Cable storage cartridge
AssigneeADC Telecommunications, Inc.
InventorsJohn C. Holman, Trevor D. Smith, Thomas C. Tinucci
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cable storage cartridge and assembly for storing an excess length of cable. The cartridge includes a rectangular carriage frame and a spool rotatably disposed inside the carriage frame. The spool is comprised of a first spool member having a radius protection loop channel on its top surface and a second spool member. Together the first spool member and second spool member define a storage chamber. The storage chamber lies in a different plane than the loop channel of the first spool member. The first spool member defines transition openings for allowing the cable to pass from the loop channel to the storage chamber. Carriage frame includes detent and catch tabs for retaining the cartridge inside a cartridge housing.
Claims17
A cable storage cartridge for storing an excess length of cable, the cartridge comprising:
- a carriage frame having first and second pairs of opposed sides forming a periphery of the carriage frame, the frame having an internal wall defining a spool aperture, the internal wall having spool support for receiving first and second spool members;
- at least one side defining a side rail;
- the frame also defining a first entry channel leading from the spool aperture through one of the sides of the frame;
- a first spool member defining a loop channel sized for holding a loop end of the cable in a fixed position relative to the first spool member, the first spool member having a first flange surface received by the spool aperture and on the spool support of the carriage frame from a first side of the carriage frame, the first flange surface defining a transition opening through the first flange surface;
- a second spool member having a center post and a second flange surface;
- means for securing the first and second spool members to each other and capturing the spool support of the frame between the first and second spool members;
- the second flange surface and the first flange surface defining a storage chamber beneath the loop channel of the first spool member;
- wherein the first and second spool members are rotatably received by the frame and wherein a length of cable to be stored passes from the loop channel of the first spool member through the transition opening of the first flange surface to the storage chamber whereby rotation of the first and second spool members relative to the frame the cable is wound around the center post of the second spool member and by means of the entry channel passes from the storage chamber out of the cartridge.
A cable storage cartridge for a carriage housing for storing an excess length of cable on the cartridge, the cartridge comprising:
- a carriage frame and a spool rotatably received on the carriage frame to rotate relative to the carriage frame complete about an axis of rotation;
- the spool having a loop retention surface defining a loop channel sized for releasably receiving a loop end of the cable thereby holding the loop end in a fixed position relative to the spool, the loop channel of the loop retention surface being substantially in a first plane, the loop retention surface also defining a transition opening;
- the spool having a center post and a base surface which in combination with the loop retention surface define a storage chamber, the storage chamber being in a second plane which is spaced from the first plane of the loop retention surface along the axis of rotation, the transition opening being in communication with the storage chamber;
- the carriage frame defining a first entry channel in communication with the storage chamber;
- the carriage frame including means for mounting the carriage frame to a carriage housing.
A cable storage assembly for storing excess lengths of cable, the assembly comprising:
- a plurality of cable cartridges, each cartridge having a carriage frame and a spool rotatably received on the carriage frame to rotate relative to the carriage frame complete about an axis of rotation;
- the spool having a loop retention surface defining a loop channel sized for releasably receiving a loop end of the cable thereby holding the loop end in a fixed position relative to the spool, the loop channel of the loop retention surface being substantially in a single plane, the loop retention surface also defining a transition opening;
- the spool having a center post and a base surface which in combination with the loop retention surface define a storage chamber, the storage chamber being in a plane which is spaced from the plane of the loop retention surface, the transition opening being in communication with the storage chamber;
- the carriage frame having a longitudinal guide, the carriage frame defining an entry channel in communication with the storage chamber;
- and
- a cartridge housing for storing the cable cartridges, the cartridge housing having a plurality of mating longitudinal guides, each guide sized to mate the longitudinal guide of one of the cable cartridges so that the cartridges slide from an open accessible position to a closed position within the cartridge housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.