Optical fiber distribution frame with connector modules
First Claim
1. A fiber distribution frame comprising:
- (a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear;
(b) a left vertical cable guide with a side access, the left vertical cable guide positioned on the left side of the rack, and a right vertical cable guide with a side access, the right vertical cable guide positioned on the right side of the rack;
(c) an upper cable termination area positioned on the rack including;
(1) a first panel defining an array of termination locations on a front portion and on a rear portion of the first panel, the first panel positioned on the left side of the rack adjacent to the left vertical cable guide, each array including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(2) a second panel defining an array of termination locations on a front portion and on a rear portion of the second panel, the second panel positioned on the right side of the rack adjacent to the right vertical cable guide, each array including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(3) a central cable passageway between the first and second panels accessible from the front of the rack;
(4) side cable passageways from the central cable passageway to access an area between the rear of the rack and the rear portions of the first and second panels;
(d) a lower cable splice area positioned on the rack, the lower cable splice area defining a plurality of splice tray holders;
(e) a lower cable passageway from the splice tray holders to the central cable passageway of the first and second panels;
(f) a horizontal passageway positioned on the rack extending between the right vertical cable guide, and the left vertical cable guide.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including panels having front and rear termination locations, the panels positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame includes vertical access for the rear cables. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides for the front patch cables. The frame further includes cable storage spools for the patch cables. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. A lower portion of the frame defines splice tray holders and a central passage from the splice tray holders to the rear sides of the left and right panels. From a front of each panel, access to a rear of the panel is provided by the hinged panels. Alternatively, the panels can form connector modules with front termination locations and rear connection locations for connecting to the rear cables. The modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave division multiplexers.
440 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A fiber distribution frame comprising:
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(a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear;
(b) a left vertical cable guide with a side access, the left vertical cable guide positioned on the left side of the rack, and a right vertical cable guide with a side access, the right vertical cable guide positioned on the right side of the rack;
(c) an upper cable termination area positioned on the rack including;
(1) a first panel defining an array of termination locations on a front portion and on a rear portion of the first panel, the first panel positioned on the left side of the rack adjacent to the left vertical cable guide, each array including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(2) a second panel defining an array of termination locations on a front portion and on a rear portion of the second panel, the second panel positioned on the right side of the rack adjacent to the right vertical cable guide, each array including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(3) a central cable passageway between the first and second panels accessible from the front of the rack;
(4) side cable passageways from the central cable passageway to access an area between the rear of the rack and the rear portions of the first and second panels;
(d) a lower cable splice area positioned on the rack, the lower cable splice area defining a plurality of splice tray holders;
(e) a lower cable passageway from the splice tray holders to the central cable passageway of the first and second panels;
(f) a horizontal passageway positioned on the rack extending between the right vertical cable guide, and the left vertical cable guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
a housing having first and second spaced-apart ends, and first and second spaced-apart sides extending between the ends, the housing including a rear extending between the first and second ends and the first and second sides to define an interior, the housing defining an open front, with the first and second ends extending horizontally, the first and second sides extending generally vertically;
a main panel mounted to the open front, the main panel including an array of openings arranged and sized for holding adapters to define the termination locations, the adapters being sized for mounting to cable connectors.
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7. The frame of claim 6, wherein the main panel is positioned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the first and second sides.
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8. The frame of claim 6, wherein the first panel includes a first vertical array of guides positioned adjacent to the side access of the left vertical cable guide, and wherein the second panel includes a second vertical array of guides positioned adjacent to the side access of the right vertical cable guide, a guide in each of the first and second vertical arrays of guides being provided for each row of termination locations of the respective first and second panels.
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9. The frame of claim 6, wherein the main panel includes a plurality of sub-panels mounted so as to close the open front, each sub-panel including at least one opening arranged and sized for holding at least one adapter to define the termination locations.
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10. The frame of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a plurality of sub-panel holders, and wherein each of the sub-panels further include a plurality of front adapters and a rear housing, each rear housing including a side panel including a plurality of adapters, a fiber optic coupler mounted within the rear housing, and cables connecting the front adapters to the side adapters.
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11. The frame of claim 10, wherein the sub-panels each include a longitudinal guide, and wherein the sub-panel holders include a vertical array of longitudinal rails for receiving the longitudinal guides.
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12. The frame of claim 11, wherein the sub-panels each include a second longitudinal guide, wherein the open front of the housing includes a vertical array of notches opposite to the longitudinal rails for receiving the second longitudinal guides.
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13. The frame of claim 12, wherein at least one sub-panel includes a plurality of rows and columns of front adapters.
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14. The frame of claim 10, wherein the sub-panel holders include a vertical array of planar shelves.
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15. The frame of claim 14, wherein the sub-panels each include a longitudinal guide, and wherein the open front of the housing includes a vertical array of notches opposite to the planar shelves for receiving the longitudinal guides.
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16. The frame of claim 10, further comprising an angled retainer mounting the adapters to the sub-panels.
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17. The frame of claim 16, wherein at least one sub-panel includes a plurality of rows and columns of termination locations.
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18. The frame of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of adapters, each adapter mounted to one of the first and second panels.
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19. The frame of claim 18, further comprising an angled retainer mounting the adapters to the respective first and second panels.
