Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to mounting apparatus and more particularly relates to a hanger and a hanger kit to aerially mount a fiber optic enclosure.
BACKGROUND
[0002] To distribute fiber optic cables to various locations aerial routing is commonly used. Hanger kits allow aerial installation of optical fiber enclosures for the aerial routing of the optical fiber cables. Such hanger kits are used due to various reasons such as, but not limited to, a need to make splices on aerial cables, a possible lack of poles or facades for fixing the optical fiber enclosures, geographical requirements that hinders typical installation (poles, facades, and manholes).
[0003] Various prior art references that indicate or disclose different hanger kits for aerial mounting of optical fiber closure are as follows:
[0004] The reference US9407080B2 discloses a hanger assembly for aerial mounting of a fiber closure. The hanger assembly has a base unit having top and side walls with pivotable arms to mount the fiber closure on a cable. Another reference US9377132B2 discloses an aerial hanger unit for a fiber closure with pivotally connected arms and clamps. Yet another reference KR200457959Y1 discloses a hanger kit for a fiber closure aerial mounting that has a movable plate and a fixed plate joined together. Yet another reference US9939602B2 discloses a hanger kit for a fiber closure aerial mounting with two J-shaped cradles. The above-mentioned solutions generally have a single compression point and can only be installed on cables having smaller diameters. Moreover, as the number of components in such solutions is on the higher side, therefore, a handling complexity and maintenance of such devices is higher.
[0005] Thus, there is a need for an alternative apparatus that overcomes the above stated disadvantages of conventional solutions for aerially mounting the optical fiber closures.
SUMMARY
[0006] In an aspect of the present disclosure, a hanger is disclosed. The hanger having a bracket and a support arm. The bracket having a vertical arm and a horizontal arm having a curved portion. The support arm having a first end and a second end. The first end is adapted to be engaged with the vertical arm such that the support arm is substantially parallel to the horizontal arm in an installed configuration of the hanger.
[0007] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a hanger kit is disclosed. The hanger kit having a plurality of hangers. Each hanger of the plurality of hangers having a bracket and a support arm. The bracket having a vertical arm and a horizontal arm having a curved portion. The support arm having a first end and a second end. The first end is adapted to be engaged with the vertical arm such that the support arm is substantially parallel to the horizontal arm in an installed configuration of each hanger of the plurality of hangers.
[0008] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for installing a hanger is disclosed. The method having steps of, holding a horizontal arm of a bracket of the hanger over a cable, adjusting a support arm of the hanger according to a diameter of the cable, inserting a tab provided at a first end of the support arm of the hanger in at least one slot of a plurality of slots provided in a vertical arm of the bracket, and tightening a fastener to engage the horizontal arm and the support arm in an installed configuration of the hanger such that the cable is tightly held between the horizontal arm and the support arm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] The following detailed description of the preferred aspects of the present disclosure will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and not limited by the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements.
[0010] FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic view of an installation of a hanger kit installed over a cable;
[0011] FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of a hanger of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 1C illustrates another side view of the hanger;
[0013] FIG. 1D illustrates yet another side view of the hanger;
[0014] FIG. 1E illustrates a side perspective view of a bracket of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 1F illustrates another side perspective view of the bracket;
[0016] FIG. 1G illustrates a top perspective view of a support arm of the hanger;
[0017] FIG. 1H illustrates a side perspective view of an adapter of the hanger; and
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow-chart of a method for installing the hanger kit over the cable.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The detailed description of the appended drawings is intended as a description of the currently preferred aspects of the present disclosure and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different aspects that are intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic view of an installation 100 of a hanger kit 102 installed over a cable 104. The hanger kit 102 may facilitate to mount an optical fiber closure 106 aerially over the cable 104. The hanger kit 102 may have one or more hangers of which first and second hangers 108a and 108b are shown. Specifically, the first hanger 108a and the second hanger 108b may be structurally and functionally similar. The first hanger 108a may have a first bracket 110 and a first support arm 112. Similarly, the second hanger 108b may have a second bracket 114 and a second support arm 116. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the first and second brackets 110 and 114 and the first and second support arms 112 and 116 may be made up of a sheet metal, thus, eliminating the requirement of molds to fabricate the hanger kit 102.
