Optical fiber distribution panel
First Claim
1. A distribution panel for supporting a plurality of connector sockets which are adapted to be connected to a transmission cable by conductors fastened to the rear of said sockets, said panel comprisinga housing having a plurality of sides,an array of conductor sockets in rows and columns adjacent one side of said housing,means on said housing for supporting a plurality of said sockets for limited translational movement to move said plurality of sockets with relationship to others of said sockets from a normally closed retracted position to a projected position spaced from said other sockets in a row or column to expose said sockets allowing easy finger access thereto for connection and disconnection of a mating plug with a said socket and restricting access to the rear of said sockets and said conductors, and for pivotal movement affording access to the rear of said sockets and said conductors.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved fiber distribution panel including fiber connecting and splicing modules which are slidable into and out of a housing which is formed to support a plurality of said modules. Each module is provided with means for supporting a fiber connector at an angle with respect to the front edge thereof allowing access to the connectors and supports a booklet for storing slack fiber and for supporting permanent fiber connectors within said module.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A distribution panel for supporting a plurality of connector sockets which are adapted to be connected to a transmission cable by conductors fastened to the rear of said sockets, said panel comprising
a housing having a plurality of sides, an array of conductor sockets in rows and columns adjacent one side of said housing, means on said housing for supporting a plurality of said sockets for limited translational movement to move said plurality of sockets with relationship to others of said sockets from a normally closed retracted position to a projected position spaced from said other sockets in a row or column to expose said sockets allowing easy finger access thereto for connection and disconnection of a mating plug with a said socket and restricting access to the rear of said sockets and said conductors, and for pivotal movement affording access to the rear of said sockets and said conductors.
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6. A module for use in connecting an incoming or outgoing distribution optical fiber to an optical fiber of a feeder cable comprising
a tray member, said tray member having a forward edge, a front wall adjacent said forward edge for supporting a plurality of fiber connector sockets having a length of optical fiber connected to the rear thereof and the front of said connector sockets being adapted for receiving the plug connectors of distribution optical fibers, a rear wall parallel to said forward edge and spaced from said forward edge by a distance twice the minimum bending radius of said length of optical fiber, and wall members at the edges joining said rear wall and said front wall, said wall members at the edge having support means affording limited translational movement of said tray member for restricting access to said optical fibers at the rear of said connector sockets but easy access to the front of said connector sockets.
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11. A module for use in connecting an incoming or outgoing distribution optical fiber to an optical fiber of a feeder cable comprising
a tray member having a forward edge, a front wall adjacent said forward edge for supporting a plurality of fiber connector sockets adapted for receiving the plug connectors of distribution optical fibers, a rear wall parallel to said front edge, a third wall positioned in spaced relation to said rear wall by a distance twice the minimum bending radius of the fibers, a splice supporting plate hinged to the rear wall and positioned between said rear wall and said third wall, said plate having a support surface for supporting a plurality of permanent fiber splices which may be formed between a fiber joined to a said fiber connector socket and a fiber from a feeder cable, and a cover hinged to said rear wall to cover said splice supporting plate, said cover being movable between said covering position and an open position allowing access to a splice storage area between said rear wall and said third wall, said cover being formed with fiber retaining lips to store a length of slack fiber on a surface of said cover, and said tray member having support means for affording limited translational movement.
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14. A slack storage organizer for optical fibers comprising a plurality of flexible pages bound together along one edge and disposed in spaced relationship, each of said pages being formed with a inwardly folded free edge which fold is spaced from said one edge a distance at least twice the minimum bending radius of the optical fibers.
- 15. A slack fiber organizer for storing slack optical fiber having a known bending radius and comprising a binding, a plurality of flexible pages positioned generally parallel to each other and joined along one edge to said binding in spaced relationship, which space between said pages succeeds the diameter of the fibers and any coating thereon plus the thickness of the page, each page having an inwardly folded free edge portion opposite the joined edges, said fold being spaced from said joined edges at least a distance twice the minimum bending radius of the fiber affording a fiber to be coiled and placed upon a said page between said folded portion and said joined edges.
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17. An optical fiber distribution panel for splicing and connecting optical fiber cables to optical fibers, said optical fibers having a known minimum bending radius, said panel comprising
a housing having a top wall, a back wall, and side walls which are joined together, said back wall having means for securing a fiber optic feeder cable thereto and for permitting the optical fibers therein to be disposed in the housing, a plurality of splicing and connecting modules disposed in the housing in parallel relationship, each module comprising a bottom wall having a forward edge and a parallel rear edge and said bottom wall being adapted to support slack fiber between said forward edge and said rear edge, and wall means disposed adjacent to said front edge for removably supporting a plurality of parallelly disposed fiber connectors at an angle to said front edge, means supporting each module for limited sliding movement away from said back wall for affording ease of access to said fiber connectors and for restricting access to the slack fiber and having means affording pivotal movement of said module adjacent one end for allowing easy access to the slack fiber.
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26. An optical fiber connector comprising
a generally cylindrical socket having an axis, means at one end of said socket for releasably receiving a plug connector in axial alignment with said socket, and said socket having attaching means secured thereto for connecting said socket to a wall, said attaching means comprising a bifurcated leg on said socket and projecting radially in relationship to the axis of said socket.
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27. A distribution panel for supporting a plurality of connector sockets which are connected to a transmission cable, said panel comprising
a housing having a plurality of sides, an array of connector sockets in rows and columns adjacent one side of said housing, means on said housing for supporting a plurality of said sockets for limited translational movement with relationship to others of said sockets to move said plurality of sockets from a normally retracted position to a projected position spaced from said other sockets in a row or column to expose said sockets allowing easy finger access thereto for connection and disconnection of a mating plug with a said socket, and an L-shape hinged door mounted on said means on said housing for covering said sockets when in said retracted position and for exposing said sockets and supporting optical fibers on a said mating plug when in said projected position.
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28. An optical fiber distribution panel for splicing and connecting optical fiber cables to optical fibers, said optical fibers having a known minimum bending radius, said panel comprising
a housing having a top wall, a back wall, and side walls which are joined together, said back wall having means for securing a fiber optic feeder cable thereto and for permitting the optical fibers therein to be disposed in the housing, a plurality of splicing and connecting modules disposed in the housing in parallel relationship, each module being supported for limited sliding movement away from said back wall and having means affording pivotal movement of said module adjacent one end, said module comprising a bottom wall having a forward edge and a parallel rear edge, wall means disposed adjacent to said front edge for removably supporting a plurality of parallel disposed fiber connectors at an angle to said front edge, and a hinged door connected along said front edge.
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29. An optical fiber distribution panel for splicing and connecting optical fiber cables to optical fibers, said optical fibers having a known minimum bending radius, said panel comprising
a housing having a top wall, a back wall, and side walls which are joined together, said back wall having means for securing a fiber optic feeder cable thereto and for permitting the optical fibers therein to be disposed in the housing, a plurality of splicing and connecting modules disposed in the housing in parallel relationship, each module being supported for limited sliding movement away from said back wall and having means affording pivotal movement of said module adjacent one end, said module comprising a bottom wall having a forward edge and a parallel rear edge, wall means disposed adjacent to said front edge for removably supporting a plurality of parallelly disposed fiber connectors at an angle to said front edge, a rear wall adjacent said rear edge, a third wall disposed parallel to and spaced from said rear wall at least a distance twice the minimum bending radius of an optical fiber for storing slack fiber and a cover hinged to said rear wall for covering said space between said rear wall and said third wall.
Specification