IP Library Granted Patent US 12,197,997
Granted Patent B2
US 12,197,997 · App. 18/238,593 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Cable management system and method

Inventors: Kevin A. Marley (Joliet, IL); Brian L. Kelly (Oak Forest, IL); Frank J. Graczyk (New Lenox, IL); Daniel E. Host (Orland Park, IL); Shawn T. Kemp (Crete, IL); Andrew J. Stroede (Frankfort, IL); Joshua Soto (Crete, IL); Bartolo A Nambo (Palos Heights, IL)
Assignee: Panduit Corp.
G06K7/1413H01B7/365
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,197,997
App. No.
18/238,593
Granted
Jan 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cable management system includes a cable bundling system for tracking a plurality of cables included in a cable bundle. The cable bundling system includes a pair of cable bundlers, including a first cable bundler for installing a first end of a cable, and a second cable bundler for installing a second end of the cable.

Claims (35)

1. A cable bundling system comprising:

a first cable bundler comprising a first body, a plurality of first holders, a first identifier of the first cable bundler, and a second identifier of the first cable bundler, wherein each holder included in the plurality of first holders is configured to hold a first end of a cable included in a cable bundle;

a second cable bundler comprising a second body, a plurality of second holders, a first identifier of the second cable bundler, and a second identifier of the second cable bundler, wherein each holder included in the plurality of second holders is configured to hold a second end of the cable included in the cable bundle; and

wherein the first identifier of the first cable bundler and the first identifier of the second cable bundler indicate the first cable bundler and the second cable bundler are part of a common pair.

2. The cable bundling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first holders includes at least three first holders in a same row.

3. The cable bundling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first holders includes at least three first holders in a first row and at least three first holders in a second row, for a total capacity of at least six holders.

4. The cable bundling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first holders includes at least three first holders in a first row, at least three first holders in a second row, and at least three holders in a third row, for a total capacity of at least nine holders.

5. The cable bundling system of claim 1 , the first cable bundler further comprising:

a bridge; and

a belt configured to wrap under the bridge and around at least a portion of an outer circumference of the first body.

6. The cable bundling system of claim 5 , the first cable bundler further comprising:

an attachment feature located on an outer surface of the first body; and wherein the belt includes attachment features configured to attach to the attachment features located on the outer surface of the first body.

7. The cable bundling system of claim 1 , wherein the first holders are shaped, at least in part, to include a curvature for receiving the first end of the cable.

8. The cable bundling system of claim 1 , wherein the first identifier of the first cable bundle is an alphanumeric value.

9. The cable bundling system of claim 1 , wherein the second identifier of the first cable bundle is a machine-readable identifier.

10. The cable bundling system of claim 1 , wherein the first body is made from a pliable material.

11. A method for installing a plurality of cables from a cable bundle into a cable bundling system, the method comprising:

scanning an identifier of a first cable bundler into a cable management tool;

installing a first end of a first cable into a first holder of the first cable bundler;

installing a first end of a second cable into a second holder of the first cable bundler;

securing a belt of the first cable bundler around an outer circumference of the first cable bundler;

scanning an identifier of a second cable bundler into the cable management tool; installing a second end of the first cable into a first holder of the second cable bundler;

installing a second end of the second cable into a second holder of the second cable bundler; and

securing a belt of the second cable bundler around an outer circumference of the second cable bundler.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first holder and the second holder of the first cable bundler are included in a same row.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first holder and the second holder of the second cable bundler are included in a same row.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first cable bundler includes at least three first holders in a first row and at least three first holders in a second row, for a total capacity of at least six holders.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first cable bundler includes at least three first holders in a first row, at least three first holders in a second row, and at least three first holders in a third row for a total capacity of at least nine holders.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

tightening the belt of the first cable bundler around the outer circumference of the first cable bundler to squeeze a shape of the first holder of the first cable bundler.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

tightening the belt of the second cable bundler around the outer circumference of the second cable bundler to squeeze a shape of the first holder of the second cable bundler.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first cable bundler includes a first pair identifier and the second cable bundler includes a first pair identifier, wherein the first pair identifier of the first cable bundler and the first pair identifier of the second cable bundler indicate the first cable bundler and the second cable bundler are part of a common pair.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the identifier of the first cable bundler is a machine-readable code, and the identifier of the second cable bundler is a machine-readable code.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein a shape of the first holder of the first cable bundler includes a curvature for receiving the first end of the first cable.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2023
From: MARLEY, KEVIN A.; KELLY, BRIAN L.; GRACZYK, FRANK J.; HOST, DANIEL E.; KEMP, SHAWN T.; STROEDE, ANDREW J.; SOTO, JOSHUA; NAMBO, BARTOLO A.
To: PANDUIT CORP.
Reel/Frame 064718/0443 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 17730753 · Apr 27, 2022
Continuation 17191984 · Mar 4, 2021
Provisional Application 63056092 · Jul 24, 2020
Provisional Application 62986890 · Mar 9, 2020
Related Publication 20230401400A1 · Dec 14, 2023
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