[0021] As illustrated, the first and second brackets 110 and 114 may be mounted over the cable 104 by tightening the first and second support arms 112 and 116 by way of one or more fasteners of which first and second fasteners 118 and 120 are shown to fixedly engage the first and second brackets 110 and 114 on the cable 104 in an installed configuration of the hanger kit 102. Specifically, in the installed configuration of the hanger kit 102, the cable 104 may be tightly held within the first and second brackets 110 and 114. Further, the optical fiber closure 106 may be attached to first and second brackets 110 and 114, thereby enabling mounting of the optical fiber closure 106 on the cable 104. Although FIG. 1 illustrates that the hanger kit 102 has two brackets (i.e., the first and second brackets 110 and 114) and corresponding two support arms (i.e., the first and second support arms 112 and 116), it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other aspects of the present disclosure, the hanger kit 102 may have more than two brackets and support arms such that each bracket has a corresponding support arm, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In such a scenario, each bracket and each support arm may be adapted to be used in a manner similar to the first and second brackets 110 and 114 and the first and second support arms 112 and 116 as described herein.
[0022] FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the first hanger 108a (hereinafter interchangeably referred to and designated as “the hanger 108”). The first hanger 108 may have the first bracket 110 (hereinafter interchangeably referred to and designated as “the bracket 110) and the first support arm 112 (hereinafter interchangeably referred to and designated as “the support arm 112).
[0023] As all the structural and functional aspects of the first hanger 108a, the first bracket 110, and the first support arm 112 applies to the second hanger 108b, the second bracket 114, and the second support arm 116, respectively. Therefore, FIG. 2 is used to explain the structural and functional aspects of the first hanger 108a only to make the illustrations concise and clear and should not be considered as a limitation of the present disclosure. The term “the hanger 108” as used hereinafter refers to both the first and second hangers 108a and 108b. Similarly, the term “the bracket 110” as used hereinafter refers to both the first and second brackets 110 and 114. Similarly, the term “the support arm 112” as used hereinafter refers to both the first and second support arms 112 and 116.
[0024] The bracket 110 may have a vertical arm 122 and a horizontal arm 124. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the vertical arm 122 may be disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal arm 124. Specifically, the angle between the vertical arm 122 and the horizontal arm 124 may be in a range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees. Preferably, the angle between the vertical arm 122 and the horizontal arm 124 may be 90 degrees. The horizontal arm 124 may have a curved portion 126. Specifically, the horizontal arm 124 may be shaped to form the curved portion 126 such that the curved portion 126 forms a bump on an upper surface of the horizontal arm 124. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the curved portion 126 may be provided to accept cables (e.g., the cable 104) with smaller diameters when the hanger 108 is installed over the cables. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the curved portion 126 may be greater than 5 millimetres (mm). Specifically, the curved portion 126 being greater than 5 mm may allow the hanger 108 to accept a cable (e.g., the cable 104) having a diameter in a range of 3 mm to 32 mm. Preferably, the curved portion 126 being greater than 5 mm may allow the hanger 108 to accept a cable (e.g., the cable 104) having a diameter of approximately 28 mm. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the horizontal arm 124 may have a distal end 124a. Specifically, the distal end 124a may have an arm fastener cavity 137 (as shown later in FIG. 1F). The term “distal end” as used herein refers to an end of the horizontal arm 124 that points away from the vertical arms 122. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the vertical arm 122 and the horizontal arm 124 may form a monolith structure. Specifically, the bracket 108 having the vertical arm 122 and the horizontal arm 124 may be fabricated by shaping a single sheet metal that may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, iron, aluminium, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to have and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the bracket 108 that eliminates the requirement for molds, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0025] The support arm 112 may have a first end 112a and a second end 112b. The first end 112a may have a tab 138 (shown later in FIG. 1G) such that the first end 112a may be engaged with the vertical arm 122 by way of the tab 138 in an installed configuration of the hanger 108. Specifically, when the support arm 112 is engaged with the vertical arm 122 by way of the tab 138 provided at the first end 112a, the support arm 112 is substantially parallel to the horizontal arm 124 in the installed configuration of the hanger 108. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the support arm 112 may have a flat surface such that in the installed configuration of the hanger 108, an upper surface of the support arm 112 may be substantially parallel to a bottom surface (i.e., a flat bottom surface) of the horizontal arm 124. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the support arm 112 may have a curved portion (not shown) that may be substantially similar to the curved portion 126 and curved in an opposite direction with respect to the curved portion 126. The curved portion of the support arm 112 may facilitate to improve a fit of the cable 104 within the bracket 110 in the installed configuration of the hanger 108. