Patent · US Expired

Cable breakaway assembly

US6526858B1 · kind B1 · utility

10Cited by
11References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 20, 2000
Grant dateMar 4, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T83/9493
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.