IP Library Granted Patent US 9,343,886
Granted Patent B2
US 9,343,886 · App. 14/631,998 · Granted May 17, 2016

System and method for providing final drop in a living unit in a building

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,343,886
App. No.
14/631,998
Granted
May 17, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cable routing system is described. More specifically, described is a cable routing system that includes a main fiber channel configured to receive a drop fiber to allow it to fit within the main fiber channel, where the channel is surrounded by a discontinuous segmented duct, and the duct comprises a continuous flange structure to provide support for the system as it is installed on or fastened to a wall or other generally flat surface.

Claims (23)

1. A system for providing a final drop in a living unit of a building, comprising:

a drop access box disposed in a hallway of the building, the drop access box receiving horizontal cabling having one or more service provider lines;

a point-of-entry unit disposed at an access position of horizontal cabling from the hallway of the building to the living unit that provides a first anchor point, wherein the point-of-entry unit comprises an access base unit;

an adhesive-backed duct, having one or more communication lines disposed therein, mountable to a wall within the living unit, wherein the duct comprises a conduit portion formed along a longitudinal axis of the duct to hold at least a first communications line and a flange structure, wherein adhesive backing is disposed on a rear surface of the flange structure and wherein the one or more communication lines comprise a first drop fiber; and

a second anchor point disposed within the living unit to receive a first communication line via the duct,

wherein the access base unit includes a wall mounting portion and a cover, at least one of the cover and the access base unit being mountable over or onto at least a portion of the duct, the wall mounting portion including a main port to fit over a hole formed in the wall, the base unit having a fiber slack storage area, wherein the first communication line of the one or more communication lines directly connects the second anchor point to a service provider line of the one or more service provider lines at the drop access box.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second anchor point comprises a wall receptacle to receive the first communication line via the duct.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the wall receptacle includes at least one connector terminating a first drop fiber and a coupling that couples the terminated first drop fiber to a jumper cable.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the wall receptacle includes a first cover portion and a second cover portion that are openable and closable independent of each other.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the duct is flexible such that it can be bent around a curved surface.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the duct is capable of being placed at a right-angle, in-plane turn on a wall surface.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the slack storage area comprises a series of tabs disposed near or at a perimeter of the wall mounting portion that are configured to loosely secure excess fiber around the perimeter of the wall mounting portion.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least the first drop fiber is terminated via an optical connector.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is formed centrally with respect to a lateral plane of the flange structure.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive backing comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive backing comprises a stretch release adhesive.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flange structure comprises a first flange extending outward in a first lateral direction from the conduit and a second flange extending outward in a second lateral direction from the conduit.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the duct comprises a plurality of conduit portions, with each conduit portion having a bore formed along a longitudinal axis of the duct, and wherein each conduit portion houses at least one separate drop fiber.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the duct is formed from a clear polymeric material.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit portion further includes an electrical wire.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the duct comprises a conduit portion having a bore formed longitudinally therein, the conduit portion attached to a flange structure via a thin web of material having a thickness such that upon modest application of a peeling force, a segment of the conduit portion can be detached or peeled away from the flange structure.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the duct includes a conduit portion having a bore formed along a longitudinal axis of the duct to hold at least the first drop fiber, the conduit portion having a longitudinal slot formed therein to provide for insertion and removal of the first drop fiber.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flange structure comprises a first flange extending along the longitudinal axis of the duct and extending laterally outward from the conduit portion in a first direction and a second flange extending along the longitudinal axis of the duct and extending laterally outward from the conduit portion in a second direction, wherein a first recess portion is disposed between the conduit and the first flange, and a second recess portion is disposed between the conduit and the second flange.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2019
From: BORER, VICTOR J.; LARSON, DONALD K.; WILKES, LINNEA M.; PETERSEN, KURT H.; RAIDER, WESLEY A.; DOWER, WILLIAM V.; THOMPSON, ZACHARY M.; TREADWELL, DANIEL J.; PARIKH, RUTESH D.; ALLEN, WILLIAM G.
To: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 050293/0306 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
To: CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046316/0064 →