Telecommunications cable inlet device
View Patent ↗An inlet device is described herein for inserting a telecommunication cable into a telecommunications enclosure. An exemplary inlet device comprises a housing, and a compression member. The housing can include a compressible portion at the second end of the housing and a securing zone adjacent to the first end of the housing. The securing zone can include a plurality of deformable locking elements which protrude from opposite sides of the housing to lock the inlet device in a close fitting port of a telecommunication enclosure.
1. An inlet device to be fitted to a communication cable, the device comprising:
a housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the housing includes a compressible portion at the second end of the housing and a securing zone adjacent to the first end of the housing to secure the inlet device in a close fitting port of a telecommunication enclosure, and wherein the securing zone includes a plurality of deformable locking elements which protrude from opposite sides of the housing; and
a compression member,
wherein the deformable locking elements do not protrude beyond an external surface of the housing when depressed to allow removal of the inlet device from close fitting port of a telecommunication enclosure.
2. The inlet device of claim 1 , wherein the compressible portion of the housing comprises a plurality of spaced apart fingers.
3. The inlet device of claim 1 , wherein the compression member comprises a clamping nut and wherein the compression member is fitted over the collapsible portion of housing to cause the collapsible portion to conform to an outer surface of the communication cable fitted in the inlet device.
4. The inlet device of claim 3 , wherein the compression member further comprises a cable securing device secured to the second end of the housing; and wherein the clamping nut is fitted to a second end of the cable securing device opposite the end which is connected to the housing.
5. The inlet device of claim 4 , wherein the cable securing device includes a collapsible portion at the second end of the cable securing device, wherein the collapsible portion comprises a plurality of spaced apart projections.
6. The inlet device of claim 5 , wherein each of the spaced apart projections includes a barb, wherein each barb is designed to penetrate a sheath of the telecommunication cable when the inlet device is installed.
7. The inlet device of claim 3 , wherein the cable clamping nut includes one of a strain relief bracket, an integral bend control boot and a retaining clamp disposed on a second end of the clamping nut.
8. The inlet device of claim 1 mounted on at least one end of the optical fiber cable, wherein the optical fiber cable includes at least one optical fiber and at least one strength member, and wherein the inlet device is secured in a port of a telecommunication enclosure.
9. The inlet device of claim 1 mounted on an end of the telecommunication cable, wherein the telecommunication cable is one of an optical fiber cable, a copper cable and a coax cable.
10. The inlet device of claim 1 , further comprising a strength member retention device.
11. A telecommunication enclosure comprising at least one inlet device as described in claim 1 secured in a port of the telecommunication enclosure.
12. The telecommunication enclosure of claim 11 comprising a honeycomb port structure.