Cable restraint

• US 8,494,335 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Calix Incorporated
• Inventors: Khadar, Ahmed Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): KIANNI, KAVEH C
• Application Number:
  US12/892,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20120076467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 385/137, 385/136
• US Class Current: 385/137
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/007 Devices for relieving mechanical stress
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3936 Pivoted part

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed that restrain cables in order to relieve excessive tensile force and to prevent breakage at a point of termination. In one example, a system includes a clip and a receiver configured to receive the clip. The clip includes a first member and a second member pivotally connected to each other by a hinge, the hinge located intermediate opposed ends of the first member and the second member, the hinge defining a groove for receiving a first portion of the cable.

Claims

1. A system for restraining a cable, the system comprising:

a clip comprising a first member and a second member pivotally connected to each other by a hinge, the hinge located intermediate opposed ends of the first member and the second member, the hinge defining a groove for receiving a first portion of the cable; and

a receiver configured to receive the clip, wherein the receiver includes a surface defining a curvature, and wherein the curvature of the surface is configured to ensure that, upon engagement of the cable with the surface, a minimum bend radius of the cable is not exceeded.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first member defines a first protrusion and the second member defines a second protrusion, and wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion secure against removing the clip upward from the receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover that joins the receiver to at least partially enclose the clip.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the groove defined by the hinge is a first groove, and wherein the receiver defines a second groove and a third groove for receiving a second portion and a third portion of the cable, respectively.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the receiver defines an aperture, and wherein the aperture is configured to receive the first member and the second member.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the receiver comprises a dividing member that divides the aperture into a first aperture and a second aperture, and wherein the first aperture receives the first member and the second aperture receives the second member.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable is an optical fiber cable.

8. A method comprising:

inserting a portion of a cable into a groove defined by a hinge of a clip, wherein the clip comprises a first member and a second member pivotally connected to each other by the hinge, the hinge located at intermediate opposed ends of the first member and the second member, the hinge defining the groove for receiving the portion of the cable; and

inserting the clip into a receiver, wherein the receiver includes a surface defining a curvature, and wherein the curvature of the surface ensures that, upon engagement of the cable with the surface, a minimum bend radius of the cable is not exceeded.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the portion is a first portion, wherein the groove is a first groove, and wherein inserting the clip into the receiver further comprises:

inserting a second portion of the cable into a second groove defined by the receiver and a third portion of the cable into a third groove defined by the receiver.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein inserting the clip into the receiver comprises:

inserting the first member and the second member into an aperture defined by the receiver.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiver comprises a dividing member that divides the aperture into a first aperture and a second aperture, and wherein inserting the first member and the second member into the aperture defined by the receiver comprises:

inserting the first member into the first aperture and the second member into the second aperture.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

joining a cover and the receiver to at least partially enclose the clip.