Manifold for Managing Fiber Optic Cable and Structures and Systems Therefor

• US 20120128308A1
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Case, Richard L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds

Abstract

A manifold for managing fiber optic cables includes: a main panel; a plurality of clip channels mounted to a first side of the main panel, each of the clip channels comprising a pair of opposed clip arms sized and configured to receive and secure a fiber optic cable transition; and a pair of snap latches mounted to a second side of the main panel opposite the first side, the snap latches configured to receive cable management fingers. A manifold of this configuration can be particularly useful in organizing and managing fiber optic cables.

Claims

1. A manifold for managing fiber optic cables, comprising:

a main panel;

a plurality of clip channels mounted to a first side of the main panel, each of the clip channels comprising a pair of opposed clip arms sized and configured to receive and secure a fiber optic cable transition;

a pair of snap latches mounted to a second side of the main panel opposite the first side, the snap latches configured to receive cable management fingers.

2. The manifold defined in claim 1, wherein the clip channels are arranged in two substantially parallel rows on the main panel.

3. The manifold defined in claim 2, wherein the clip arms define an axis for each clip channel, and wherein the axis of each clip channel in one row is offset from the axes of the clip channels of the other row.

4. The manifold defined in claim 1, wherein each of the clip channels comprises a generally semicylindrical channel portion, and wherein the clip arms are mounted on edges of the semicylindrical channel portion.

5. The manifold defined in claim 1, wherein the clip arms are separated from each other by between about 0.25 and 0.5 inches.

6. The manifold defined in claim 1, wherein the snap latches are separated from each other by between about 1.75 and 2.5 inches.

7. A datacommunications structure, comprising:

a mounting frame;

cable management fingers arranged in one or more planar arrays;

a cable transition management manifold attached to the cable management fingers, the cable transition management manifold comprising;

a main panel;

mounting features attached to the main panel to mount the manifold onto the cable management fingers; and

clips mounted to the main panel configured to receive and secure a fiber optic cable transition.

8. The structure defined in claim 7, wherein the clips are part of clip channels.

9. The structure defined in claim 8, wherein the clip channels are arranged in two substantially parallel rows on the main panel.

10. The structure defined in claim 7, wherein the mounting features comprise snap latches.

11. The structure defined in claim 7, wherein the cable management fingers are horizontally oriented.

12. The structure defined in claim 7, wherein the cable management fingers are vertically oriented.

13. A datacommunications structure, comprising:

a mounting frame;

cable management fingers arranged in one or more planar arrays; and

a cable transition management manifold attached to the cable management fingers, the cable transition management manifold comprising;

a main panel;

a plurality of clip channels mounted to a first side of the main panel, each of the clip channels comprising a pair of opposed clip arms sized and configured to receive and secure a fiber optic cable transition; and

a pair of snap latches mounted to a second side of the main panel opposite the first side, wherein the snap latches receive the cable management fingers.

14. A datacommunications system, comprising:

a mounting frame;

cable management fingers arranged in one or more planar arrays;

a cable transition management manifold attached to the cable management fingers, the cable transition management manifold comprising;

a main panel;

mounting features attached to the main panel to mount the manifold onto the cable management fingers; and

clips mounted to the main panel configured to receive and secure a fiber optic cable transition; and

a fiber optic cable having a plurality of optical fibers and a transition wherein the optical fibers are broken out from each other;

wherein the transition of the fiber optic cable is mounted in one of the clips on the cable transition management manifold.