Cable guide for fiber optic cables

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9360649-B2
Application number	US-201313900520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2013
Priority date	May 22, 2013
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

A fiber optic cable guide may have an elongated base member that is curved along at least a portion of its length to define and limit the amount of curvature to be applied to a portion of a fiber optic cable while also defining the angular offset applied to the cable. The guide may be releasably attachable to a cable, and may include a cable retention member at each end of the base member that retains the cable with the guide.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fiber optic cable guide comprising:
an elongate support member for being disposed in a longitudinal direction of a fiber optic cable and configured for providing a radius of curvature to the fiber optic cable for changing a direction of the fiber optic cable, the elongate support member comprising a first body portion, and a second body portion separate from the first body portion and interconnectable with the first body portion to form the support member;
a band having a first end integral with the first body portion, a second end integral with the second body portion, and extending between and connecting the first body portion and the second body portion, wherein the band is configured to be disposed around the fiber optic cable to fasten the fiber optic cable to the support member upon interconnection of the first body portion with the second body portion; and
wherein the support member has a first end and a second end spaced apart longitudinally from the first end, the first end of the support member defining a first longitudinal axis, and at least a portion of the elongate support member being flexible between the first end and the second end to variably offset the second end at an angle with respect to the first longitudinal axis.

2. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 1 , wherein:
the band comprises a flexible, one-piece band configured for being wrapped around the fiber optic cable to position the first body portion adjacent the second body portion for interconnection of the first body portion with the second body portion.

3. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first body portion and the second body portion comprises at least one interlocking element for releasably interconnecting the first body portion with the second body portion.

4. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 2 , wherein:
the support member has a first end and a second end and a longitudinal direction extending between the first end and the second end; and
the first body portion and the second body portion comprise longitudinal, substantially mirror image halves of the support member.

5. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 2 , wherein:
each of the first body portion and the second body portion comprises a mating surface to be mated with the mating surface of the other of the first body portion and the second body portion to form the support member;
at least one of the first body portion and the second body portion comprises at least one interlocking element for releasably interconnecting the first body portion with the second body portion to retain the mating surfaces together; and
the flexible band is configured to be disposed around the fiber optic cable upon mating of the mating surfaces to fasten the fiber optic cable to the support member.

6. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 5 , wherein
each of the first body portion and the second body portion have a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end with the mating surface between the first and second ends;
the flexible band is integral with the first end of each of the first body portion and the second body portion for forming a first tubular retaining member for being disposed around a first portion of the fiber optic cable to fasten the first portion of the fiber optic cable to the support member; and
at least one of: the second end of the first body portion and the second end of the second body portion, comprises at least a portion of a second retaining member for being disposed around at least a portion of a second portion of the fiber optic cable spaced apart from the first portion of the fiber optic cable to fasten the second portion of the fiber optic cable to the support member.

7. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 6 , wherein the second end of the first body portion comprises a first half-tubular member, and the second end of the second body portion comprises a second half-tubular member, wherein the first half-tubular member and the second half-tubular member are configured to form a full tubular member as the second retaining member upon mating of the mating surfaces of the first body portion and the second body portion.

8. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 7 , wherein:
the first tubular retaining member defines a first axis;
the second tubular retaining member defines a second axis at an angle with respect to the first axis; and
the support member defines a radius of curvature between the first tubular retaining member and the second tubular retaining member, with the radius of curvature being greater than a minimum radius of curvature of the fiber optic cable to be curved by the fiber optic cable guide.

9. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 8 , wherein the at least one interlocking element comprises at least:
a first interlocking element disposed adjacent the first end of the first and second body portions; and
at least one second interlocking element disposed adjacent the second end of the first and second body portions.

10. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 9 , wherein:
the first half-tubular member has a first longitudinal edge at the second end of the first body portion and a second longitudinal edge away from the second end of the first body portion;
the second half-tubular member has a first longitudinal edge at the second end of the second body portion and a second longitudinal edge away from the second end of the second body portion;
the first interlocking element comprises a first clip disposed adjacent the first end of one of the first body portion and the second body portion and configured for releasably engaging the first end of the other of the first body portion and the second body portion; and
the at least one second interlocking element comprises:
a second clip disposed adjacent the second end of one of the first body portion and the second body portion and configured for releasably engaging the second end of the other of the first body portion and the second body portion; and
a third clip disposed adjacent the second longitudinal edge of one of the first half-tube member and the second half-tubular member and configured for releasably engaging the second longitudinal edge of the other of the first half-tube member and the second half-tubular member.

11. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 10 , wherein a fiber optic cable has a terminal end for being connected to a cable connector, the terminal end comprising a cable boot disposed around the fiber optic cable and having a first end disposed adjacent the terminal end of the fiber optic cable and a second end a distance away from the first end, the first end of the cable boot comprising a recessed channel for receiving the flexible band of the first tubular retaining member therein, and
the first tubular retaining member is configured for being disposed around the first end of the cable boot of the fiber optic cable in the recessed channel of the cable boot;
the second tubular retaining member is configured for being disposed around the fiber optic cable adjacent the second end of the cable boot;
the angle of the first axis with respect to the second axis is about 0° to about 90° ; and
the first body portion, the second body portion, the flexible band, the first and second half-tubular members, and the first, second and third clips are integrally molded as a unitary part.

12. The fiber optic cable guide of claim 1 , wherein:
each of first body portion and the second body portion has a first end at the first end of the support member, and a second end at the second end of the support member;
the first end of the band is integral with the first end of the f

Assignees

• Senko Advanced Components Inc

Inventors

• Chang Jimmy Jun-Fu

Classifications

• G02B6/4457

  Bobbins; Reels · CPC title

• G02B6/445

  with lateral pivoting cover · CPC title

• G02B6/4446

  Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables · CPC title

• G02B6/44528

  Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00) · CPC title

• G02B6/4478 Primary

  Bending relief means · CPC title