Optical fiber splice tray and cover

• US 5,577,151 A
• Filed: 08/15/1995
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Commscope Emea Limited (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Hoffer, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/515,443
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 385/95, 385/97, 385/98, 385/99, 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices

Abstract

A splice tray assembly (20) including a tray member (22) and a planar cover member (24). Side walls (34,36) of the tray include proximate each end (28,30) a tray tab (40) extending above top edges of the side walls and including an inwardly directed retainer section (44) spaced above the side wall top edges. The cover (24) includes cooperating retainer sections (56) to underlie the tray retainer sections (44) while side edge portions (58,60) of the cover rest atop the top edges of the tray side walls, for cover retention. The cover further includes deflectable portions or cover tabs (70,72) inwardly from a respective end to be positioned inwardly of the tray tabs (40), with either of the cover tabs being upwardly deflectable enabling it to pass over the tray retention section of the adjacent tray tab during cover assembly and removal.

Claims

1. A splice tray assembly for optical fiber interconnections, comprising:

a tray member having a bottom wall and side walls between opposed tray ends and coextending from said bottom wall to upper edges, and a planar cover member having end portions associated with said tray ends and side edge portions associated with said tray side walls;

said tray member including along each said side wall at least one tray tab proximate a respective said tray end extending from said bottom wall beyond said upper edge of a respective said side wall to an inwardly directed retainer section spaced a selected distance beyond said upper side wall edge; and

said cover member including cooperating retainer portions proximate respective said cover end portions and associated with respective said retainer sections to be disposed therebeneath for retention of said cover member to said tray member; and

said cover member further including at least one deflectable portion adjacent a said side edge thereof and adjacent said at least one tray tab, protruding at least as far as an outer surface of said tray tab upon assembly to define a stop surface adjacent a tray tab side edge inwardly from a respective said tray end to define cooperating stops at said tray end preventing said cover member to be slid along said tray member toward said tray end, with at least one of said cover member and said tray member adapted to permit manual engagement of said cover side edge adjacent said at least one tray tab to urge a portion of said cover member to an elevation higher than that of said tray tab thus offsetting said cooperating stops,

whereby said deflectable cover portion is manually deflectable upwardly to an elevation higher than a respective said retainer section to pass thereover during cover assembly and removal.

2. The splice tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tray side walls include inwardly directed flanges along said top edges thereof inwardly of said retainer sections, whereover side edge portions of said cover member rest upon assembly.

3. The splice tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tray member includes retainer sections proximate each said tray end along each said side wall thereof.

4. The splice tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tray member includes at least one said tray tab proximate each said tray end, and said cover member includes a said deflectable portion proximate each end thereof and providing a said stop surface proximate each said cover end to prevent sliding movement toward either one of said tray ends.

5. The splice tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover member includes a slot adjacent said at least one tray tab upon cover assembly to facilitate upward deflection of said cover portion adjacent said tray tab.

6. The splice tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said side edge of said cover portion adjacent said at least one tray tab protrudes beyond an outer surface of said tray side wall to facilitate manual engagement thereof to enable deflection of said cover portion.

7. The splice tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tray member includes opposing ones of said tray tabs proximate each said tray end, and said cover member includes opposing ones of said cooperating retainer sections proximate each said cover end.

8. The splice tray assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said cover member includes a recess along a said cover side edge opposed from each said deflectable portion and adjacent a said tray tab at one said tray end, enabling said cover member to be lifted upon sliding of said cover member after upward deflection of a said deflectable portion a distance sufficient to align said recess beneath said retainer section of said adjacent tray tab and to move said cooperating retainer sections at said other tray end from beneath respective said retainer sections thereat.

9. The splice tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover member includes a cover tab along each said cover side edge spaced inwardly from a respective said cooperating retainer portion to be disposed adjacent a side edge of a respective said tray tab inwardly from a respective said tray end, each said cover tab extending to an end protruding beyond said cover side edge portions a distance such that said cover tabs extend slightly beyond said tray side walls upon assembly for a cover tab side edge to reside adjacent a tray tab side edge inwardly from a respective said tray end to define cooperating stops at each said tray end preventing said cover member to be slid along said tray member, and said cover member including a pair of slots extending inwardly from each said side edge alongside each said cover tab a sufficient distance so that each said cover tab is a cantilever beam.

10. The splice tray assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tray member includes opposing ones of said tray tabs proximate each said tray end, and said cover member includes opposing ones of said cooperating retainer sections proximate each said cover end.

11. The splice tray assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said cover member includes a recess along a said cover side edge opposed from each said cover tab and adjacent a said tray tab at one said tray end, enabling said cover member to be lifted upon sliding of said cover member after upward deflection of a said cover tab a distance sufficient to align said recess beneath said retainer section of said adjacent tray tab and to move said cooperating retainer sections at said other tray end from beneath respective said retainer sections thereat.