Granted Patent B2

US 8,768,135 · App. 13/149,590 · Granted Jul 1, 2014

Inventors: Timothy Jon Haataja (Prior Lake, MN); Thomas Walter Kampf (Minnetonka, MN)

Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.

Abstract

Claims (69)

1. A method of assembling a cable routing system comprising the steps of:

providing a lateral cable trough having a first end, a second end and an unslotted upstanding side of substantially uniform height extending between the first and second ends and terminating at a top edge, the lateral cable trough defining a cable pathway extending along a first direction horizontal to the ground;

releasably mounting a cable exit trough to the lateral cable trough, the cable exit trough including a bottom surface and two side walls located adjacent to the bottom surface, each of the two side walls having a curved portion transitioning to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the bottom surface and the two side walls defining a cable exit pathway that leads to a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;

routing a plurality of cables from the lateral cable trough and through the exit trough so that a length of each of the plurality of cables is routed over the to edge of the unslotted upstanding side of the lateral cable trough and into the cable exit pathway; and

maintaining a minimum bend radius along the length of the plurality of cables;

wherein the cable exit trough further includes an additional surface positioned over a base of the lateral cable trough and spaced from the bottom surface, and wherein the plurality of cables routed from the lateral cable trough pass between the additional surface and the bottom surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface extends away from the lateral cable trough in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the bottom surface leads upwardly with respect to the lateral cable trough from a position above the unslotted upstanding side to a position outside the lateral cable trough so that all cables routed through the cable exit trough reach an apex only after passing over the unslotted upstanding side of the lateral cable trough.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the bottom surface has a curved portion that curves from a substantially vertical orientation to at least a substantially horizontal orientation as the curved portion of the bottom surface extends in a direction away from the lateral cable trough.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the curved portion of the bottom surface curves from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation and then back to a substantially vertical orientation as the curved portion of the bottom surface extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and in a direction away from the lateral cable trough.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the two side walls extend from the bottom surface at an apex of the bottom surface.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curved portion of each of the two side walls transitions from a direction generally parallel to the first direction to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the additional surface is flat.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two side walls extend from the bottom surface.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cable exit trough is spaced apart from a second upstanding side of the lateral cable trough when the cable exit trough is positioned on the lateral cable trough.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cable exit pathway narrows as the cable exit pathway leads away from the lateral cable trough.

11. A method of assembling a cable routing system comprising the steps of:

providing a lateral cable trough having a first end, a second end and an unslotted upstanding side of substantially uniform height extending between the first and second ends and terminating at a top edge, the lateral cable trough defining a cable pathway extending along a first direction horizontal to the ground;

releasably mounting a cable exit trough to the lateral cable trough, the cable exit trough including a bottom surface and two side walls located adjacent to the bottom surface, each of the two side walls having a curved portion transitioning to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the bottom surface and the two side walls defining a cable exit pathway that leads to a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;

routing a plurality of cables from the lateral cable trough and through the exit trough so that a length of each of the plurality of cables is routed over the to edge of the unslotted upstanding side of the lateral cable trough and into the cable exit pathway; and

maintaining a minimum bend radius along the length of the plurality of cables;

wherein the curved portion of each of the two side walls does not extend into the lateral cable trough when the cable exit trough is mounted to the lateral cable trough.

12. A method of assembling a cable routing system comprising the steps of:

providing a lateral cable trough having a first end, a second end and an unslotted upstanding side of substantially uniform height extending between the first and second ends and terminating at a top edge, the lateral cable trough defining a cable pathway extending along a first direction horizontal to the ground;

releasably mounting a cable exit trough to the lateral cable trough, the cable exit trough including a bottom surface and two side walls located adjacent to the bottom surface, each of the two side walls having a curved portion transitioning to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the bottom surface and the two side walls defining a cable exit pathway that leads to a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;

routing a plurality of cables from the lateral cable trough and through the exit trough so that a length of each of the plurality of cables is routed over the to edge of the unslotted upstanding side of the lateral cable trough and into the cable exit pathway; and

maintaining a minimum bend radius along the length of the plurality of cables;

wherein the cable exit trough includes a first lead-in portion and a second lead-in portion positioned adjacent opposite sides of the cable exit trough, and wherein at least one of the first and second lead-in portions includes an upper guide surface positioned over a base of the lateral cable trough when the exit trough is mounted to the lateral cable trough, and wherein the upwardly curved guide surface is positioned above cables routed from the lateral cable trough and into the cable exit pathway.

13. A method of assembling a cable routing system comprising the steps of:

providing a lateral cable trough extending along a first direction horizontal to the ground and having an unslotted upstanding side of substantially uniform height from a first end to a second end of the lateral cable trough and terminating at a top edge;

releasably mounting a cable exit trough to the lateral cable trough, the cable exit trough including a bottom surface and two side walls, each of the two side walls having a curved portion transitioning to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the bottom surface having a curved portion leading upwardly with respect to the lateral trough section while maintaining a minimum cable bend radius, the curved portion of the bottom surface curving from a substantially vertical orientation to at least a substantially horizontal orientation as the curved portion of the bottom surface extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and in a direction away from the lateral cable trough; and

routing a plurality of cables from the lateral cable trough and through the exit trough so that a length of each of the plurality of cables is routed over the to edge of the unslotted upstanding side of the lateral cable trough;

wherein the cable exit trough further includes an additional surface positioned over a base of the lateral cable trough and spaced from the bottom surface, and wherein the plurality of cables routed from the lateral cable trough pass between the additional surface and the bottom surface.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the curved portion of each of the two side walls transitions from a direction generally parallel to the first direction to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the additional surface is flat.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the curved portion of the bottom surface curves from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation and then back to a substantially vertical orientation as the curved portion of the bottom surface extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and in a direction away from the lateral cable trough.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bottom surface and two side walls define a cable exit pathway that is accessible along its length so that additional cables can be routed in the cable exit pathway without having access to either end of the additional cables.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the cable exit pathway narrows as the cable exit pathway leads away from the lateral cable trough.

