IP Library Granted Patent US 12,487,424
Granted Patent B2
US 12,487,424 · App. 17/604,134 · Granted Dec 2, 2025

Freestanding telecommunications cable guide that is both movable and slidable

Inventors: Jonathan R. Kaml (Shakopee, MN); Kenneth Allen Skluzacek (Belle Plaine, MN)
Assignee: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
G02B6/4452G02B6/44526G02B6/44528G02B6/4455
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,487,424
App. No.
17/604,134
Filed
Oct 15, 2021
Granted
Dec 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2874
USPC
385/135
Abstract

A cable guide includes a base for positioning the cable guide on a base surface of an internal area of a telecommunications chassis. The base is generally planar. The cable guide includes a plurality of arms and at least one arm of the plurality of arms is flexible. The cable guide includes a plurality of cable channels that are defined by the plurality of arms. The plurality of cable channels each receive a plurality of furcation tubes. Each of the plurality of cable channels is configured to allow furcation tubes to move within each of the plurality of cable channels. Each cable channel has an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, furcation tubes can be loaded and unloaded into and out of the cable channel. When in the closed position, furcation tubes are restricted from being removed from the cable channel.

Claims (16)

1 . A telecommunications system comprising:

a cable including a plurality of optical fibers;

a chassis having a first internal area and a second internal area, the second internal area having a base surface;

a cable guide having a planar base, the planar base disposed on the base surface of the second internal area of the chassis such that the cable guide is freestanding on the base surface, the cable guide movable within the second internal area of the chassis with the planar base slidable along the base surface, the cable guide defining at least one cable channel disposed above the planar base, the cable being positioned, and movable, within the at least one cable channel, wherein the at least one cable channel has an open position, where access to the at least one cable channel is allowed, and a closed position, where access to the at least one cable channel is restricted; and

a telecommunications component positioned at the first internal area of the chassis, the telecommunications component being attached to the cable, the telecommunications component being movably mounted to the chassis between a first position and a second position, wherein, when the telecommunications component is moved between the first and second positions, the cable moves within the at least one cable channel of the cable guide.

2 . The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the cable includes at least one furcation tube positionable in the at least one cable channel of the cable guide.

3 . The telecommunications system of claim 1 , further comprising a fanout device configured to position the plurality of optical fibers of the cable within a plurality furcation tubes, wherein at least one optical fiber is positioned within a single furcation tube.

4 . The telecommunications system of claim 3 , wherein the fanout device is positioned at the second internal area of the chassis.

5 . The telecommunications system of claim 3 , wherein the fanout device is positioned outside of the chassis.

6 . The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications component is a telecommunications tray that can be slid out, away from the chassis.

7 . The telecommunications system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of the telecommunications components, and wherein the cable guide includes a plurality of cable channels, each cable channel of the plurality of cable channels corresponding with at least one of the plurality of the telecommunications components.

8 . The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the cable guide includes an arm support extending in an upwards direction from the planar base and a plurality of arms extending from the arm support and stacked above the planar base, the plurality of arms defining a plurality of cable channels including the at least one cable channel, wherein at least one arm of the plurality of arms is flexible.

9 . The telecommunications system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of cable channels are each configured to receive a group of a plurality of furcation tubes of the cable, each group of the plurality of furcation tubes is configured to move within each of the plurality of cable channels, wherein each of the plurality of cable channels have an open position and a closed position, wherein when in the open position, the group of the plurality of furcation tubes can be loaded and unloaded into and out of each of the plurality of cable channels, wherein when in the closed position, the group of the plurality of furcation tubes is restricted from being removed from each of the plurality of cable channels.

10 . The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the cable guide is a first cable guide, wherein the telecommunications system further includes a second cable guide positioned on, and movable on, the base surface of the second internal area of the chassis adjacent the first cable guide, the second cable guide being unmounted to the chassis, the second cable guide defining at least one cable channel, the cable being positioned, and movable, within the at least one cable channel of the second cable guide, wherein the at least one cable channel of the second cable guide has an open position, where access to the at least one cable channel of the second cable guide is allowed, and a closed position, where access to the at least one cable channel of the second cable guide is restricted.

11 . The telecommunications system of claim 10 , wherein the first and second cable guides are positioned at an angle with respect to side walls of the chassis.

12 . The telecommunications system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second cable guides is positioned at an angle with respect to side walls of the chassis.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 059350/0743 Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074594/0156 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 59710/0506 Recorded Jan 9, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074282/0522 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 059350/0921 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 069743/0704 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 059710/0506 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059350/0921 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059350/0743 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2021
From: KAML, JONATHAN R.; SKLUZACEK, KENNETH ALLEN
To: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 057881/0962 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62835303 · Apr 17, 2019
Provisional Application 62852518 · May 24, 2019
Related Publication 20220229253A1 · Jul 21, 2022
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