Cable management comb

Abstract

The present invention relates to a comb (1) for cable(s) comprising: - a support (2) comprising a rectangular base (21) and a row of housings (22), each housing (22) being defined by walls (20) spaced from each other and projecting from the base (21) in a first direction (XX), the walls (20) being arranged (20) in a second direction (YY) perpendicular to the first direction (XX), each wall (20) extending from sides (24) of the base (21) in the first direction (XX), the support (2) being made of a first material, - a holding structure (3) covering each housing (22), the holding structure (3) being made of a second material flexible relative to the first material so as to form channels (31) deformable in the first (XX) and second directions (YY),the channels (31) being configured to hold cables arranged in the channels in a third direction (ZZ) transverse to the first direction (XX) and to the second direction (YY). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Cable holding comb Technical field

[0001] The present application relates generally to the field of equipment and components for the installation of preferably optical cables in optical networks, and more generally of any elongated element. In particular, the invention relates to the holding of such elements by means of a comb. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] When it comes to deploying an FTTH (Fiber To The Home) network or an electrical network, it is necessary to deploy a very large number of optical or electrical cables. To facilitate the deployment of such cables to a maximum number of users, distribution boxes or cabinets are used inside which the cables are connected and / or connected. In order to avoid damaging the cables or optical cable modules (hereinafter referred to as "cables") inside the box or cabinet, combs are used to guide and hold the cables in the box or cabinet.

[0003] There is a need for combs that can hold and guide cables without damaging them and that can easily adapt to several cable dimensions. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] An aim of the present application is to propose a comb which meets the above need. In this respect, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a comb for cable(s) comprising:

[0005] - a support comprising a rectangular base and a row of housings, each housing being defined by walls spaced apart from each other and projecting from the base in a first direction, the walls being arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each wall extending from sides of the base in the first direction, the support being in a first material,

[0006] - a holding structure covering each housing, the holding structure being in a second material flexible relative to the first material so as to form channels deformable in the first and second directions, the channels being configured to hold cables arranged in the channels in a third direction transverse to the first direction and to the second direction.

[0007] The invention, according to the first aspect, is advantageously supplemented by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combinations:

[0008] - the walls comprise two end walls positioned at both sides opposite the base and a row of intermediate walls arranged between the two end walls, the holding structure extending in the second direction between the end walls and completely covering the intermediate walls;

[0009] - the holding structure comprises bosses projecting from each wall according to the second direction inside the accommodations;

[0010] - each intermediate wall comprises a row of bosses;

[0011] - each boss extends over the entire height of the wall and optionally over the entire the width of the wall;

[0012] - each housing has two rows of bosses facing each other;

[0013] - each wall comprises a row of bosses in the first direction;

[0014] - the support is made of one of the materials chosen from the following list: Polycarbonate, Filled polycarbonate, ABS, ABS / PC, Filled polypropylene or PET, virgin or recycled;

[0015] - the holding structure is made of one of the materials chosen from the following list: SEBS, Silicone, Rubber, Polyurethane, virgin or recycled;

[0016] The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to a housing comprising a location and a comb, according to the first aspect of the invention, arranged in the location via its base, the comb preferably being clipped to the location via complementary shapes arranged on the comb and the housing.

[0017] The housing, according to the second aspect, advantageously comprises a cover movably attached to the housing, the cover being configured to extend above the comb.

[0018] The invention relates, according to a third aspect, to a kit comprising a comb according to the first aspect of the invention or a housing according to the second aspect of the invention and an insertion tool comprising a handle and a blade extending from the handle, the blade having a shape complementary to that of the channels of the comb so as to allow the introduction of the cables into the comb in the first direction.

[0019] Thanks to the comb of the invention, the cables are held in place by:

[0020] - shapes arranged in the channels of the comb;

[0021] - gripping surfaces in contact with the cables (high coefficient of friction);

[0022] - a flexible hanging material compatible with the cables;

[0023] - pressure / tightening achieved by the arrangement of the bosses.

