Cable assembly dispenser systems and associated methods

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to cable dispenser systems that generally include at least two cable assemblies. The cable assemblies includes at least one cable that includes an elongated cord. The cable assemblies include a support element configured and dimensioned to support the at least one cable thereon. The systems include a housing configured and dimensioned to receive the cable assemblies. The housing includes at least one opening for dispensing each of the cable assemblies. Dispensing a first cable assembly from the opening repositions a second cable assembly adjacent to the opening. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to methods of cable assembly dispensing.

Claims

1. A cable assembly dispenser system, comprising: at least two cable assemblies, each of the at least two cable assemblies including (i) at least one wound or coiled communication cable that includes an elongated cord that defines a first end and a second end, each communication cable configured to allow connections for communication between electronic devices, and (ii) a support element configured and dimensioned to support the at least one wound or coiled communication cable thereon, each supported wound or coiled communication cable detachable and removable from its respective support element, each detached communication cable configured to be unwound or uncoiled to allow connections for communication between electronic devices via each detached and unwound or uncoiled communication cable; and a housing that includes one or more side walls, a base and a top and that defines an enclosed volume configured and dimensioned to receive the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables within the enclosed volume, the housing including at least one opening for dispensing each of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables, wherein the enclosed volume of the housing is configured and dimensioned to receive the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables in a vertically stacked configuration; wherein dispensing a first cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables from the enclosed volume through the at least one opening automatically repositions, due to gravitational forces, a second cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables within the enclosed volume so as to be adjacent to the at least one opening; and including a first mechanism for repositioning the second cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables adjacent to the at least one opening which imparts a force on the second cable assembly in a direction of a position aligned with the at least one opening.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two cable assemblies includes at least one electrical or fiber optic connector mounted with respect to the first end or the second end of the elongated cord.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two cable assemblies includes at least one bare communication cable end at the first or the second end of the elongated cord.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the support element defines a planar surface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the support element defines a stiff surface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables includes a coupler element for detachably securing the at least one wound or coiled communication cable to the support element.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism automatically repositions the second cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables adjacent to the at least one opening.

8. The system of claim 1, including a second mechanism for at least partially dispensing the first cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables from the at least one opening when the first cable assembly is positioned in a position aligned with the at least one opening which imparts a force in a direction of the at least one opening.

9. The system of claim 1, including a counter for indicating a number of cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables remaining in the housing.

10. A method of cable assembly dispensing, comprising: providing at least two cable assemblies, each of the at least two cable assemblies including (i) at least one wound or coiled communication cable that includes an elongated cord that defines a first end and a second end, each communication cable configured to allow connections for communication between electronic devices, and (ii) a support element configured and dimensioned to support the at least one wound or coiled communication cable thereon, each supported wound or coiled communication cable detachable and removable from its respective support element, each detached communication cable configured to be unwound or uncoiled to allow connections for communication between electronic devices via each detached and unwound or uncoiled communication cable; providing a housing that includes one or more side walls, a base and a top that define an enclosed volume configured and dimensioned to receive the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables, the housing including at least one opening for dispensing each of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables, positioning the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables in the enclosed volume of the housing in a vertically stacked configuration; dispensing a first cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables from the enclosed volume of the housing through the at least one opening of the housing, automatically repositioning, due to gravitational forces, a second cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables adjacent to the at least one opening; detaching and removing the wound or coiled communication cable of the first cable assembly away from its respective support element; and unwinding or uncoiling the detached communication cable of the first cable assembly to allow connections for communication between electronic devices via the detached and unwound or uncoiled communication cable of the first cable assembly; wherein dispensing the first cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables from the at least one opening includes imparting a force with a first mechanism on the first cable assembly in a direction of the at least one opening to at least partially dispense the first cable assembly from the at least one opening.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein repositioning the second cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables adjacent to the at least one opening includes imparting a force with a second mechanism on the second cable assembly in a direction of a position aligned with the at least one opening.

12. A cable assembly dispenser system, comprising: at least two cable assemblies, each of the at least two cable assemblies including a wound or coiled communication cable that includes an elongated cord that defines a first end and a second end, each communication cable configured to be unwound or uncoiled to allow connections for communication between electronic devices; and a housing that includes one or more side walls, a base and a top that define an enclosed volume configured and dimensioned to receive the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables, the housing including at least one opening for dispensing each of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables, and a counter for indicating a number of cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables remaining in the housing; wherein the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables are positioned within the enclosed volume of the housing in a vertically stacked configuration; and wherein dispensing a first cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables from the enclosed volume of the housing through the at least one opening of the housing automatically repositions, due to gravitational forces, a second cable assembly of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables adjacent to the at least one opening.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables includes a detachable binding element for detachably binding the elongated cord.

