Optical fiber interconnection closures

• US 6,411,767 B1
• Filed: 11/11/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cregan, William, Burrous, Robert A., Canning, Michael W., Smith, Kelly J., Strause, Kevin L., Holderness, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAK, SUNG H
• Application Number:
  US09/438,737
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4447 with divided shells G02B6/4448 takes precedence

Abstract

A housing defines an internal cavity and an opening to the internal cavity. An end cap occludes the opening. Fiber optic cables extend through ports in the end cap. A support frame is connected to the end cap and is positioned in the internal cavity. The support frame includes a support member having opposite front and rear ends. The support frame includes upper and lower front extensions connected to the support member. The front extensions extend away from the support member and divergently with respect to one another. The front extensions are connected to the end cap. Flanges protruding from the front extensions receive strain relief for brackets. Container-like devices for containing optical fibers are carried by opposite sides of the support member. An elongate channel for receiving optical fibers and an elongate opening to the channel extend along the back side of a container-like device carried by the support member. A transition plate is mounted to the top of a container-like device carried by the support member. The transition plate includes protrusion that define aperture for receiving ties that hold optical fibers. An adjustment bracket is mounted in movable relation to the support member and is movable toward and away from a container-like device carried by the support member. The support frame further includes upper and lower rear extensions connected to and extending forwardly and divergently from the rear end of the support member.

Claims

1. A closure for receiving at least one fiber optic cable and for containing optical fibers and optical fiber splices, the closure comprising:

an elongate housing having front and rear ends, wherein the housing extends in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends, the housing defines an internal cavity extending in the longitudinal direction, and the housing defines at least one opening to the internal cavity;

an end cap for occluding the opening of the housing to provide an enclosed configuration, wherein the end cap defines a plurality of ports, each port being capable of having a section of fiber optic cable extend therethrough, and the end cap comprises a periphery that extends around the plurality of ports;

a support frame connected to the end cap, wherein the support frame is positioned within the internal cavity of the housing during the enclosed configuration, the support frame being capable of supporting the optical fiber splices, and the support frame comprises;

an elongate support member having opposite front and rear ends, wherein the support member extends in the longitudinal direction, the front end of the support member is oriented toward the front end of the housing, and the rear end of the support member is oriented toward the rear end of the housing while the closure is in the enclosed configuration, and

first and second front extensions, wherein each of the front extensions is connected to the support member proximate the front end of the support member, the front extensions extend away from the support member and diverge with respect to one another, the first front extension is connected to the end cap at a first position proximate to the periphery of the end cap, and the second front extension is connected to the end cap at a second position proximate to the periphery of the end cap and distant from the first position; and

a plurality of container-like devices for containing optical fibers, wherein the container-like devices are carried by the support member, and at least two of the container-like devices are positioned on opposite sides of the support member from one another, whereby one of the two container-like devices can be accessed without accessing the other of the two container-like devices.

2. A closure according to claim 1, wherein each of the two container-like devices is a slack basket for containing at least some of the optical fibers.

3. A closure according to claim 1, wherein:

the frame further comprises a flange connected to and extending from the first front extension; and

the closure further comprises a strain-relief bracket mounted to the flange.

4. A closure according to claim 1, further comprising a second end cap mounted in fixed relation to the support member.

5. A closure according to claim 1, wherein one of the two container-like devices is a splice tray and the other of the two container-like devices is a slack basket, the splice tray being capable of containing at least some of the optical fiber splices, and the slack basket being capable of containing at least some of the optical fibers.

6. A closure according to claim 1, wherein one of the two container-like devices is a slack basket and the other of the two container-like devices is an organizer assembly, the slack basket being capable of containing at least some of the optical fibers, and the organizer assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart partitions defining a plurality of receptacles for respectively receiving splice trays that are capable of containing at least some of the optical fiber splices.

7. A closure according to claim 1, wherein each of the two container-like devices is a splice tray for containing at least some of the optical fiber splices.

8. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the front extensions cooperate to define a generally U-like shape.

9. A closure according to claim 1, wherein:

the support member defines a member axis that extends between the front and rear ends of the support member; and

each of the front extensions extend both generally radially outward from the member axis and generally forward relative to the front end of the support member.

10. A closure according to claim 1, wherein:

the support member defines a member axis that extends between the front and rear ends of the support member; and

the closure further comprises a plurality of studs connected to the support member and extending generally radially outward from the member axis.

11. A closure according to claim 1, wherein:

a first of the container-like devices comprises;

opposite front and rear ends, wherein the front end of the first container-like device is oriented toward the front end of the support member, and the rear end of the first container-like device is oriented toward the rear end of the support member,

opposite first and second sides extending in the longitudinal direction during the enclosed configuration, wherein the first side of the first container-like device is proximate to the support frame, and the first side of the first container-like device is positioned between the support frame and the second side, and

opposite third and fourth sides extending in the longitudinal direction during the enclosed configuration, wherein the third and fourth sides of the first container-like device extend between the first and second sides of the first container-like device; and

wherein the closure defines an elongate channel and an elongate opening to the channel that extend in the longitudinal direction during the enclosed configuration, wherein the channel is adjacent to the fourth side of the first container-like device, the channel being capable of receiving and at least partially enclosing a section of optical fibers extending between a first position that is proximate the end cap and a second position that is proximate the rear end of the container-like device.

