Cable support and method

Abstract

A cable support has a saddle, and a hinged part that can be engaged with a slot in the cable support to close an opening for placing cables into the saddle. The saddle has a curved inner surface, bulging at middle of the surface and curving away toward the longitudinal edges. The hinged part has a resilient finger tab that releasably fits into slot in the support to close the opening. An insert may be placed in a cable-receiving area of the support to divide the area into plural cable-receiving pockets. The insert may include hooks that engage an insert guide rail of the cable support.

1 . A cable support comprising:
 a cable-receiving saddle; and   a hinged part hingedly coupled to the saddle;   wherein the hinged part rotates about the saddle at a hinge.   
   
   
       2 . The cable support of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hinged part and the saddle are at least in part made from a continuous single piece of material;   wherein the hinge is a weakened portion of the single piece of material that is weaker than adjacent portions of the saddle and the hinged part;   wherein the hinged part includes a tab that is selectively engaged with a slot in the cable support to selectively close an opening providing access to the saddle; and   wherein the tab is a resilient finger tab having an upper tab portion that is hingedly coupled to a lower tab portion.   
   
   
       3 . A cable support comprising:
 a cable-receiving saddle that defines a cable-receiving area; and   an insert that fits into the cable-receiving saddle;   wherein the insert divides the cable receiving area into a plurality of cable-receiving pockets.   
   
   
       4 . The cable support of  claim 3 , wherein the insert is a plastic insert. 
   
   
       5 . The cable support of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the insert has plural substantially-parallel walls; and   wherein the pockets are between respective adjacent pairs of the walls.   
   
   
       6 . The cable support of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the walls include tabs with ramps; and   wherein the ramps aid in securing cables within the cable-receiving pockets.   
   
   
       7 . The cable support of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the insert includes a central body and plural legs extending outward from the central body; and   wherein the plural legs define the cable-receiving pockets.   
   
   
       8 . A method of installing cables comprising:
 placing the cables in plural cable supports, wherein at least one of the cable supports includes an insert that divides a cable-receiving area into plural cable-receiving pockets;   testing the cables for alien crosstalk; and   if necessary, reconfiguring the cables within the cable supports to reduce alien crosstalk.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the reconfiguring includes twisting the insert. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the reconfiguring includes moving at least one of the cables to another of the pockets. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the reconfiguring includes adding an additional insert to one of the cable supports that did not previously have an insert. 
   
   
       12 . A method of installing cables comprises:
 spreading the cables apart using inserts that define plural cable-receiving pockets, wherein the cables each pass through one of the pockets; and   supporting the cables with plural cable supports.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the inserts each include a central body and plural legs extending outward from the central body; and   wherein the plural legs define the plural cable-receiving pockets.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the inserts each include plural substantially-parallel walls; and   wherein the pockets are between respective adjacent pairs of the walls.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cables include one or more power transmitting cables. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the inserts are in respective of the cable supports. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising rotating the at least some of the inserts relative to the cable supports. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the inserts are in sag portions of the cables, not in the cable supports. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the inserts in the sag portions of the cables are each surrounded by a strap that retains the cables in cable-receiving pockets of the inserts. 
   
   
       20 . The cable support of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hinge includes a pin that fits into openings in the saddle and the hinged part.   
   
   
       21 . The cable support of  claim 20 , wherein the hinged part includes a tab that is selectively engaged with a slot in the cable support to selectively close an opening providing access to the saddle. 
   
   
       22 . A cable separator comprising:
 plural first structures that define plural cable-receiving pockets between respective adjacent pairs of the structures; and   a second structure connected to and supporting all of the first structures.   
   
   
       23 . The cable separator of  claim 22 , wherein at least part of all of the first structures and at least part of the second structure are parts of a single plastic piece. 
   
   
       24 . The cable separator of  claim 22 ,
 wherein the second structure is a central body; and   wherein the first structures are plural legs extending outward from the central body   
   
   
       25 . The cable separator of  claim 22 , wherein the first structures are substantially-parallel walls extending from the second structure.