Fiber clamp with attachment accessory nub and receptacle

• US 9,810,872 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lish, David Frank, Toccalino, John, Segura, Ben Warren, Anthony, David, Villeneuve, Fabien
• Primary Examiner(s): Millner, Monica
• Application Number:
  US15/347,100
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 6/483 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 to a pole having a pole mount using an aerial drone, comprising:

a body;

a first clamp connector located at a first position on the body; and

a second clamp connector located at a second position on the body,

wherein the first clamp connector is adapted to connect with a drone connector secured to the aerial drone upon advancing the drone towards the first clamp connector, and

wherein the second clamp connector is adapted to connect with a pole-mount connector that is secured to the pole-mount upon advancing the drone and the second clamp connector towards the pole-mount connector.

2. The clamp of claim 1, the first clamp connector having a first longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a first plane that bisects the body, and the second clamp connector having a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a second plane that bisects the body, wherein the first plane and the second plane are the same plane.

3. The clamp of claim 1, the first clamp connector having a first longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a first plane that bisects the body, and the second clamp connector having a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a second plane that bisects the body, wherein the first axis and the second axis are the same axis.

4. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the second clamp connector has a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a second plane that bisects the body, wherein the second clamp connector is further adapted to connect with a third clamp connector of a second clamp by advancing the body along the second longitudinal axis of the second clamp connector towards the third clamp connector.

5. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the first clamp connector is a male type, and the second clamp connector is a female type that is compatible with the male type of the first clamp connector.

6. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the second clamp connector is connectable with the pole-mount connector by snap-fitting the second clamp connector to the pole-mount connector.

7. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the first clamp connector is connectable with the drone connector using one or more teeth.

8. The clamp recited in claim 1, wherein the first clamp connector is connectable with the drone connector by pressing the drone connector into the first clamp connector and activating a locking mechanism.

9. The clamp as recited in claim 1, the first clamp connector having a first longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a first plane that bisects the body, wherein the first longitudinal axis of the first clamp connector is parallel with the second longitudinal axis of the second clamp connector.

10. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the body has a circular cross-section.

11. 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.

12. The clamp as recited in claim 11, wherein when the two parts are in the closed position the two parts form a cylindrical shell.

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

a pole-mount attached to the pole comprising a pole-mount connector positioned on an outer portion of the pole-mount; and

a clamp comprising a body configured to accommodate the line, a first clamp connector positioned on a first portion of the body, and a second clamp connector positioned on a second portion of the body, wherein the second clamp connector connects with the pole-mount connector by aligning the second clamp connector with the pole-mount connector and moving the second clamp connector towards the pole-mount connector, and the first clamp connector connects with a drone connector that is secured to and moved by the aerial drone.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the pole-mount connector and the second clamp connector are connectable by pressing together the pole-mount connector and the second clamp connector.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first clamp connector is operable to actuate in a plane that includes a longitudinal axis of the first clamp connector.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the clamp further comprises a through-hole for accommodating the line, and wherein the first clamp connector is operable to actuate in a plane that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the through-hole.

17. A method for securing a clamp to a pole, the clamp configured to secure a line to the pole, the method comprising:

connecting an aerial drone to a clamp;

flying the aerial drone to the pole;

using the aerial drone to connect the clamp to the pole; and

detaching the aerial drone from the clamp.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising using the aerial drone to fly a pole-mount to the pole, the pole-mount configured to couple the clamp to the pole.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising using the aerial drone to tighten the pole-mount around the pole.