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the second end 112b of the support arm 112 may have a support fastener cavity 140 (shown later in FIG. 1G). Specifically, the support fastener cavity 140 of the support arm 112 may align with the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124 such that, in the installed configuration of the hanger 108, the support arm 112 may be attached to the horizontal arm 124 by way of the fastener 118. Specifically, the fastener 118 may be inserted through the support fastener cavity 140 of the support arm 112 and the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 24 and tightened by way of a nut 128. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the vertical arm 122 may have an adapter cavity 136 (shown later in FIG. 1E). The adapter cavity 136 may be adapted to accept an adapter fastener 130 that may be tightened by way of a nut 132 (as shown later in FIG. 1D). In some aspects of the present disclosure, the nut 132 may have inner threads and the adapter fastener 130 may have outer threads such that the inner threads of the nut 132 are engaged with the outer threads of the adapter fastener 130 when the adapter fastener 130 is inserted into the adapter cavity 136 and screwed in the nut 132. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the hanger 108 may have an adapter 142 (shown later in FIG. 1H) having a through hole 142a (shown later in FIG. 1H) such that the through hole 142a of the adapter 142 may be aligned with the adapter cavity 136 and the adapter fastener 130 may be inserted through the through hole 142a of the adapter 142 and the adapter cavity 136 to be fastened with the nut 132. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the optical fiber closure 106 may be attached to the vertical arm 122 of the bracket 110. Specifically, the adapter fastener 130 may be adapted to tighten the optical fiber closure 106 with the vertical arm 122 of the bracket 110 of the hanger 108 (as shown in FIG. 1A). In some aspects of the present disclosure, the nut 128 may be fixedly attached to a top surface of the horizontal arm 124. Specifically, the nut 128 may be fixedly attached over the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124 such that an opening of the nut 128 is aligned with the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124.
[0026] FIG. 1C illustrates another side view of the hanger 108. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the nut 128 may be fixedly attached to a top surface of the horizontal arm 124. Specifically, the nut 128 may be fixedly attached over the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124 such that an opening of the nut 128 is aligned with the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124. Thus, the fastener 118 (as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1D) inserted through the support fastener cavity 140 of the support arm 112 and into the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124 may be tightened by way of the nut 128. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the nut 128 may be fixedly attached to the top surface of the horizontal arm 124 by way of welding. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the nut 128 may have inner threads (not shown) that may facilitate to tighten the fastener 118. In some aspects of the present disclosure, a total height H of the hanger 108 having the fixedly attached nut 128 on the top surface of the horizontal arm 124 may be 83 mm. Further, a total width W of the hanger 108 having the support arm 112 installed on the bracket 110 (i.e., having the tab 138) may be 56 mm.
[0027] FIG. 1D illustrates yet another side view of the hanger 108. As illustrated, the nut 128 may be fixedly attached to a bottom surface of the support arm 112. Specifically, the nut 128 may be fixedly attached under the support fastener cavity 140 of the support arm 112 such that the opening of the nut 128 is aligned with the support fastener cavity 140 of the support arm 112. Thus, the fastener 118 inserted through the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124 and into the support fastener cavity 140 of the support arm 112 may be screwed by way of the nut 128. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the nut 128 may be fixedly attached to the bottom surface of the support arm 112 by way of welding. Further, the 128 may facilitate to tighten the fastener 118 such that the horizontal arm 124 and the support arm 112 tightens on both sides of the cable 104 and thus making the installation ergonomic and safe. The adapter cavity 136 may be adapted to accept the adapter fastener 130 that may be tightened by way of the nut 132. As discussed, the nut 132 may have inner threads and the adapter fastener 130 may have outer threads such that the inner threads of the nut 132 are engaged with the outer threads of the adapter fastener 130 when the adapter fastener 130 is inserted into the adapter cavity 136 and screwed in the nut 132.
[0028] FIG. 1E illustrates a side perspective view of the bracket 110. The vertical arm 122 may have a plurality of slots 134 of which first through seventh slots 134a-134g are shown. Specifically, the first through seventh slots 134a-134g may be arranged in a vertically stacked orientation. In some aspects of the present disclosure, each slot of the first through seventh slots 134a-134g may be arranged in a way that each slot of the first through seventh slots 134a-134g corresponds to a specific diameter. Further, in the installed configuration of the hanger 108, at least one slot of the first through seventh slots 134a-134g may accept the tab 138 of the support arm 112 to make the installation ergonomic and safer. In some aspects of the present disclosure, each slot of the first through seventh slots 134a-134g may have a dimension (i.e., a width and a height) that closely imitates a dimension (i.e., a width and a thickness) of the tab 138 of the support arm 112 such that by virtue of the dimensions of each slot of the first through seventh slots 134a-134g, the tab 138 of the support arm 112 can be inserted in a secure manner inside at least one slot of the of the first through seventh slots 134a-134g in the installed configuration of the hanger 108. Further, the vertical arm 122 may have the adapter cavity 136. The adapter cavity 136 may be adapted to accept the adapter fastener 130 (as shown in FIG. 1D) that may be tightened by way of the nut 132 (as shown in FIG. 1D). In some aspects of the present disclosure, the vertical arm 122 may have a width VW that may be equal to 30 mm.
