Modular cable management trough section

[0002] This invention pertains to a system for the management and routing of cables, such as telecommunications cables. More particularly, this invention pertains to a trough section.

[0003] In the telecommunications industry, the use of optical fibers for signal transmission is accelerating. With the increased utilization of optical fiber systems, optical fiber cable management requires industry attention. Similar issues exist with other telecommunications cables such as copper-based cables.

[0004] One area of telecommunications cable management that is necessary is the routing of cables from one piece of equipment to another. For example, in a telecommunications facility, optical fiber cables may be routed between fiber distribution equipment and optical line terminating equipment. In buildings and other structures which carry such equipment, the cable routing can take place in concealed ceiling areas or in any other manner to route cables from one location to another. Accordingly, such routing systems often include a plurality of trough members, fittings and couplings for routing the cables. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,067,678; 5,316,243; and 5,752,781 show various cable routing systems.

[0005] When routing optical fibers, it is desirable that the routing system will be easy to install. For example, providing a continuous cable path throughout the system can be a challenge, such as when obstacles or misalignments arise during installation of the system. There is a need for devices which make system installation easier and less reliant on precisely aligned components.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,779 to Johnson discloses an apparatus for linking misaligned cable troughs. The Johnson device uses a number of different materials other than the preferred plastic. There is a need for an improved, cost effective system for making small adjustments in the alignment of a cable management trough.

[0007] The present invention concerns modular trough sections for use in a trough system. The modular trough sections may be quickly and easily snap-fitted together through the use of a channel and flange arrangement. An assembly of modular trough sections may include angled trough sections so that the trough assembly does not define a linear path.

[0008] A preferred embodiment of a modular trough section in accordance with the present invention includes a trough body having first and second terminal ends, first and second upright walls extending between the first and second terminal ends, and a base wall between the first and second upright walls, extending between the first and second terminal ends. The first and second upright walls and the base wall define a generally U-shaped trough having an open top and a trough interior for receiving at least one telecommunications cable. The trough body defines a receiving channel at the first end of the trough body. The channel has upright portions along the first and second upright walls and a base portion along the base wall. The channel may slidably receive a flanged end of an adjacent trough section in order to couple the adjacent trough section to the modular trough section.

[0009] The modular trough section may be adapted with a flange at its second end so that the modular trough section may be coupled to a second modular trough section also having a receiving channel.

[0010] The modular trough sections may then be shaped such that the receiving channel is angled relative to the second end of the trough body. By combining differently angled trough sections a cable management trough may be constructed which does not have a linear cable pathway. In this manner, obstacles and misaligned components may be circumnavigated or aligned with a cable trough.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of straight trough section according to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an end view of the trough section of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of the trough section of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross section of a retaining tab engaging a retention slot according to the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an angled trough section, angled in a first direction according to the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a top view of the trough section of FIG. 5.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an angled trough section angled in a second direction according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 8 is a top view of the trough section of FIG. 7.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an angled trough section angled in a third direction according to the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 10 is a side view of the trough section of FIG. 9.

[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an angled trough section angled in a fourth direction according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 12 is a side view of the trough section of FIG. 11.

[0023] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an end of a linear trough member adapted with a receiving channel according to the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 14 is a top view of the trough section of FIG. 13.

[0025] FIG. 15 is a side view of the trough section of FIG. 13.

[0026] FIG. 16 is an end view of the trough section of FIG. 13.

[0027] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a modular trough section incorporating two flanged ends according to the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 18 is an end view of the trough section of FIG. 17.

[0029] FIG. 19 is a top view of the trough section of FIG. 17.

[0030] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an assembly of modular trough sections according to the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 21 is a top view of the assembly of FIG. 20.

[0032] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an assembly of modular trough section according to the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 23 is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 22.

[0034] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a modular trough section having receiving channels at both ends according to the present invention.

[0035] The present invention concerns a cable management system that includes snap fitted modular trough sections some of which may be angled. The cable management system may include additional horizontal trough sections, vertical sections, junctions and couplings. The trough section of the present invention allows for use in cable management systems where two ends of the trough section are not linearly aligned. Examples of situations where the ends are not linearly aligned include corrections of misalignments, and transitioning through offsets or directional changes. Also, the trough section of the present invention may be used for avoidance of obstacles where the ends are linearly aligned, but the adjoining section is circuitous.

[0036] The trough section of the present invention is a linking trough section and may take a number of shapes to link two trough sections or other system components. FIGS. 20 and 21 show one form of a trough section that transitions horizontally between linear ends in the orientation shown. FIGS. 22 and 23 show another form of a trough section that transitions vertically between linear ends in the orientation shown. Numerous other configurations are possible, as will be discussed below in greater detail.

[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a trough member or trough section 10 is shown including ends 12, 14 for connection to other cable management structures in a cable management system. Trough section 10 includes generally vertical or upright sidewalls 16, 18, and a connecting horizontal base or bottom wall 20. Trough section 10 defines an open top 22. A trough interior 24 receives one or more telecommunications cables. Trough section 10 generally has a U-shaped cross-section as best shown in FIG. 2.

[0038] At end 12 the trough section 10 defines a receiving channel 30. Channel 30 follows the same U-shape as the trough section 10. Therefore, the channel 30 has upright portions 32 and 34 along the first and second upright walls 16 and 18 as well as a base portion 36 along the base wall 20.

[0039] At end 14 the trough section 10 defines a flange 38. The flange 38 flares away from the trough interior 24. The flange 38 has upright portions 40 and 42 along the first and second upright walls 16 and 18 as well as a base portion 44 along the base wall 20.

