Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/56—Means for preventing chafing or fracture of flexible leads at outlet from coupling part
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
  • G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
  • G02B6/4471—Terminating devices ; Cable clamps
  • G02B6/4478—Bending relief means

Definitions

• the invention relates to cable protectors, and more particularly, to jacket-
• Light-transmitting fiber optic cables enjoy a variety of uses and
• Fiber optic cable's small size and high- quality transmission characteristics are of course very advantageous and desirable.
• fibers are placed side-by-side in a relatively flat ribbon cable, for example a 20- fiber ribbon cable.
• the ends of the fiber are inserted into connectors, for attachment to e.g. mainframe computers or other devices.
• adjacent individual fibers are sandwiched between two tape layers to form the ribbon cable.
• Fiber optic cables usually demonstrate high flexibility, allowing them to be
• the sheath includes a number of engaging spaced ribs, which limit the minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable in the vicinity of its
• WO 9309457-A1 which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses an optical fiber sheath having annular or helical circumferential grooves to limit the maximum bend radius.
• a control jacket houses a line, such as an optical fiber
• a multi-dimensional matrix of engagement elements substantially covers the line, and a plurality of gaps separates adjacent engagement elements of the matrix. The elements engage each other upon bending and
• the matrix of engagement elements includes a number of rows and columns. Adjacent engagement elements in the same row and/or the same column engage each other upon twisting of the jacket and/or bending of the jacket in an out-of-plane direction. According to one
• longitudinally adjacent engagement elements at least partially close their respective intervening gaps and engage each other upon out-of-plane bending of the jacket along its longitudinal direction, and in-plane transversely adjacent
• the jacket can be opened
• the jacket can be closed along
• the structure allowing the opening/closing
• first and second zipper fasteners extending along opposite sides of the jacket.
• the jacket according to this embodiment comprises two portions, for example identical half portions, which are engaged and disengaged by the zipper fasteners.
• Another embodiment uses only one zipper fastener with
• hinge structure opposite the zipper fastener to pivot the two portions of the jacket with respect to each other.
• the line to be protected can comprise a ribbon cable, for example a fiber optic ribbon cable, a fiber optic cable of other geometry, and/or electrically
• the jacket is openable and closeable along its length
• the jacket is attachable to the line at randomly accessed points along its length, not just by threading it over the end of the line.
• the jacket can be applied to
• multiple interconnected jackets can be disposed along the line to protect a line of
• a protective covering for a line such as
• a data transmission line includes two relatively movable covering portions.
• the covering portion is received within and locked to the other of the covering portions, along substantially the majority of the protective covering.
• portions are slideable with respect to each other as needed to accommodate their
• one of the covering portions includes a plurality of latches for slidingly engaging a protruding portion on the opposite
• the covering portions of this embodiment also include holes between adjacent engagement elements, to provide greater flexibility while still limiting the amount of permissible bend and twist.
• An end of the protective covering near a connector of the line is tapered, to accommodate a corresponding
• one of the covering portions preferably includes a plurality of stop members, for limiting the amount of longitudinal slide between the covering portions upon assembly of the protective covering.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a control jacket according to an embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 2 is a close-up perspective view of the Fig. 1 control jacket
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the Fig. 1 control jacket
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a control jacket having octagonal engagement elements, according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a control jacket bent and twisted into a
• Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative fastening mechanism
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a control jacket portion according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the Fig. 7 control jacket in an opened configuration
• Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the Fig. 7 control jacket in a closed configuration
• Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a control jacket in a straight configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the Fig. 10 control jacket in a bent configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention
• Figs. 12-14 are cross-sectional views of gaps between engagement
• Fig. 15 is side view of a gap according to an embodiment of the invention, for describing bend radius calculation
• Fig. 16 is a perspective view of multiple control jackets connected together
• Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a control jacket according to another
• Fig. 18 is a close-up perspective view of the Fig. 17 control jacket
• Fig. 19 is a close-up end view of the Fig. 17 control jacket.
• Figs. 20-21 are close-up perspective views according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.
• control jackets according to the invention can protect individual optical signals
• control jackets according to the invention are particularly well- suited for lines having a flat, rectangular aspect ratio, the invention contemplates other line geometries as well.
• embodiments of the invention can be used in a number of physical environments, including inter-computer connections,
• structures such as buildings or fuselages, underground, and under carpeting, for
• Figs. 1-3 illustrate a first control jacket embodiment according to the
• Jacket 10 preferably includes two, substantially identical jacket portions 15, 15', which are interlocked and disposed in an overlying relationship, as shown. To simplify the disclosure, only jacket portion 15 will be described in
• jacket portions 15, 15' need not be identical, and need not
• jacket portions 15, 15' together define space 17 between them for
• a flat line such as a flat fiber optic ribbon cable, is well-suited for space 17.