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20. A fiber distribution frame comprising:
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(a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear;
(b) a left vertical cable guide with a side access, located on the left side of the rack, and a right vertical cable guide with a side access, located on the right side of the rack;
(c) a cable termination area positioned on the rack including;
(1) a first housing defining an array of termination locations on a front portion and on a rear portion of the first housing, the first housing positioned on the left side of the rack adjacent to the left vertical cable guide, each array of the front portion including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(2) a second housing defining an array of termination locations on a front portion and on a rear portion of the second housing, the second housing positioned on the right side of the rack adjacent to the right vertical cable guide, each array of the front portion including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(3) a central cable passageway between the first and second housings;
(4) wherein the front portions of first housing and the second housing are each positioned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a vertical plane defined by the front of the rack, the front portion of the first housing angled toward the left side of the rack, the front portion of the second housing angled toward the right side of the rack. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
(a) a cable storage device positioned on the rack, the cable storage device including at least two cable storage spools extending in the direction faced by the front of the rack;
(b) a horizontal passageway positioned on the rack extending between the right vertical cable guide, and the left vertical cable guide, the cable storage device in communication with at least one of the left and right vertical cable guides;
(c) a cable splice area positioned on the rack, the cable splice area defining a plurality of splice tray holders;
(d) a cable passageway from the splice tray holders to the rear portions of the first and second housings.
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22. The frame of claim 20, wherein each of the front portions of first and second housings are mounted for rotational movement relative to the rack.
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23. The frame of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second housings includes a plurality of connector module holders, and a plurality of connector modules slideably received by the connector module holders, each connector module including:
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a housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, the major sides interconnected by two spaced-apart minor sides, extending parallel to one another, the major side the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing, the front end of the housing defining front cable termination locations, the housing further including a rear notch extending between one of the minor sides and the rear end, the notch including a side segment defining an array of rear cable termination locations;
a fiber optic coupler mounted within the housing;
cables connecting the front and rear cable termination locations and the fiber optic couplers; and
the front end defining an angled surface positioned at a non-perpendicular angle to the minor sides.
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24. A fiber distribution frame comprising:
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(a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear;
(b) a left vertical cable guide with a side access, the left vertical cable guide positioned on the left side of the rack, and a right vertical cable guide with a side access, the right vertical cable guide positioned on the right side of the rack;
(c) a cable termination area positioned on the rack including;
(1) a first panel defining an array of termination locations on a front portion and on a rear-portion of the first panel, the first panel positioned on the left side of the rack adjacent to the left vertical cable guide, each array including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(2) a second panel defining an array of termination locations on a front portion and on a rear portion of the second panel, the second panel positioned on the right side of the rack adjacent to the right vertical cable guide, each array including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(3) a central cable passageway between the first and second panels accessible from the front of the rack;
(4) side cable passageways from the central cable passageway to access an area between the rear of the rack and the rear portions of the first and second panels;
(d) a horizontal passageway positioned on the rack extending between the right vertical cable guide, and the left vertical cable guide;
(e) wherein at least one of the first and second panels is defined by at least one termination module mounted to the rack, each termination module including;
(1) a housing having first and second spaced-apart ends, and first and second spaced-apart sides extending between the ends, the housing including a rear extending between the first and second ends and the first and second sides to define an interior, the housing defining an open front bounded by the first and second ends and the first and second sides, the first and second ends extending generally horizontally, the first and second sides extending generally vertically;
(2) a main panel mounted to the open front, the main panel including an array of openings arranged and sized for holding adapters to define the termination locations, the adapters being sized for mounting to cable connectors, wherein the main panel includes a plurality of sub-panels mounted so as to close the open front, each sub-panel including at least one opening arranged and sized for holding at least one adapter to define the termination locations, wherein the housing includes a plurality of sub-panel holders, and wherein each of the sub-panels further include a plurality of front adapters and a rear housing, each rear housing including a side panel including a plurality of adapters, a fiber optic coupler mounted within the rear housing, and cables connecting the front adapters to the side adapters. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A fiber distribution frame comprising:
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(a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear;
(b) a left vertical cable guide with a side access, located on the left side of the rack, and a right vertical cable guide with a side access, located on the right side of the rack;
(c) a cable termination area positioned on the rack including;
(1) a first housing defining an array of termination locations on a front portion and on a rear portion of the first housing, the first housing positioned on the left side of the rack adjacent to the left vertical cable guide, each array of the front portion including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(2) a second housing defining an array of termination locations on a front portion and on a rear portion of the second housing, the second housing positioned on the right side of the rack adjacent to the right vertical cable guide, each array of the front portion including a plurality of rows and columns of the front termination locations;
(3) a cable splice area positioned on the rack, the cable splice area defining a plurality of splice tray holders;
(4) a cable passageway from the splice tray holders to the rear portions of the first and second housings, the cable passageway accessible from the front of the rack. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
(a) a cable storage device positioned on the rack, the cable storage device including at least two cable storage spools extending in the direction faced by the front of the rack;
(b) a horizontal passageway positioned on the rack extending between the right vertical cable guide, and the left vertical cable guide, the cable storage device in communication with at least one of the left and right vertical cable guides.
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35. The frame of claim 33, wherein each of the front portions of first and second housings are mounted for rotational movement relative to the rack.
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36. The frame of claim 33, wherein at least one of the first and second housings includes a plurality of connector module holders, and a plurality of connector modules slideably received by the connector module holders, each connector module including:
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a housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, the major sides interconnected by two spaced-apart minor sides, extending parallel to one another, the major side the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing, the front end of the housing defining front cable termination locations, the housing further including a rear notch extending between one of the minor sides and the rear end, the notch including a side segment defining an array of rear cable termination locations;
a fiber optic coupler mounted within the housing;
cables connecting the front and rear cable termination locations and the fiber optic couplers; and
the front end defining an angled surface positioned at a non-perpendicular angle to the minor sides.
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Specification