Adjustable Cable Spool Assembly for Flexible Telecom Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable management systems in telecommunications systems face challenges in efficiently routing and organizing large numbers of cables, leading to tangling, damage, and signal loss due to excessive bending, while being inflexible and costly to customize.

Innovation Solution

A cable management assembly featuring adjustable spools with detachable mounting and adjustable length, utilizing outer and inner barrels with locking detents and flexible arms for secure attachment and length adjustment, allowing flexible placement and adaptability to changing needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cable spools are used to manage cables, then cable organization is improved, but the system becomes inflexible and difficult to customize

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable organizationVSAvoidsystem flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cable spool assembly incorporates an adjustable length mechanism where the spool can be extended or retracted along the mounting panel. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to different cable management needs and panel configurations, resolving the contradiction between providing organized cable management and maintaining system flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cable management system is divided into modular components including the mounting panel with aperture, the cable spool assembly, and the retaining member. This segmentation allows individual components to be adjusted or replaced independently, enabling customization while maintaining effective cable organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If cable spools are used to manage cables, then cable tangling is reduced, but the system is costly and inflexible to customize

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable protectionVSAvoidcustomization cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting panel incorporates a standardized aperture that can accommodate different cable spool configurations and sizes. This universal mounting interface allows the same basic structure to serve multiple cable management needs, reducing customization costs while maintaining reliable cable protection through the spool mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If fixed-length cable spools are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to changing needs is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidlength adjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250277948A1Cable management device

Publication Date: 2025.09.04 COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A cable management device for mounting to a telecommunications fixture includes an outer barrel disposed over an inner barrel, one of the outer barrel and the inner barrel defining a plurality of discrete detents positioned in a stacked arrangement axially along an length thereof, and the other of the outer barrel and the inner barrel defining at least one flexible cantilever arm defining a tab configured to lock into a selected one of the detents for allowing adjustment of a length of the cable management device.