Drop Terminal Releasable Engagement Mechanism

• US 20090123115A1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Rudenick, Paula, Gronvall, Erik, Lu, Yu
• Granted Patent: US 7,903,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/76
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4441 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44515 Fibre drop terminals with surplus length without surplus length G02B6/4472

Abstract

A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable includes a base and a cover releasably engaged to the base by a releasable engagement mechanism. The releasable engagement mechanism includes a resilient latch having a base end and a free end. The free end defines a plurality of openings. The releasable engagement mechanism further includes a plurality of protrusions having a lip and a sloped surface. The plurality of protrusions is adapted for engagement with the plurality of openings of the resilient latch.

Claims

1. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable, the terminal comprising:

a base;

a cover releasably engaged to the base by a releasable engagement mechanism, the releasable engagement mechanism including;

a resilient latch having a base end and a free end, the free end defining a plurality of openings;

a plurality of protrusions having a lip and a sloped surface, the plurality of protrusions adapted for engagement with the plurality of openings of the resilient latch.

2. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of openings is square shaped.

3. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base end of the resilient latch is engaged with the base and the plurality of protrusions is disposed on a side of an outer perimeter of the cover.

4. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base end of the resilient latch is integral with the base.

5. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a releasing tool, the releasing tool including a body portion having a handle portion disposed at a first end portion and a releasing portion disposed at an opposite second end portion, wherein the handle portion extends outwardly from the body portion at an oblique angle.

6. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 5, wherein the releasing portion extends outwardly from the body portion in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the body portion.

7. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable, the terminal comprising:

a base having a base protrusion that extends outwardly from each longitudinal side of the base, each base protrusion defining a groove that opens toward a rear side of the base;

a cover having a cover protrusion that extends outwardly from each longitudinal side of the cover, each cover protrusion defining a groove that opens toward an outer surface of the cover, wherein each base protrusion and each cover protrusion on each longitudinal side cooperatively define a protrusion on each longitudinal side when the base and cover are aligned; and

a plurality of retainers adapted for sliding engagement with the protrusions, wherein each retainer defines a cavity adapted to receive one of the protrusions.

8. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 7, wherein a length of the retainer is generally the length of the protrusion.

9. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the protrusions has a dove-tailed shape.

10. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cavity in each retainer has a dove-tailed shape.

11. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable, the terminal comprising:

a base;

a cover releasably engaged to the base by a releasable engagement mechanism, the releasable engagement mechanism including;

a frame engaged with the base, the frame having a first leg connected to an oppositely disposed second leg by a crossbar, each of the first and second legs having an end defining a slot having a slot opening;

a pin extending outwardly from each longitudinal side of the cover, wherein the pin is adapted to be received in the slot of the frame.

12. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 11, the frame including a plurality of supports.

13. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ends are hook-shaped.

14. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable, the terminal comprising:

a base;

a cover releasably engaged to the base by a releasable engagement mechanism, the releasable engagement mechanism including;

a latch disposed on one of the base and cover, the latch includes a base end defining a longitudinal axis that extends longitudinally through the base end and an oppositely disposed free end that extends outwardly from the base end in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the free end including a sloped surface;

a catch disposed on one of the base and cover, the catch including a surface adapted for engagement with the sloped surface of the latch such that engagement of the sloped surface of the latch and the surface of the catch brings the base and cover into close-fit engagement.

15. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 14, wherein the latch is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the base.

16. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable as claimed in claim 15, wherein the catch includes a base end defining a longitudinal axis that extends longitudinally through the base end and an oppositely disposed free end that extends outwardly from the base end in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the free end including the surface.

17. A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable, the terminal comprising:

a base including a first hinge component having a base end protrusion engaged to a side of the base and a free end protrusion that extends outwardly in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the base end protrusion;

a cover having a second hinge component that extends outwardly from a surface of the cover, the second hinge component defining a hinge slot having a hinge slot opening, wherein the hinge slot of the second hinge component is adapted to receive the free end protrusion of the first hinge component.