Fiber optic cable managemetn enclosure and method of use

• US 20050094959A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles F. Niesley, Charles R. Herrmann, Keith E. Sibley, Steven F. Frederick
• Original Assignee: Charles F. Niesley, Charles R. Herrmann, Keith E. Sibley, Steven F. Frederick
• Inventors: Herrmann, Charles R., Niesley, Charles F., Sibley, Keith E., Frederick, Steven F.
• Application Number:
  US10/698,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20050094959A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4441 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

A fiber optic cable routing apparatus includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, and a removable fiber tray configured to be housed within the body, wherein the removable fiber tray is configured to accommodate fiber optic cable.

Claims

1. A fiber optic cable routing apparatus comprising:

a body including an inlet and an outlet; and

a removable fiber tray configured to be housed within said body, wherein said removable fiber tray is configured to accommodate fiber optic cable.

2. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said removable fiber tray comprises:

fiber channels configured to route said fiber optic cable;

fiber retaining extrusions associated with said fiber channels, wherein said fiber retaining extrusions are configured to retain said fiber optic cable in said fiber channels; and

a fusion splice housing configured to house and protect a splice of said fiber optic cable.

3. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure bracket configured to couple said cable routing apparatus to a user location.

4. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said enclosure bracket is configured to couple a fiber optical cable routing apparatus and an optical network terminal to said user location.

5. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first compression fitting associated with said inlet;

a second compression fitting associated with said outlet; and

a removable cover coupled to said body, wherein said cover is configured to environmentally seal said fiber tray within said body.

6. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first and said second compression fittings are configured to environmentally seal said fiber optic cable as said fiber optic cable enters or leaves said fiber optic cable routing apparatus.

7. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a gasket coupled between said body and said cover.

8. A fiber optic cable routing apparatus comprising:

a body including an inlet and an outlet;

a removable fiber tray configured to be housed within said body;

wherein

said removable fiber tray is configured to accommodate a fiber optic cable;

an enclosure bracket configured to couple said body to a user location;

a first compression fitting associated with said inlet configured to environmentally seal fiber optic cable entering said body; and

a second compression fitting associated with said outlet configured to environmentally seal a fiber optic cable leaving said body.

9. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 8, wherein said removable fiber tray comprises:

a fiber channel configured to route said fiber optic cable;

a fiber retaining extrusion associated with said fiber channel, wherein said fiber retaining extrusion is configured to retain said fiber optic cable in said fiber channel; and

a fusion splice housing configured to house and protect a splice of said fiber optic cable.

10. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 8, wherein said enclosure bracket is configured to couple a fiber optic cable routing apparatus and an optical network terminal to a user location.

11. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a cover configured to environmentally seal said fiber tray within said body.

12. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a gasket coupled between said body and said cover, said gasket configured to environmentally seal said fiber tray within said body when said cover is coupled to said body.

13. A fiber optic communication system comprising:

a fiber optic cable;

a consumer location;

an optical network terminal communicatively coupled to said consumer location; and

a fiber management enclosure configured to couple said optical network terminal to said fiber optic cable.

14. The fiber optic communication system of claim 13, wherein said fiber management enclosure comprises:

a body including an inlet and an outlet;

a removable fiber tray configured to be housed within said body, wherein said removable fiber tray is configured to accommodate said fiber optic cable.

15. The fiber optic communication system of claim 14, further comprising an enclosure bracket configured to couple said optical network terminal and said fiber management enclosure to said consumer location.

16. The fiber optic communication system of claim 14, further comprising:

a first compression fitting associated with said inlet;

a second compression fitting associated with said outlet; and

a removable cover coupled to said body, wherein said cover is configured to environmentally seal said fiber tray within said body.

17. The fiber optic communication system of claim 16, wherein said first and said second compression fittings are configured to environmentally seal said fiber optic cable as said fiber optic cable enters or leaves said fiber optic cable routing apparatus.

18. The fiber optic communication system of claim 17, further comprising a gasket coupled between said body and said cover.

19. A fiber optic cable routing apparatus comprising:

a housing means for housing a fiber optic cable, wherein said housing means includes an inlet and an outlet; and

a removable fiber coupling means for coupling fiber optic cable, wherein said removable fiber coupling means is configured to be housed within said housing means.

20. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 19, wherein said removable fiber coupling means comprises:

a routing means for routing said fiber optic cable;

a retaining means associated with said routing means, wherein said retaining means are configured to retain said fiber optic cable in said routing means; and

a housing means for protecting splices of said fiber optic cable.

21. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 19, further comprising mounting means for coupling said cable routing apparatus to a user location.

22. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 21, wherein said mounting means is configured to couple a fiber optical cable routing apparatus and an optical network terminal to said user location.

23. The fiber optic cable routing apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a first sealing means for environmentally sealing said inlet;

a second sealing means for environmentally sealing said outlet; and

a covering means coupled to said housing means, wherein said covering means is configured to environmentally seal said removable fiber coupling means within said housing means.

24. A method for coupling a fiber optic cable to a user location comprising:

routing a fiber optic cable from a transmitter to said user location;

mounting a fiber management enclosure on said user location;

routing said fiber optic cable in said fiber management enclosure;

coupling an optical network terminal to said consumer location; and

coupling said fiber optic cable to said optical network terminal using a removable fiber tray that forms a part of said fiber management enclosure.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said routing said fiber optic cable in said fiber management enclosure comprises:

routing a length of said fiber optic cable in a fiber channel of said removable fiber tray; and

coupling an end of said fiber optic cable in a fusion splice housing of said removable fiber tray.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said coupling said fiber optic cable to said optical network terminal comprises:

fusion splicing said fiber optic cable to an optical network terminal coupler;

coupling said splice in said fusion splice housing; and

coupling said optical network terminal coupler to said optical network terminal.