Fiber clamp with attachment accessory nub and receptacle

• US 9,517,564 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lish, David Frank, Toccalino, John, Segura, Ben Warren, Anthony, David, Villeneuve, Fabien
• Primary Examiner(s): Millner, Monica
• Application Number:
  US14/583,919
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1075 with two members, the two members being joined with a hinge on one side and fastened together on the other side
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4422 of the overhead type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44785 Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/483 Installation of aerial type
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/40 with arrangements for facilitating mounting or securing

Abstract

Technology for securing a line, such as a fiber optic line, to a structure, such as a utility pole. In one aspect, a clamp is provided. The clamp includes a body, a first nub located at a first position on the body, and a first receptacle located at a second position on the body, wherein the first receptacle is connectable with a second nub that is secured to a pole-mount, and the first nub is connectable with a second receptacle that is secured to an aerial drone.

Claims

1. A clamp for securing a line having a pole mount, using an aerial drone, comprising:

a body;

a first nub extending from a first position on the body, the first nub having a first longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a first plane that bisects the body; and

a first receptacle located at a second position on the body, the first receptacle having a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a second plane that bisects the body,

wherein the first receptacle connects with a second nub that is secured to the pole-mount by advancing the body along the second longitudinal axis of the first receptacle towards the second nub, and

wherein the first nub connects with a second receptacle that is secured to the aerial drone that is configured to advance the second receptacle along the first longitudinal axis towards the first nub.

2. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the first nub is a male type, and the first receptacle is a female type that is compatible with the male type of the first nub.

3. The clamp as recited in claim 2, wherein the first nub is connectable with an other receptacle of the female type by pressing together the first nub and the other receptacle.

4. The clamp as recited in claim 2, wherein the first nub is connectable with an other receptacle of the female type by snap-fitting the first nub to the other receptacle.

5. The clamp as recited in claim 2, wherein the first nub is connectable with an other receptacle of the female type and the other receptacle comprises one or more teeth for engaging the first nub.

6. The clamp recited in claim 2, wherein the first nub is connectable with an other receptacle of the female type by pressing together the first nub and the other receptacle and activating a locking mechanism.

7. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the first nub and the second nub are a male type, and the first receptacle and the second receptacle are a female type that is compatible with the male type.

8. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the first position and the second position are located on opposite sides of a plane bisecting the clamp.

9. The clamp as recited in claim 8, wherein the first longitudinal axis of the first nub is parallel with the second longitudinal axis of the first receptacle.

10. The clamp as recited in claim 9, wherein the body is cylindrically shaped.

11. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the first nub is operable to actuate in a third plane that includes the first longitudinal axis of the first nub.

12. The clamp as recited in claim 11, wherein the clamp further comprises a through-hole for accommodating the line, and wherein the first nub is operable to actuate in a fourth plane that is parallel to a third longitudinal axis of the through-hole.

13. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the first receptacle is operable to actuate in a fifth plane that includes the second longitudinal axis of the first receptacle.

14. The clamp as recited in claim 13, wherein the clamp further comprises a through-hole for accommodating the line, and wherein the receptacle is operable to actuate in a fourth plane that is parallel to a third longitudinal axis of the through-hole.

15. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the body comprises two parts that are hinged together, the two parts being configurable in an open position for insertion of the line and a closed position for securing the line.

16. The clamp as recited in claim 15, wherein when the two parts are in the closed position the two parts form a cylindrical shell.

17. A system for securing a line to a pole using an aerial drone, comprising:

a pole-mount attached to the pole comprising a first nub, the first nub having a first longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a first plane that includes at least one of a longitudinal axis of the pole or a longitudinal axis of the line; and

a clamp comprising a body, a receptacle, and a second nub, the receptacle having a second longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to a second plane that bisects the body, the receptacle connects with the first nub by aligning the first longitudinal axis with the second longitudinal axis and moving at least one of the receptacle or the first nub towards one another, and the second nub connects with a second receptacle that is secured to and moved by the aerial drone.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the first nub is a male type, and the receptacle is a female type that is connectable with the first nub.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the first nub and the receptacle are connectable by pressing together the first nub and the receptacle.

20. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the receptacle is operable to actuate in a plane that includes the second longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

21. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the clamp further comprises a through-hole for accommodating the line, and wherein the receptacle is operable to actuate in a plane that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the through-hole.

22. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the second nub is a male type, the second receptacle is a female type, and the second nub and second receptacle are connectable by pressing together the second nub and the second receptacle.

23. A method for securing a line to a pole, comprising using an aerial drone to fly a clamp to the pole and to connect the clamp to the pole wherein using an aerial drone comprises using the aerial drone to fly a pole-mount to a desired position on the pole and tighten the pole-mount to the pole, and wherein connecting the clamp to the pole comprises connecting the clamp to the pole-mount.