Optical fiber cable management device

• US 5,946,440 A
• Filed: 11/17/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Puetz, Curtis Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAO, VICKY D
• Application Number:
  US08/971,824
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/53, 385/76-77
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

An optical fiber cable management device includes a modular side wall construction, and a plurality of slideable and rotatable cable management trays disposed within the device. The trays can be configured for both termination and storage, storage only, and for supporting cable components. One or more slideable drawers are also provided within the device. The device provides cable termination, splice and storage of the optical fiber cables.

Claims

1. A tray for a cable management device comprising:

a body defining a cable storage pathway disposed around an outer periphery of the body; and

a bulkhead area disposed within the cable storage pathway, the bulkhead area including a plurality of adapters slideably mounted to the body, wherein the adapters are in a staggered linear arrangement, each adapter defining a longitudinal axis of insertion for a connector, and further wherein each adapter is moveable in a direction transverse to the linear and staggered arrangement between first and second positions, wherein the direction of a movement of each adapter is transverse to the longitudinal axis of each respective adapter.

2. The tray of claim 1, further comprising a collar for mounting at least one adapter to the bulkhead area, the collar including:

a collar body having first and second ends and defining first and second outwardly facing rails, each rail terminating in a flexible tab at one end of each rail and disposed at the second end of the collar body, each flexible tab including an outwardly facing ramp;

a stop adjacent to the one end of each rail;

a tab at the first end of the collar body and defining a finger grasping surface; and

the collar body having a central passage for receipt of the adapter, wherein the bulkhead area defines two opposed channels for the collar, each channel defining first and second spaced apart stops, the first stop engageable with the ramp, the second stop engageable with the stop of the collar, wherein the collar is slidably mounted to the body and constrained in movement by the first and second stops of each channel.

3. The tray of claim 2, further comprising a clip for mounting the adapter to the central passage of the collar body.

4. The tray of claim 1, further comprising a housing defining an enclosed interior, and a moveable door, the interior accessible through the moveable door, the tray mounted to the housing and disposed within the interior, the tray moveable to a position at least partially outside the housing.

5. A collar for mounting to a fiber optic adapter comprising:

a body having first and second ends and defining first and second outwardly facing rails, each rail terminating in a flexible tab at one end of each rail and disposed at the second end of the body, each flexible tab including an outwardly facing ramp;

a stop adjacent to the one end of each rail;

a tab at the first end of the body and defining a finger grasping surface; and

the body having a central passage for receipt of the adapter.

6. The collar of claim 5, further comprising an adapter including a clip for mounting the adapter to the central passage of the body of the collar.

7. The collar of claim 5, wherein each rail includes a longitudinally extending section defining a dove-tail shape.

8. A cable management tray comprising:

(a) a tray body defining a bulkhead area, the bulkhead area defining a plurality of pairs of channels, at least one channel of each pair including first and second spaced apart stops;

(b) a collar received by each pair of channels, each collar slidably mounted to one of the pairs of channels, each collar including;

(1) a collar body having first and second ends and defining first and second outwardly facing rails, at least one rail terminating in a flexible tab at one end of the rail and disposed at the second end of the collar body, the flexible tab including an outwardly facing ramp;

(2) a stop adjacent to the one end of the rail;

(3) a tab at the first end of the collar body, defining a finger grasping surface; and

(4) the collar body having a central passage for receipt of an adapter;

(c) at least one adapter mounted within the central passage of the collar body of each collar, the adapter movable with the slidably mounted collar, wherein the collars are positioned in a linear arrangement on the tray body, and further wherein each adapter is movable in a direction transverse to the linear arrangement between the first and second positions defined by the first and second stops of the channel, and further wherein the direction of movement of the adapter is transverse to a longitudinal axis of each adapter.

9. The tray of claim 8, wherein the tray body further defines a cable storage pathway disposed around an outer periphery of the tray body and surrounding at least a portion of the bulkhead area.

10. The tray of claim 9, wherein the tray body further defines a cable splice area for holding a plurality of cable splices.

11. The tray of claim 8, wherein the collars are in a staggered linear arrangement.

12. The tray of claim 8, wherein each adapter includes a clip for mounting the adapter within the central passage of the collar body of the collar.

13. The tray of claim 8, further comprising a housing defining an enclosed interior, and a moveable door, the interior accessible through the moveable door, the tray body mounted to the housing and disposed within the interior, and tray body moveable to a position at least partially outside the housing.

14. A cable management tray comprising:

(a) a tray body defining a bulkhead area, the bulkhead area defining a plurality of pairs of channels, each channel of each pair including first and second spaced apart stops;

(b) an adapter module received by each pair of channels, each module slidably mounted to the channels, each module including;

(1) first and second outwardly facing rails, each rail including a flexible tab, the flexible tab including an outwardly facing ramp;

(2) a stop adjacent to one end of each rail; and

(3) a central passage for receipt of two connectors held by the module in axial alignment along a longitudinal axis of the module;

(c) wherein the modules are positioned in a linear arrangement on the tray body, and further wherein each module is movable in a direction transverse to the linear arrangement between the first and second positions defined by the first and second stops of the channels, and further wherein the direction of movement of the module is transverse to the longitudinal axis of each module.

15. The tray of claim 14, wherein the tray body further defines a cable storage pathway disposed around an outer periphery of the tray body and surrounding at least a portion of the bulkhead area.

16. The tray of claim 15, wherein the tray body further defines a cable splice area for holding a plurality of cable splices.

17. The tray of claim 14, wherein the modules are in a staggered linear arrangement.