19. A method of assembling a cable routing system comprising the steps of:

providing a lateral cable trough extending along a first direction horizontal to the ground and having an unslotted upstanding side of substantially uniform height from a first end to a second end of the lateral cable trough and terminating at a top edge;

releasably mounting a cable exit trough to the lateral cable trough, the cable exit trough including a bottom surface and two side walls, each of the two side walls having a curved portion transitioning to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the bottom surface having a curved portion leading upwardly with respect to the lateral trough section while maintaining a minimum cable bend radius, the curved portion of the bottom surface curving from a substantially vertical orientation to at least a substantially horizontal orientation as the curved portion of the bottom surface extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and in a direction away from the lateral cable trough; and

routing a plurality of cables from the lateral cable trough and through the exit trough so that a length of each of the plurality of cables is routed over the to edge of the unslotted upstanding side of the lateral cable trough;

wherein the curved portion of each of the two side walls does not extend into the lateral cable trough when the cable exit trough is mounted to the lateral cable trough.

20. A method of assembling a cable routing system comprising the steps of:

providing a lateral cable trough having a first end, a second end and an unslotted upstanding side of substantially uniform height extending between the first and second ends and terminating at a top edge, the lateral cable trough defining a cable pathway extending along a first direction horizontal to the ground;

releasably mounting a cable exit trough to the lateral cable trough, the cable exit trough including a bottom surface and two cable guiding surfaces located adjacent to the bottom surface on opposite sides of the cable exit trough, each of the two cable guiding surfaces having a curved portion transitioning to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the bottom surface defining at least a portion of a cable exit pathway that leads to a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;

routing a plurality of cables from the lateral cable trough and through the exit trough so that a length of each of the plurality of cables is routed over the to edge of the unslotted upstanding side of the lateral cable trough and into the cable exit pathway; and

maintaining a minimum bend radius along the length of the plurality of cables;

wherein the two cable guiding surfaces are first and second lead-in surfaces, wherein the curved portion of each of the first and second lead-in surfaces curves upward relative to a base of the lateral cable trough and defines a top surface of a cable path when the exit trough is mounted to the lateral cable trough; and

wherein the exit trough includes an additional surface positioned over the base of the lateral cable trough, the additional surface defining at least a portion of the cable path defined by the first lead-in surface.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the additional surface is a flat flange extending from the first lead-in surface.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the curved portion of each of the first and second lead-in surfaces transitions from a direction generally parallel to the first direction to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the two cable guiding surfaces are first and second side walls extending from opposite sides of the bottom surface, wherein the first and second side walls define at least a portion of the cable exit pathway.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the bottom surface leads cables upwardly and in a perpendicular direction with respect to the lateral cable trough from a position above the upstanding side to a position outside the lateral cable trough.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the bottom surface has a curved portion that curves from a substantially vertical orientation to at least a substantially horizontal orientation as the curved portion of the bottom surface extends in a direction away from the lateral cable trough.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the cable exit pathway narrows as the cable exit pathway leads away from the lateral cable trough.

27. The method of claim 20 , wherein the bottom surface and the two cable guiding surfaces define an exit pathway that is accessible along its length so that additional cables can be routed in the cable exit pathway without having access to either end of the additional cables.

28. A method of assembling a cable routing system comprising the steps of:

providing a lateral cable trough having a first end, a second end and an unslotted upstanding side of substantially uniform height extending between the first and second ends and terminating at a top edge, the lateral cable trough defining a cable pathway extending along a first direction horizontal to the ground;

releasably mounting a cable exit trough to the lateral cable trough, the cable exit trough including a bottom surface and two cable guiding surfaces located adjacent to the bottom surface on opposite sides of the cable exit trough, each of the two cable guiding surfaces having a curved portion transitioning to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the bottom surface defining at least a portion of a cable exit pathway that leads to a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;

routing a plurality of cables from the lateral cable trough and through the exit trough so that a length of each of the plurality of cables is routed over the to edge of the unslotted upstanding side of the lateral cable trough and into the cable exit pathway; and

maintaining a minimum bend radius along the length of the plurality of cables,

wherein the two cable guiding surfaces are first and second lead-in surfaces, wherein the curved portion of each of the first and second lead-in surfaces curves upward relative to a base of the lateral cable trough and defines a top surface of a cable path when the exit trough is mounted to the lateral cable trough; and

wherein the first and second lead-in surfaces do not extend into the lateral cable trough when the cable exit trough is mounted to the lateral cable trough.

29. A cable routing system comprising:

a lateral cable trough having a first end, a second end and an unslotted upstanding side of substantially uniform height extending between the first and second ends and terminating at a top edge, the lateral cable trough defining a cable pathway extending along a first direction horizontal to the ground;

a cable exit trough releasably mounted to the lateral cable trough, the cable exit trough including a bottom surface and two side walls located adjacent to the bottom surface, each of the two side walls having a curved portion transitioning to a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the bottom surface and the two side walls defining a cable exit pathway that leads to a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and

a plurality of cables routed from the lateral cable trough and through the exit trough so that a length of each of the plurality of cables is routed over the top edge of the unslotted upstanding side of the lateral cable trough and into the cable exit pathway; and

wherein a minimum bend radius is maintained along the length of the plurality of cables; and

wherein the cable exit trough further includes an additional surface positioned over a base of the lateral cable trough and spaced from the bottom surface, and wherein the plurality of cables routed from the lateral cable trough pass between the additional surface and the bottom surface.

Assignments (7)

Continuity (9)