12. A closure according to claim 1, further comprising a plate carried by the support frame such that at least one of the container-like devices is positioned between the support frame and the plate, wherein the plate comprises:

edges;

a surface extending between the edges, wherein the surface extends generally in the longitudinal direction during the enclosed configuration; and

a plurality of protrusions that protrude angularly away from the surface, wherein each protrusion defines an aperture for receiving a tie that holds at least some of the optical fibers.

13. A closure according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of protrusions comprises a plurality of arches.

14. A closure according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of protrusions comprises a tab that is proximate to at least one of the edges of the plate.

15. A closure according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment bracket mounted in movable relation to the support member for moving along a length of the support member.

16. A closure according to claim 15, wherein:

the adjustment bracket is mounted in movable relation to the support member for moving along a first side of the support member in the longitudinal direction; and

one of the container-like devices is an organizer assembly positioned on the first side of the support member, wherein the organizer assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart partitions defining receptacles for respectively receiving splice trays for containing at least some of the optical fiber splices, and the adjustment bracket is movable toward and away from the organizer assembly so the adjustment bracket is operative to abut the splice trays received by the receptacles of the organizer.

17. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the support frame further comprises first and second rear extensions, wherein each of the rear extensions is connected to the support member proximate the second end of the support member, and the rear extensions extend away from the support member and diverge with respect to one another.

18. A closure according to claim 17, wherein the rear extensions extend toward the front end of the support member.

19. A closure according to claim 17, wherein the rear extensions extend rearward from the support member.

20. A closure according to claim 19, further comprising a second end cap mounted to at least one of the rear extensions.

21. A closure for containing optical fibers and optical fiber splices, the closure comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity and at least one opening to the internal cavity;

an end cap for occluding the opening of the housing to provide an enclosed configuration; and

a support frame connected to the end cap, wherein the support frame is positioned within the internal cavity of the housing during the enclosed configuration, the support frame being capable of supporting the optical fiber splices, and the support frame comprises;

an elongate support member having opposite front and rear ends, wherein the support member extends in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends, and the support member defines a member axis that extends between the front and rear ends, and

first and second front extensions, wherein each of the front extensions is connected to the support member proximate the front end of the support member, wherein the front extensions extend away from the support member, divergently with respect to one another, and toward the end cap, and wherein each front extension respectively includes;

a generally radially extending part that extends generally radially away from proximate the member axis, and

a generally longitudinally extending part that extends generally in the longitudinal direction, wherein for each front extension the longitudinally extending part thereof is positioned between the generally radially extending part thereof and the end cap.

22. A closure according to claim 21, wherein an angle of approximately 180 degrees is defined between the radially extending part of the first front extension and the radially extending part of the second front extension.

23. A closure according to claim 21, wherein the end cap is generally cylindrical and comprises a circumferential surface, and the first and second front extensions are mounted to the end cap proximate the circumferential surface.

24. A closure according to claim 21, wherein the radially extending part of the first front extension defines a plane that is generally parallel to the member axis.

25. A closure according to claim 24, wherein the plane defined by the first front extension is a first plane and the radially extending part of the second front extension defines a second plane that is generally coplanar with the first plane.

26. A closure for containing optical fibers and optical fiber splices, the closure comprising:

a housing having opposite front and rear ends, wherein the housing defines an internal cavity and at least one opening to the internal cavity, and the opening is proximate the front end of the housing;

an end cap occluding the opening of the housing; and

a support frame connected to the end cap and positioned within the internal cavity, wherein the support frame comprises first and second bars, each of the bars is connected to the end cap, elongate sections of the bars are spaced apart from one another at a position that is proximate to and rearward of the end cap, the bars extend rearward from the end cap and converge at a position that is rearward of the end cap, elongate sections of the bars extend generally contiguously in the rearward direction rearward of the convergence, and the contiguously extending sections of the first and second bars form a composite support member that supports the optical fiber splices within the internal cavity.

27. A closure according to claim 26, further comprising a plurality of container-like devices for containing optical fibers, wherein the container-like devices are carried by the composite support member, and at least two of the container-like devices are positioned on opposite sides of the composite support member from one another, whereby one of the two container-like devices can be accessed without accessing the other of the two container-like devices.

28. A closure according to claim 26, wherein the end cap is generally cylindrical and comprises a circumferential surface, and the bars are mounted to the end cap proximate the circumferential surface.

29. A closure according to claim 26, wherein:

the housing defines a housing axis extending between the front and rear ends of the housing;

the composite support member has opposite ends and defines a member axis that extends between the opposite ends of the support member, and

the member axis is generally parallel to the housing axis.

30. A closure according to claim 29, wherein the housing axis and the member axis are generally coaxial.

31. A closure according to claim 26, wherein each of the bars has opposite first and second ends, the first ends are closer to the front end of the housing than to the rear end of the housing, the second ends are closer to the rear end of the housing than to the front end of the housing, and the second ends extend away from the composite support member and diverge with respect to one another.