• Both jacket portions 15, 15' include a plurality of engagement elements 30, sometimes called “wedges,” disposed in a multi-dimensional matrix 20, as will be described.
• Engagement elements 30 each preferably include substantially flat, substantially polygonal faces 31 (Fig. 2) with straight edges 32 and rounded
• Rounded corners 33 allow easier production of the mold for forming
• jacket portions 15, 15' and also allow greater movement of elements 30 to allow greater twisting movement, for example.
• right-angle or other types of corners can be used instead of rounded corners 33.
• elements 30 are substantially in the shape of a frustum of a pyramid.
• Faces 31 of elements 30 need not be substantially square. As shown in Fig. 4, for example, engagement elements 30 of jacket portion 15 can include octagonal faces 31, which provide additional freedom of movement and control
• Engagement elements 30 are separated by gaps 40 preferably running in
• transverse direction 45 transverse direction 45, and by gaps 50 running in longitudinal direction 55.
• longitudinal direction 55 can be considered an X direction and transverse direction 45 can be considered a Y direction, to define an
• the XY plane can be considered the primary plane of jacket 10, and the terms "in-plane” and “out-of- plane” are taken with respect to the XY plane, unless otherwise noted.
• second transverse direction 65 which in the illustrated embodiment runs vertically, can be considered a Z direction to define corresponding XZ and
• Jacket 10 can bend in these three planes.
• a bend in the XZ plane as illustrated in e.g. Fig. 11, is a bend out of the XY plane (i.e. an out-of-plane bend) along longitudinal direction 55.
• a bend in the YZ plane is an out-of-plane bend along transverse direction 45.
• a bend in the XY plane, that is an in-plane bend is also possible but requires significant bending force, particularly with lines of relatively large width in transverse direction 45. Combinations of these bending movements are also possible, of course.
• Jacket 10 can also twist about an axis
• longitudinal direction 55 for example a central longitudinal axis.
• Preferred embodiments of the invention include matrices having
• matrix 20 includes three
• rows 60 and columns 70 preferably are substantially linear, such
• jacket portion 15 has a substantially rectangular overall shape.
• rows 60 and/or columns 70 can be disposed in an arc about the line to be protected, to accommodate a line having a rounded geometry.
• engagement elements 30 could have arc-shaped outer faces 31 instead of substantially flat outer faces,
• Each jacket portion 15, 15' preferably includes underlying web structure 80 for interconnecting engagement elements 30.
• Web structure 80 forms a plurality of hinge elements 90 directly underneath gaps 40, 50, allowing engagement
• hinges 90 extending between adjacent engagement
• elements 30 within rows 60 allow elements 30 to move with respect to each other
• jacket 10 also causes adjacent elements 30 in columns 70 to engage each other, limiting (along with web structure 80 itself) the degree of in- plane bend.
• the degree of bend allowed by engagement elements 30 in a particular direction is called "bend radius,” and will be described further in connection with Fig. 15, below.
• Control jacket 10 also permits and limits twisting movement, that is, twist angle, without placing undue or damaging strain on any portion of jacket 10.
• twisting movement involves turning one end of jacket 10 in one direction,
• jacket 10 twists about a central longitudinal axis.
• Hinges 90 between engagement elements 30 absorb the strain imparted by this twisting movement, allowing engagement elements 30 to move together or apart as needed.
• adjacent engagement elements 30 in columns 70 can be
• hinges 90 can be
• Engagement elements 30 are disposed on top of the web.
• Fig. 5 illustrates jacket 10 under twisting strain.
• fastening mechanism 100 joins
• mechanism 100 comprises two zipper-type fasteners running longitudinally along opposite sides of jacket 10.
• Each fastener includes a plurality of latches or "teeth" 110.
• Jacket portion 15 includes downwardly extending teeth 120, integrally connected at 125 as one piece with respective engagement elements 30.
• Jacket portion 15' includes corresponding, upwardly directed teeth
• Teeth 110 thus are interlocking members that engage and interlock with each other to hold jacket 10
• teeth 110 preferably include tapered surfaces 113 and abutment surfaces 117 to promote easy interlocking of teeth 110, although of course other tooth geometries will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.
• jacket portions 15, 15' are identical.
• downwardly extending teeth 120 of jacket portion 15 correspond to upwardly extending teeth 120' of jacket portion 15', on the opposite side of
• jacket 10 Similarly, downwardly extending teeth 130 of jacket portion 15 correspond to upwardly extending teeth 130' of jacket portion 15'.
• jacket portions 15, 15' are provided. Also according to the illustrated embodiment, jacket portions 15, 15' are provided.
• jacket 10 fixed abutting relationship with jacket 10 down its entire length and across space
• jacket 10 By securing jacket 10 to the line at only one end, as will be described, bending and twisting of the line is constrained and yet the line can slide relative to the jacket, eliminating potentially damaging build-up of shear forces.
