Cable tie, especially for optical cable

Abstract

The invention relates to a securing pin (1) for a cable comprising mechanical reinforcement strands inside an insulating sheath, in particular for an optical cable. The securing pin (1) comprises an elongated body comprising: an upper end (10) forming a gripping part; a lower end (11) comprising elastic snap-fastening means (11a, 11b) to allow anchoring of the securing pin (1) in a corresponding bore of a fixed connection pad, said lower end (11) forming a slot (13) allowing the passage of reinforcement strands of a stripped end portion of a cable, and an intermediate part (12) forming a winding zone around which the reinforcement strands introduced into the slot (13) can be wound. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Cable securing pin, in particular for optical cable Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of cables, and more specifically to a cable securing pin, in particular a cable comprising one or more optical fibers and mechanical reinforcing strands. Technological background

[0002] In the non-limiting field of optical telecommunications cables, it is known to provide that the cable is composed of an electrically insulating sheath surrounding one or more optical fibers as well as mechanical reinforcing elements, typically aramid wicks (for example Kevlar, registered trademark), extending in the longitudinal direction of the cable.

[0003] When such a cable is integrated into an electrical network, the problem of mechanically fixing the cable arises.

[0004] It is known in particular to use a connection box for the purpose of being able to connect one end of one or more optical cables in a telecommunications network. Such a box generally constitutes a small volume and is difficult for an operator to access, making fixing operations difficult.

[0005] A known solution in securing an optical cable consists of stripping an end portion of the cable (operation consisting of removing the insulating sheath on a given end portion), inserting the end of the cable inside a connection box over a sufficient length to accommodate the stripped portion and a non-stripped portion of cable (comprising the insulating sheath). The cable is then secured at two points: a first securing is carried out on the non-stripped portion of the cable by means of a plastic collar forming a cable clamp around the cable sheath and a T-shape inside the connection box. The aramid strands accessible on the stripped end portion of the cable are braided manually, and one end of the braid thus obtained is secured inside the connection box by means of a screw.An operator must therefore not only manually make a braid with the aramid fibers, but must also use a tool (typically a screwdriver) to fix the braid to a fixed point in the junction box.

[0006] Another solution for securing a fiber optic cable in a connection box, described in document EP 2 288 949 B1, consists of a cable strain relief device, made in at least two parts and having a outer part and an inner part, the inner part being designed to be rotatable relative to the outer part and having a winding area, the strain relief device having a stop for the cable, the inner part having in its upper part a slot for the insertion of at least part of the cable, in particular Kevlar fibers, the part of the cable inserted in the slot being able to be wound around the winding area by rotation of the inner part relative to the outer part.

[0007] Such a lashing device always requires the use of a screwing tool in order to rotate the inner part in the outer part. Summary of the invention

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to propose a securing solution for a cable comprising mechanical reinforcement strands inside an insulating sheath which does not require the use of a tool such as a screwing tool.

[0009] More specifically, the present invention relates to a securing pin for a cable comprising mechanical reinforcement strands inside an insulating sheath, the securing pin comprising an elongated body comprising: • an upper end forming a gripping part; • a lower end comprising elastic snap-fastening means to allow anchoring of the anchoring pin in a corresponding bore of a fixed connection pad, said lower end forming a slot allowing the passage of mechanical reinforcement strands of a stripped end portion of a cable, and • an intermediate part forming a winding zone around which the mechanical reinforcement strands introduced into the slot can be wound.

[0010] In one possible embodiment, the elastic snap-fastening means consist of elastic fixing tabs extending axially and delimiting said slot, each elastic fixing tab being intended, when the lashing pin is in the anchoring position, to immobilize the pin on a corresponding shoulder of the fixed connection pad.

[0011] The elastic latching means are for example made up of two elastic fixing tabs located symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lashing pin.

[0012] The external surface of the elastic fixing tabs may have a chamfered shape making it possible to reduce the efforts of an operator during an operation of snapping or unsnapping the lashing pin.

