Apparatus for routing cable across housing

• US 8,020,813 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clark, Joseph R., Kirkpatrick, David Wayne, Herrmann, Gregory Lucius
• Primary Examiner(s): McKinnon; Terrell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breslin; Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US12/508,809
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 248/49, 248/74.1, 248/74.2, 385/135, 439/528
• US Class Current: 248/74.2
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/00 Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/045 provided with perforations or slots permitting introduction or exit of wires

Abstract

A system for routing fiber optic cable includes a hinged housing, a cable storage device connected to a first portion of the housing, and a cable guide. The cable guide includes a flexible strap having a first end connected to the cable storage device and an opposite second end coupled to a second portion of the housing. The cable guide includes a first sidewall extending upwardly from a first side of the flexible strap and a second sidewall extending upwardly from an opposite second side of the flexible strap. The cable guide defines a channel configured for receiving a cable.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a housing having a first portion with an interiorly disposed surface and a second portion hingedly connected to said first portion, wherein said first portion and said second portion are configured to pivot about an axis of rotation;

a cable storage device having a base portion and an upper end portion, wherein the cable storage device is configured to retain a cable and is connected to said interiorly disposed surface of said first portion such that said base portion of said cable storage device is secured to said interiorly disposed surface of said first portion and said upper end portion of said cable storage device extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said interiorly disposed surface of said first portion; and

a cable guide including a flexible strap having a first end portion connected to said cable storage device and an opposite second end portion coupled to said second portion of said housing, wherein said flexible strap is configured to restrain said cable guide from exceeding a predetermined maximum curvature, said cable guide including a first sidewall extending upwardly from a first side edge of said flexible strap and a second sidewall extending upwardly from an opposite second side edge of said flexible strap, said first sidewall and said second sidewall of said cable guide defining a channel configured to receive a cable.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said cable storage device includes a plate and a plurality of guide walls extending outwardly from said plate and spaced about a central portion of said plate, said plurality of guide walls configured to retain a portion of the cable in a coil about said central portion.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said cable guide is reconfigurable between a first orientation when said first and second portions of said housing are in an open position, and a second orientation when said first and second portions of said housing are in a closed position.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said cable guide comprises a first substantially curved orientation with a first radius of curvature in said first substantially curved orientation, and a second substantially curved orientation with a second radius of curvature less than said first radius of curvature in said second substantially curved orientation.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said cable guide has a W-shaped configuration in said second orientation.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first sidewall comprises a first plurality of ribs, and said second sidewall comprises a second plurality of ribs, said first plurality of ribs staggered from said second plurality of ribs.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first and second pluralities of ribs and said flexible strap are integrally formed.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein each rib of said first and second pluralities of ribs has an inverted L-shaped configuration.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said cable guide extends outwardly from said cable storage device in a direction substantially transverse to said axis of rotation about which said first and second portions of said housing pivot.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said cable guide includes at least one latch extending outwardly from said first end of said flexible strap, said latch secured within a corresponding opening in said base portion of said cable storage device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said cable guide includes a first plurality of latches extending outwardly from said first end of said flexible strap and secured within corresponding openings in said base portion, and a second plurality of latches extending outwardly from said second end of said flexible strap and secured within corresponding openings of said second portion of said housing.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said first portion of said housing is pivotal relative to said second portion of said housing about an axis substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said channel.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a housing having a first portion with a first interiorly disposed surface and a second portion hingedly connected to said first portion with a second interiorly disposed surface, wherein said first portion and said second portion are configured to pivot about an axis of rotation;

a flexible strap having opposing first and second opposite ends and opposing first and second opposite sides;

a first connection mechanism disposed on said first end of said flexible strap, said first connection mechanism configured to secure said first end to said first portion of said housing by mating with a corresponding opening in said first interiorly disposed surface of said first portion of said housing;

a second connection mechanism disposed on said second end of said flexible strap, said second connection mechanism configured to secure said second end to said second portion of said housing by mating with a corresponding opening in said second interiorly disposed surface of said second portion of said housing;

a first plurality of ribs extending upwardly from said first side of said flexible strap and integrally formed with said flexible strap; and

a second plurality of ribs extending upwardly from said second side of said flexible strap and integrally formed with said first plurality of ribs and said flexible strap, said flexible strap and said first and second plurality of ribs defining a channel configured to releaseably retain a cable therethrough.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first connection mechanism includes at least one latch extending outwardly from said first end of said flexible strap, said at least one latch securable within a corresponding opening in a component disposed within said first portion of said housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a cable storage device having a base portion and an upper end portion, wherein the cable storage device is connected to said first interiorly disposed surface of said first portion such that said base portion of said cable storage device is secured to said first interiorly disposed surface of said first portion and said upper end portion of said cable storage device extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first interiorly disposed surface of said first portion, wherein said first end of said flexible strap is secured to said cable storage device via said first connection mechanism.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said cable storage device includes a plate and a plurality of guide walls extending outwardly from said plate, said plurality of guide walls spaced about a central portion of said plate and configured to retain a portion of the cable in a coil about said central portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first plurality of ribs is staggered from said second plurality of ribs.

18. A method comprising:

securing a first end of a cable guide to a cable storage device, the cable guide defining a channel for receiving a cable;

securing the cable storage device to a first interiorly disposed surface of a first portion of a housing, the first portion hingedly connected to a second portion of the housing such that the cable storage device extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first interiorly disposed surface;

securing a second end of the cable guide to a second interiorly disposed surface of the second portion of the housing; and

inserting a cable into the channel so that a first end portion of the cable extends outwardly from the first end of the cable guide and a second end portion of the cable extends outwardly from the second end of the cable guide.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising coiling a portion of the first end portion of the cable about guide walls provided on the cable storage device, thereby decreasing a length of uncoiled cable.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising reconfiguring the cable guide from a first orientation to a second orientation by pivoting the first and second portions of the housing from an open position to a closed position.