14. The system of claim 12, including a coupler element for detachably coupling one of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables to a support element, the support element being configured and dimensioned to support one of the at least two cable assemblies having the wound or coiled communication cables thereon, the supported wound or coiled communication cable detachable and removable from its respective support element, and the detached communication cable configured to be unwound or uncoiled to allow connections for communication between electronic devices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To assist those of skill in the art in making and using the disclosed cable dispensers and associated systems and methods, reference is made to the accompanying figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary cable assembly dispensing system, including an exemplary cable assembly and a cable assembly dispenser according to the present disclosure; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary cable assembly dispensing system, including an exemplary cable assembly and a cable assembly dispenser according to the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

(4) With reference to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an exemplary cable assembly dispensing system 100 (hereinafter system 100), e.g., a cable assembly packaging and payout system, is provided that includes an exemplary cable assembly 200 and a cable assembly dispenser 300. The cable assembly 200 generally includes at least one cable 202. In some embodiments, the cable assembly 200 can include multiple cables 202 secured relative to each other with coupler elements, e.g., clips, tape, cable ties, and the like. The cable 202 includes an elongated cord 204 which defines two opposing ends, e.g., a first end 212 and a second end 214. At least one of the first end 212 and second end 214 includes a connector 206, 208 mounted to the elongated cord 202. The connector 206, 208 can be, e.g., a plug, a jack, and the like. The plug can be, e.g., an RJ 45 type plug, a Category 5 plug, a Category 6 plug, a Category 6A plug, a fiber optic plug, and the like. In some embodiments, at least one of the first end 212 and the second end 214 defines a bare cable end, e.g., without the connectors 206, 208. In some embodiments, both the first and second ends 212, 214 define a bare cable end.

(5) The cable assembly 200 can include a support element 210, e.g., a cardboard support element, a plastic support element, and the like. The support element 210 can be configured and dimensioned to support the cable 202 thereon. In particular, the support element 210 can be configured as, e.g., rectangular, square, circular, oval, and the like, as long as the support element 210 completely supports the cable assembly 202 thereon. In some embodiments, the support element 210 can define a substantially planar surface. In other embodiments, the support element 210 can define a curved surface. For example, the support element 210 can define a central groove configured and dimensioned to receive therein the cable 202 to ensure that the cable 202 does not fall off the support element 210. In some embodiments, the support element 210 can include side walls for housing the cable 202 to ensure that the cable 202 does not fall off the support element 210.

(6) At least one coupler element 216, e.g., a wrapping, a cable tie, adhesive tape, a spring-loaded clip or clamp, and the like, can be used to detachably secure the cable 202 to the support element 210. The wrapping can be a plastic wrapping. In some embodiments, the wrapping can be transparent. In embodiments implementing a cable tie, the support element 210 can include one or more holes passing the thickness of the support element 210 to allow passage of the cable tie therethrough for detachably securing the cable 202 to the support element 210.

(7) With reference to FIG. 1, the cable 202 is shown detachably secured to the support element 210 with an adhesive tape coupler element 216. In some embodiments, a binding element 218, e.g., a wrapping, a cable tie, adhesive tape, and the like, can be used to bind the elongated cord 204 of the cable 202 relative to itself and/or the connectors 206, 208. In particular, the cable 202 can be wound or coiled into, e.g., a circular configuration, an oval configuration, and the like, and a binding element 218 can be used to maintain the cable 202 in the wound configuration. In some embodiments, the cable 202 can be wound or coiled into, e.g., a circular configuration, an oval configuration, and the like, and the coupler element 216 can be used to detachably secure the cable 202 to the support element 210 and maintain the cable 202 in the wound configuration without the use of a binding element 218. It should be understood that alternative configurations of winding or coiling the cable 202 are within the scope of the present disclosure.

(8) Packaging the cable assemblies 200 with only the support element 210, a coupler element 216 and, optionally, a binding element 218, can decrease costs associated with production of the cable assemblies 200 and reduce installation times by necessitating less materials to be removed for installation of the cable 202. For example, once dispensed from the dispenser 300, the cable assembly 200 can be unwound or uncoiled by removing the coupler element 216 and, optionally, tearing or breaking the binding element 218. Thus, rather than removing cables 202 from multiple packaging materials, the cable 202 can be ready for installation within a shorter period of time by necessitating a lesser amount of materials to be removed to unwind the cable 202.

