Fiber optic splice tray
First Claim
1. A fiber optic splice tray for storing spliced ends of optical fibers from a first and a second buffer tube, each of which includes a plurality of optical fibers, the splice tray comprising:
- a generally elongate casing having two generally parallel side walls, first and second end walls and a generally planar base, said side walls and said end walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said base and having free edges defining generally a plane formed with optical fiber retaining means projecting inwardly therefrom and spaced from said base for receiving and retaining lengths of optical fibers positioned along said side walls and said end walls; and
at least one of the following, none of which mechanically interferes with the other when a plurality of splice trays is installed and stacked in a closure, although each is present on the splice tray;
a lateral pivot assembly integrally formed at a first end of the casing proximate a first end of each side wall to permit a first splice tray to pivot about an axis formed at a first end of a second splice tray, wherein said lateral pivot assembly has an open position and a closed position;
a longitudinal hinge assembly integrally formed with a first side wall of the casing to permit a first splice tray to pivot about an axis formed at the first side wall of a second splice tray, wherein the longitudinal hinge assembly has an open position and a closed position;
an alignment boss integrally formed in the base and extending generally perpendicularly from the base, the alignment boss having an alignment sleeve adapted to receive an alignment guide;
a buffer tube receiving channel comprising a portion of the base, a buffer tube retainer secured to the base, and a channel wall integrally formed with the base proximate an end wall and rising perpendicular from the base parallel with the side walls to substantially the same height as the retaining means, wherein a buffer tube may be resiliently retained in the buffer tube receiving channel;
an insert assembly having an insert for dressing an optical fiber splice and having an insert retention socket integrally formed as an aperture in the base adapted to receive the insert assembly;
an insert assembly having an insert for retaining an optical fiber splice and having an insert retention socket integrally formed as an aperture in the base adapted to receive the insert assembly; and
an interlocking assembly having a tongue integrally formed as a coplanar extension of the sidewall and a groove integrally formed in the side wall directly beneath the tongue and adapted to receive a tongue from a corresponding splice tray.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic splice closure assembly has a generally elongate casing having two generally parallel side walls, first and second end walls and a generally planar base, the side walls and end walls extending substantially perpendicular to the base. The optical fiber splice tray may include a combination of one or more: lateral pivot assemblies; longitudinal hinge assemblies; alignment bosses; buffer tube receiving channels having a buffer tube retainer; insert retention socket and insert; splice block; tier bracket hinge assembly and interlocking assembly to assist in aligning and securing a plurality of such splice trays together and to secure buffer tubes within the splice tray and assist in optical fiber dressing within the splice tray.
247 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A fiber optic splice tray for storing spliced ends of optical fibers from a first and a second buffer tube, each of which includes a plurality of optical fibers, the splice tray comprising:
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a generally elongate casing having two generally parallel side walls, first and second end walls and a generally planar base, said side walls and said end walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said base and having free edges defining generally a plane formed with optical fiber retaining means projecting inwardly therefrom and spaced from said base for receiving and retaining lengths of optical fibers positioned along said side walls and said end walls; and at least one of the following, none of which mechanically interferes with the other when a plurality of splice trays is installed and stacked in a closure, although each is present on the splice tray; a lateral pivot assembly integrally formed at a first end of the casing proximate a first end of each side wall to permit a first splice tray to pivot about an axis formed at a first end of a second splice tray, wherein said lateral pivot assembly has an open position and a closed position; a longitudinal hinge assembly integrally formed with a first side wall of the casing to permit a first splice tray to pivot about an axis formed at the first side wall of a second splice tray, wherein the longitudinal hinge assembly has an open position and a closed position; an alignment boss integrally formed in the base and extending generally perpendicularly from the base, the alignment boss having an alignment sleeve adapted to receive an alignment guide; a buffer tube receiving channel comprising a portion of the base, a buffer tube retainer secured to the base, and a channel wall integrally formed with the base proximate an end wall and rising perpendicular from the base parallel with the side walls to substantially the same height as the retaining means, wherein a buffer tube may be resiliently retained in the buffer tube receiving channel; an insert assembly having an insert for dressing an optical fiber splice and having an insert retention socket integrally formed as an aperture in the base adapted to receive the insert assembly; an insert assembly having an insert for retaining an optical fiber splice and having an insert retention socket integrally formed as an aperture in the base adapted to receive the insert assembly; and an interlocking assembly having a tongue integrally formed as a coplanar extension of the sidewall and a groove integrally formed in the side wall directly beneath the tongue and adapted to receive a tongue from a corresponding splice tray.
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2. A fiber optic splice tray adapted for connecting to a second splice tray in a compact manner, comprising:
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a casing having two generally parallel side walls, first and second end walls and a generally planar base, said side walls and said end walls extending substantially perpendicular to said base; and means for laterally connecting to a second splice tray to permit the first splice tray to pivot about a lateral axis formed generally parallel to a first end of the second splice tray, said means for laterally connecting integrally formed with said casing at a first end of said casing, wherein said means for laterally connecting is constructed to be movable between an open position adapted to engage the second splice tray and a closed position wherein the means for laterally connecting lies co-planar with the base. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A first fiber optic splice tray adapted for connecting to a second splice tray, comprising:
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a generally elongate casing having two generally parallel side walls, first and second end walls and a generally planar base, said side walls and said end walls extending substantially perpendicular to said base and having free edges defining generally a plane formed with fiber retaining means projecting inwardly therefrom and spaced from said base for receiving and retaining lengths of optical fibers positioned along said side walls and said end walls; and means for longitudinally connecting to a second splice tray, to permit the first splice tray to pivot about a longitudinal axis formed generally parallel to a first side wall of the second splice tray, said means for longitudinally connecting formed with a first side wall of said casing, wherein said means for longitudinally connecting is constructed so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A fiber optic splice tray alignment system comprising:
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a fiber optic splice tray comprising; a generally elongate casing having two generally parallel side walls, first and second end walls and a generally planar base, said side walls and said end walls extending substantially perpendicular to said base; a hinge structure, constructed so as to fold between an open and closed position and wherein the hinge structure is adapted to secure to a second splice tray in a pivotal manner when in the open position, means for aligning a first splice tray and a second splice tray, said means for aligning separate from said hinge structure and integrally formed in said base and adapted to receive an alignment guide; a mounting platform; and an alignment guide secured to the mounting platform. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A fiber optic splice tray for storing spliced ends of optical fibers from a first and a second buffer tube or ribbon cable, each buffer tube or ribbon cable including at least one optical fiber, the splice tray comprising:
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a generally elongate casing having two generally parallel side walls, first and second end walls and a generally planar base, said side walls and said end walls extending substantially perpendicular to said base; and means proximate an end wall for securing a buffer tube or ribbon cable to the splice tray, said means for securing defining a passageway for the buffer tube or ribbon cable having a varying cross-sectional area accommodating the different cross-sectional size of a buffer tube or ribbon cable. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An assembly of fiber optic splice trays comprising:
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first and second splice trays each having a generally elongate casing having two generally parallel side walls, first and second end walls and a generally planar base, said side walls and said end walls extending substantially perpendicular to said base; an alignment guide integrally formed with the casing of the first splice tray; and means for aligning the first splice tray and a second splice tray, said means for aligning integrally formed in the casing of said second splice tray and adapted to receive the alignment guide. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification