Optical cable exit trough

• US 8,965,169 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Haataja, Timothy Jon, Kampf, Thomas Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Uyen Chau N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bedtelyon, John M
• Application Number:
  US12/148,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20080199141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-137
• US Class Current: 385/136
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0437 Channels
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0608 Joints for connecting non cylindrical conduits, e.g. channels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A cable exit trough is mountable to a lateral trough section either during initial assembly of the cable routing system, or at a later date. The exit trough includes a bracket portion mountable to the top edge of one of the sides of the lateral trough section. Two lead-ins are provided to lead the cable in an upward direction from the lateral trough section to the exit trough. The exit trough includes an exit trough portion extending from the bracket portion upwardly away from the lateral trough section. The exit trough portion includes a convexly curved bottom trough surface, and two convexly curved upstanding sides. The exit trough portion and the lead-ins define a cable pathway from the lateral trough section to an exit point of the exit trough portion which can either lead downwardly relative to the lateral trough section, or horizontally.

Claims

1. A cable routing system comprising:

a lateral trough section having a first upstanding side, a second upstanding side and a bottom extending therebetween, the first upstanding side having a substantially uniform height and terminating at a top edge, wherein the lateral trough section has a substantially uniform cross-section between a first end and a second end, and wherein the lateral trough section defines a cable pathway;

a cable exit assembly having a cable exit component releasably mounted to the lateral trough section adjacent the first upstanding side between the first end and the second end and, without cutting the first upstanding side of the lateral trough section and without engaging the second upstanding side, the cable exit component including a cable supporting surface that defines a cable exit pathway for routing a plurality of cables, the cable exit pathway extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cable pathway, the cable supporting surface beginning substantially parallel to the first upstanding side and including a convexly curved portion being curved so as not to violate a minimum cable bend radius, the convexly curved portion including a first curved portion leading upwardly and perpendicularly with respect to the lateral trough section and extending to an apex, and a second curved portion leading from the apex downwardly with respect to the lateral trough section, wherein the apex is laterally offset from the lateral trough section, the cable exit component including a downspout, wherein the cable exit pathway links the lateral trough section to the downspout so that cables can be routed upwardly from the lateral trough section, over the top edge of the first upstanding side, and then downwardly through the downspout.

2. The cable routing system of claim 1, wherein the cable exit assembly includes two side surfaces positioned adjacent opposite side portions of the curved cable supporting surface.

3. The cable routing system of claim 2, wherein each of the two side surfaces includes a curved portion facing the cable exit pathway.

4. The cable routing system of claim 2, wherein each of the side surfaces is integrally formed with the cable supporting surface.

5. The cable routing system of claim 2, wherein each of the side surfaces extends along at least one of the first and second curved portions of the cable supporting surface adjacent to the side portion of the cable supporting surface.

6. The cable routing system of claim 1, wherein the cable exit component is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section at least in part using a bracket.

7. The cable routing system of claim 6, wherein the cable exit assembly is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section using the bracket and at least one fastener.

8. The cable routing system of claim 6, wherein the bracket is integrally formed on the cable exit component and engages the first upstanding side of the lateral trough section.

9. The cable routing system of claim 1 wherein the cable exit component is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section using a bracket that engages an outside portion of the lateral trough section.

10. A cable routing system, comprising:

a lateral trough section defining a cable pathway, the lateral trough section including a first upstanding side and a second upstanding side, the first upstanding side having a substantially uniform height and terminating at a top edge;

a cable exit assembly having a cable exit component releasably mounted to the lateral trough section without cutting the top edge and without engaging the second upstanding side, the cable exit component including a curved bottom surface that defines a cable exit pathway for routing a plurality of cables, the bottom surface being curved so as not to violate a minimum cable bend radius, the bottom surface beginning substantially parallel to the upstanding side and including a first curved portion leading convexly upwardly as the first portion extends in a perpendicular direction away from the lateral trough section, and a second curved portion leading downwardly with respect to the lateral trough section as the second portion extends in a perpendicular direction away from the lateral trough section, and wherein the bottom surface includes an apex positioned above the top edge and laterally offset from the lateral trough section, the cable exit assembly including two sidewalls positioned adjacent opposite sides of at least a portion of the bottom surface, wherein a cable passes over the top edge of the first upstanding side when routed in the cable exit pathway.

11. The cable routing system of claim 10, wherein the cable exit component includes a downspout, wherein the cable exit pathway links the lateral trough section to the downspout.

12. The cable routing system of claim 10, wherein each of the two sidewalls includes a curved portion facing the cable exit pathway.

13. The cable routing system of claim 10, wherein each of the sidewalls is integrally formed with the bottom surface.

14. The cable routing system of claim 10, wherein each of the sidewalls extends along at least one of the first and second curved portions of the bottom surface adjacent to the side of the portion of the bottom surface.

15. The cable routing system of claim 10, wherein the cable exit component is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section at least in part using a bracket.

16. The cable routing system of claim 15, wherein the cable exit assembly is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section using the bracket and at least one fastener.

17. The cable routing system of claim 15, wherein the bracket is integrally formed on the cable exit component and engages the first upstanding side of the lateral trough section.

18. The cable routing system of claim 10 wherein the cable exit component is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section using a bracket that engages an outside portion of the lateral trough section.

