U.S. patent application number 11/623874 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-17 for drop cable wall entry guide assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Multilink, Inc.. Invention is credited to Steven E. Kaplan.
Application Number | 20080169374 11/623874 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39617022 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080169374 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kaplan; Steven E. |
July 17, 2008 |
DROP CABLE WALL ENTRY GUIDE ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A drop cable wall entry guide assembly includes a base having a
generally arch shaped track for maintaining a minimum bend radius
in a cable extending along a wall structure and at least part way
around the track for entry of the cable into a hole in the wall
structure at substantially 90.degree. relative to the wall
structure without kinking. A cover closely surrounds the track
except for a cable entry portion of the track which is accessible
through an opening in an upstream end portion of the cover.
Inventors: |
Kaplan; Steven E.; (Elyria,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RENNER OTTO BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
1621 EUCLID AVENUE, NINETEENTH FLOOR
CLEVELAND
OH
44115
US
|
Assignee: |
Multilink, Inc.
Elyria
OH
|
Family ID: |
39617022 |
Appl. No.: |
11/623874 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/615.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 57/04 20130101;
H02G 3/0608 20130101; H02G 3/0431 20130101; B65H 2701/34
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/615.4 |
International
Class: |
B65H 57/04 20060101
B65H057/04 |
Claims
1. A drop cable wall entry guide assembly comprising a base and a
cover, the base having a generally arch shaped track for
maintaining a minimum bend radius in a cable when the base is
attached to an outer wall structure with an exit end portion of the
track in substantial alignment with a hole to be formed in the wall
structure and the cable extends along the wall structure and at
least part way around the track for entry of the cable into the
hole at substantially 90.degree. relative to the wall structure
without kinking.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover closely surrounds the
track except for a cable entry portion of the track which is
accessible through an opening in an upstream end portion of the
cover.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the upstream end portion of the
cover is channel shaped for receipt of an end portion of a raceway
that is mountable on the wall structure for enclosing the cable
leading into the assembly.
4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the cover has an inner wall
portion that overlies the track up to the channel shaped upstream
end portion of the cover.
5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the channel shaped upstream end
portion of the cover has a reversely curved inner wall portion that
blends with an arcuate shaped inner wall portion of the cover to
permit the cable to enter the track at a gradual outward inclined
angle.
6. The assembly of claim 3 wherein a downstream end portion of the
cover has a snap fit with the base adjacent the exit end portion of
the track.
7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the channel shaped upstream end
portion of the cover has a snap fit with the end portion of the
raceway that is received therewithin.
8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the track has outwardly
extending, laterally spaced side walls for guiding the cable at
least part way around the track.
9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the exit end portion of the
track has a flange extending axially outwardly therefrom for use in
securing the base to the wall structure, the flange having a slot
extending therethrough in substantial alignment with the exit end
portion of the track for passage of the cable through the slot and
into a hole in the wall structure.
10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the flange has at least one
aperture in spaced relation from the slot for receipt of a fastener
for securing the flange to the wall structure.
11. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising another flange
extending axially outwardly from an upstream end portion of the
base for use in securing the upstream end portion of the base to
the wall structure.
12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the another flange has at
least one aperture for receipt of a fastener for securing the
another flange to the wall structure.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to a drop cable wall entry
guide assembly for use in maintaining a minimum bend radius of a
cable where the cable enters a wall structure of a multiple
dwelling unit through a hole in the wall structure at substantially
90.degree. relative to the wall structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Whenever a network or broadband service provider is called
upon to provide broadband service to one or more multiple dwelling
units of an apartment or condominium building or commercial
business or the like, individual lengths of cable may be run from a
main multiple dwelling unit box located for example on the outside
of the building or in a closet or stairwell or other convenient
location in the building to each of the units through suitable
raceways attachable to the building wall structure. Cable access to
each of the units is made by punching or otherwise forming a hole
through an outer wall structure of the units to permit the desired
amount of cable to be fished through the hole or dropped down
inside the wall to a box in the units where the broadband
connection is to be made. When doing this, care must be taken to
prevent kinking of the cable where the cable enters the wall
structure at substantially 90.degree. relative to the wall
structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a drop cable wall entry
guide assembly that maintains a minimum bend radius in the cable
where the cable makes a substantially 90.degree. entry into a
multiple dwelling unit relative to an outer wall structure of the
unit through a hole in the wall structure to prevent kinking of the
cable.
[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the guide
assembly includes a base having a generally arch shaped track for
maintaining a minimum bend radius of the cable when the base is
attached to the outer wall structure with an exit end portion of
the track in substantial alignment with a hole formed in the wall
structure and the cable extends along the wall structure and at
least part way around the track for entry of the cable into the
hole at substantially 90.degree. relative to the wall structure
without kinking.
