The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2001
Gary Kles, Sykesville, MD (US);
Bradley Paul Davidson, Joppa, MD (US);
Edward Joseph Jablonski, Cockeysville, MD (US);
Ciena Corporation, Linthicum, MD (US);
Abstract
A fiber optic cable winding assist tool for securing, routing, and storing fiber optic cables in optical communications systems that quickly and simultaneously lifts the retainer fingers of a mandrel, without breaking them, and releases the retainer fingers once the fiber optic cables are safely within the retainer fingers. The winding assist tool is used with a base having at least one mandrel connected thereto, and may have a spacer disk connected to the mandrel. A spider frame is provided on the spacer disk or mandrel and includes a body portion and arm portions extending from the spider frame body portion. Each arm portion engages a corresponding retainer finger of the mandrel. A thumb screw having a head portion and a threaded portion mates with a threaded opening provided through the spider frame body portion and engages a top surface of the spacer disk. An operator need only rotate the thumb screw, and the threaded portion forces the spider frame upwards, which in turn simultaneously lifts the retainer fingers. With the retainer fingers in a raised position, the operator may wind a fiber optic cable around the mandrel. Once the operator ensures that the fiber optic cable is safely within the retainer fingers, the operator may rotate the thumb screw in an opposite direction, and the threaded portion lowers the spider frame, which in turn, simultaneously lowers the retainer fingers. This prevents the fiber optic cable from being pinched and potentially damaged by a retainer finger.