Fiber optic housing with low part count

• US 5,408,570 A
• Filed: 06/30/1994
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Cook, David D., Keith, Roger H.
• Primary Examiner(s): FONT, FRANK G
• Application Number:
  US08/268,279
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

A fiber optic housing has a low part count, with all major parts formed by cutting, stamping or bending sheet metal, and with very few fasteners, reducing cost and simplifying assembly of the housing. In spite of the simplified construction, the housing retains great flexibility in the installation of the fibers and associated connectors, primarily due to the provision of a unique chassis which is completely removable from the housing, as well as a backplane frame which is further removable from the chassis. A novel bulkhead plate, and method of attachment thereof to the frame, are also disclosed. The chassis may have a drop center floor to more efficiently utilize space and yet still provide curved surfaces for the smooth exiting of the fibers from the housing.

Claims

1. A device for managing a plurality of interconnections of optical fiber cables, comprising:

a housing constructed of a bottom portion and a top portion detachable from said bottom portion, each of said portions having a generally rectangular base with two opposite ends, and two sidewalls formed at said ends, respectively, said sidewalls extending generally orthogonal to said base, and a sidewall on one of said portions being attached to an opposing sidewall on another of said portions, such that a given pair of opposing sidewalls are generally parallel when said top portion is attached to said bottom portion, said housing having a rear end, a front end and an interior portion;

tab means located at an interface between a given pair of opposing sidewalls, for aligning said opposing sidewalls and attaching said top portion of said housing with said bottom portion thereof, said tab means including at least first and second tab members, said first tab member being attached to a first one of said opposing sidewalls at said interface, extending toward a second one of said opposing sidewalls, and generally parallel thereto but offset to one side of a plane formed by said opposing sidewalls, and said second tab member being attached to said second one of said opposing sidewalls at said interface, extending toward said first one of said opposing sidewalls, and generally parallel thereto but offset to said side of said plane formed by said opposing sidewalls;

means located in said interior portion of said housing for supporting a plurality of fiber optic interconnection devices;

a rear panel member attached to said housing at said rear end;

a front panel member attached to said housing at said front end, said front panel being movable between a closed position and an open allowing access to an interior portion of said housing; and

means for mounting said housing on an exterior support member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said top and bottom portions are substantially identical.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a chassis member located in said interior portion of said housing and removably attached thereto, said chassis member including means for securing said top and bottom portions of said housing together.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein:

each of said housing portions are constructed from a single sheet of metal bent to form said base and sidewalls;

said first tab member is integrally formed with said first one of said opposing sidewalls by bending said first tab member; and

said second tab member is integrally formed with said second one of said opposing sidewalls by bending said second tab member.

5. The device of claim 3 further comprising a frame member located in said interior portion of said housing and removably attached to said chassis member, said supporting means including at least one bulkhead member removably attached to said frame member.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said chassis member includes a floor portion having a flat area with at least one edge and an arcuate surface attached to said edge, said arcuate surface rising above said flat area and having a ridge which extends generally parallel to said edge.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein:

said chassis member has a floor with two opposite ends and two upright members at said ends, extending generally orthogonal to said floor, at least one of said upright members having first and second protrusions;

said frame member is generally rectangular with two ends, has a length which is approximately equal to the distance between said upright members, and includes at least one plate at one of said ends, said plate having a width approximately equal to the distance between said protrusions on said upright member, such that said frame member may be attached to and supported in said chassis member by sliding said frame member toward said floor of said chassis member as said plate member is guided between said protrusions.

8. A device for managing a plurality of interconnections of optical fiber cables, comprising:

a housing having a rear end, a front end, an interior portion, and a removable top portion;

at least one support member located in said interior portion of said housing and attached thereto, said support member having first and second protrusions;

a generally rectangular frame member with two ends, and at least one plate at one of said ends, said plate having a width approximately equal to the distance between said protrusions on said support member such that, when said top portion of said housing has been removed, said frame member may be attached to and supported in said housing by sliding said frame member toward said interior portion of said housing as said plate member is guided between said protrusions;

means, attached to said frame member, for supporting a plurality of fiber optic interconnection devices;

a rear panel member attached to said housing at said rear end;

a front panel member attached to said housing at said front end, said front panel being movable between a closed position and an open allowing access to an interior portion of said housing; and

means for mounting said housing on an exterior support member.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein:

said first protrusion is closer to said front end of said housing than said second protrusion;

said support member has a ramped protrusion, proximate said first protrusion, such that said plate may be raised across said first protrusion as said frame member is moved from said front end of said housing toward said interior portion of said housing.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein:

said frame member has an upper bar; and

said top portion of said housing has an inner surface having third and fourth protrusions which engage either side of said upper bar when said top portion is placed on said housing, imparting side-pull resistance to said frame member.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said plate has a cutout which is located about said ramped protrusion when said plate is positioned between said first and second protrusions and said frame member is fully positioned in said interior portion of said housing.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein:

said support member is mounted on a chassis member disposed in said interior portion of said housing, said chassis member having a floor with a plurality of slots therein; and

said frame member has a lower edge and a first plurality of tabs extending from said lower edge, said tabs spaced along said lower edge and sized to fit, respectively, in said plurality of slots in said floor.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said floor has a flat area with at least one edge and an arcuate surface attached to said edge, said arcuate surface rising above said flat area and having a ridge which extends generally parallel to said edge.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein each of said slots in said floor are formed by bending a second plurality of tabs, respectively, from said floor such that said first plurality of tabs on said frame member may be inserted in said slots at an oblique angle with respect to the floor, with said frame member leaning toward said front end of said housing, and said frame member may thereafter be rotated to a position wherein said plate is disposed between said first and second protrusions of said support member.

15. A device for managing a plurality of interconnections of optical fiber cables, comprising:

a housing having a rear end, a front end and an interior portion;

a chassis member located in said interior portion of said housing, said chassis member including a floor portion having a flat area with at least one edge and an arcuate surface attached to said edge, said arcuate surface rising above said flat area and having a ridge which extends generally parallel to said edge;

means, attached to said chassis member, for supporting a plurality of fiber optic interconnection devices;

a rear panel member attached to said housing at said rear end;

a front panel member attached to said housing at said front end, said front panel being movable between a closed position and an open allowing access to an interior portion of said housing; and

means for mounting said housing on an exterior support member.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said chassis member further includes a plurality of fiber retention devices, each of said fiber retention devices having means for attaching said device to an upper surface of said floor portion.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein said floor portion of said chassis member is constructed from a single sheet of metal and said arcuate surface is integrally formed with said flat area by bending a section of said sheet of metal.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein:

said housing has at least one sidewall with a cutout therein for passage of the optical fiber cables; and

said arcuate surface of said floor portion is located adjacent said cutout in said sidewall when said chassis member is fully positioned in said interior portion of said housing.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein said attaching means comprises a mounting surface attached to said fiber retention device, and an adhesive applied to said mounting surface.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein said fiber retention device includes a ring extending generally orthogonal to said flat area, a centerline of said ring located a distance above said flat area approximately equal to the distance that the arcuate surface rises above said flat area.