Abstract: A muscle-stretching machine designed to provide the user with an easy method of functional and dynamic stretching and also provide the user with flexibility feedback information as to the performance of the stretch, with regards to the included angle between the two legs. A user of the muscle stretching machine can set the roller pad along any point along the back of the user's leg and set the angle the roller pad makes with the floor, so that the angle exceeds the users stride length. The user then lies on their back on the cushioned surface; places one leg on the roller pad and the other leg is allowed to hang down. If the roller pad is set at an angle that exceeds the users stride length, then the leg not on the pad will not contact the floor. As a result, when the free leg drops all the muscles in the user's stride are stretched.

Abstract: A cable management cabinet is improved by separately managing the routing of data copper cables and optical fiber cables within the cabinet. This is accomplished by providing separate cable retaining boxes (CRBs) for data copper cables and optical fiber cables respectively. The CRBs are provided with front openings to facilitate installation and routing of optical fiber cables and data copper cables. The openings may be provided with edge guards to ease ingress/egress of cables through the openings.

Abstract: An optical fiber or cable storage module includes a back wall and a number of resilient mounting fingers extending from the back wall, and a fiber supply spool having an axial bore formed to receive the mounting fingers and to engage the fingers when the spool is urged toward the back wall so that the spool is restrained from axial movement. The spool includes a hub, and a first winding section for containing a length of fiber sufficient to route between a service terminal outside a user premises and a location near a user terminal inside the premises. The mounting fingers have corresponding catches at the ends of the fingers, and the inner circumference of the bore in the supply spool has an annular groove formed to seat the catches for restraining the spool from axial movement.

Abstract: An optical fiber is permanently routed easily, quickly, and unobtrusively at a customer premises using an inventive hand tool, without staples or other fasteners. The fiber has an adhesive outer coating that is activated as the fiber is applied by the tool on an exposed surface such as a wall, ceiling, molding, groove, or corner at the premises. When the activated coating hardens, the fiber is bonded to the surface on which it was applied, and the hardened coating also provides physical protection for the fiber. In the disclosed embodiment, the coated fiber is supplied on a spool that mounts on the tool, and the coating is activated by guiding the fiber as it unwinds from the spool through a chamber containing an activating substance. The fiber with the activated coating is then guided to an applicator wheel on the tool which applies the fiber to the surface.

Abstract: An optical fiber management tray system includes a tray or drawer including a base panel having a number of slots formed in the panel, and a number of retention clips for mounting fiber optic devices of different shapes and dimensions on the panel. Two or more of the clips each has a main body with a different retention portion for enveloping part of a corresponding fiber optic device, and a pair of latch fingers that project from the clip body in the direction of the base panel when the device is enveloped in the retention portion clip and placed at a desired location on the panel. The latch fingers have free ends for engaging edges of the slots in the base panel when the corresponding device is enveloped in the retention clip, thus securing the device at the desired location on the panel.

Abstract: A cable trough and system for routing and managing cables associated with equipment that has first cable ports at a first side of the equipment and second cable ports at a second side of the equipment. The trough includes an elongated trough body having a ported side wall constructed to mount at either one of the first and the second sides of the equipment. The ported side wall of the body has one or more first trough cable ports each located and dimensioned to align or interface with a different one of the first equipment cable ports when the ported side wall is mounted at the first side of the equipment, and one or more second trough cable ports each located and dimensioned to align with a different one of the second equipment cable ports when the ported side wall is mounted at the second side of the equipment.

Abstract: A cable trough and system for routing and managing cables associated with equipment that has first cable ports at a first side of the equipment and second cable ports at a second side of the equipment. The trough includes an elongated trough body having a ported side wall constructed to mount at either one of the first and the second sides of the equipment. The ported side wall of the body has one or more first trough cable ports each located and dimensioned to align or interface with a different one of the first equipment cable ports when the ported side wall is mounted at the first side of the equipment, and one or more second trough cable ports each located and dimensioned to align with a different one of the second equipment cable ports when the ported side wall is mounted at the second side of the equipment.

