Fiber optic splice trays
First Claim
1. A splice tray for accommodating at least one splice of two or more optical fibers, the splice tray comprising:
- a base;
a cover to selectively define an opened position and a closed position;
a hinge portion, the hinge portion having a first hinge that attaches the base to the hinge portion on a first axis and a second hinge that attaches the cover to the hinge portion on a second axis;
at least one splice holder joined to the base of the splice tray, wherein the at least one splice holder is adapted to selectively receive a splice that optically connects a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber; and
at least one optical fiber routing device provided on the cover of the splice tray;
wherein the optical fiber routing device is adapted to provide slack storage for at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber when the cover defines an opened position and when the cover defines a closed position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided splice trays and splice assemblies that provide convenient access to optical fiber slack within a relatively small area or volume. Some splice trays are adapted for use with microstructured optical fibers to further reduce the size of the splice tray or splice assembly. Some splice trays provide fiber routing devices on the cover of the splice tray. The fiber routing device may be positioned on an inside surface of the cover and/or on an outside surface of the cover. The splice trays and/or splice assemblies may be used with or as fiber drop terminals used within multiple dwelling units.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A splice tray for accommodating at least one splice of two or more optical fibers, the splice tray comprising:
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a base; a cover to selectively define an opened position and a closed position; a hinge portion, the hinge portion having a first hinge that attaches the base to the hinge portion on a first axis and a second hinge that attaches the cover to the hinge portion on a second axis; at least one splice holder joined to the base of the splice tray, wherein the at least one splice holder is adapted to selectively receive a splice that optically connects a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber; and at least one optical fiber routing device provided on the cover of the splice tray; wherein the optical fiber routing device is adapted to provide slack storage for at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber when the cover defines an opened position and when the cover defines a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A splice tray for accommodating at least one splice of two or more optical fibers, the splice tray comprising:
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a base; a hinge portion rotatably attached to the base; a cover attached to the hinge portion opposite the base to selectively define an opened position and a closed position of the splice tray such that the opened position comprises the base, the hinge portion, and the cover in a generally parallel relationship, wherein the cover defines an inside surface that generally faces the base when the cover defines the closed position; at least one splice holder joined to the base of the splice tray, wherein the at least one splice holder is adapted to selectively receive a splice that optically connects a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber; and at least one optical fiber routing device provided on the inside surface of the cover of the splice tray; wherein the optical fiber routing device is adapted to provide slack storage for at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber when the cover defines an opened position and when the cover defines a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of splicing two or more optical fibers, the method comprising:
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providing a splice tray comprising a base, a hinge portion, and a cover; opening the cover relative to the base of the splice tray, wherein fully opening the splice tray defines the base, the hinge portion, and the cover in a generally parallel relationship; splicing a first optical fiber to a second optical fiber to define a splice; positioning the splice within a splice holder joined to the base of the splice tray; routing at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber along at least one optical fiber routing device provided on the cover of the splice tray; and closing the cover of the splice tray. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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18. (canceled)
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21. A splice assembly adapted for use as a fiber drop terminal (“
- FDT”
) within a multiple dwelling unit to optically connect one or more optical fibers of a distribution cable to one or more optical fibers of drop cables, the splice assembly comprising;a base; a cover rotatably attached to the base to selectively define an opened position and a closed position; a splice tray comprising a plurality of splice holders joined to the splice tray, wherein the splice holders are adapted to selectively receive a splice that optically connects an optical fiber of the distribution cable to an optical fiber of the drop cable, wherein the splice tray is attached to the base of the splice assembly; and at least one optical fiber routing device associated with the splice tray and at least one cable routing device associated with the base; the splice tray further including a plurality of openings adapted for selectively receiving strain relief devices for the spliced optical fibers; wherein at least one of the spliced fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes. - View Dependent Claims (22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- FDT”
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23. (canceled)
Specification