[0024] In addition, the advantages are as follows:

[0025] - possibility of receiving a variety of different cable diameters in the same comb without adaptation by the installer;

[0026] - a channel of the comb can simultaneously receive a variety of cable diameters;

[0027] - it is possible to have several levels of cables without limitation of number of levels;

[0028] - good cable retention;

[0029] - no damage to the cables;

[0030] - installation and removal of cables without loss of support;

[0031] - no damage to the channels after multiple insertion / removal. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0032] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[0033] [Fig.l] illustrates a comb according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0034] [Fig.2] illustrates a support for a comb according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0035] [Fig.3] illustrates a structure for holding a comb according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0036] [Fig.4] illustrates a comb with cables inserted into channels of the comb;

[0037] [Fig.5a], [Fig.5b], [Fig.6a], [Fig.6b], [Fig.7a], [Fig.7b], [Fig.8a], [Fig.8b] illustrate embodiments of the comb holding structure according to the invention;

[0038] [Fig.9a] and [Fig.9b] illustrate the comb of the invention provided with a cover;

[0039] [Fig. 10a] and [Fig. 10b] illustrate a tool for inserting cables into the comb of the invention.

[0040] Throughout the figures, similar elements bear identical references. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] In the following, an optical cable is referred to interchangeably with an electrical cable. Furthermore, a cable may comprise one or more optical or electrical elements. In other words, a cable refers to any elongated element.

[0042] Comb

[0043] A comb 1 for cable(s) C described here comprises a support 2 consisting of a rectangular base 21 and a row of housings 22. Each housing 22 is defined by adjacent walls 20 spaced apart from each other and which project from the base 21 in a first direction XX.

[0044] In Figures 1 and 2 the base 21 is rectangular and the large sides 24 are in a second direction YY perpendicular to the first direction XX and the small sides 26 are perpendicular to the large sides and are in a third direction ZZ perpendicular to the first direction XX and to the second direction YY.

[0045] The walls 20 extend in the second direction ZZ between sides 24 of the base 21.

[0046] The walls 20 comprise two end walls 23 positioned at the two opposite sides 26 of the base 21 and a row of intermediate walls 25 arranged between the two end walls 23. Each intermediate wall 25 advantageously extends between two walls 251 which rise in the first direction XX from sides 24 opposite the base 21.

[0047] The base 21, the end walls 23 and the walls 251 delimit an interior part of the comb 1.

[0048] A holding structure 3 extends along the second direction YY between the two end walls 23 and covers each housing 22. In particular, this holding structure 3 extends over the entire interior part of the comb between the internal faces 231 of the end walls 23, covering the intermediate walls 25.

[0049] The holding structure 3 makes it possible to define holding channels 31 in the housings 22.

[0050] Advantageously, the support 2 is made of a first material and the holding structure 3 is made of a second material which is more flexible than the first material which is rigid.

[0051] The support 2 is preferably made of one of the materials chosen from the following list: Polycarbonate, Filled polycarbonate, ABS, ABS / PC, Filled polypropylene, virgin or recycled

[0052] The holding structure 3 is preferably made of one of the materials chosen from the following list: SEBS, Silicone, Rubber, Polyurethane, virgin or recycled. In addition, the holding structure 3 has a hardness of between 5 and 70 Shore A with a compression set deformation range (denoted DRC) of between 15 and 45% measured according to the ASTM D395 standard.

[0053] The idea is that the support 2 gives rigidity to the comb 1 while the holding structure 3 makes it possible to define deformable channels 31 for holding cables C arranged in the channels in the third direction ZZ as can be seen in [Fig.4]. Given the deformable nature of the holding structure 3 relative to the support 2, the cables inserted by force are held. Indeed, between each rigid wall 20 relative to the holding structure 3, the latter deforms elastically when a cable is inserted in the first direction XX in each channel 31. In this way, each channel 31 fits each cable without damaging it.

[0054] The holding structure 3 and the support 2 are preferably formed from a single piece and are advantageously molded jointly using two different materials.

[0055] To facilitate both the insertion of the cables into the channels 31 and to hold them, the holding structure 3 is not necessarily smooth at the walls 20 but presents diverse profiles.

[0056] According to one embodiment ([Fig.5a], [Fig.6b], [Fig.7a]), the holding structure 3 comprises bosses 32, 32', 32” projecting from each wall 20 in the second direction YY. Preferably, each wall 20 comprises a row of bosses 32, 32', 32”. The bosses extend either over the width (direction ZZ, [Fig.7a], [Fig.7b]) or over the height of the wall (direction XX, [Fig.1]). The bosses 32, 32', 32” are in particular sausage-shaped but can of course take other shapes.

[0057] Such bosses 32, 32', 32” are such that each housing 20 comprises two rows of bosses 32, 32', 32” facing each other. Depending on the case, the rows are such that the bosses are offset or facing each other. Each wall 20 comprises, for example, three bosses facing each other or one wall comprises three bosses while the facing wall comprises two.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the holding structure 3 comprises a boss which occupies almost the entire width of the walls of each channel 31 ([Fig.7a], [Fig.7b]). In this case, it is a rectangle.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the bosses may be a combination of each of the bosses described above.

