Optical fiber distribution frame with outside plant enclosure

• US 10,067,309 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Puetz, Curtis Lee, Dusterhoft, Gary E., Rapp, David E., Veitenheimer, Troy Anthony, Tinucci, Thomas C., Holmberg, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEACE, RHONDA S
• Application Number:
  US15/707,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20180120528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/021 using pivoting mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/13 Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/14 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/08 Pivotable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/804 in optical transmission systems

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including panels having front and rear termination locations, the panels positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame includes vertical access for the rear cables. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides for the front patch cables. The frame further includes cable storage spools for the patch cables. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. A portion of the frame defines splice tray holders and a central passage from the splice tray holders to the rear sides of the left and right panels. From a front of each panel, access to a rear of the panel is provided by the hinged panels. Alternatively, the panels can form connector modules with front termination locations and rear connection locations for connecting to the rear cables. The modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave division multiplexers. The termination locations can be located on the same side of the frame as the splice tray holders, or on an opposite side. An enclosure of the frame included hinged or otherwise moveable panels to allow access to the terminations or the splice trays.

Claims

1. A telecommunications enclosure comprising:

an outside plant housing having a front, a rear, a horizontal top, a horizontal bottom, and left and right vertical spaced apart sides connecting the top and the bottom, the housing defining an interior with an open front;

a door hingedly attached about a vertical rotation axis at the front of the housing for selectively accessing the interior through the open front of the interior;

a vertical array of termination modules inserted into and removable from termination module receiving volumes defined by the housing and within the interior, each of the termination modules including at least one horizontal row of at least eight ports, the ports facing at least partially towards the front of the housing, each port providing access to an interior of a fiber optic adapter supported by the termination module;

a first vertical row of fiber organizing structures positioned to the right of the vertical array of a plurality of termination modules and to the left of the right vertical side;

a second vertical row of fiber organizing structures positioned to the right of the first vertical row of a plurality of fiber organizing structures and to the left of the right vertical side;

wherein a lowermost of the fiber organizing structures of the first vertical row is positioned below a lowermost of the plurality of termination modules;

wherein fronts of the termination modules are positioned at least partially rearward of the fiber organization structures of the second vertical row;

wherein the termination modules are vertically spaced apart from the bottom of the housing; and

wherein the housing defines routing paths for optical fibers, the routing paths extending within the interior from below the termination modules to one or more of the fiber organizing structures and then to the ports of the termination modules.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein at least some of the fiber organizing structures are spool structures.

3. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein at least some of the fiber organizing structures are finger structures.

4. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the interior of the housing is adapted to support one or more optical fiber splitters.

5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the interior of the housing is adapted to support one or more optical fiber splices.

6. The enclosure of claim 5, wherein the one or more optical fiber splices are disposed in one or more splice modules supported in the interior of the housing.

7. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the interior of the housing is adapted to support one or more splice modules, each of the splice modules being adapted to support one or more optical fiber splices.

8. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the first vertical array of fiber organizing structures is supported on a vertical panel within the interior of the housing.

9. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the vertical array of termination modules includes at least three of the termination modules.

10. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein there are at least six fiber organizing structures in each of the first and second vertical arrays of fiber organizing structures.

11. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein at least some of the fiber organizing structures are spool structures.

12. The enclosure of claim 11, wherein at least some of the fiber organizing structures are finger structures.

13. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the door is a first door, and wherein the enclosure further comprises a second door hingedly attached at the rear of the housing for providing selective rearward access to the interior.

14. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a frame, the frame supporting the termination modules.