[0013] In one possible embodiment, the upper end forming part of grip has a flared base.

[0014] The pin may further comprise a collar between the intermediate part and the lower end, said collar being intended to bear on the fixed connection pad in the anchoring position of the lashing pin.

[0015] In this case, the intermediate part preferably has a smaller cross-section than the cross-section of the collar and the cross-section of the flared base.

[0016] The collar preferably comprises at least one radial notch.

[0017] The intermediate part is preferably cylindrical.

[0018] The lashing pin is preferably made of plastic. Brief description of the figures

[0019] The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the appended figures:

[0020] [Fig-1] illustrates two views (a) and (b) of a possible embodiment of a pawn lashing according to the present invention;

[0021] [Fig.2] illustrates four views (a) to (d) schematizing the operating mode for anchoring the end of a cable on a fixed connection pad 3 by means of the anchoring pin of [Fig.l], Description of embodiment(s)

[0022] In the figures, identical or equivalent elements will bear the same reference signs. The various diagrams are not to scale.

[0023] The anchoring pin 1 in the embodiment illustrated in the figures is intended to allow the anchoring of one end of a cable 2 comprising strands 20 for mechanical reinforcement inside an insulating sheath 21, typically an optical cable, on a fixed pad 3 of a connection plate (not shown). The connection plate may for example be an element integrated inside a connection box. As visible in the two views (a) and (b) of [Fig.l], the anchoring pin 1 comprising an elongated body, preferably made of plastic material, comprising: • an upper end 10; • a lower end 11, and • an intermediate part 12.

[0024] The upper end 10 forms a gripping part.

[0025] The lower end 11 comprises elastic snap-fastening means to allow anchoring of the lashing pin 1 in a corresponding bore 30 of the fixed stud 3 of the connection plate. The lower end 11 forms a slot 13 allowing the passage of wicks 20 for mechanical reinforcement of an end portion stripped of cable 2.

[0026] Finally, the intermediate part 12, preferably cylindrical, forms a winding zone around which the mechanical reinforcement wicks 20 introduced into the slot 13 can be wound.

[0027] The elastic snap-fastening means consist of elastic fixing tabs which extend axially (parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin 1) and which delimit the slot 13. Each elastic fixing tab is intended to immobilize the pin 1 on a corresponding shoulder of the stud 3 of the connection plate when the anchoring pin 1 is in the anchoring position (see [Fig.2], view (d)).

[0028] In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the figures, the elastic latching means consist of two elastic fixing tabs 11a, 11b located symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the lashing pin 1.

[0029] The external surface of the elastic fixing tabs 11a, 11b preferably has a chamfered shape 14 making it possible to reduce the efforts of an operator during an operation of snapping or unsnapping the lashing pin 1.

[0030] As visible in [Fig.l], the intermediate part 12 extends between a flared base 15 of the upper end 10 forming a gripping part and a collar 16 between the intermediate part 12 and the lower end 11, the lower base of this collar 16 being intended to bear on the stud 3 of the connection plate in the anchoring position of the lashing pin 1 (see [Fig.2], view (d)), for example on the upper part of the bore 20.

[0031] In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated, the cross-section of the intermediate part 12 is smaller than the cross-section of the collar 16 and than the cross-section of the flared base 15. This advantageously prevents the strands wound around the winding zone from being able to escape axially.

[0032] The collar 16 preferably comprises at least one radial notch 17 to facilitate the passage of the wicks from the slot 13 towards the winding zone 12.

[0033] The operating method for anchoring the end of a cable 2 on a fixed connection pad 3 by means of the anchoring pin 1 is preferably as follows (see [Fig.2]): a. An end portion of the cable 2 to be anchored is stripped so as to make the strands 20 for mechanical reinforcement of this cable 2 accessible (see view (a) [Fig.2]); b. A knot 22 is made at the free end of all the mechanical reinforcement strands 20; c. The mechanical reinforcement wicks 20 are passed through the slot 13 of the pin 1 and the knot 22 is used to put the set of wicks in abutment (see view (b) [Fig.2]); d. The set of mechanical reinforcement wicks 20 is wrapped around the area winding of the intermediate part 12 of the pin 1 (see view (c) [Fig.2]); and e. The pin 1 is placed in the anchoring position by inserting the lower end 11 of the pin 1 into the corresponding bore 30 of the pad 3 of the connection plate, until the elastic latching means engage (see view (d) [Fig.2]).