[0060] Case

[0061] According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig.9a], the comb 1 described above may further comprise a cover 4 which covers the upper part 100 of the comb 1 and thus prevents the cables from coming out of the comb 1 when the latter is handled. The cover 4 is movably mounted on the support 2 by means of hooks 10 fixed or projecting from the support 2.

[0062] According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig.9b], the comb 1 is inserted into a base 5 which can itself comprise the hooks 10 for fixing the cover 4. The base 5 and the support 2 comprise complementary means for clipping the support 2 (and therefore the comb 1) to the base 5. Of course, any type of means for fixing the comb to the base 5 can be envisaged.

[0063] The comb 1 and the cover 4 with or without the base 5 thus form a housing 6a, 6b.

[0064] Tool

[0065] As already explained, the cables C are inserted by force into the channels 31. Such insertion can be done manually but it is advantageous to use an insertion tool 7 as illustrated in [Fig. 10a]. Such a tool 7 comprises a handle 71, for example rectangular, to which is fixed a blade 72 comprising profiles 73 complementary to the profiles of the channels. If the channels 31 comprise rows of bosses then the blade has a complementary shape. The idea is that the blade perfectly matches the channels 31 to push the cables C inside (see [Fig. 10b]) along the first direction XX.

[0066] Furthermore, the blade 72 is made of a material which does not damage the comb channels or the cables when they are inserted into the channels.

Claims

1.

2.

3.

4. Claims Comb (1) for cable(s) including: - a support (2) comprising a rectangular base (21) and a row of housings (22), each housing (22) being defined by walls (20) spaced from each other and projecting from the base (21) in a first direction (XX), the walls (20) being arranged (20) in a second direction (YY) perpendicular to the first direction (XX), each wall (20) extending from sides (24) of the base (21) in the first direction (XX), the support (2) being made of a first material, the walls (20) comprising two end walls (23) positioned at the two opposite sides of the base (21) and a row of intermediate walls (25) arranged between the two end walls (23), each intermediate wall extending between two walls (251) rising in the first direction (XX) from the sides (24) opposite the base (21), the base (21), the end walls (23) and the walls (251) delimiting an interior part of the comb (1). - a holding structure (3) covering each housing (22), the holding structure (3) being made of a second material that is flexible relative to the first material, the holding structure (3) extending over the entire inner part of the comb between the inner faces (231) of the end walls (23) while covering the intermediate walls 25, the holding structure (3) thus forming channels (31) that are deformable in the first (XX) and second directions (YY), the channels (31) being configured to hold cables (C) arranged in the channels in a third direction (ZZ) transverse to the first direction (XX) and to the second direction (YY), the holding structure (3) comprising bosses (32, 32', 32”, 32”') projecting from each wall (20) in the second direction (YY) inside the housings (22). Comb according to claim 1, wherein the holding structure (2) and the support (2) are formed in one piece. Comb according to one of claims 1 to 2, in which each intermediate wall (26) comprises a row of bosses (32, 32', 32”, 32'”). A comb according to claim 3, wherein each boss (32, 32') extends over the entire height of the wall and optionally over the entire width of the wall.

5. Comb according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which each housing comprises two rows of bosses (32, 32', 32”') facing each other.

6. Comb according to claim 1, wherein each wall comprises a row of bosses (32, 32', 32'”) in the first direction (XX).

7. Comb according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the support (1) is made of one of the materials chosen from the following list: Polycarbonate, Filled Polycarbonate, ABS, ABS / PC, Filled Polypropylene or PET, virgin or recycled

8. Comb according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the holding structure (3) is made of one of the materials chosen from the following list: SEBS, Silicone, Rubber, Polyurethane, virgin or recycled

9. Housing comprising a location and a comb (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 arranged in the location via its base, the comb (1) preferably being clipped to the location via complementary shapes arranged on the comb and the housing.

10. A housing according to claim 9, comprising a cover (4) movably attached to the housing, the cover being configured to extend above the comb (1).

11. Kit comprising a comb (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 or a housing according to one of claims 9 to 10 and an insertion tool (7) comprising a handle (71) and a blade (72) extending from the handle, the blade having a shape complementary to that of the channels of the comb so as to allow the introduction of the cables into the comb in the first direction (XX).

Images