[0040] The channel 30 receives a flange of an adjacent trough section similar to the flange 38 in order to snap-fit the two sections together. The flange of an adjacent trough section is slidably inserted into the channel 30 from the open top 22 of trough section 10 in the direction of Arrow A. Similarly end 14 of trough section 10 can be coupled to a trough section adjacent end 14, by sliding flange 38 into a receiving channel configured like channel 30 on trough section 10 in the direction of Arrow B.

[0041] Trough section 10 preferably includes a retaining tab 46 or other retaining arrangement. Retaining tab 46 cooperates with a retention slot 50 in the flange 38 of the adjacent trough section to hold the flange within the receiving channel 30. FIG. 4 is a cross section of a retaining tab 46 of a receiving channel 30 engaging a retention slot 50 to hold the flange 38 in the channel 30. Retaining tab 46 defines a ledge 48 which is opposed by an opposing ledge 52 defined by the retention slot 50 of the flange 38. The retaining tab 46 preferably includes an inclined surface 56 which allows the flange 38 to slide against the retaining tab 46 until ledge 48 engages opposing ledge 52. The retaining tab 46 includes a push-surface 54 which when depressed disengages ledge 48 from opposing ledge 52 allowing the flange 38 to be removed from the channel 30 thereby decoupling two trough sections. Other retaining structures are possible, such as other snaps or detents to retain the two trough sections together.

[0042] Various modular trough sections can be made using the flange and channel designs to provide for non-linear cable pathways. For instance as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an angled trough section 60 is shown where the first upstanding wall 62 is longer that the second upstanding wall 64. Both upstanding walls are slightly curved. This allows the receiving channel 30′ to be angled in a first direction relative the opposite, flanged end 66 of the trough section 60. FIGS. 7 and 8 show a similar angled trough section 70, being angled in a second opposite direction. In angled trough section 70 the second upstanding wall 74 is longer than the fist upstanding wall 72. By varying the difference between the upstanding wall lengths, a range of angles may be created including the angles between 0 and 90 degrees. Preferably a side angled modular trough section as shown in FIGS. 5-8 is angled at 10-30 degrees. For example a 15 degree angle may be used.

[0043] The modular trough sections may also be angled in third and fourth directions which may be orthogonal to the first and second directions. FIGS. 9 and 10 show an upwardly angled modular trough section 90 in which a top edge 92 of each upstanding wall is shorter than the bottom wall 94. FIGS. 11 and 12 show a downwardly angled modular trough section 80 in which a top edge 82 of each upstanding walls is longer than the bottom wall 84. By varying the difference between the upstanding wall lengths, a range of angles may be created including the angles between 0 and 90 degrees. Preferably an angled modular trough section as shown in FIGS. 9-12 is angled at 10-30 degrees. For example, an angle of 15 degrees may be used.

[0044] FIGS. 13-16 shows an end 106 of a linear cable trough member 100 defining a U-shaped trough adapted with a receiving channel 102 and retaining tab 104. Trough member 100 includes exterior structure 101 to enable it to mount to other system components. By adapting the linear trough member 100 with a receiving channel 102, the trough member 100 may be snap-fitted with any combination of the modular trough sections 10, 60, 70, 80, or 90 as described above in order to align the trough member with another misaligned trough member or in order to avoid a obstructing object.

[0045] Double flange modular trough section 110 in FIGS. 17-19 may be used with a trough member having a receiving channel such as trough member 100 with channel 102, in order to provide a flanged end for coupling to other modular trough sections. Double flanged modular trough member 110 has flanges 112 on each end. Each flange 112 defines a retention slot 114 for retaining the flange 112 in a receiving channel.

[0046] FIGS. 20 and 21 show an assembly 200 of modular trough sections according to the present invention. The assembly starts with a linear trough member 100 terminating in a receiving channel. The trough member 100 is coupled to a double-flanged modular trough section 110 which is also coupled to an angled trough section 70. The angle trough section 70 is coupled to a straight modular trough section 10 which is also coupled to a second angled trough section 60. The second angled trough section 60 is then coupled to another linear trough section 100′. The assembly 200 shifts the cable pathway defined by linear trough member 100 to the right by a distance X to be received by the linear trough member 100′.

[0047] FIGS. 22 and 23 show a second assembly 300 of modular trough sections which incorporates a linear trough member 100, an upwardly angled trough section 90, a straight trough section 10, a downwardly angled trough section 80, a double flanged trough section 110, and a second linear trough member 100′. The assembly 300 shifts the cable pathway of linear trough member 100 upward a distance Y to align with linear trough member 100′.

[0048] In both assemblies 200 and 300 the upstanding walls and bottom walls of each trough member and trough section define a contiguous cable pathway which at no point bends more sharply than the minimum bend radius of the cable. This serves the important cable protecting function of a cable management system.

[0049] The modular cable trough sections described above may be quickly assembled in any desired combination to realign the cable pathway or to avoid obstructions. Other combinations besides those shown are easily configured. For example, by combining the interior components of assemblies 200 and 300, both a horizontal shift and a vertical shift in the same trough section is possible. Further, the amount of the shift can be increased by adding more straight modular trough sections 10 and/or adding more angled trough sections 60, 70, 80, 90. By including receiving channels or their matching flanges on the trough sections or trough members the modular trough sections according to the present invention may be quickly incorporated in to any cable management system. Further the modular construction allows for flexibility during on-site assembly, and a reduction in the number of parts that need to be stocked by a supplier. The modular construction also allows for more efficient trough systems since obstructions can be avoided without having to resort to conventional 45 or 90 degree elbows.

[0050] FIG. 24 is a modular trough section 400 having receiving channels 402 at both ends 404 and 406. Such a design is useful to join two components both of which end in flanged ends. One situation where that might arise is if trough members 100 and 100′ include flanges at their ends instead of receiving channels.

[0051] The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.