Optical fiber splicing and connecting assembly

• US 6,542,688 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Battey, Jennifer A., Carlson, James M., Fontaine, Steve A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBB, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/698,924
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134-7
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4442 Cap coupling boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices

Abstract

A fiber optic closure includes a panel assembly having at least two planar panels affixed to another in a hinged manner. The panel assembly includes a storage bay sandwiched between a pair of fiber connection management assemblies. Each fiber connection management assembly includes a sleeve connector panel that supports one or more sleeve connector arrays within which fiber optic cable connectors may be inserted to establish fiber optic connections. The panel assembly also provides a conventional splice panel having splice holders within which splice connections are established. It is preferred to position the splice panel directly adjoining the sleeve connector panel. In this manner, a craftsperson can easily form custom sleeve connections within the fiber optic closure by splicing connectors onto selected optical fibers utilizing the splice panel and then interconnecting the connectors with opposing connectors utilizing the sleeve connector panel.

Claims

1. A fiber optic closure comprising:

a sleeve connector panel mounted within the closure for creating sleeve-type connections between fiber optic cables, the sleeve connector panel having at least one sleeve connector array mounted thereupon for receiving opposing fiber optic connectors therein to establish an optical connection, the sleeve connector panel defining a plane and a longitudinal axis parallel to the plane and the sleeve connector array mounted on the sleeve connector panel with the fiber optic connectors parallel to the plane;

a splice panel mounted within the closure for creating splice-type connections between optical fibers of fiber optic cables, the splice panel having at least one splice holder mounted thereupon for receiving opposing optical fibers therein to establish an optical connection, the splice panel defining a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the sleeve connector panel; and

a storage bay mounted within the closure for retaining at least one length of slack fiber cable therein, the storage bay defining a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the sleeve connector panel.

2. The closure of claim 1 further comprising a routing guide that is affixed to an end of the splice panel for routing the fiber optic cables between the storage bay and the splice panel and between the splice panel and the sleeve connector panel.

3. The closure of claim 1 further comprising a base to which the sleeve connector panel is secured and a cover that is shaped and sized to be removably affixed to the base and wherein the splice panel is mounted inwardly of the sleeve connector panel and the sleeve connector panel is movable relative to the splice panel to provide access to the splice-type connections.

4. A panel assembly for use within a fiber optic closure, the panel assembly adapted to manage fiber optic cable and optical fiber connections, the panel assembly comprising:

a frame positioned within the closure;

a first panel affixed to the frame, the first panel comprising a first mounting platform;

at least one sleeve connector array mounted upon the first mounting platform, the sleeve connector array providing a receptacle for receiving therein at least a pair of fiber optic cable connectors, the first mounting platform defining a plane and a longitudinal axis parallel to the plane and the sleeve connector array mounted on the first mounting platform with the fiber optic cable connectors parallel to the plane;

a storage bay affixed to the frame for retaining at least one length of slack fiber optic cable therein, the storage bay having at least one routing guide mounted thereupon for routing the fiber optic cable therein, the storage bay defining a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the first mounting platform; and

a second panel affixed to the frame and hinged to the first panel, the second panel comprising a second mounting platform having at least one splice holder mounted thereupon for receiving opposing optical fiber therein to establish an optical connection, the second mounting platform defining a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the first mounting platform.

5. The panel assembly of claim 4 wherein the fiber optic cable connectors are mounted in the sleeve connector array at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the first mounting platform.

6. The panel assembly of claim 4 wherein the storage bay is mounted inwardly of the first panel and the first panel is movable relative to the storage bay to provide access to the fiber optic cable.

7. A fiber management assembly for use within a fiber optic closure, the fiber management assembly comprising:

a storage bay for retaining and organizing at least one length of slack fiber optic cable, the storage bay defining a plane and a longitudinal axis parallel to the plane;

at least one sleeve connector array associated with the storage bay, the sleeve connector array receiving at least a pair of opposing fiber optic connectors therein to establish an optical connection, the fiber optic connectors received on the sleeve connector array with the fiber optic connectors parallel to the sleeve connector array and to the plane defined by the storage bay; and

at least one splice holder associated with the storage bay, the splice holder receiving opposing optical fibers therein to establish an optical connection, the optical fibers received on the splice bolder with the optical fibers parallel to the splice holder and to the plane defined by the storage bay.

8. The fiber management assembly of claim 7 wherein the sleeve connector array is mounted upon a first panel and the splice holder is mounted upon a second panel, the first panel and the second panel being hingedly affixed to one another and wherein the second panel is mounted inwardly of the first panel and the first panel is movable relative to the second panel to provide access to the optical connections.

9. The fiber management assembly of claim 8 comprising

a first fiber management and connection panel assembly comprising at least one sleeve connector array and at least one splice holder; and

a second fiber management and connection panel assembly comprising at least one sleeve connector array and at least one splice holder;

wherein the first fiber management and connection panel assembly and the second fiber management and connection panel assembly are positioned on either side of the storage bay so that the storage bay is sandwiched therebetween.