Adhesive backed ducts for cabling applications

Abstract

A duct for distributing one or more communication lines comprises an elongated body having a length and a conduit portion with a lengthwise bore formed therein, the conduit portion containing one or more communication lines. The duct also includes a flange extending lengthwise adjacent the elongated body to mount the duct to a mounting surface. The duct also includes an adhesive layer disposed on a bottom surface of the flange. The duct may further include a strength member extending lengthwise with the flange. The strength member may be disposed between the bottom surface and the adhesive layer or within the conduit. The duct may include an open slot in the top to allow for insertion and removal of the communication line. The duct may also be configured such that the conduit portion is attached to the flange structure via a thin web of material having a thickness such that upon modest application of a peeling force, a segment of the conduit portion is detachable from the flange structure.

1 . A duct for distributing one or more communication lines, comprising:
 a flexible, elongated body having a conduit portion with a lengthwise bore formed therein, the conduit portion containing one or more communication lines;   a flange structure extending lengthwise adjacent the elongated body to mount the duct to a mounting surface;   a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a generally flat bottom surface of the flange structure; and   a strength member extending lengthwise with the flange structure and disposed between the bottom surface and the adhesive layer.   
     
     
         2 . A duct for distributing one or more communication lines, comprising:
 a flexible, elongated body having a conduit portion with a lengthwise bore formed therein, the conduit portion containing one or more communication lines;   a flange structure extending lengthwise adjacent the elongated body to mount the duct to a mounting surface;   a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a generally flat bottom surface of the flange structure; and   a strength member extending lengthwise with the flange structure and disposed within the conduit portion.   
     
     
         3 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein the strength member comprises at least one of an aramid string, aramid yarn, and a bonded material. 
     
     
         4 . The duct of  claim 2 , wherein the strength member comprises at least one of an aramid yarn, aramid string, and a bonded material. 
     
     
         5 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein the strength member is disposed centrally with respect to a width of the duct. 
     
     
         6 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit portion is attached to the flange structure via a thin web of material having a thickness such that upon modest application of a peeling force, a segment of the conduit portion is detachable from the flange structure. 
     
     
         7 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit portion includes a longitudinal slot formed therein to provide for insertion and removal of the at least one communication line. 
     
     
         8 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein the duct includes at least one additional conduit portion, wherein the first conduit portion is configured to contain at least a first communication line and the additional conduit portion is configured to contain at least a second communication line. 
     
     
         9 . A duct for distributing one or more communication lines, comprising:
 a flexible, elongated body having a plurality of conduit portions, each conduit portion having a lengthwise bore formed therein and configured to house an individual communication line;   a flange structure extending lengthwise adjacent the elongated body to mount the duct to a mounting surface; and   a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a generally flat bottom surface of the flange structure, wherein the conduit portions are disposed adjacent each other in the same plane on an upper surface of the flange structure.   
     
     
         10 . A duct for distributing one or more communication lines, comprising:
 a flexible, elongated body having a conduit portion with a lengthwise bore formed therein, the conduit portion containing one or more communication lines;   a flange structure extending lengthwise adjacent the elongated body to mount the duct to a mounting surface; and   a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a generally flat bottom surface of the flange structure, wherein the conduit portion includes a longitudinal slot formed therein to provide for insertion and removal of the at least one communication line.   
     
     
         11 . The duct of  claim 10 , wherein the duct includes multiple conduits each having a bore formed along a longitudinal axis of the duct, wherein a first conduit is configured to hold a first drop fiber and a second conduit is configured to hold a second drop fiber. 
     
     
         12 . The duct of  claim 10 , wherein the slot has a size of about 50% or less of a diameter of the at least one communication line. 
     
     
         13 . The duct of  claim 10 , wherein the slot has a size of from about 10% to about 50% of the communication line outer diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein the flange structure comprises a first flange extending laterally from the conduit portion in a first direction and a second flange extending laterally from the conduit portion in a second direction. 
     
     
         15 . The duct of  claim 14 , further comprising a first recess portion disposed between the conduit portion and the first flange, and a second recess portion disposed between the conduit portion and the second flange. 
     
     
         16 . A duct for distributing one or more communication lines, comprising:
 a flexible, elongated body having a conduit portion with a lengthwise bore formed therein, the conduit portion containing one or more communication lines;   a flange structure extending lengthwise adjacent the elongated body to mount the duct to a mounting surface; and   a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a generally flat bottom surface of the flange structure, wherein the conduit portion is attached to the flange structure via a thin web of material having a thickness such that upon modest application of a peeling force, a segment of the conduit portion is detachable from the flange structure.   
     
     
         17 . The duct of  claim 16 , wherein the conduit portion is formed in the same bending plane as the flange structure. 
     
     
         18 . The duct of  claim 16 , wherein the thin web of material has a thickness of from about 10% to about 30% of the thickness of the flange structure. 
     
     
         19 . The duct of  claim 16 , wherein the conduit portion is attached to a central portion of the flange structure. 
     
     
         20 . The duct of  claim 16 , wherein the conduit portion comprises dual conduit portions having the flange structure disposed in between, each of the conduit portions attached to the flange structure via a thin web of material, wherein the conduit portions are formed in the same bending plane as the flange structure. 
     
     
         21 . The duct of  claim 16 , wherein the conduit portion comprises multiple conduit portions, each attached to a top surface of the flange structure via a thin web of material. 
     
     
         22 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body has a form factor (length versus width) of greater than 100 to 1. 
     
     
         23 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more communication lines includes at least one of an electrical wire, a plastic optical fiber, a single mode optical fiber, a multi-mode optical fiber, and a micro-module that includes a plurality of optical fibers. 
     
     
         24 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive comprises one of a double sided tape, a transfer adhesive, and a stretch release adhesive. 
     
     
         25 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein the duct has a lateral dimension from about 0.2 inches to about 1 inch, and a height of less than about 0.1 inch to about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         26 . The duct of  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the bore is about 20% or less larger than an outer diameter of the drop fiber disposed therein. 
     
     
         27 . A tape for distributing one or more communication lines within a living unit, comprising:
 an optically clear or translucent pressure sensitive adhesive tape, having a communication line with a clear buffer coating, mountable to a wall within the living unit, wherein the communication line is disposed between an adhesive portion of the optically clear or translucent adhesive tape and the wall.