32. A closure according to claim 31, wherein the second ends extend generally forwardly away from the composite support member.

33. A closure for containing optical fibers and optical fiber splices, the closure comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity and at least one opening to the internal cavity;

an end cap for occluding the opening of the housing to provide an enclosed configuration;

a support frame connected to the end cap, wherein the support frame is positioned within the internal cavity of the housing during the enclosed configuration, the support frame being capable of supporting the optical fiber splices, and the support frame comprises;

a support member having opposite front and rear ends, wherein the front end of the support member is oriented toward the end cap and the rear end of the support member is oriented away from the end cap, and

first and second rear extensions, wherein each of the rear extensions is connected to the support member proximate to the rear end of the support member, the rear extensions extend away from the support member, the rear extensions diverge with respect to one another, and the rear extensions extend toward the front end of the support member.

34. A closure according to claim 33, further comprising first and second front extensions, wherein each of the front extensions is connected to the support member proximate the front end of the support member, the front extensions extend away from the support member and diverge with respect to one another, the first front extension is connected to the end cap at a first position, and the second front extension is connected to the end cap at a second position that is distant from the first position.

35. A closure according to claim 33, further comprising third and fourth rear extensions, wherein each of the third and fourth rear extensions is connected to the support member proximate the rear end of the support member, the third and fourth rear extensions extend away from the support member, the third and fourth rear extensions diverge with respect to one another, and the third and fourth rear extensions extend rearward from the support member.

36. A closure according to claim 35, further comprising a second end cap connected to the third and fourth rear extensions.

37. A closure for containing optical fibers and optical fiber splices, the closure comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity and at least one opening to the internal cavity;

an end cap for occluding the opening of the housing to provide an enclosed configuration;

a support frame having opposite front and rear ends, wherein the support frame extends in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends, the front end is connected to the end cap and the rear end is distant from the end cap, and the support frame is positioned within the internal cavity of the housing during the enclosed configuration;

a container-like device for containing optical fibers, wherein the container-like device is carried by the support frame, wherein the container-like device comprises a front end oriented toward the front end of the support frame, a rear end oriented toward the rear end of the support frame, opposite first and second sides extending in the longitudinal direction, and opposite third and fourth sides extending between the first and second sides, and wherein the third and fourth sides extend in the longitudinal direction, and the first side is proximate to the support frame and positioned between the support frame and the second side; and

wherein the closure defines an elongate channel and an elongate opening to the channel that extend in the longitudinal direction, wherein the channel is adjacent to the fourth side of the container-like device, the channel being capable of receiving and at least partially enclosing a section of optical fibers extending between a first position that is proximate the end cap and a second position that is proximate the rear end of the container-like device.

38. A closure according to claim 37, further comprising a wall that extends away from proximate the support frame and also extends in the longitudinal direction, wherein the wall at least partially defines the channel.

39. A closure according to claim 37, wherein the container-like device comprises an organizer assembly, and the organizer assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart partitions defining a plurality of receptacles for respectively receiving splice trays that are capable of containing at least some of the optical fiber splices.

40. A closure according to claim 37, wherein the fourth side of the container-like device at least partially defines the channel.

41. A closure according to claim 40, wherein the support frame further comprises:

a first wall that extends in the longitudinal direction, generally perpendicular to the fourth side of the container-like device, and outward from the fourth side of the container-like device, and

a second wall that extends in the longitudinal direction and is generally parallel to the fourth side of the container-like device.

42. A closure for containing optical fibers and optical fiber splices, the closure comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity and at least one opening to the internal cavity;

an end cap for occluding the opening of the housing to provide an enclosed configuration;

a support frame connected to the end cap, wherein the support frame is positioned within the internal cavity of the housing during the enclosed configuration, and the support frame being capable of supporting the optical fiber splices;

a flange connected to and extending away from the support frame; and

a strain-relief bracket mounted to the flange;

wherein the support frame comprises;

an elongate support member having opposite front and rear ends; and

first and second extensions, wherein each of the extensions is connected to the support member, the extensions extend away from the support member and diverge with respect to one another, the first extension is connected to the end cap at a first position, the second extension is connected to the end cap at a second position that is distant from the first position, and the flange is connected to and extends away from the first extension.

43. A closure according to claim 42, wherein

the first extension has an interior surface that is oriented toward the second extension; and

the closure further comprises a bracket mounted to the interior surface of the first extension and including the flange.

44. A closure according to claim 42, wherein the flange is a first flange, the strain-relief bracket is a first strain relief bracket, and the closure further comprises:

a second flange connected to and extending away from the second extension, and

a second strain-relief bracket connected to the second flange.

45. A closure according to claim 42, wherein the flange is a first flange, and the closure further comprises:

a second flange connected to and extending away from the first extension, wherein the second flange is positioned generally opposite from the first flange;

a third flange connected to and extending away from the second extension; and

a fourth flange connected to and extending away from the second extension, wherein the fourth flange is positioned generally opposite from the third flange.