[0029] FIG. 1F illustrates another side perspective view of the bracket 110. As illustrated, the distal end 124a of the horizontal arm 124 may have the arm fastener cavity 137. Specifically, the support fastener cavity 140 of the support arm 112 may align with the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124 such that, in the installed configuration of the hanger 108, the support arm 112 (as shown in FIG. 1B) may be attached to the horizontal arm 124 by way of the fastener 118 (as shown in FIG. 1D). In other words, the fastener 118 (as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1D) inserted through the support fastener cavity 140 of the support arm 112 and into the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124 may be tightened by way of the nut 128.
[0030] FIG. 1G illustrates a top perspective view of the support arm 112 of the hanger 108. As discussed, the support arm 112 may have the first end 112a and the second end 112b. The first end 112a may have the tab 138 extending substantially outwardly from the first end 112a such that the tab 138 may be inserted in at least one slot of the first through seventh slots 134a-134g of the vertical arm 122 (as shown in FIG. 1E) in the installed configuration of the hanger 108. Specifically, in the installed configuration of the hanger 108, the support arm 112 may be engaged with the vertical arm 122 by way of the tab 138 such that the support arm 112 is substantially parallel to the horizontal arm 124. Further, the support arm 112 may have the support fastener cavity 140. Specifically, the support fastener cavity 140 may be aligned with the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124 such that, in the installed configuration of the hanger 108, the support arm 112 may be attached to the horizontal arm 124 by way of the fastener 118. Specifically, the fastener 118 may be inserted through the support fastener cavity 140 and the arm fastener cavity 137 of the horizontal arm 124 and tightened by way of the nut 128. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the support arm 112 may have a substantially rectangular shape with substantially curved edges.
[0031] FIG. 1H illustrates a side perspective view of the adapter 142 of the hanger 108. The adapter 142 may be an oval shaped thin plate having a through hole 142a that may be adapted to distribute a load of the threaded adapter fastener 130 (as shown in FIG. 1D). Specifically, the through hole 142a may be provided at a centre of the adapter 142 such that the through hole 142a is aligned with the adapter cavity 136 (as shown in FIG. 1E) and the adapter fastener 130 is inserted through the through hole 142a and the adapter cavity 136 to be fastened with the nut 132. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the adapter fastener 130 may be adapted to tighten the optical fiber closure 106 with the hanger 108 (as shown in FIG. 1A). In some aspect of the present disclosure, the adapter 142 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a metal, a hardened plastic, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to have and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the adapter 142, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow-chart of a method 200 for installing the hanger kit 102 over the cable 104.
[0033] At step 202, the horizontal arm 124 of the bracket 110 may be held over the cable 104.
[0034] At step 204, the support arm 112 may be adjusted based on the diameter of the cable 104.
[0035] At step 206, the tab 138 provided at the first end 112a of the support arm 112 may be inserted in at least one slot of the plurality of slots 134a-134g provided in the vertical arm 122 of the bracket 110.
[0036] At step 208, the fastener 118 may be tightened to engage the horizontal arm 124 and the support arm 112 in the installed configuration of the hanger 108 such that the cable 104 is tightly held between the horizontal arm 124 of the bracket 110 on one side and the support arm 112 on the other side. The cable 104 may be held between the curved portion 126 of the horizontal arm 124 of the bracket 110 on one side and the support arm 112 on the other side.
[0037] At step 210, the optical fiber closure 106 may be attached to the vertical arm 122 of the bracket 110 by way of the adapter 142, the adapter fastener 130, and the nut 132, thereby enabling mounting of the optical fiber closure 106 on the cable 104.
[0038] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the step 210 may be performed prior to the step 202 such that, prior to holding the horizontal arm 124 of the bracket 110 over the cable 104, the optical fiber closure 106 may be attached to the vertical arm 122 of the bracket 110 to facilitate easy mounting of the optical fiber closure 106 on the cable 104.
[0039] Thus, the hanger kit 102 and the structural and functional aspects of the hangers 108 of the hanger kit 102 such as the plurality of slots 134 in the bracket 110 and the tab 128 provided in the support arm 112 may enable accommodation of cables (e.g., the cable 104) having variable diameter for the aerial mounting of the optical fiber closure 106. In other words, the hanger kit 102 facilitates to mount the optical fiber closure 106 on any cable having any diameter. Moreover, the hangers 108 of the hanger kit 102 may tighten and compresses the cable 104 on two points thus creating more friction and completely preventing the hangers 108 from rotating around the cable 104.
[0040] While various aspects of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the present disclosure is not limited to these aspects only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as described in the claims. Further, unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and “second” are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements.
, Claims:I/We claim(s)