19. A cable routing system, comprising:

a lateral trough section having a first upstanding side and a second upstanding side, the first upstanding side being substantially straight and having a substantially uniform height that terminates at a top edge;

a cable exit component releasably mounted to the lateral trough section without cutting the first upstanding side and without cutting the second upstanding side, wherein when mounted to the lateral trough section the cable exit component is adjacent the first upstanding side and spaced apart from the second upstanding side, the cable exit component including a curved cable supporting surface that defines a cable exit pathway for routing a plurality of cables, the curved cable supporting surface beginning substantially parallel to the upstanding side and extending in a perpendicular direction away from the lateral trough section, the cable supporting surface being curved so as not to violate a minimum cable bend radius, the cable supporting surface including a first curved portion leading convexly upwardly with respect to the lateral trough section, and a second curved portion leading downwardly with respect to the lateral trough section, the cable exit component including a downspout, wherein the cable exit pathway links the lateral trough section to the downspout so that cables can be routed upwardly from the lateral trough section, over the top edge of the first upstanding side, and then downwardly through the downspout.

20. The cable routing system of claim 19, wherein the cable exit component includes two side surfaces positioned adjacent opposite side portions of the curved cable supporting surface.

21. The cable routing system of claim 20, wherein each of the two side surfaces includes a curved portion facing the cable exit pathway.

22. The cable routing system of claim 20, wherein each of the side surfaces is integrally formed with the cable supporting surface.

23. The cable routing system of claim 20, wherein each of the side surfaces extends along at least one of the first and second curved portions of the cable supporting surface adjacent to the side portion of the cable supporting surface.

24. The cable routing system of claim 19, wherein the cable exit component is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section at least in part using a bracket.

25. The cable routing system of claim 24, wherein the cable exit component is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section using the bracket and at least one fastener.

26. The cable routing system of claim 24, wherein the bracket is integrally formed on the cable exit component and engages the first upstanding side of the lateral trough section.

27. The cable routing system of claim 19 wherein the cable exit component is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section using a bracket that engages an outside portion of the lateral trough section.

28. A cable routing system, comprising:

a lateral trough section having a first upstanding side, a second upstanding side and a bottom extending therebetween, the first upstanding side having a substantially uniform height and terminating at a top edge;

a cable exit assembly having a cable exit component releasably mounted to the lateral trough section adjacent the first upstanding side without cutting the first upstanding side of the lateral trough section using a bracket that includes an outer arm engaging an outer surface of the lateral trough section, the cable exit component including a convexly curved cable supporting surface that defines a cable exit pathway for routing a plurality of cables, wherein the cable exit pathway extends from the lateral trough section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first upstanding side, the cable supporting surface being curved so as not to violate a minimum cable bend radius, the cable supporting surface including a first convexly curved cable supporting portion leading upwardly with respect to the first upstanding side to an apex positioned above the top edge and laterally offset from the lateral trough section, and a second convexly curved cable supporting portion leading downwardly with respect to the first upstanding side, the second convexly curved cable supporting portion extending from the apex in a direction away from the first curved portion, wherein the convexly curved cable supporting surface defines an approximately 180 degree transition that guides cables in a direction away from the lateral trough section, the cable exit component including a downspout, wherein the cable exit pathway links the lateral trough section to the downspout so that cables can be routed upwardly from the lateral trough section, over the top edge of the first upstanding side, and then downwardly through the downspout.

29. The cable routing system of claim 28, wherein the cable exit assembly includes two side surfaces positioned adjacent opposite side portions of the curved cable supporting surface.

30. The cable routing system of claim 29, wherein each of the side surfaces is integrally formed with the cable supporting surface.

31. The cable routing system of claim 28, wherein the outer arm receives a fastener.

32. The cable routing system of claim 28, wherein the bracket is integrally formed with the cable exit component.

33. The cable routing system of claim 28, wherein the bracket includes an inner arm opposite the outer arm engaging an inside surface of the first upstanding side.

34. The cable routing system of claim 28 wherein the cable exit component is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section without engaging the second upstanding side.

35. A cable routing system, comprising:

a lateral trough section having a first upstanding side, a second upstanding side and a bottom extending therebetween, the first upstanding side having a substantially uniform height and terminating at a top edge;

a cable exit assembly having a cable exit component releasably mounted to the lateral trough section adjacent the first upstanding side without cutting the first upstanding side of the lateral trough section using a bracket that engages an outside portion of the lateral trough section, the cable exit component including a curved cable supporting surface that defines a cable exit pathway for routing a plurality of cables, the cable supporting surface being curved so as not to violate a minimum cable bend radius, the cable supporting surface including a first curved portion leading upwardly with respect to the first upstanding side, and a second curved portion leading downwardly with respect to the first upstanding side, and wherein the first and second curved portions both lead away from the first upstanding side in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lateral trough section and together define an approximately 180 degree transition that guide cables in a direction away from the lateral trough section, the cable exit component including a downspout, wherein the cable exit pathway links the lateral trough section to the downspout so that cables can be routed upwardly from the lateral trough section, over the top edge of the first upstanding side, and then downwardly through the downspout.

36. The cable routing system of claim 35, wherein the cable exit assembly includes two side surfaces positioned adjacent opposite side portions of the curved cable supporting surface.

37. The cable routing system of claim 36, wherein each of the two side surfaces includes a curved portion facing the cable exit pathway.

38. The cable routing system of claim 36, wherein each of the side surfaces is integrally formed with the cable supporting surface.

39. The cable routing system of claim 35, wherein the bracket receives a fastener.

40. The cable routing system of claim 35, wherein the bracket is integrally formed with the cable exit component.

41. The cable routing system of claim 35, wherein the bracket engages an inside portion of the first upstanding side.

42. The cable routing system of claim 35 wherein the cable exit component is releasably mounted to the lateral trough section without engaging the second upstanding side.