Optical fiber splice closure assembly

• US 6,533,472 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC (Fujikura Limited)
• Original Assignee: Alcoa Fujikura Ltd. (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dinh, Cong Thanh, Drane, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US09/691,515
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 385/95, 385/134-139
• US Class Current: 385/95
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4447 with divided shells G02B6/4448 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved closure assembly for retaining fiber optic cables is disclosed wherein the closure assembly includes end plates having apertures for supporting the cables at the location of entry into the closure assembly. A unique gripping device is provided for retaining each cable with respect to the end plates, whereby sufficient force is applied to the cable to provide water-tight sealing at the junction of the cable and the end plate, yet with sufficient distribution of the force to avoid straining or distorting the cable. A unique optical fiber splice tray is disclosed having pivotal connectors at either end to permit attaching the trays in stacked relation, yet providing pivotal movement of each tray relative to the next adjacent tray, from either end. The trays include unique “V”-shaped integral fingers for retaining the individual optical fibers while permitting ready removal and reinsertion of the fibers for servicing of the closure assembly or the fibers.

Claims

1. An enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable, which comprises:

(a) housing having first and second end portions;

(b) at least one end plate located at each said end portion, each said end plate defining at least one aperture for supporting at least one fiber optic cable extending therethrough;

(c) a strain relief device for gripping said at least one fiber optic cable adjacent at least one of said end plates, said gripping device having a plurality of spaced apart arcuately shaped fingers for substantially encircling the cable and having at least one extension adapted for attachment to said at least one end plate to fix the axial position of the cable gripped thereby; and

(d) a clamp member for encircling said gripping device and for urging said fingers into biting engagement with said at least one cable.

2. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 1, wherein said gripping device is structured to grip the cable about an outer surface portion thereof in a generally uniform manner such that the gripping force is generally uniformly distributed so as to avoid distortion of the cable.

3. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 2, wherein said gripping device is adapted to grip the cable generally uniformly about the outer surface portion thereof.

4. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 3, wherein said cable gripping device comprises a split bushing having a washer-shaped flange member extending radially therefrom.

5. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 4, wherein said cable gripping device further comprises a radially extending lip at a free end opposite said washer-shaped flange member.

6. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 5, wherein said flange member is comprised of a half section of a washer-like member attached at one end to said arcuate shaped fingers.

7. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 6, wherein said cable gripping member is made of a synthetic flexible plastic material being at least one of polyamides and polyolefins.

8. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 7, wherein said polyamide is nylon.

9. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 7, wherein said polyolefin is at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene and polybuylene.

10. A splice tray for supporting optical fibers, which comprises:

a) a tray for supporting the optical fibers in an axial direction; and

b) a tray-to-tray connecting device located at each end of said tray, each said connecting device being comprised of at least one elongated generally cylindrical member positioned adjacent at least one clamp member adapted to engagingly receive in clamped relation, one of such cylindrical members attached to an adjacent similar tray in a manner to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween, such that at least two of such trays may be stacked in connected relation whereby said trays may be pivotally rotated with respect to each other from either end.

11. The splice tray according to claim 10, wherein said tray defines a longitudinal axis extending in a lengthwise direction and said at least one cylindrical member is oriented transverse of said longitudinal axis.

12. The splice tray according to claim 11, wherein said clamp member is oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis.

13. The splice tray according to claim 12, wherein said clamp member has a generally “

C”

-shaped cross-sectional configuration and is dimensioned to engagingly receive said correspondingly positioned generally cylindrical member.

14. The splice tray according to claim 13, further comprising optical fiber securing devices for retaining the optical fibers in predetermined positions and orientations, said fiber optic securing devices being oriented generally transverse to said generally longitudinal axis for retaining the optical fibers in position generally parallel to said generally longitudinal axis.

15. The splice tray according to claim 13, wherein said optical fiber securing devices are attached to said splice tray at one end and have a generally “

V”

-shaped cross-sectional configuration at the free end.

16. The splice tray according to claim 15, wherein said optical fiber securing devices each comprise an elongated finger resiliently attached to said tray for resiliently retaining the optical fibers in position with respect to said tray, said generally “

V”

-shaped configuration comprising one downwardly extending leg and one upwardly extending leg at the free end to facilitate lifting said finger to position the optical fibers thereunder for retention with respect to said tray.

17. The splice tray according to claim 16, wherein said fiber optic hold down fingers are formed monolithically with said tray.

18. A device for supporting a fiber optic cable with respect to an enclosure, the enclosure having at least two end portions, and an end plate at each said end portion defining at least one aperture for reception of the fiber optic cable, which comprises:

(a) gripping device structured to substantially encircle the cable at a location adjacent at least one of said end plates, said gripping device having at least two gripping members adapted to move toward and away from an outer surface portion of the cable between positions whereby the cable is gripped and released, respectively;

(b) a split washer-like member extending generally radially from said gripping device at at least one end portion thereof, said member adapted to be fixedly attached to the end plate; and

(c) an encircling member adapted to encircle said gripping device and to selectively apply inward force to said gripping device to cause said gripping device to grip the cable.

19. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 18, wherein said gripping member has an inner ribbed surface to enhance the grip applied to the cable.

20. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 19, wherein said encircling member is a band-type clamp.

21. The enclosure for supporting at least one fiber optic cable according to claim 20, wherein said band-type clamp includes a threaded member adapted to adjustably cause said band-type clamp to be selectively increased and reduced in circumferential size to permit application of inward force to said gripping member.