Structures for Managing and Mounting Cable Assemblies

• US 20100054686A1
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Staber, Harley J., Cooke, Terry L., Klavuhn, Tory A., Dean, David L. JR., Sanchez, Manuel Alejandro Lopez
• Granted Patent: US 8,135,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps

Abstract

Furcation management structures and fiber optic shelf assemblies including one or more furcation management structures are disclosed. The furcation management structures are disposed in a chassis of a fiber optic shelf assembly and define a mounting surface for mounting at least one furcation body of a fiber optic cable assembly thereto. The furcation management structure may allow the fiber optic shelf assemblies to provide a greater density of fiber optic cable assemblies to support high density fiber optic equipment. Moreover, the furcation management structures provides the craft with an organized mounting structure that is relatively quick and easy to remove, rearrange, and/or reconfigure.

Claims

1. A fiber optic shelf assembly, comprising:

at least one furcation management structure disposed in the chassis of the fiber optic shelf assembly and defining a mounting surface for mounting a plurality of furcation bodies.

2. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one furcation management structure is comprised from the group consisting of at least one furcation bracket, at least one furcation platform, and at least one furcation tray.

3. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the furcation management structure includes multiple levels for mounting the plurality of furcation bodies thereto.

4. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the furcation management structure includes multiple levels for mounting the plurality of furcation bodies thereto and the multiple levels are disposed on non-parallel planes.

5. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one furcation management structure is removably attached to the chassis.

6. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one furcation management structure comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end and hingedly attached to the chassis.

7. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one furcation management structure forms an internal cavity when attached to the chassis for mounting at least one furcation body.

8. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, further comprising a guide system disposed in the chassis and supporting the translation of the at least one furcation management structure.

9. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one furcation management structure is a tray is appended to a rear portion of the chassis.

10. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one furcation management structure comprises a stacked furcation management structure.

12. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the chassis comprises a bottom surface and a top surface disposed above the bottom surface, wherein a bottom furcation management structure is removably attached to the bottom surface, and a top furcation management structure is removably attached to the top surface.

13. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 12, further comprising an intermediate shelf disposed in the chassis between the bottom surface and the top surface, and at least one intermediate furcation structure.

14. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least two furcation bodies oppositely facing each other on the mounting surface.

15. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of furcation bodies attached to the at least one furcation management structure.

16. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 15, wherein the plurality of furcation bodies include at least one anti-rotation feature.

17. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of furcation management structures.

11. The fiber optic shelf assembly of claim 11, wherein the stacked furcation management structure is comprised of a first furcation tray and a second furcation tray, and further comprising at least one standoff interdisposed between the first furcation tray and the second furcation tray.

18. A fiber optic assembly, comprising:

a mounting surface;

a fiber optic cable assembly having at least one furcation body secured to the mounting surface; and

at least one attachment feature disposed in the mounting surface and at least one securing device disposed in the at least one attachment feature to removably secure the fiber optic furcation body to a fiber optic equipment chassis.

19. The fiber optic assembly of claim 18, wherein the mounting surface is disposed on a furcation management structure that includes multiple levels for mounting the plurality of furcation bodies.

20. The fiber optic assembly of claim 18, wherein the mounting surface is disposed on a furcation management structure that includes multiple levels for mounting the plurality of furcation bodies and the multiple levels are disposed on non-parallel planes.

21. The fiber optic assembly of claim 18, wherein the mounting surface comprises a first end and a hinge disposed on a second end opposite the first end.

22. The fiber optic assembly of claim 18, further comprising one or more apertures disposed in the mounting surface.

23. The fiber optic assembly of claim 18, further including at least two furcation bodies oppositely facing each other on the mounting surface.

24. The fiber optic assembly of claim 18, the at least one furcation body having at least one anti-rotation feature.

25. The fiber optic assembly of claim 18, further including a plurality of furcation management structures.