optic cable, and

said means for defining said opening comprises

means for receiving said fiber optic cable through said opening, and

means for retaining said fiber optic cable within said apparatus once said fiber optic cable is received.

40. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said means for fastening is coupled to an exterior surface of said means for controlling at a distance from said first and second ends.

41. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said means for gripping said fiber optic cable comprises a grommet.