Optic cable exit trough with bypass

Abstract

A cable trough is provided including a bottom portion and two upstanding sides extending from the bottom portion to define a cable pathway. The upstanding sides define an enlarged central portion of the cable trough, and the bottom portion including at least one exit trough portion. The exit trough portion can be centrally located, with a bypass pathway on either side. At least one separator wall is provided to separate the exit trough portion from each bypass pathway. A component flange is also provided extending from one of the upstanding sides. The cable trough can also include a cable storage pathway. Alternatively, two exit trough portions can be positioned on opposite sides of the cable trough adjacent each upstanding side, and on opposite sides of a central bypass pathway.

1. A cable trough comprising:
 a bottom portion;  
 two upstanding sides extending from the bottom portion to define a cable pathway;  
 the cable trough having first and second opposed ends and a central portion disposed therebetween, the upstanding sides spaced further apart from each other in the central portion than on each end to define an enlarged central portion of the cable trough;  
 the enlarged central portion of the cable trough including a downwardly extending, central exit trough portion through the bottom portion;  
 two upstanding separator walls extending upwardly from the bottom portion, each separator wall positioned on opposite sides of the central exit trough portion, each separator wall laterally spaced from the respective sides to each define a cable bypass pathway between the first and second ends.  
 
     
     
       2. The cable trough of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one upwardly extending cable storage wall adjacent to the exit trough portion defining a cable storage pathway between the cable storage wall and at least one of the separator walls. 
     
     
       3. The cable trough of  claim 1 , further comprising a component support flange extending inwardly from one of the upstanding sides in a direction toward the other side, and an optical fiber cable component mounted to the component support flange. 
     
     
       4. A cable trough comprising:
 a bottom portion;  
 two upstanding sides extending from the bottom portion to define a cable pathway;  
 the cable trough having first and second opposed ends and a central portion disposed therebetween, the upstanding sides spaced further apart from each other in the central portion than on each end to define an enlarged central portion of the cable trough;  
 the enlarged central portion of the cable trough including two downwardly extending side exit trough portions through the bottom portion;  
 two upstanding separator walls extending upwardly from the bottom portion, one separator wall positioned adjacent to each exit trough portion, each separator wall positioned on opposite sides of the bottom portion, each separator wall laterally spaced from each other to each define a central cable bypass pathway between the first and second ends.  
 
     
     
       5. A cable trough comprising:
   a cable pathway structure including a bottom portion and two upstanding sides extending from the bottom portion to define a cable pathway, the cable pathway structure further including a first open end, a second opposite open end, and a central portion disposed therebetween, the first and second opposite open ends each defining a mating U - shaped trough section configured to mate with other horizontal trough sections;        a component support flange extending from one of the upstanding sides; and        an optical fiber cable component mounted to the component support flange.      
     
     
       6. The cable trough of  claim 5  wherein the optical fiber cable component is selected from a group consisting of connectors, adapters, splitters/combiners, attenuators, splicings, switches, wave division multiplexers, and amplifiers.  
     
     
       7. The cable trough of  claim 5  wherein the component support flange extends inwardly from one of the upstanding sides in a direction toward the other side.  
     
     
       8. A cable trough comprising:
   a cable pathway structure including a bottom portion and two upstanding sides extending from the bottom portion to define a cable pathway, the cable pathway structure including a first open end, a second opposite open end, and a central portion disposed therebetween, the first and second opposite open ends each defining a mating U - shaped trough section configured to mate with other horizontal trough sections; and        component support means positioned within the cable pathway for holding an optical fiber component.      
     
     
       9. The cable trough of  claim 8  wherein the component support means holds an optical fiber cable component selected from a group consisting of connectors, adapters, splitters/combiners, attenuators, splicings, switches, wave division multiplexers, and amplifiers.  
     
     
       10. A cable trough comprising:
   a cable pathway structure including a bottom portion and upstanding sides extending from the bottom portion to define a cable pathway, the cable pathway structure including a first open end, a second open end, and a central portion disposed therebetween, the first and second open ends each defining a mating U - shaped trough section configured to mate with other horizontal trough sections;        a component support holder positioned in the cable pathway and extending transversely to the cable pathway; and        a plurality of cable components mounted to the component support holder, wherein the cable components are selected from a group consisting of connectors, adapters, splitters/combiners, attenuators, splicings, switches, wave division multiplexers, and amplifiers, the cable components defining an array extending transversely to the cable pathway.      
     
     
       11. The cable trough of  claim 5 , wherein the optical fiber cable component is located within the cable pathway.  
     
     
       12. The cable trough of  claim 8 , wherein the component support means is positioned for holding an optical fiber component at a location within the cable pathway.  
     
     
       13. The cable trough of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of cable components mounted to the component support holder are located within the cable pathway.