(9) Still with reference to FIG. 1, the system 100 generally includes a cable assembly dispenser 300 (hereinafter dispenser 300). The dispenser 300 includes a housing 302 which can be defined by a top wall 308, a bottom wall 310, a rear wall 314, a front wall 312 and side walls 318. In some embodiments, the housing 302 can be configured as, e.g., a cylindrical housing, a rectangular housing, and the like, depending on the configuration of the support element 210. In some embodiments, the housing 302 can include a handle 326, e.g., one or more openings configured and dimensioned to receive a user's fingers, a strap, and the like, for lifting or moving the system 100. The housing 302 defines an interior space 304 configured and dimensioned to receive a plurality of cable assemblies 200. In particular, the top wall 308 of the housing 302 can include a lid which can be opened to insert the plurality of cable assemblies 200 into the housing 302. The housing 302 can receive the cable assemblies 200 in a stacked configuration, e.g., vertically stacked in a top wall 308 to bottom wall 310 direction. In particular, the cable assemblies 200 can be stacked one on top of another until the top wall 308 is reached. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the dispenser 300 can accommodate up to six cable assemblies 200 in first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth positions 306a-306f, respectively. However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the dispenser 300 can accommodate any number of cable assemblies 200. In some embodiments, the housing 302 can be flipped on one of the side surfaces 318 or can be oriented such that the cable assemblies 200 are horizontally stacked in a direction perpendicular to the direction of dispensing.

(10) The housing 302 includes at least one opening 316, e.g., an exit slot, for dispensing each of the cable assemblies 200 individually from the interior space 304. In particular, the opening 316 can be located near the bottom wall 310 of the housing 302 and can be substantially aligned with the first position 306a for a cable assembly 200. The opening 316 can be configured and dimensioned to allow the passage of one cable assembly 200 at a time when the cable assembly 200 positioned in position 306a is pulled out of the housing 316 in the direction A as shown in FIG. 1.

(11) When a cable assembly 200 positioned in the first position 306a inside the housing 302 is dispensed and/or pulled out of the opening 316, a cable assembly 200 positioned immediately above the dispensed cable assembly 200 in the second position 306b can be automatically repositioned into the first position 306a adjacent to the opening 316. In particular, when a cable assembly 200 positioned in the first position 306a inside the housing 302 is dispensed and/or pulled out of the housing 302, all of the cable assemblies 200 positioned above the cable assembly 200 recently dispensed automatically move down one position in a direction B within the housing 302. For example, with reference to FIG. 1, when cable assembly 200 is pulled out of the opening 316 in the housing 302 as shown, cable assembly 200, which was positioned immediately above cable assembly 200, can move down to the first position 306a in the direction B.

(12) In some embodiments, the dispenser 300 can include a spring-loaded mechanism 320, e.g., a spring-loaded surface, secured to the interior surface of the top wall 308. The mechanism 320 can impart a force in the direction B, e.g., in the direction of the bottom wall 310, on the cable assemblies 200 located within the housing 302. Thus, when a cable assembly 200 positioned in the first position 306a inside the housing 302 is dispensed and/or pulled out of the opening 316 in the housing 302, the mechanism 320 can impart a force onto the cable assemblies 200 remaining in the housing 302 to force and/or aid the movement of the cable assemblies 200 in the direction B such that the subsequent cable assembly 200 is positioned in the first position 306a and ready for dispensing. Although illustrated above the cable assembly 200 for clarity, it should be understood that the mechanism 320 can be positioned against and provide a force to the top cable assembly 200 in the stack of cable assemblies 200 within the dispenser 300.

(13) In some embodiments, rather than automatically moving the subsequent cable assembly 200 from the second position 306b to the first position 306a when the cable assembly 200 has been dispensed from the first position 306a, the mechanism 320 can be manually actuated by a user with, e.g., a switch, to force the subsequent cable assembly 200 in the B direction. In some embodiments, rather than a using a mechanism 320, the cable assemblies 200 remaining in the housing 302 can be moved in the direction B by gravitational forces due to the weight of the stacked cable assemblies 200.

(14) In some embodiments, the dispenser 300 can include an alternative spring-loaded mechanism 322, e.g., a spring-loaded surface. The mechanism 322 can be secured to the rear wall 314 of the dispenser and can impart a force in the direction A, e.g., in the direction of the opening 316, on the cable assembly 200 positioned in the first position 306a. Thus, when a cable assembly 200 is moved down from the second position 306b to the first position 306a inside the housing 302, the mechanism 322 can automatically force and/or aid in at least partially dispensing the cable assembly 200 out of the opening 316. In some embodiments, rather than automatically dispending the cable assembly 200 out of the opening 316, the mechanism 322 can be manually actuated by a user with, e.g., a switch, to at least partially dispense the cable assembly 200 out of the opening 316. Once the cable assembly 200 has been partially dispensed from the opening 316, the mechanism 322 can automatically reset to a position adjacent to the rear wall 314 to permit the subsequent cable assembly 200 to be moved down into the first position 306a.