1. A hanger (108) comprising:
a bracket (110) comprising (i) a vertical arm (122) and (ii) a horizontal arm (124) having a curved portion (126); and
a support arm (112) comprising a first end (112a) and a second end (112b), wherein the first end (112a) is adapted to be engaged with the vertical arm (122) such that the support arm (112) is substantially parallel to the horizontal arm (124) in an installed configuration of the hanger (108).

2. The hanger (108) as claimed in claim 1, wherein (i) the vertical arm (122) comprising a plurality of slots (134) arranged in a vertically stacked orientation and (ii) the support arm (112) comprising a tab (138) extending substantially outwardly from the first end (112a) such that, in the install configuration, the tab (138) is inserted in at least one slot of the plurality of slots (134).

3. The hanger (108) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal arm (124) and the support arm (112) comprising an arm fastener cavity (137) and a support fastener cavity (140), respectively.

4. The hanger (108) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curved portion (126) is greater than 5 millimetres (mm).

5. The hanger (108) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an angle between the vertical arm (122) and the horizontal arm (124) is in a range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees.

6. The hanger (108) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket (110) comprising the vertical arm (122) and the horizontal arm (124) is a monolith structure.

7. A hanger kit (102) comprising:
a plurality of hangers (108), wherein each hanger of the plurality of hangers (108) comprising:
a bracket (110) comprising a vertical arm (122) and a horizontal arm (124) having a curved portion (126); and
a support arm (112) comprising a first end (112a) and a second end (112b), wherein the first end (112a) is adapted to be engaged with the vertical arm (122) such that the support arm (112) is substantially parallel to the horizontal arm (124) in an installed configuration of each hanger of the plurality of hangers (108).

8. The hanger kit (102) as claimed in claim 7, wherein (i) the vertical arm (122) comprising a plurality of slots (134) arranged in a vertically stacked orientation and (ii) the support arm (112) comprising a tab (138) extending substantially outwardly from the first end (112a) such that, in the install configuration, the tab (138) is inserted in a slot of the plurality of slots (134).

9. The hanger kit (102) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the horizontal arm (124) and the support arm (112) comprising an arm fastener cavity (137) and a support fastener cavity (140), respectively.

10. The hanger kit (102) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the curved portion (126) is greater than 5 millimetres (mm).

11. The hanger kit (102) as claimed in claim 7, wherein an angle between the vertical arm (122) and the horizontal arm (124) is in a range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees.

12. The hanger kit (102) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bracket (110) comprising the vertical arm (122) and the horizontal arm (103) is a monolith structure.

13. A method (200) for installing a hanger (108) comprising:
holding a horizontal arm (124) of a bracket (110) of the hanger (108) over a cable (104);
adjusting a support arm (112) of the hanger (108) according to a diameter of the cable (104);
inserting a tab (138) provided at a first end (112a) of the support arm (112) of the hanger (108) in at least one slot of a plurality of slots (134) provided in a vertical arm (122) of the bracket (110); and
tightening a fastener (118) to engage the horizontal arm (124) and the support arm (112) in an installed configuration of the hanger (108) such that the cable (104) is tightly held between the horizontal arm (124) and the support arm (112).

14. The method (200) as claimed in claim 13, wherein, while tightening the fastener (118) to engage the horizontal arm (124) and the support arm (112), the cable (104) is held between a curved portion (126) of the horizontal arm (124) on one side and the support arm (112) on other side.

15. The method (200) as claimed in claim 13, further comprising attaching an optical fiber closure (106) to the vertical arm (122) of the bracket (110) by way of an adapter (142), an adapter fastener (130), and a nut (132), thereby enabling mounting of the optical fiber closure (106) on the cable (104).

16. The method (200) as claimed in claim 13, further comprising welding a nut (128) for the fastener (118) to at least one of, the horizontal arm (124) and the support arm (112).