Stackable spool cable manager

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11891267-B2
Application number	US-202117545626-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2021
Priority date	Dec 8, 2020
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

A stackable spool cable manager assembly is disclosed which comprises a plurality of like cable manager spools. The cable manager spools comprise a locking mechanism such that the cable manager spools can be stacked and such that when locked together a cable support arm of each the cable manager spools is offset from the others. A magnet is also provided, for example for securing to a bottom ne of a stack of cable manager spools such that they can be secured to a metal tray or the like.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A stackable spool cable manager assembly for mounting on a surface manufactured from a ferrous material, comprising:
a plurality of like cable manager spools, each of the cable manager spools comprising:
a center portion comprising an outer surface, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface and a locking mechanism comprising a first part on the top surface and a second part in a bottom surface;
a support arm extending away from the center portion and comprising a cable support surface and an end stop attached to an outer end of the cable support surface;

a magnet;
wherein the center portion comprises a cylindrical outer surface, a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface in parallel to the top surface;
wherein the first part comprises a plurality of L shaped tabs extending from the too surface and spaced along a first path concentric with the cylindrical outer surface;
wherein the second part comprises a plurality of tab receiving slots in the bottom surface and spaced along a second path concentric with the cylindrical outer surface and in parallel to the first path;
wherein a lower one of the cable manager spools is secured to an adjacent upper one of the cable manager spools by inserting each of the L shaped labs of the lower cable manager spool into a respective one of the tab receiving slots of the upper cable manager spool and rotating the lower cable manager spool relative to the upper cable manager spool and such that each of the L shaped tabs of the lower cable manager spool is received into a respective one of the tab receiving slots of the upper cable manager spool and the bottom surface of the upper cable management spool is gripped by each of the L-shaped tabs;
wherein the support arm of each of the cable manager spools is positioned such that on securing of the lower cable manager spools to the upper cable manager spools, a support arm of the lower cable manager spools is offset from a support arm of the upper cable manager spool; and
wherein the magnet is positioned in a bottom of a bottom one of the plurality of cable manager spools and such that when positioned on the surface manufactured from the ferrous material, the magnet secures the plurality of like cable manager spools to the surface manufactured from the ferrous material.

2. The stackable spool cable manager assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the tab receiving slots comprises a wider slot part and a narrower slot part the wider slot part dimensioned for receiving an inserted one of the L shaped tabs and further wherein a lower one of the cable manager spools is secured to an adjacent upper one of the cable manager spools by inserting each of the tabs of the lower cable manager spool into a respective one of the wider slot parts of the upper cable management spool and rotating the lower cable manager spool relative to the upper cable manager spool and such that each of the L shaped tabs of the lower cable manager spool is received into a respective narrower slot part of the upper cable manager spool and bottom surface of upper cable management spool is gripped by each of L-shaped tabs.

3. The stackable spool cable manager assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an orifice in bottom surface for receiving the magnet.

4. The stackable spool cable manager assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an orifice in the bottom surface for receiving the magnet and wherein orifice is concentric with the cylindrical outer surface.

5. The stackable spool cable manager assembly of claim 4 , wherein the magnet is disk shaped and further wherein the orifice is annular.

6. The stackable spool cable manager assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support arm extends radially away from the center portion.

7. The stackable spool cable manager assembly of claim 1 , wherein an underside of the flat cable support surface lies substantially in the same plane as the bottom surface, and further comprising an elongate planar end stop, a lower long edge of the end stop attached to an outer end of the cable support surface and such that the planar end stop is at a right angle to the cable support surface.

8. The stackable spool cable manager assembly of claim 7 , wherein the elongate planar end stop is curved and further wherein a radius of curvature of the curved end stop is concentric with the said center portion.

9. The stackable spool cable manager assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a pair of like flat fingers extending away from an upper long edge of the end stop towards the center portion and such that a flat under side of each of the fingers is coplanar and in parallel to the cable support surface, each of the fingers positioned towards a respective end of the end stop.

10. The stackable spool cable manager assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a third substantially flat finger extending from the center portion and aligned radially with the flat cable support surface.

11. The stackable spool cable manager assembly of claim 10 , wherein an upper surface of the third flat finger lies in the same plane as flat top surface and an underside of the third flat finger is positioned opposite and in parallel to the cable support surface.

12. A cable manager spool, comprising:
a center portion comprising a cylindrical outer surface, a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface in parallel to the top surface, a locking mechanism comprising a first part on the top surface and a second part in the bottom surface, and an orifice in the bottom surface;
a support arm extending radially away from the center portion and comprising a flat cable support surface wherein an underside of the flat cable support surface lies substantially in the same plane as the bottom surface, and further comprising an end stop, a lower long edge of the end stop attached to an outer end of the cable support surface and such that the planar end stop is at a right angle to the cable support surface and at least one flat finger extending away from an upper long edge end stop towards the center portion and such that a flat under side of the at least one finger is coplanar and in parallel to the cable support surface; and
a magnet dimensioned to fit within the orifice.

13. The cable manager spool of claim 12 , wherein the first comprises wherein the first part comprises a plurality of L shaped tabs extending from the top surface and spaced along a first path concentric with the cylindrical outer surface and a corresponding plurality of tab receiving slots in the bottom surface and spaced along a second path concentric with the cylindrical outer surface and in parallel to the first path and such that when the cable manager spool is secured to a like cable manager spool the support arm is offset from a the like cable manager spool.

14. The cable manager spool of claim 13 , wherein the cable manager spool is secured to the like cable manager spool by inserting each of the L shaped tabs into respective tab receiving slots of the like cable manager spool and rotating the cable manager spool relative to the like cable manager spool and such that each of the L shaped tabs of the cable manager spool is received into a respective one of the tab receiving slots of the like cable manager spool and a bottom surface of the like cable manager spool is gripped by each of the L-shaped tabs.

15. The cable manager spool of claim 14 , wherein each of the tab receiving slots comprises a wider slot part and a narrower slot part, the wider slot part dimensioned for receiving an inserted one of the L shaped tabs and further wherein the cable manager spool is secured to the like cab

Assignees

• Belden Canada Ulc

Inventors

• Roa-Quispe Christian
• Lazarte Barrios Oscar Alberto

Classifications

• B65H75/2272 Primary

  releasably connected by relative rotatable movement of parts, e.g. threaded or bayonet fit · CPC title

• B65H75/24

  adjustable in configuration, e.g. expansible · CPC title

• B65H2402/10

  Modular constructions, e.g. using preformed elements or profiles · CPC title

• B65H75/446 Primary

  for releasably or permanently attaching the frame to a wall, on a floor or on a post or the like · CPC title

• B65H2701/534

  Stackable or interlockable reels or parts of reels · CPC title