FIBER OPTIC ENCLOSURE WITH EXTERNAL CABLE SPOOL

• US 20170235079A1
• Filed: 12/22/2016
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kowalczyk, Scott C., Smith, Trevor D., Kaml, Jonathan R., LeBlanc, Thomas G., Beck, Ronald A.
• Granted Patent: US 11,009,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44765 with means for strain-relieving to exterior cable layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4477 with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4478 Bending relief means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/46 Processes or apparatus adapted for installing or repairing optical fibres or optical cables installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/47 Installation in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/475 Mechanical aspects of installing cables in ducts or the like for buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications device includes an enclosure defining an interior. A first fiber optic adapter is provided at the enclosure. A spool is provided at an exterior of the enclosure. A fiber optic cable, which includes a first optical fiber, is wrapped around the spool. A first fiber optic connector is mounted at a first end of the first optical fiber. The first end of the first optical fiber is positioned within the interior of the enclosure. The first fiber optic connector is inserted within the first fiber optic adapter. The enclosure and the spool are configured to rotate in unison about a common axis when the fiber optic cable is unwound from the spool.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A fiber optic assembly for providing optical fiber connections comprising:

a mounting plate;

at least one cable storage arrangement operatively mounted to the mounting plate so that the cable storage arrangement can rotate relative to the mounting plate about an axis, the cable storage arrangement defining a cable storage area and including a first curved surface and a second surface, the second surface spaced from the mounting plate and substantially parallel to the mounting plate;

a fiber optic termination arrangement disposed on a third surface, the third surface facing away from the mounting plate, the fiber optic termination arrangement including a plurality of fiber optic adapters;

each of the fiber optic adapters having a first port and a second port;

the at least one cable storage arrangement and the fiber optic termination arrangement operatively connected so that the fiber optic termination arrangement rotates in unison with the at least one cable storage arrangement;

a cable management structure disposed on the third surface, the cable management structure defining a cable routing path and providing optical fiber bend radius protection; and

a fiber optic cable stored in the cable storage arrangement, the fiber optic cable having a plurality of individual fibers, each of the individual fibers having a connectorized end, the connectorized ends being routed to the first ports of the plurality of adapters.

3. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cable storage arrangement includes a cable storage spool that defines the cable storage area.

4. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first curved surface forms a drum of the cable storage spool and the second surface forms a flange of the cable storage spool.

5. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the third surface is part of an enclosure.

6. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second surface faces the mounting plate.

7. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a fanout that breaks out the fiber optic cable into the individual fibers having connectorized ends.

8. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fanout is disposed on the third surface.

9. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fiber optic adapters are disposed in a plurality of sliding adapter modules, and wherein each of the sliding adapter modules is slidable along a line substantially parallel to the axis.

10. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a cable storage fixing arrangement for selectively fixing the cable storage arrangement at a set rotational position relative to the mounting plate.

11. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cable storage fixing arrangement includes a bracket mounted to the housing and mounting plate.

12. A fiber optic assembly for providing optical fiber connections comprising:

a mounting plate;

a fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers, the fiber optic cable including a first portion in which the optical fibers are collectively contained within a jacket and a second portion in which the optical fibers are broken out into individual optical fibers having connectorized ends;

a cable storage spool about which the first portion of the fiber optic cable is wrapped, the cable storage spool being rotatably mounted to the mounting plate, wherein the cable storage spool rotates about an axis relative to the mounting plate to allow the first portion of the fiber optic cable to be paid out from the cable storage spool;

a cable management structure about which the second portion of the fiber optic cable is routed, the cable management structure providing optical fiber bend radius protection; and

a plurality of fiber optic adapters that receive the connectorized ends of the individual optical fibers, wherein the cable management structure and the plurality of fiber optic adapters are carried with the cable storage spool as the cable storage spool is rotated about the axis.

13. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 12, further comprising an adapter plate operatively connected to the cable storage spool, wherein the fiber optic adapters are positioned on the adapter plate.

14. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cable storage spool includes a first axial end, a second axial end spaced from the first axial end, and a spooling portion disposed between the first and second axial ends, wherein the adapter plate is operatively connected to the first axial end.

15. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fiber optic adapters are disposed in a plurality of sliding adapter modules.

16. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fiber optic adapters and the cable management structure are disposed within an enclosure mounted to the cable storage spool.

17. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a cable storage fixing arrangement for selectively fixing the cable storage spool at a set rotational position relative to the mounting plate.

18. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a fanout that breaks out the fiber optic cable into the individual fibers having connectorized ends.

19. A fiber optic assembly for providing optical fiber connections comprising:

a mounting plate;

a fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers, the fiber optic cable including a first portion in which the optical fibers are collectively contained within a jacket and a second portion in which the optical fibers are broken out into individual optical fibers having connectorized ends;

a cable management and connection assembly including;

a first cable storage location at which the first portion of the fiber optic cable is coiled;

a second cable storage location separate from the first location, the second portion of the fiber optic cable being routed at the second cable storage location while providing optical fiber bend radius protection; and

a plurality of fiber optic adapters that receive the connectorized ends of the individual optical fibers;

wherein an entirety of the cable management and connection assembly rotates relative to the mounting plate about an axis of rotation to allow the first portion of the fiber optic cable to be paid out from the first location.

20. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first cable storage location includes a cable storage spool.

21. A fiber optic assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second cable storage location includes an enclosure.