Fiber optic splice organizers

• US 5,590,234 A
• Filed: 03/31/1995
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Pulido, Jacqueline J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Application Number:
  US08/414,612
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134-136, 385/65, 385/83, 385/99
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4442 Cap coupling boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps

Abstract

A fiber optic splice organizer including a fiber optic storage tray having a region for receiving a splice insert, and at least one splice insert having a pad and a plurality of flexible arms attached and extending generally perpendicular to the pad, the arms positioned to form a series of parallel grooves for receiving individual fiber optic components, such as splice elements, and the arms being staggered along a given one of the grooves to provide a multi-point load on any component inserted therein. There are preferably at least three arms on each side of a given groove, and each of the arms advantageously has a hook or other latching element formed thereon for retaining the optical component, with hooks on arms along a given side of one of the grooves alternately facing in opposite directions. In one embodiment, the pad is provided with ears to engage respective cutouts in the tray. The pad, ears and arms may be integrally formed (injection molded) of a flexible material such as natural or synthetic rubbers, polyurethane, EPDM, Neoprene or nitrile, or blends of these materials, including blends with polypropylene. The material should have a hardness in the range of 30 Shore A to 50 Shore D, and preferably in the range of 60-80 Shore A.

Claims

1. An article for releasably securing a plurality of elongate, fiber optic components such as splice elements, the article comprising:

a pad member; and

a plurality of flexible arm members attached and extending generally perpendicular to said pad member, said arm members positioned to form first and second adjacent, parallel grooves for receiving individual fiber optic components, said arm members being staggered along a given one of said grooves to provide a multi-point load on any component inserted therein wherein said first groove has at least two of said arm members located along a first side of said first groove at opposite ends of said first groove, and an additional arm member located along a second side of said first groove, intermediate said ends thereof, such that a fiber optic component may be placed in said first groove without interfering with said second groove.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein each of said arm members has a hook formed thereon for retaining a fiber optic component in a given one of said grooves.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein hooks on said arm members along a given side of one of said grooves are alternately facing in opposite directions.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein said pad member has a plurality of ear members attached thereto, adapted to fit into correspondingly-shaped cutouts formed in a fiber optic storage tray.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein said pad member is integrally formed with said arm members.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein at least one of said grooves has at least three of said arm members on each side of said one groove.

7. The article of claim 1 wherein said arm members are formed of a material which has a hardness in the range of 30 Shore A to 50 Shore D.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein said arm members are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic rubbers, polyurethane, EPDM, Neoprene, nitrile and blends of the foregoing with polypropylene.

9. The article of claim 7 wherein said arm members are formed of a material which has a hardness in the range of 60-80 Shore A.

10. The article of claim 1 wherein said arm members are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic rubbers, polyurethane, EPDM, Neoprene, nitrile and blends of the foregoing with polypropylene.

11. A fiber optic splice organizer comprising:

a tray member having a floor region with a plurality of depressions for receiving a splice insert; and

at least one splice insert having a pad whose shape corresponds to the shape of said depressions such that said splice inserts may be removably secured in said depressions, said splice inserts each further having a plurality of flexible arms attached and extending generally perpendicular to said pad, said arms positioned to form first and second adjacent parallel grooves for receiving individual fiber optic components, said arms being staggered along a given one of said grooves to provide a multi-point load on any component inserted therein, wherein said first groove has at least two of said arm members located along a first side of said first groove at opposite ends of said first groove, and an additional arm member located along a second side of said first groove, intermediate said ends thereof, such that a fiber optic component is placed in said first groove without interfering with said second groove and said arms being formed of a material which has a hardness in the range of 60-80 Shore A.

12. The fiber optic splice organizer of claim 11 wherein:

said pad has a plurality of ear members attached thereto; and

said tray member has cutouts formed therein, adjacent said depressions, for receiving said ear members when one of said splice inserts is placed in one of said depressions.

13. The fiber optic splice organizer of claim 11 wherein said arms are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic rubbers, polyurethane, EPDM, Neoprene, nitrile and blends of the foregoing with polypropylene.

14. The fiber optic splice organizer of claim 13 said pad is integrally formed with said arms.

15. The fiber optic splice organizer of claim 14 wherein each of said grooves has at least three of said arms on each side of said one groove.

16. The fiber optic splice organizer of claim 11 wherein at least one of said grooves has at least three of said arms on each side of said one groove.

17. The fiber optic splice organizer of claim 11 wherein each of said arms has a hook formed thereon for retaining a fiber optic component in a given one of said grooves.

18. The fiber optic splice organizer of claim 11 wherein hooks on said arms along a given side of one of said grooves are alternately facing in opposite directions.

19. A fiber optic splice closure comprising:

a hollow body member having an opening providing access to an interior of said body member;

means for securing a fiber optic cable to said body member, the cable having a plurality of optical fibers therein;

a splice tray located in said body member, having first and second depressions formed therein and having cutouts formed adjacent said depressions;

first and second splice inserts located in said first and second depressions, respectively, each insert having a pad and a plurality of flexible arms attached and extending generally perpendicular to said pad, said arms positioned to form first and second adjacent parallel grooves for receiving individual fiber optic splice elements, said arms being staggered along each of said grooves to provide a multi-point load on any element inserted therein, there being at least three of said arms on each side of a given groove wherein said first groove has at least two of said three arm members located along a first side of said first groove at opposite ends of said first groove, and an additional arm member located along a second side of said first groove, intermediate said ends thereof, such that a fiber optic component is placed in said first groove without interfering with said second groove each of said arms having a hook formed thereon for retaining a splice element in a given one of said grooves, hooks on arms along a given side of one of said grooves alternately facing in opposite directions, said pad having a plurality of ears attached thereto, engaging respective cutouts in said splice tray, said pad, ears and arms being integrally formed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic rubbers, polyurethane, EPDM, Neoprene, nitrile and blends of the foregoing with polypropylene, and having a hardness in the range of 60-80 Shore A.