Abstract: An optical fiber management tray system includes a tray or drawer including a base panel having a number of slots formed in the panel, and a number of retention clips for mounting fiber optic devices of different shapes and dimensions on the panel. Two or more of the clips each has a main body with a different retention portion for enveloping part of a corresponding fiber optic device, and a pair of latch fingers that project from the clip body in the direction of the base panel when the device is enveloped in the retention portion clip and placed at a desired location on the panel. The latch fingers have free ends for engaging edges of the slots in the base panel when the corresponding device is enveloped in the retention clip, thus securing the device at the desired location on the panel.

Abstract: Apparatus for storing slack fiber optic cabling. A cabinet enclosure has an opening for allowing access to cabling and other components inside the enclosure, and a number of spool tracks are supported inside the enclosure. Each of a number of cable spool assemblies includes a spool dimensioned to guide a length of fiber optic cabling in a desired path over part of the spool circumference with at least a minimum cable bend radius, and a mechanism for (i) mounting the spool on a corresponding spool track for sliding movement to a desired position along the track, and (ii) fixing the spool at the desired position. Slack fiber optic cabling can be stored in the cabinet with an optimum lay when the cabling is guided by selected spools of the spool assemblies, and the spools are moved to and fixed at certain positions on the spool tracks.

Abstract: A muscle stretching machine designed to provide the user with easy system of functional stretching and also provide the user with flexibility feedback information as to the performance of the stretch, such as but not limited to the angles of the stretch, the force of the stretch, the position of the stretch, and the duration of the stretch. A user of the muscle stretching machine can turn on the central processor, adjust the height of the machine to suit their height or to suit the type of stretch to be performed, step onto a round turntable subassembly, place the leg to be stretched on a foam pad designed to raise and lower the leg, pull down on a handle to raise the leg being stretched and read the information displayed on the central processor. When the handles are pulled down the leg is raised. When the handles are allowed to go up the leg is lowered.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an optical uniform spacing assembly for aligning a multipitch plurality of optical fibers into a uniform pitch linear array of optical fibers. The assembly includes an organizer body having a slot formed therein that extends longitudinally along the body. A portion of the slot has a width dimensioned to allow only one optical fiber at a time therethrough simultaneously and a depth dimensioned to align a multipitch plurality of optical fibers into a uniform pitch linear array of optical fibers. The assembly provides sufficient alignment for transitioning from, e.g., an optical fan-out arrangement such as a plurality of individual optical fibers to, e.g., an optical fan-in arrangement such as a ribbon cable arrangement. The assembly provides a compact, easily assembled apparatus and method for overcoming size mismatch and other conventional problems associated with transitioning between differing arrangements.

Abstract: A U-shaped universal ground assembly with oversheath protection for use in grounding a cable, the grounding clip having a ground `block` including a framework with a generally open end and a spaced closed end. The framework includes a pair of bifurcated leg members extending from the open end of the framework toward the closed end thereof. An arcuate toothed portion is formed as a lower grip member at the closed end of the framework, and an opposed upper grip member, slidably positioned on the framework, is adapted to be moved toward the closed end of the framework. The grounding block also includes a wire retainer pivotally and slidably supported on the open end of the framework and adapted to be moved into a generally closed position across the open end of the framework. At least one ground wire opening is defined in the framework, and at least one ground wire opening is defined in the wire retainer in substantial registry therewith.

Abstract: A universal grounding clip for use with a cable having a frame assembly with a first end and a second end, a base member form at the first end of the frame, and a pair of leg members extending from the first end of the frame toward the second end of the frame where a crossmember is positioned and extends between each of the leg members, thus defining a central opening through the frame adapted to receive a cable. A pair of opposed grip members are supported in the opening, and are adapted to be moved toward each other for affixing a cable to the frame. Each grip member has a pair of bifurcated legs having, on either side of the bifurcation, an arcuate toothed leg portion adapted to grip the cable. At least one ground wire opening is defined in the base member and extends therethrough adapted to simultaneously fasten a ground wire to the frame as the grip members affix the cable to the frame.

