Fiber optic terminal assembly

• US 20090060439A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Diana, Cox, Terry Dean, Strause, Kevin Lee, Rasmussen, Michael Heath
• Granted Patent: US 8,798,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4442 Cap coupling boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps

Abstract

There is provided fiber drop terminal (“FDT”) assemblies for providing selective connections between optical fibers of distribution cables and optical fibers of drop cables, such as in multiple dwelling units. The FDT assemblies include a base and a cover that define a tongue and groove that selectively engage to seal the base and cover. The FDT assemblies also include a mounting plate for mounting of the base and cover, as well as a mounting plate extension for mounting of a skirt. The skirt provides slack storage for drop cables exiting the FDT. The components of the FDT assembly are selectively interlockable to prevent unauthorized access to the interior cavity of the base and cover and to the slack storage area of the skirt.

Claims

1. A fiber optic terminal comprising a base and a cover, wherein the cover is selectively removable from the base to provide access to an interior cavity adapted to receive at least one fiber optic cable, the fiber optic terminal comprising:

a groove defined on at least one of the base and the cover, wherein the groove is generally defined by an inner lip and an outer lip separated by a surface, wherein the inner lip extends from the surface at least twice a distance as the outer lip extends from the surface; and

a tongue defined on the other of the base and the cover, wherein the tongue is adapted to be selectively sealingly engaged with the inner lip and the outer lip of the groove,

wherein a point of contact between the tongue and the inner lip is at least twice a distance from the surface as a point of contact between the tongue and the outer lip.

2. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 1, wherein the points of contact between the tongue and the inner lip and between the tongue and the outer lip defines a width generally extending along an entire length of the tongue and groove.

3. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 1, wherein the inner lip extends from the surface at least three times the distance as the outer lip extends from the surface.

4. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 1, wherein the groove and the tongue extend along an entire side of the fiber optic terminal.

5. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 1, wherein the groove and the tongue are free of a membrane.

6. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner lip and the outer lip define an angled portion that is generally angled relative to the surface, and wherein the tongue defines a corresponding angled portion adapted to selectively sealingly engage the angled portion of the at least one of the inner lip and outer lip.

7. A fiber optic terminal comprising a base and a cover, wherein the cover is selectively removable from the base to provide access to an interior cavity adapted to receive at least one fiber optic cable, the fiber optic terminal comprising:

a groove defined on at least one of the base and the cover, wherein the groove is generally defined by an inner lip and an outer lip separated by a surface; and

a tongue defined on the other of the base and the cover, wherein the tongue is adapted to be selectively sealingly engaged with at least the inner lip of the groove,

wherein the inner lip defining the groove extends from the surface a distance sufficient to enable the inner lip to deform when the tongue selectively sealingly engaged with at least the inner lip of the groove.

8. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 7, wherein the tongue is adapted to be selectively sealingly engaged with both of the inner lip and the outer lip of the groove.

9. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 7, wherein the inner lip extends from the surface at least twice a distance as the outer lip extends from the surface.

10. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 7, wherein the groove and the tongue extend along an entire side of the fiber optic terminal.

11. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 7, wherein the base and the cover comprise an equivalent polymer material.

12. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the inner lip and the outer lip define an angled portion that is generally angled relative to the surface, and wherein the tongue defines a corresponding angled portion adapted to selectively sealingly engage the angled portion of the at least one of the inner lip and outer lip.

13. A fiber optic terminal comprising:

a base;

a cover, wherein the cover is selectively removable from the base to provide access to an interior cavity adapted to receive at least one fiber optic drop cable;

a plurality of drop cable openings defined in at least one of the base and the cover that allow at least partial entry of drop cables into the interior cavity; and

a skirt that is selectively attachable proximate at least one of the base and the cover adjacent the plurality of drop cable openings, wherein the skirt in an attached state defines a generally enclosed slack storage area adapted to receive coiled slack of a plurality of drop cables.

14. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 13, wherein the generally enclosed slack storage area is adapted to receive at least one foot of coiled slack of a drop cable.

15. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 13, wherein the skirt is selectively interlockable with at least one of the base and the cover to generally prevent unauthorized removal of the skirt.

16. A fiber optic terminal according to claim 13, wherein the skirt defines at least one cable entry that allow at least partial entry of drop cables into the generally enclosed slack storage area.

17. A fiber drop terminal (“

FDT”

) assembly adapted for use in a fiber optic network of a multiple dwelling unit to selectively optically connect at least one connectorized optical fiber of a distribution cable to a connectorized optical fiber of at least one drop cable, wherein the FDT assembly is adapted to be selectively mountable to a generally vertical surface, the FDT assembly comprising;

a base defining a back wall and at least one sidewall extending outwardly from the back wall, wherein the base defines at least one opening for passage of the distribution cable and the drop cable through at least one of the back wall and sidewall;

a cover adapted to selectively connect to the base;

at least one plurality of adapters joined to at least one of the base and the cover, wherein the adapters are adapted to receive a connector of the distribution cable and a connector of the drop cable to optically connect the connectorized optical fiber of the distribution cable to the connectorized optical fiber of the drop cable;

a mounting plate that is selectively mountable to the generally vertical surface and is adapted to selectively receive the base of the FDT assembly; and

a mounting plate extension that is selectively mountable proximate the mounting plate, wherein at least one of the mounting plate and mounting plate extension are structured and arranged to prevent dismounting of the base from the mounting plate without prior disconnection of the cover from the base.

18. The FDT assembly of claim 17 further comprising a skirt that is adapted to be selectively received by at least one of the base, the cover, and the mounting plate extension, wherein the mounting plate and mounting plate extension are structured and arranged to prevent dismounting of the base from the mounting plate without prior disconnection of the cover from the base and the skirt from the at least one of the base, the cover, and the mounting plate extension.

19. The FDT assembly of claim 17, wherein the mounting plate extension defines at least one opening adapted to allow routing of at least one of the distribution cable and the drop cable into the generally vertical surface to which the mounting plate extension is selectively mounted.

20. The FDT assembly of claim 17, wherein the mounting plate extension is selectively mountable to at least one of the mounting plate and the generally vertical surface proximate the mounting plate.