• Teeth 110 preferably are disposed on opposite sides of transversely extending gaps 40. Because teeth 110 do not interlock with each other across
• gaps 40, teeth 110 and engagement elements 30 move substantially independently. Keeping the movement of engagement elements 30 and teeth 110 independent
• teeth 110 are spaced closely enough to not readily
• control jacket 10 includes end portion 140, which is specifically designed for attachment to a connector (not shown). End portion 140 preferably includes an area 150 that is free of interlocking members 110.
• end engagement elements 160 are elongated. In the illustrated embodiment, end elements 160 are approximately twice the length of the other
• engagement elements 30 but of course can be any desired length.
• end portion 140 is glued directly onto the
• portions 15, 15' are preferably fastened to the line and/or to each other with
• Jacket 10 thus advantageously protects the transition point in the line at the connector, a point that typically must endure high stress and thus is
• jacket 10 can merely be broken off or cut along one of the transverse gaps 40, or, for that matter, along a longitudinal gap 50, to form a jacket of desired size for connection to the connector or other external element.
• Fig. 6 illustrates tongue-and-groove joints 170.
• Jacket portion 15 includes downwardly extending groove elements 175, for engagement
• jacket portions 15, 15' preferably are of identical shape, such that the downwardly extending groove elements 175 of jacket portion 15 correspond to upwardly extending groove elements 175' of jacket portion 15', on
• tongue elements 173, 173' correspond to
• an adhesive can permanently secure jacket portions 15, 15'
• a paper backing such as an acrylic transfer adhesive.
• lines of tape would be affixed to one of the jacket portions 15, 15', and the paper
• Jacket portions 15, 15' would be moved into position around the line to be protected, the
• jacket portions 15, 15' together By adhering jacket portions 15, 15' together only along their edges, by tape or whatever means, the line can "float" within jacket 10 as
• adhesive can also be applied entirely across space 17 if desired for a particular application.
• fastening mechanism 100 can include one or more weld joints longitudinally extending along jacket 10. According to this embodiment, one or more edges of jacket 10 are heated to melt jacket portions 15, 15'
• FIGS. 7-11 illustrate an additional embodiment according to the invention.
• Figs. 8-9 in particular illustrate one significant feature of this embodiment relative
• Hinge 280 pivots jacket portions 215, 215' relative to each other to
• Hinge 280, as well as hinges 90 between adjacent engagement elements 30, preferably are "living" hinges, meaning that they are
• Adhesive 290 is a fiber optic ribbon cable, is inserted. Adhesive 290 then can be extruded along
• jacket 210 can include
• jacket 210 includes a multidimensional matrix 220 of engagement elements 230. Engagement elements 230 are separated by gaps 240, 250 and disposed in rows 260 and columns 270 along
• elements 230 differs from those of Figs. 1-3, in that elements 230 include slanted side surfaces instead of straight side surfaces, and include faces 231 having sharp corners
• Fig. 10 illustrates jacket 210 in a straight configuration
• Fig. 11 illustrates a bent configuration with minimum bend radius 300 about center point 305. Bend radius will be described below with reference to Fig. 15.
• Figs. 12-14 show different examples of the gaps possible between adjacent
• facing side surfaces 313 of adjacent engagement elements 30 are non-parallel, i.e. at an angle to each other, defining a widening gap 310. With this configuration, side surfaces 313 often will
• Gap 330 of Fig. 14 is defined by opposite curved side surfaces 333 of
• H is gap height
• D is gap width at the top surface of the jacket
• ⁇ is the angle
• bend radius R preferably ranges from about 1/8 to about 2 inches, depending upon cable size, transmission rate,
• the thickness of engagement elements 30 down to underlying web structure 80 is approximately 40
• Gap geometry can vary with direction.
• jacket 10 can be
• Gap geometry can also differ to a certain extent along a single direction, i.e. the
• bend radius can change along the length of jacket 10. Twist angle will be affected in accordance with the selected bend radius.
• gap geometry It is more important to define gap geometry precisely with larger jacket sizes. As jacket size and thus gap size decrease, gap geometry can be
• multiple jackets 10 can be strung together end-to-end to form a composite protective jacket of any desired length. Adjacent jackets 10
• Groove members 340 receive protruding tongue members 330, and members 330, 340 preferably extend the entire height of jacket portions 15, 15' to provide the most secure connection possible.
• joints 320 can assume more of a ball-and-socket configuration and be disposed at mid-height along elements 30.
• the illustrated embodiment includes two joints 320, a third joint or multiple additional joints can be provided, based for example on the number of engagement elements in each transverse column 70. Other locations and types of joints will be apparent to one of ordinary skill.
