Apparatus and method for managing flexible lines

Abstract

An apparatus for managing flexible lines has first and second spool members secured together by a hinge which allows the spool members to be folded between an open condition in which the spool members are in co-planar, side-by-side positions and a folded, closed condition in which the spool members are folded towards one another until they are aligned and substantially face-to-face. Each spool member has a groove extending in an at least substantially continuous loop which receives successive windings of a line or strip as it is wound in a figure eight pattern between the two spool members in an open condition. When winding is complete, the spool members can be folded together into the folded, closed condition.

1 . An apparatus for managing flexible lines, comprising:
 a folding device having a first spool member, a second spool member, and a hinge connecting the spool members, each spool member having opposite first and second faces and an outer peripheral edge; the hinge allowing the spool members to be folded between an open condition in which the spool members are in co-planar, side-by-side positions and a closed, folded condition in which the spool members are folded towards one another about the hinge into a substantially aligned, face-to-face position, the first faces of the spool members facing one another in the folded condition; and   each spool member having a winding groove extending in an at least substantially continuous loop which receives successive windings of a line as it is wound in a figure eight pattern between the two spool members with the folding device in an open condition, wherein the windings form a folded figure eight in the folded, closed condition of the device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each winding groove extends around at least a major part of the outer peripheral edge of the respective spool member and has first and second spaced rims. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the hinge comprises a pair of spaced hinge portions with a gap between the hinge portions forming a cross over area for line passing from one spool member to the other spool member. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first rim of the groove on each spool member terminates at each end of the gap between the hinge portions to leave the groove open along one side across the gap. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge connects the first faces of the spool members. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each spool member is a flat member and each winding groove is located on the second face of the spool member and spaced inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the spool member. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each spool member is a flat, ring-shaped member having a central opening. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the hinge comprises two spaced hinge portions with a gap between the hinge portions providing a cross over area for line wound from one spool member to the other. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each spool member has a cut out extending from the peripheral edge to the groove in an area between the hinge portions and facing the cross over area, each cut out providing a pathway for line extending between a respective groove and the cross over area. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is formed integrally with the spool members. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge and spool members are separate elements, and a fastener mechanism connects the hinge to each spool member. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each spool member has at least one opening which is aligned with the opening in the other spool member in the folded, closed condition of the folding device, the openings receiving a holding device which secures windings of line in the respective winding groove. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting device which holds at least one folding device in the folded condition. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each spool member has a central opening and the central openings are aligned in the folded, closed condition of the folding device, and the mounting device comprises a mounting base and a hub extending from one face of the base which extends through the aligned openings. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the hub has resilient fingers which are compressed as the folding device is pushed over the hub, the fingers having a recess which receives the folding device in a storage position. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each winding groove is of generally rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each winding groove has an inner end, opposite side walls, and an outer opening, and is of generally triangular cross-section with the opposite side walls tapering inwardly towards one another from the inner end to the outer opening of the groove. 
     
     
         18 . A method for managing slack in a flexible line extending between two points on the line, comprising:
 positioning a folding device with first and second spool members which are secured together by a hinge in a side-by-side, coplanar and open condition;   winding a length of a line in a first direction around a first winding groove in the first spool member, extending the line over a cross over area between the spool members, winding a subsequent length of the line in a second direction around a second winding groove in the second spool member, and extending the line over the cross over area between the spool members to form a figure eight;   repeating the preceding winding steps to form successive figure eights until the majority of the slack in the line is taken up by the windings on the spool members; and   folding the spool members together about the hinge into a folded, closed condition, whereby a folded figure eight is formed.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each winding groove extends around the outer peripheral edge of the respective spool member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each winding groove is located on one face of the respective spool member and spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of the spool member. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the spool members are folded such that each winding groove is located on the outermost face of the respective spool member in the folded, closed condition. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of winding the line in a first direction about the first winding groove in the first spool member comprises first engaging a portion of the line in part of the second winding groove adjacent the cross over area and extending the line from the second winding groove over the cross over area and into the first winding groove before winding the line in the first direction about the first winding groove. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the winding steps are repeated until a length of the line corresponding to at least one turn remains unwound, and the spool members are folded together before winding a final turn of the line onto one of the spool members. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible line comprises one or more optical fibers. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising adjusting the lengths L 1  and L 2  of two fiber pigtails so that the total fiber length L=L 1 +L 2 =l 1 +l 2 +nπd+ε, where d is the diameter of each winding groove, n is an integer, l 1  and l 2  are the distances from the fiber points on each side of the folded spool members to the point where fiber joins the respective winding groove in the folded, closed position, and E is a compensation factor based on variation in winding diameter as a result of plural turns of the fiber being wound on top of one another, and subsequently splicing the adjusted fiber pigtails together prior to winding onto the first and second spool members in the figure eight pattern.