(15) In some embodiments, rather than positioning and/or dispensing only one cable assembly 200 at a time, the dispenser 300 can include, e.g., a switch, to allow selection of the number of cable assemblies 200 to be positioned in the first position 306a or to be dispensed from the opening 316. For example, the first position 306a and the opening 316 can be dimensioned to receive one or more cable assemblies 200 at one time. Thus, if a user requires more than one cable assembly 200 for installation, rather than dispensing each cable assembly 200 individually, several cable assemblies 200 can be dispensed at one time.

(16) When a portion or all of the cable assemblies 200 have been dispensed from the dispenser 300, the dispenser 300 can be reused by refilling the dispenser 300 with additional cable assemblies 200. The outer surfaces of the housing 302 can include information about the cable assemblies 200 within the housing 302, e.g., logos, the cable type, the connector type, the number of cables in the dispenser 300, and the like. In some embodiments, the housing 302 can be fabricated from, e.g., a plastic material, a glass material, a metal material, and the like. In some embodiments, the housing 302 can be collapsible. In some embodiments, the housing 302 can be translucent. In addition, the dispenser 300 can include a counter 324 on an outer surface of the housing 302 for sensing and indicating the number of cable assemblies 200 remaining in the housing 302. The counter 324 can be reset when the dispenser 300 is refilled with additional cable assemblies 200. The system 100 can therefore be used for effectively and/or efficiently packaging, organizing, identifying, accessing and/or dispensing a variety of cables.

(17) Turning now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of an exemplary cable assembly dispensing system 400 (hereinafter system 400), e.g., a cable assembly packaging and payout system, is provided that includes an exemplary cable assembly 500 and a dispenser 300. In particular, the dispenser 300 of system 400 can be substantially similar in structure and function to the dispenser 300 of system 100 shown in FIG. 1. The cable assembly 500 of system 400 can be substantially similar to the cable assembly 200 of system 100 shown in FIG. 1, except that the cable assembly 500 does not include a support element 210. The cable assembly 500 of system 400 generally includes at least one cable 202 that includes an elongated cord 204 and can include connectors 206, 208 at the first and second ends 212, 214. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second ends 212, 214 can define a bare cable end. The cable 202 can be wound or coiled in, e.g., a circular configuration, an oval configuration, and the like, and can be bound by one or more binding elements 218, e.g., a wrapping, a cable tie, adhesive tape, and the like. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates cable 202 wound in a circular configuration and bound by adhesive tape.

(18) Packaging the cable assemblies 500 without the support element 210 can further decrease costs associated with production of the cable assemblies 500 and reduce installation times by necessitating less materials to be removed for installation of the cable 202. For example, once dispensed from the dispenser 300, the cable assembly 500 can be unwound or uncoiled by tearing or breaking the binding element 218. Thus, rather than removing cables 202 from multiple packaging materials, the cable 202 can be ready for installation within a shorter period of time by necessitating a lesser amount of materials to be removed to unwind the cable 202.

(19) Similar to system 100, the cable assemblies 500 of system 400 can be vertically stacked within the housing 302 of the dispenser 300 such that when a cable assembly 500 positioned in the first position 306a is dispensed and/or pulled out of the opening 316 in the housing 302 in the direction B, any cable assemblies 500 positioned above the dispensed cable assembly 500 automatically move down one position in the direction B toward the bottom wall 310 and adjacent to the opening 316. For example, the cable assembly 500 was positioned in the first position 306a of the housing 302 and was pulled out of the opening 316 in the direction A. The cable assembly 500 was positioned directly above cable assembly 500 in the housing 302. Thus, when cable assembly 500 is pulled out of the housing 302, the cable assembly 500 automatically moves in the direction B from the second position 306b to the first position 306a adjacent to the opening 316.

(20) In some embodiments, a spring-loaded mechanism 320 can be used to force the cable assembly 500 in the direction B. In some embodiments, the mechanism 320 can be actuated manually by a user with, e.g., a switch. In some embodiments, the cable assembly 500 can be forced in the direction B only by a gravitational force. The repositioning of the cable assemblies 500 located above the dispensed cable assembly 500 advantageously positions the next available cable assembly 500 to be dispensed, thereby decreasing installation times. As discussed above, the dispenser 300 can include a spring-loaded mechanism 322 aligned with the first position 306a and the opening 316 to at least partially dispense the cable assembly 500 from the housing 302 when the cable assembly 500 is repositioned into the first position 306a. In some embodiments, the dispenser 300 includes a counter 324 on an outer surface of the housing 302 for sensing and indicating the number of cable assemblies 500 remaining in the housing 302. The system 400 can therefore be used for effectively and/or efficiently packaging, organizing, identifying, accessing and/or dispensing a variety of cables.

(21) While exemplary embodiments have been described herein, it is expressly noted that these embodiments should not be construed as limiting, but rather that additions and modifications to what is expressly described herein also are included within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations and permutations, even if such combinations or permutations are not made express herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.