[0034] An ergonomic shape is advantageously given to the upper end 10 forming a gripping part, so as to facilitate handling for an operator when implementing steps c to e above. The operator can thus hold the pin 1 with one hand by this upper end while he introduces with his other hand the set of wicks provided with its stop knot 22 into the slot 13, then guides this set through the notch 17 to wind it around the winding zone 12, then finally positions the pin 1 in the anchoring position by snapping into the corresponding bore.

[0035] The anchoring pin according to the invention has a number of advantages over known solutions. In particular, the operator no longer has to use a specific tool such as a screwdriver. The operator is also much less constrained since the preparatory operations for anchoring a cable (such as the operations shown diagrammatically in views (a), (b) and (c) of [Fig. 2] can be carried out in an open area. This constitutes a real advantage over existing solutions in which the operator must carry out the various operations in a very small space, limited to the connection box, especially since it is often necessary to anchor a plurality of cables in the same connection box. The anchoring is also completely reversible: any cable can be easily detached by a simple operation of unclipping the anchoring pin.Furthermore, it is no longer necessary to braid the strands (obligatory in the case of screw fixing). The use of a pin instead of a screw is also advantageous because it avoids any risk of screw failure. Furthermore, screw fixing solutions require the delivery of batches of screws in bags in order to avoid losing screws. When the pin according to the invention is made of plastic, it is possible to manufacture a cluster, i.e. a set of pins molded at the same time in the same mold, which reduces manufacturing costs and makes the use of bags unnecessary.

Claims

Claims

1. Lashing pin (1) for a cable (2) comprising mechanical reinforcement strands (20) inside an insulating sheath (21), the lashing pin (1) comprising an elongated body comprising: • an upper end (10) forming a gripping part;• a lower end (11) comprising axially extending elastic snap-in means (11a, 11b) consisting of two elastic fixing tabs (11a, 11b) located symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the lashing pin (1) to allow anchoring of the lashing pin (1) in a corresponding bore (30) of a fixed connection stud (3) and the passage of strands (20) for mechanical reinforcement of a cable (2), and • an intermediate part (12) forming a winding zone around which the strands (20) for mechanical reinforcement introduced between the two elastic tabs (13) can be wound, characterized in that the two elastic tabs (11a, 11b) delimit a slot allowing only the passage of a set of strands (20) for mechanical reinforcement of a stripped end portion of the cable (2), and forming a stop capable of holding a knot (22) formed at a free end of said set of mechanical reinforcement wicks (20).;

2. Lashing pin (1) according to claim 1, in which each elastic fixing tab (11a, 11b) is capable, when the lashing pin (1) is in the anchoring position, of immobilizing the pin (1) on a corresponding shoulder of the fixed connection pad (3).

3. Lashing pin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the external surface of the elastic fixing tabs (11a, 11b) has a chamfered shape (14) making it possible to reduce the efforts of an operator during an operation of snapping or unsnapping the lashing pin (1).

4. A lashing pin (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper end (10) forming a gripping portion comprises a flared base (15).

5. A lashing pin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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8.

9. preceding, further comprising a collar (16) between the intermediate part (12) and the lower end (11), said collar (16) being able to bear on the fixed connection stud (3) in the anchoring position of the lashing pin (1). Lashing pin (1) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the intermediate part (12) has a smaller cross-section than the cross-section of the collar (16) and than the cross-section of the flared base (15). Lashing pin (1) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, in which the collar (16) comprises at least one radial notch (17). Lashing pin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate part (12) is cylindrical. Lashing pin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of plastic.

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