[0005] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
cover is shaped to closely surround the track except for a cable
entry portion of the track which is accessible through an opening
in an upstream end portion of the cover.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
upstream end portion of the cover is channel shaped for receipt of
an end portion of a raceway that is mountable on the wall structure
for enclosing the cable leading into the guide assembly.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
channel shaped upstream end portion of the cover has a reversely
curved inner wall portion that blends with an arcuate shaped inner
wall portion of the cover to permit the cable to enter the track at
a gradual outward inclined angle.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
downstream end port on of the cover may have a snap fit with the
base adjacent an exit end port on of the track, and the channel
shaped upstream end portion of the cover may have a snap fit with
the end portion of the raceway that is received therewithin.
[0009] These and other objects, advantages, features and aspects of
the present invention will become apparent as the following
description proceeds.
[0010] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the
invention, there, comprises the features hereinafter more fully
described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following
description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a
certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being
indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the
principles of the invention may be employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the annexed drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of drop cable wall
entry guide assembly of the present invention shown mounted on an
outer wall structure of an apartment or condominium of a multiple
dwelling unit for maintaining a minimum bend radius of a cable
where the cable makes a substantially 90.degree. entry to the unit
through a hole in the wall structure.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the guide assembly
of FIG. 1 showing how the guide assembly maintains the minimum bend
radius of the cable.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the guide assembly of FIG. 1
as seen from the bottom side of the assembly.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the guide assembly
as seen in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein the
same reference numerals are used to designate like parts, and
initially to FIG. 1, there is shown one form of drop cable wall
entry guide assembly 1 of the present invention mounted on an outer
wall structure 2 of an apartment or condominium or commercial
business of a multiple dwelling unit at a desired entry point for
running cable C into the unit to provide network or broadband cable
service to the unit. Individual lengths of the cable may be run
from a main multiple dwelling unit box (not shown) located for
example on the outside of the building or in a closet or stairwell
or other convenient location in the building to each of the units
through suitable raceways 3 that may be attached to the outer wall
structure in any convenient manner, for example, using a suitable
adhesive or fasteners or the like. FIG. 1 shows an end portion 4 of
one raceway 3 extending into an opening 5 in a channel shaped
upstream end portion 6 of the cover portion 7 of the guide
assembly. Such guide assembly 1 is used to maintain a minimum bend
radius in the cable C where it makes a substantially 90.degree.
entry into the unit relative to the wall structure 2 through a hole
8 in the wall structure 2 (see FIG. 2) to prevent kinking of the
cable at the entry point as described hereafter.
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, guide assembly 1 includes, in
addition to the cover 7, a base 10 having a generally arch shaped
track 11 with outwardly extending, laterally spaced side walls 12
for guiding the cable C at least part way around the track. As can
be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, cover 7 includes an inner wall portion 15
that closely surrounds track 11 up to the channel shaped upstream
end portion 6. At that point a reversely curved inner wall portion
16 of the channel shaped upstream end portion 6 of the cover blends
with an arcuate shaped inner wall end portion 17 of the cover to
permit the cable C to enter the track 11 at a gradual outward
inclined angle (see FIGS. 2 and 3) to prevent kinking of the cable
as it extends up onto the track.
[0018] Extending axially outwardly from opposite ends of the base
10 are a pair of oppositely facing flanges 21, 22 for mounting the
base on the wall structure 2 using, for example, a suitable
adhesive or suitable fasteners (not shown) extending through one or
more holes 23, 23' in the respective flanges. A slot 24 is provided
in flange 21 in substantial alignment with the exit end portion 25
of the track 11. This allows for passage of the cable C through the
slot 24 and into a hole 8 punched or otherwise formed in the outer
wall structure in alignment with the slot as shown in FIG. 2 to
permit a desired amount of the cable to be fished through the hole
or dropped down inside the wall structure to a box in the unit
wherever the broadband connection is to be made. Any mounting holes
23 in flange 21 need to be located in spaced relation from the slot
24.
[0019] Cover 7 may be secured to base 10 and to raceway 3 in any
suitable manner, for example, by providing opposed ribs 26 and 27
on the downstream end portion 28 of the cover and base adjacent the
exit end portion 25 of the track and additional opposed ribs 29 and
30 on the channel shaped upstream end portion 6 of the cover and
end portion 4 of the raceway 3 that is received therewithin to
provide a snap fit therebetween.
[0020] Although the invention has been shown and described with
respect to a certain embodiment, it is obvious that equivalent
alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the
art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. In
particular, with regard to the various functions performed by the
above-described components, the terms (including any reference to a
"means") used to describe such components are intended to
correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which
performs the specified function of the described component (e.g.,
that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally
equivalent to the disclosed component which performs the function
of the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention. In
addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been
disclosed with respect to only one embodiment, such feature may be
combined with one or more other features as may be desired and
advantageous for any given or particular application.
* * * * *