Fiber optic dome closure

• US 5,553,186 A
• Filed: 03/31/1995
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Allen, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Application Number:
  US08/414,955
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134-137, 385/95, 385/99, 248/65, 248/74.1, 248/74.4, 248/316.1, 248/316.5, 248/316.6
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4442 Cap coupling boxes

Abstract

A fiber optic dome closure has a body with a closed end and an open end, a tubular base releasably secured to the open end, a strain relief member attached to the base, having cable ports therein, and several fiber optic storage trays supported in the body. The trays include a transition tray which receives excess fiber slack, and two or more splice trays hingedly attached at a common end to either the transition tray or to another splice tray. The transition and splice trays being generally flat and lying stacked in a storage position. The splice trays can be inclined without kinking the fibers routed around that end, and the hinges have features formed integrally therewith which releasably secure the tray in the inclined, access position. A split tube for routing fiber from the transition tray to either of the splice trays, or between the splice trays, has a releasable seal along a longitudinal seam to allow the fibers to the secured therein quickly, without threading. The transition tray and splice trays are preferably formed of an injection-moldable thermoplastic polymer, with the hinging structures integrally molded therein. The splice trays are essentially identical, i.e., come from the same mold.

Claims

1. An article for supporting a plurality of optical fibers and associated interconnection devices, comprising:

an elongate transition tray having spool means for receiving excess fiber slack, and having first and second pivot pins at one end thereof,

a first, elongate splice tray having first and second hubs at one end thereof, engaging said first and second pivot pins, respectively, of said transition tray, thereby hingedly attaching said first splice tray directly to said transition tray, said first splice tray further having third and fourth pivot pins at said one end thereof, proximate said first and second hubs; and

a second, elongate splice tray having third and fourth hubs at one end thereof, engaging said third and fourth pivot pins, respectively, of said first splice tray, thereby hingedly attaching said second splice tray directly to said first splice tray at the same end of said first splice tray that is attached to said transition tray.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said transition tray and first and second splice trays are generally flat and lie stacked in a storage position, and further comprising:

first means for releasably securing said first splice tray in an access position wherein said first splice tray is inclined away from said transition tray; and

second means for releasably securing said second splice tray in an access position wherein said second splice tray is inclined away from said first splice tray.

3. The article of claim 1 further comprising a split tube for routing fiber from (i) said transition tray to either of said first and second splice trays, or (ii) between said first and second splice trays, said split tube having means for releasably sealing said tube along a longitudinal seam thereof.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein said transition tray and first and second splice trays are all formed of an injection-moldable thermoplastic polymer.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein said third and fourth pivot pins are formed on an upper surface of said first splice tray, and said first and second hubs are formed on a lower surface of said first splice tray.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein said first and second splice trays are essentially identical.

7. The article of claim 2 wherein:

said first means for releasably securing said first splice tray in said access position is formed at said first and second hubs; and

said second means for releasably securing said second splice tray in said access position is formed at said third and fourth hubs.

8. The article of claim 2 further comprising button means formed on said first splice tray for releasing said first securing means.

9. The article of claim 2 wherein:

said first and second splice trays are essentially identical; and

said second securing means comprises outer surfaces of said third and fourth hubs having detent portions which fit within sockets surrounding said third and fourth pivot pins, said sockets having inner surfaces whose shape complements said detent portions of said outer surfaces of said third and fourth hubs.

10. The article of claim 3 wherein said sealing means comprises a longitudinal spline extending the length of said tube, said spline having an enlarged portion, and a complementary-shaped longitudinal groove for receiving said spline in dovetail fashion, said tube being constructed of a material which is sufficiently elastic to allow said groove to expand to receive said spline in a snap fit.

11. The article of claim 4 wherein:

said first and second pivot pins are integrally formed with said transition tray;

said first and second hubs, and said third and fourth pivot pins, are integrally formed with said first splice tray; and

said third and fourth hubs are integrally formed with said second splice tray.

12. The article of claim 5 wherein:

said transition tray and first and second splice trays are generally flat and lie stacked in a storage position; and

said third and fourth pivot pins are stacked directly above said first and second hubs in said storage position.

13. The article of claim 9 wherein:

said first and second pivot pins are integrally formed with said transition tray;

said first and second hubs, and said third and fourth pivot pins, are integrally formed with said first splice tray; and

said third and fourth hubs are integrally formed with said second splice tray.

14. A framework for supporting a plurality of optical fibers and associated interconnection devices, comprising:

a first fiber optic storage tray having spool means for receiving excess fiber slack, and having first and second pivot pins at one end thereof;

a second fiber optic storage tray having first and second hubs at one end thereof, engaging said first and second pivot pins, respectively, of said first tray, thereby hingedly attaching said second tray directly to said first tray; and

a split tube for routing optical fibers proximate said first tray, said split tube having means for releasably sealing said tube along a longitudinal seam thereof.

15. The framework of claim 14 wherein said sealing means comprises a longitudinal spline extending the length of said tube, said spline having an enlarged portion, and a complementary-shaped longitudinal groove for receiving said spline in dovetail fashion, said tube being constructed of a material which is sufficiently elastic to allow said groove to expand to receive said spline in a snap fit.

16. The framework of claim 14 wherein an interior of said tube has a rectangular cross-section.

17. The framework of claim 14 wherein said second tray has third and fourth pivot pins formed at said one end, and further comprising a third splice tray attached to said second tray at said one end, said second and third trays being essentially identical.

18. The framework of claim 14 wherein:

said first and second trays are formed of an injection-moldable thermoplastic polymer;

said first and second pivot pins are integrally formed with said first tray; and

said first and second hubs are integrally formed with said second tray.

19. The framework of claim 15 wherein an interior of said tube has a rectangular cross-section, and said split tube routes optical fibers between said first and second trays.

20. A fiber optic dome closure comprising:

an elongate body having a closed end and an open end;

a tubular base having first and second ends;

means for releasably securing said open end of said body to said first end of said base;

a strain relief member attached to said second end of said base, having a plurality cable ports therein;

an elongate transition tray having spool means for receiving excess fiber slack, and having first and second pivot pins at one end thereof;

a first, elongate splice tray having first and second hubs at one end thereof, engaging said first and second pivot pins, respectively, of said transition tray, thereby hingedly attaching said first splice tray directly to said transition tray, said first splice tray further having third and fourth pivot pins at said one end thereof, proximate said first and second hubs;

a second, elongate splice tray having third and fourth hubs at one end thereof, engaging said third and fourth pivot pins, respectively, of said first splice tray, thereby hingedly attaching said second splice tray directly to said first splice tray at the same end of said first splice tray that is attached to said transition tray, said transition tray and first and second splice trays being generally flat and lying stacked in a storage position, and said first and second splice trays being essentially identical;

first means for releasably securing said first splice tray in an access position wherein said first splice tray is inclined away from said transition tray;

second means for releasably securing said second splice tray in an access position wherein said second splice tray is inclined from said first splice tray;

a split tube for routing fiber from (i) said transition tray to either of said first and second splice trays, or (ii) between said first and second splice trays, said split tube having means for releasably sealing said tube along a longitudinal seam thereof,

means for mounting said transition tray to said strain relief member;

a pre-stretched tube collapsed about said strain relief member and said second end of said base; and

end seal means for restricting water ingress about said cable ports.