Optical fiber storage system
First Claim
1. An optical fiber storage system for use in an equipment rack containing at least one removable optical interface card, comprising:
- a holder for holding a length of optical fiber for connection to an optical interface card, said holder being mounted for movement between a closed position in which access to said optical fiber is prevented and an open position allowing access to said optical fiber; and
an actuating device for causing said holder to move from said closed position to said open position automatically in response to withdrawal of said optical interface card.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical fiber storage system is provided for use in an equipment rack containing at least one removable optical interface card. The storage system includes a holder for holding a length of optical fiber for connection to the optical interface card. The holder is mounted for movement between a closed position in which access to the optical fiber is prevented, and an open position allowing access to the optical fiber. An actuating device, which may comprise a portion of the optical interface card itself, is provided for causing the holder to move from the closed position to the open position upon withdrawal of the optical interface card.
342 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical fiber storage system for use in an equipment rack containing at least one removable optical interface card, comprising:
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a holder for holding a length of optical fiber for connection to an optical interface card, said holder being mounted for movement between a closed position in which access to said optical fiber is prevented and an open position allowing access to said optical fiber; and an actuating device for causing said holder to move from said closed position to said open position automatically in response to withdrawal of said optical interface card. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An optical fiber storage system for use in an equipment rack containing at least one removable optical interface card, comprising:
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a holder for holding a length of optical fiber for connection to an optical interface card, said holder being mounted for movement between a closed position in which access to said optical fiber is prevented and an open position allowing access to said optical fiber; and an actuating device for causing said holder to move from said closed position to said open position upon withdrawal of said optical interface card; and
further wherein;said holder is mounted for pivoting movement between said closed position and said open position; said holder includes an elongated door panel adapted to lie substantially parallel to a front panel of said equipment rack when said holder is in the closed position, said pivoting movement of said holder occurring about a pivot axis located proximate to a first end of said elongated door panel; and said actuating device comprises a tab adapted to be brought into contact with a rear face of said door panel at a location proximate to a second end of said door panel opposite to said first end. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical fiber storage system for use in an equipment rack containing at least one removable optical interface card, comprising:
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a holder for holding a length of optical fiber for connection to an optical interface card, said holder being mounted for movement between a closed position in which access to said optical fiber is prevented and an open position allowing access to said optical fiber; and an actuating device for causing said holder to move from said closed position to said open position upon withdrawal of said optical interface card; and
further wherein;said holder is mounted for pivoting movement between said closed position and said open position; said holder includes an elongated door panel adapted to lie substantially parallel to a front panel of said equipment rack when said holder is in the closed position, said pivoting movement of said holder occurring about a pivot axis located proximate to a first end of said elongated door panel; and said holder further includes an optical fiber receiving portion connected to said door panel for receiving said length of optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An equipment rack for use with optical fiber equipment, comprising:
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a frame for receiving at least one optical interface card; at least one optical interface card removably received in said frame and adapted to be connected to an optical fiber; and a holder located adjacent to said optical interface card in said frame for holding a length of optical fiber for connection to said optical interface card, said holder being movable between a closed position in which access to said optical fiber is prevented and an open position allowing access to said optical fiber, and said holder being mechanically coupled to said optical interface card so as to move from said closed position to said open position automatically in response to withdrawal of said optical interface card from said frame. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An equipment rack for use with optical fiber equipment, comprising:
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a frame for receiving at least one optical interface card; at least one optical interface card removably received in said frame and adapted to be connected to an optical fiber; and a holder located adjacent to said optical interface card in said frame for holding a length of optical fiber for connection to said optical interface card, said holder being movable between a closed position in which access to said optical fiber is prevented and an open position allowing access to said optical fiber, and said holder being mechanically coupled to said optical interface card so as to move from said closed position to said open position upon withdrawal of said optical interface card from said frame; and
further wherein;said holder is mounted for pivoting movement between said closed position and said open position; said holder includes an elongated door panel adapted to lie substantially parallel to a front panel of said optical interface card when said holder is in the closed position, said pivoting movement of said holder occurring about a pivot axis located proximate to a first end of said elongated door panel; and said holder is mechanically coupled to said optical interface card by a tab carried by said optical interface card and adapted to be brought into contact with a rear face of said door panel at a location proximate to a second end of said door panel opposite to said first end. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for storing optical fiber in an equipment rack containing at least one removable optical interface card to which said optical fiber is connected, comprising the steps of:
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placing said optical fiber into a holder which is movable between a closed position and an open position; normally maintaining said holder in said closed position to prevent access to said optical fiber; withdrawing said optical interface card from said equipment rack; and responsive to such withdrawal of said optical interface card, automatically causing said holder to move from said closed position to said open position in order to allow access to said optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for storing excess optical fiber in an equipment rack containing at least one removable optical interface card to which said optical fiber is connected, comprising the steps of:
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placing said optical fiber into a holder which is movable between a closed position and an open position; normally maintaining said holder in said closed position to prevent access to said optical fiber; withdrawing said optical interface card from said equipment rack; and simultaneously with such withdrawal of said optical interface card, moving said holder from said closed position to said open position in order to allow access to said optical fiber; wherein the step of moving said holder from said closed position to said open position is carried out by bringing a portion of said optical interface card into contact with said holder during withdrawal of said optical interface card; and wherein the step of normally maintaining said holder in the closed position comprises the step of magnetically latching said holder in the closed position.
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Specification