Portal bend limiter/strain reliever for fiber optic closure exit portal

• US 6,321,017 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Green, Elwood Horace Jr., Pellegrino, Anthony, Janus, Neal Anthony, Reagan, Randy Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAHM, SARAH UH YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/399,885
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134-137
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4478 Bending relief means

Abstract

A bend limiter/strain reliever is provided for maintaining optical fiber bend limits at exit portals of a optic fiber closure for the closure'"'"'s entire range of motion, from being fully closed to being fully open. Bend limits are maintained as optical fiber is directed on paths through a closure exit portal between the closure interior and wire brackets on the closure exterior. Fibers are retained, organized and strain relieved by the bend limiter/strain reliever such that directed fiber is maintain at a minimum bend radius on such fiber paths. The curved surface of the bend limiter/strain reliever allows the closure to be accessed without excessive bending of so routed optical fibers. In this manner, optical signal degradation and/or total loss is avoided by limiting the bending of routed optical fiber to radii in excess of a predetermined minimum bend radius. Horizontal members separate the bend limiter/strain reliever into compartments and make it easy to isolate fibers so that they may be efficiently traced and removed during system maintenance.

Claims

1. A device for routing optical fibers in compliance with a predetermined minimum bend radius, said device comprising:

a plurality of arcuate surfaces, said surfaces being joined together to form a partial cylindrical curved surface having a generally vertical longitudinal axis, said curved surface having a radius of curvature greater than a predetermined minimum bend radius,

a horizontal member extending radially outwardly from said longitudinal axis and in a plane generally transverse to said longitudinal axis, said horizontal member separating said plurality of arcuate surfaces into compartments.

2. The device for routing optical fibers of claim 1 further comprising

a vertical retaining strip attached to said horizontal member for retaining said optical fibers in place in said device.

3. The device for routing optical fibers of claim 2 wherein said vertical retaining strip further includes:

a push-through access means operative to accept push-through placement of said optical fibers routed via said means.

4. The device for routing optical fibers of claim 2 wherein said vertical retaining strip further includes:

a fiber access slot.

5. The device for routing optical fibers of claim 2 further comprising

a peg attached to said horizontal member for connecting said device in a fiber optic closure, said peg mountable in a fiber mounting hole in said closure.

6. A device for directing optical fiber through an exit portal of a closure from the interior of said closure to a raceway to the exterior of said closure while maintaining fiber bend limits, said device comprising:

a surface comprising

a plurality of sub-surfaces, said sub-surfaces being combined to form a partial cylindrical curved surface having a generally vertical longitudinal axis, said curved surface having a radius of curvature greater than a predetermined minimum bend radius;

a horizontal member extending radially outward from said longitudinal axis and in a plane generally transverse to said longitudinal axis;

a retaining strip, said retaining strip perpendicular to said horizontal member and having an access slot for said optical fiber;

a peg member located at a first mounting position on said horizontal member.

7. A bend limiter for routing optical fiber through an exit portal of a fiber optic closure, said bend limiter maintaining fiber bend limits as optical fiber directed in a first direction is redirected in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, the bend limiter comprising:

a plurality of sub-surfaces, said sub-surfaces being combined to form a partial cylindrical curved surface having a generally vertical longitudinal axis, said curved surface having a radius of curvature greater than a predetermined minimum bend radius, said curved surface providing a path for said optical fiber between said first direction and said second direction;

a plurality of horizontal members, each horizontal member extending radially outward from said longitudinal axis and in a plane generally transverse to said longitudinal axis, each said horizontal member having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said curved surface;

a retaining strip, said retaining strip perpendicular to said horizontal members and connected to said second end of each of said horizontal members, said retaining strip having an access slot for said optical fiber;

a plurality of peg members, each said peg member attached to a mounting position on an outer surface of said horizontal member.