Devices for cable management

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a cable reel. The cable reel includes a core member, a first wall coupled to a first end of the core member and extending radially outward therefrom, and a second wall coupled to an opposing second end of the core member and extending radially outwardly therefrom. The first wall and the second wall define a gap therebetween that is configured to hold a length of excess cable wrapped around the core member. The cable reel being formed of a non-metallic material. Cable reel assemblies are also described herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cable reel, comprising:
 a core member;   a first wall coupled to a first end of the core member and extending radially outward therefrom; and   a second wall coupled to an opposing second end of the core member and extending radially outwardly therefrom,   wherein the first wall and the second wall define a gap therebetween, the gap being configured to hold a length of excess cable wrapped around the core member, and   wherein the cable reel is formed of a non-metallic material.   
     
     
         2 . The cable reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the core member has a width extending from the first end to the opposing second end, and wherein the gap between the first wall and the second wall is equal to the width of the core member. 
     
     
         3 . The cable reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wall comprises an opening and at least one support member extending across the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The cable reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and/or the second wall further comprises a cable notch configured to receive a portion of the length of excess cable. 
     
     
         5 . The cable reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and/or the second wall comprises a plurality of mounting features configured to secure the cable reel a mounting structure. 
     
     
         6 . The cable reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second walls each have a total length in a range of about 13 inches to about 19 inches and a total height in a range of about 12 inches to about 17 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The cable reel according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one support member comprises a pair of coupling features extending from a top surface of the support member and a corresponding pair of coupling features residing on an opposing bottom surface of the support member. 
     
     
         8 . The cable reel according to  claim 7 , wherein the cable reel is a first cable reel, and wherein the pair of coupling features on the top surface of the first cable reel is engaged with the corresponding pair of coupling features in the bottom surface of the support member of a second cable reel such that the second cable reel is secured to the first cable reel in a stacked relationship. 
     
     
         9 . The cable reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic material that forms the core member, the first wall, and/or the second wall comprises glass, nylon, acetal, polypropylene, and/or polyethylene. 
     
     
         10 . The cable reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the second wall each have an oval shape. 
     
     
         11 . The cable reel according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more removable extension flanges attached to at least one of the first wall and/or second wall. 
     
     
         12 . The cable reel according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cable reel cover configured to fit over the cable reel. 
     
     
         13 . A cable reel, in combination with a fiber cable, comprising:
 a core member;   a first wall coupled to a first end of the core member and extending radially outward therefrom; and   a second wall coupled to an opposing second end of the core member and extending radially outwardly therefrom,   wherein the first wall and the second wall define a gap therebetween,   wherein the cable reel is formed of a non-metallic material, and   wherein an excess length of the fiber cable is wrapped around the core member and held within the gap between the first wall and the second wall.   
     
     
         14 . The cable reel according to  claim 13 , wherein the core member has a width extending from the first end to the second end, and wherein the gap between the first wall and the second wall is equal to the width of the core member. 
     
     
         15 . The cable reel according to  claim 13 , wherein the first wall comprises an opening and at least one support member extending across the opening. 
     
     
         16 . The cable reel according to  claim 13 , wherein the first wall and/or the second wall further comprises a cable notch configured to receive a portion of the length of excess fiber cable. 
     
     
         17 . The cable reel according to  claim 13 , wherein the first wall and/or the second wall comprises a plurality of mounting features configured to secure the cable reel a mounting structure. 
     
     
         18 . The cable reel according to  claim 13 , wherein the non-metallic material that forms the cable reel comprises glass, nylon, acetal, polypropylene, and/or polyethylene. 
     
     
         19 . The cable reel according to  claim 13 , wherein the fiber cable is selected from a group consisting of trunk cables and/or jumper cables. 
     
     
         20 . A cable reel assembly, comprising:
 a first cable reel and a second cable reel, each cable reel is formed from a non-metallic material and comprises:
 a core member; 
 a first wall coupled to an end of the core member and extending radially outward therefrom, the first wall comprises an opening and a support member extending across the opening; 
 a second wall coupled to an opposing end of the core member and extending radially outwardly therefrom; and 
 a first pair of coupling features extending from a top surface of the support member and a second pair of coupling features residing on an opposing bottom surface of the support member, 
 wherein the first wall and the second wall define a gap therebetween, the gap being configured to hold a length of excess cable wrapped around the core member, 
   wherein the first pair of coupling features of the first cable reel is engaged with the corresponding second pair of coupling features in the opposing bottom surface of the support member of the second cable reel such that the second cable reel is secured to the first cable reel in a stacked relationship.