Parking device for fiber distribution hub

• US 20070033629A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: McGranahan, Danny, Giraud, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,826,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/119
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00

Abstract

There is provided a fiber distribution hub with a panel assembly that includes one or more selectively removable parking devices. The parking devices are adapted to selectively receive one or more connectors of fiber optic cables within the fiber distribution hub. The panel assembly includes a parking area that defines a plurality of slots into which the parking devices are inserted. Once a parking device has been removed from the slot, a splitter module can be inserted into the slot previously occupied by the parking device. Therefore, the size of the housing of the fiber distribution hub can be reduced because the parking area can also be used for splitter mounting.

Claims

1. A fiber distribution hub in a fiber optic network, the fiber distribution hub comprising:

a housing;

at least one fiber optic cable within the housing, wherein the at least one fiber optic cable comprises at least one connector on an end of the fiber optic cable;

a parking area within the housing, wherein the parking area defines a plurality of slots;

at least one parking device selectively inserted into an individual slot of the plurality of slots, wherein the at least one parking device is adapted to selectively receive one or more connectors of the at least one fiber optic cable; and

at least one splitter module selectively inserted into an individual slot of the plurality of slots,

wherein the plurality of slots are adapted to alternatively receive the at least one parking device and the at least one splitter module.

2. A fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, further comprising at least one parking device permanently installed within the housing.

3. A fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, further comprising at least one splitter module permanently installed within the housing.

4. A fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parking device comprises a plunger-type fastener for selectively retaining the at least one parking device to the parking area.

5. A fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parking device defines an elongated opening to receive the one or more connectors of the at least one fiber optic cable.

6. A fiber distribution hub according to claim 5, wherein the at least one parking device is adapted to receive two or more connectors of two or more fiber optic cables, such that the two or more connectors contact one another while received within the at least one parking device.

7. A fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parking device is adapted to receive at least six connectors of at least six fiber optic cables.

8. A fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots of the parking area are generally vertically oriented.

9. A fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, further comprising a distribution field for selectively receiving a plurality of connectors of the at least one fiber optic cable.

10. A fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, further comprising slack hangers.

11. A fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parking device is removable from a front side of the housing.

12. A panel assembly for a fiber distribution hub in a fiber optic network, wherein the fiber distribution hub houses at least one fiber optic cable including at least one connector on an end of the fiber optic cable and wherein the fiber distribution hub houses at least one splitter module, the panel assembly comprising:

a parking area defining a plurality of slots; and

at least one parking device selectively inserted into an individual slot of the plurality of slots, wherein the at least one parking device is adapted to selectively receive one or more connectors of the at least one fiber optic cable,

wherein the plurality of slots are adapted to alternatively receive the at least one parking device and the at least one splitter module.

13. A panel assembly according to claim 12, wherein the at least one parking device comprises a plunger-type fastener for selectively retaining the at least one parking device to the parking area.

14. A panel assembly according to claim 12, wherein the at least one parking device defines an elongated opening to receive the one or more connectors of the at least one fiber optic cable.

15. A panel assembly according to claim 12, wherein the at least one parking device is adapted to receive two or more connectors of two or more fiber optic cables, such that the two or more connectors contact one another while received within the at least one parking device.

16. A panel assembly according to claim 12, wherein the at least one parking device is adapted to receive at least six connectors of at least six fiber optic cables.

17. A panel assembly according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of slots of the parking area are generally vertically oriented.

18. A method of installing a splitter module into a fiber distribution hub that includes at least one fiber optic cable comprising:

opening a housing of the fiber distribution hub;

removing at least one parking device from an individual slot of a plurality of slots of a parking area within the housing, wherein the at least one parking device is adapted to selectively receive one or more connectors of the at least one fiber optic cable; and

inserting the splitter module into the individual slot of the plurality of slots from which the at least one parking device was removed.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein removing the at least one parking device comprises pulling a plunger-type fastener of the at least one parking device.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein removing the at least one parking device comprises removing one or more connectors of the at least one fiber optic cable from the at least one parking device.