Abstract: A hinge adapter mounts to a fiber optic splice tray, such as the Keptel LL-2400.RTM. splice tray, and provides a hinging capability to these splice trays. The hinge adapters have a U-shaped member mounted at each corner of the splice tray. The U-shaped member has a central portion having a pair of arms depending therefrom, with the distal ends of the arms having an aperture and the ends of the central portion having a protrusion. When stacking the splice trays, the apertures formed in the arms of one hinge adapter receive protrusions in the central portion of another hinge adapter. When the hinge adapters on one side of a desired splice tray are separated from the hinge adapters above that splice tray, an installer or lineman can pivot the upper splice trays away from the desired tray and readily gain access to the desired splice tray. The U-shaped members are mounted to a side of the splice tray by brackets which are inserted into an area of the splice trays.

Abstract: A seal for use in an optical closure is formed in the general shape of a truncated cone. The seal has an aperture which extends completely through the conical shape portion of the seal and which terminates within a plug located at the larger end of the seal. A sinusoidal shaped slit is formed completely through the seal from the small end of the seal to a small distance away from the large end of the seal. The seal is placed within an angled section of a port within an optical closure and an end cap is screwed into the port thereby forcing the seal further into the angled section. The seal can be used for both sealing ports which receive optical cables and ports which do not receive any cables. For the ports that do receive an optical cable, the plug is removed from the seal and the slit is extended all he way to the rear of the seal. When the optical cable is passed through the slit into the aperture of the seal, portions of the seal on either side of the slit become separated from each other.

Abstract: A splice tray for holding and protecting optical fiber splices within a splice closure is adapted to be mounted on support members within the closure. The tray has a longitudinal axis and passages formed therein for holding and guiding the fibers to a splice area of the tray while protecting them from being bent too sharply. A splice holder insert is removably mounted to the splice tray in the splice area, and has a plurality of alternating pass-through channels and splice holding channels extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tray and arrayed across the width of the tray in two such arrays, longitudinally spaced from each other. In one embodiment, each of the splice holding channels is defined by a wall of a pass-through channel and a longitudinally extending a resilient member. In this embodiment, resilient fiber holder is located at each end of each pass-through channels. In another embodiment, the splice holding channels are defined by U-shaped end members at each end of the channel.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable closure assembly includes a base member and a mating cover which, when assembled form a hollow splice closure with openings at each end. Mounted to the base member at at least one end thereof is a grip block assembly which grips the optical cable entering the adjacent open end, and which automatically adjusts to differing sizes of cables. The grip block assembly has an upper member and a lower member and includes first and second pivotally mounted arms on the lower member which are actuated by actuating pins on the upper member and which, as the upper member is tightened down on the lower member, pivot until they bear against and grip the cable. Included within the closure assembly are one or more optical fiber splitters which are used to separate and segregate individual fibers or groups of fibers to be spliced.

Abstract: A splice closure for optical fiber cables has an outer two pan shell, an interior longitudinally extending spine member held within the shell and cable sheath gripping members mounted on the ends of the spine member. A splice tray is removably mounted on the spine member intermediate its ends, and a plurality of splice holders are stacked on the splice tray. Each splice holder has grooves for containing the individual splices and means for affixing the individual splices to the holder. A splice tray cover contains means for applying compressive force to the stack of holders to hold them in place on the splice tray.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable closure assembly includes a base member and a mating cover which, when assembled form a hollow splice closure with openings at each end. Mounted to the base member at at least one end thereof is a grip block assembly which grips the optical cable entering the adjacent open end, and which automatically adjusts to differing sizes of cables. The grip block assembly has an upper member and a lower member and includes first and second pivotally mounted arms on the lower member which are actuated by actuating pins on the upper member and which, as the upper member is tightened down on the lower member, pivot until they bear against and grip the cable. Included within the closure assembly are one or more optical fiber splitters which are used to separate and segregate individual fibers or groups of fibers to be spliced.

Abstract: A protective shell for a splice closure or the like has a flange base member and a flange cover member. A triangularly shaped ridge extends along each flange which hold triangularly shaped clamps in place against displacement, yet, in conjunction with the clamps, create room for the insertion of mounting hardware in the clamps. The closure is supported within the shell so that it is surrounded by space for an encapsulant. The supports for the closure are configured to permit passage of liquid encapsulant into the space between the-bottom of the closure and the base member.