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:
Mar. 04, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 20, 2000
Kelly J. Smith, Aledo, TX (US);
Kevin L. Strause, Keller, TX (US);
Manuel A. Torres, Haltom City, TX (US);
Corning Cable Systems LLC, Hickory, NC (US);
Abstract
A cable breakaway assembly is adapted for mounting within a stationary component of a communications service network to prevent damage to a feeder cable in the event that an excessive pulling force is applied to a customer cable spliced to the feeder cable. In one embodiment, the cable breakaway assembly comprises a generally symmetric base, at least one cutting blade fixed to the base, and a swing arm rotatably attached to the base and movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The communications cable is secured to the swing arm by a cable clamp and the swing arm is biased in the extended position by a torsion spring. When the excessive force is applied to the customer cable the swing arm rotates to the retracted position, thereby bringing the communications cable into contact with the cutting blade and severing the communications cable. In another embodiment, the base defines a cavity and the swing arm is replaced by a cable block resiliently positioned within the cavity. The cable block is biased in the extended position by at least one linear coil spring positioned within the fig cavity between the cable block and the base.