• Jacket 10 is preferably formed of a material that readily allows bending
• Polypropylene is one material especially suitable for use, although of course other materials, such as polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyurethanes (e.g. those available under the trade
• thermoplastic elastomers e.g. those available under the
• silicone materials such as silicone/rubber or silicone/elastomer products, styrenics
• Jacket portions 15, 15' can be formed in a variety of ways. For example,
• each portion can be molded and thus entirely formed of one piece. Even the embodiment of Figs. 7-9, in which the two jacket portions 15, 15' are hinged together, can be molded and thus formed of one piece. Jacket portions 15, 15'
• the polypropylene or other material preferably would be extruded directly over the fibers, and e.g. embossing wheels or other elements used to form the gaps (and thus define the engagement elements themselves).
• the gaps can be cut into a pre ⁇
• control jacket 400 includes first portion 410 and second portion 420, constructed to house a line between them.
• Locking structure 425 interconnects first portion 410 and second portion 420, and is
• control jacket 400 bends out-of-plane, the control jacket portion on
• the inside of the bend has a shorter radius of curvature than the control jacket portion on the outside of the bend. This radius differential tends to cause relative
• the locking elements are
• locking structure 425 includes a plurality of locking elements 430, i.e. latches, extending from control jacket
• Locking structure 425 further includes two rails 440, also called locking element receivers, extending along opposite sides of control jacket portion 410.
• locking elements 430 are formed as one-piece with portion 420, and each rail 440 is formed as one-piece with portion 410, for example by a molding process as described above.
• Each rail 440 is substantially continuous, although it is contemplated that rail 440 could have periodic breaks or gaps in it as well.
• Locking elements 430 include lip portions 433, which overhang rails 440
• elements 430 as well as rails 440, can also include chamfered surface portions 435 to promote snapping of portion 410 into portion 420, along substantially the entire
• control jacket 400 includes a plurality of
• control jacket 400 disposed in a multi-dimensional matrix. Bending and twisting of control jacket 400 is limited by movement of adjacent engagement
• Locking elements 430 each
• adjacent engagement elements 450 are separated by gaps 460. As control jacket 400 is bent or twisted, adjacent engagement elements 450 close gaps 460 to interengage and limit the amount of permissible bending or twisting.
• openings 470 which may have a wide variety of shapes
• Openings 470 between engagement elements 450 reduce the stiffness encountered upon twisting of control jacket 400, but do not prevent engagement elements 450 from engaging at gaps 460 to limit bending/twisting. Disposing holes 470 substantially at the
• Control jacket 400 further includes two stop members 480 on opposite sides of control jacket portion 410, according to the illustrated embodiment. Each stop member 480 engages the right-most locking element 430, as viewed in Fig.
• portion 420 of jacket 400, and then portion 410 is fed into and pushed along the
• control jacket 400 is tapered, at 495 in jacket portion 410 and at 505 in control jacket portion 420.
• fiber optic ribbon In many data transmission lines usable according to the invention, for example fiber optic ribbon
• the thickness of the ribbon cable tapers from a thickened portion at/adjacent the connector down to a thinner portion away from the connector.
• Tapered portions 495, 505 accommodate the thicker portion of the line so that a continuous-thickness control jacket and line combination is presented. Although it is possible to leave portions 495, 505 of continuous thickness, doing so with
• tapered lines creates a jacket-line combination of increased thickness at the connector, which can cause interference upon plugging into a computer board, module, or other device.
• tapering down the control jacket on the other hand,
• locking structure 425' provides ball-and-socket interconnection between jacket portions 410, 420.
• Ball members 435 of locking structure 425' are supported by
• structure 425' permits sliding movement along the longitudinal extent of the
• control jacket i.e. along the line, as shown by the different relative positioning of
• control jacket portions 410, 420 between Figs. 20 and 21 According to a
• ball members 435, extensions 440 and control jacket portions 420 are of one-piece construction.
• jacket portions 410, 420 are polypropylene, as
• Figs. 1-16 embodiments have direct application to the embodiments of Figs. 17- 21, for example the recited uses of adhesive, materials, end-to-end connections, tongue-and-groove members 330, 340, etc. According to the invention, a wide variety of lines can be protected in a wide variety of physical environments and

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Details Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
• Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (9)

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Citations (6)

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• 1997
  • 1997-02-18 US US08/801,534 patent/US5889910A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1998
  • 1998-01-15 TW TW087100497A patent/TW370631B/zh active
  • 1998-01-30 CN CNB98802649XA patent/CN1140824C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-01-30 JP JP53580998A patent/JP2001512581A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-01-30 DE DE69806728T patent/DE69806728T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-01-30 EP EP98906148A patent/EP0961943B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-01-30 WO PCT/US1998/002182 patent/WO1998036309A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-01-30 CA CA002278571A patent/CA2278571A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (6)

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