Fiber-optic cable routing and management system and components

• US 6,567,601 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Pawlenko, Ivan, Daoud, Bassel Hage
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US09/884,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20020191939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3636 the mechanical coupling means being grooves G02B6/3652 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/364 inverted grooves, e.g. dovetails
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44765 with means for strain-relieving to exterior cable layers

Abstract

A fiber-optic cable routing management system comprising a fiber-optic splice tray rack that provides for vertical stacking of a plurality of fiber-optic splice trays to increase the density of splice trays and fiber-optic splices in a predetermined footprint. The system also comprises a fiber-optic splice tray having an integral buffer tube strain relief, and a high-density splice holder.

Claims

1. A fiber-optic splice holder comprising:

a base having defined therein a single channel and a double channel, said single channel and said double channel each having a curved cross section shaped to securely hold at least one fiber-optic cable,

said single channel having a first inner diameter sized and shaped to hold a single fusion splice of a first fiber-optic cable,

said double channel having a first inner diameter to hold a single fusion splice of a second fiber-optic cable, and having a second inner diameter sized and shaped to hold a mass fusion splice of a third fiber-optic cable,

said first inner diameter of said single channel and said first inner diameter of said double channel being vertically offset with respect to each other,

wherein said second inner diameter is greater than said first inner diameter of said double channel, and wherein said first inner diameter of said double channel is located below said second inner diameter of said double channel.

2. A fiber-optic splice holder as recited b claim 1, wherein said base has a longitudinal dimension and wherein said single channel and said double channel are defined in said base generally transverse to said longitudinal dimension.

3. A fiber-optic splice holder as recited by claim 2, wherein said longitudinal dimension is approximately equal to 3.3 inches.

4. A fiber-optic splice holder as recited by claim 1, wherein said base is constructed of a pliable material.

5. A fiber-optic splice holder as recited by claim 1, wherein said base has a generally adhesive surface for securing said holder to a structure.

6. A fiber-optic splice tray for routing of a plurality of fiber-optic cables over a cable routing path, said splice tray having a longitudinal dimension and comprising:

a base having a first end and a second end located longitudinally opposite of the first end; and

a first buffer tube strain relief located at one of the first and second end of said base for holding a first buffer tube, the first buffer tube strain relief having a plurality of channel walls extending perpendicular to said base, each channel wall having at least one of the group consisting of a ridge retainer and a cap retainer thereon.

7. A fiber-optic splice tray as recited by claim 6, further comprising a second buffer tube strain relief located at the one of the first and second end of said base for holding a second buffer tube.

8. A fiber-optic splice tray as recited by claim 7, further comprising a third buffer tube strain relief located at the other one of the first and second end of said base for holding a third buffer tube.

9. A fiber-optic splice tray as recited by claim 8, further comprising a fourth buffer tube strain relief located at the other one of the first and second end of said base for holding a fourth buffer tube.

10. A fiber-optic splice tray as recited by claim 9, wherein said first, second, third and fourth buffer tube strain reliefs are unitarily formed with said base.

11. A fiber-optic splice tray as recited by claim 6, said splice tray further comprising:

a first slack storage reel located at said first end and defining a first arcuate part of the cable routing path; and

a second slack storage reel located at said second end and defining a second arcuate part of the cable routing path.

12. A fiber-optic splice tray as recited by claim 11, wherein said first and said second slack storage reels each have a top surface having a plurality of fingers extending radially outward therefrom.

13. A fiber-optic splice tray as recited by claim 6, further comprising:

a first wall extending generally upward from said base and longitudinally therealong; and

a second wall extending generally upward from said base and longitudinally therealong, said second wall being spaced apart from said first wall in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction;

said first wall and said second wall defining a fiber-optic cable routing and storage channel.

14. A fiber-optic splice tray as recited by claim 13, further comprising a plurality of cable guides provided on said base.

15. A fiber-optic splice tray for routing of a plurality of fiber-optic cables over a cable routing path, said splice tray having a longitudinal dimension and comprising:

a base having a first end and a second end located longitudinally opposite of the first end;

a first slack storage reel located at said first end and defining a first arcuate part of the cable routing path;

a second slack storage reel located at said second end and defining a second arcuate part of the cable routing path;

a locking tab extending upward from a top surface of each of said first and said second slack storage reel; and

a cover having a locking aperture defined therethrough for each said locking tab.

16. A fiber-optic splice tray rack for holding a plurality of fiber-optic splice trays in vertically stacked relation to each other, said splice tray rack comprising:

a base having a first and second side;

a plurality of trays vertically spaced apart from said base and from each other to define a plurality of tray channels, each tray channel being sized and shaped to accommodate a fiber-optic splice tray;

a top located above said plurality of trays and having a first and second side; and

ejection springs for each tray channel for ejecting a fiber-optic splice tray from said each tray channel.

17. A fiber-optic splice tray rack for holding a plurality of fiber-optic splice trays in vertically stacked relation to each other, said splice tray rack comprising:

a base having a first and second side;

a plurality of trays vertically spaced apart from said base and from each other to define a plurality of tray channels, each tray channel being sized and shaped to accommodate a fiber-optic splice tray;

a top located above said plurality of trays and having a first and second side;

an ejector for each tray channel for ejecting a fiber-optic splice tray from said each tray channel; and

a front stop defined on each of said plurality of trays for securing a fiber-optic splice tray on said tray and in said tray channel.

18. A fiber-optic splice tray rack for holding a plurality of fiber-optic splice trays in vertically stacked relation to each other, said splice tray rack comprising:

a base having a first and second side;

a plurality of trays vertically spaced apart from said base and from each other to define a plurality of tray channels, each tray channel being sized and shaped to accommodate a fiber-optic splice tray;

a top located above said plurality of trays and having a first and second side;

an ejector for each tray channel for ejecting a fiber-optic splice tray from said each tray channel;

a top mount defined in said top; and

a bottom mount defined in said base and complementarily sized and shaped to said top mount, said top mount and said bottom mount facilitating sliding engagement of said fiber-optic splice tray rack and another fiber-optic splice tray rack.

19. A fiber-optic splice tray rack as recited by claim 18, wherein said top mount further comprises:

a top mounting rail defined on each side of said top;

a top mounting channel defined on each side of said top;

a bottom mounting rail defined on each side of said base; and

a bottom mounting channel defined on each side of said base.

20. A fiber-optic splice tray rack for holding a plurality of fiber-optic splice trays in vertically stacked relation to each other, said splice tray rack comprising:

a base having a first and second side;

a plurality of trays vertically spaced apart from said base and from each other to define a plurality of tray channels, each tray channel being sized and shaped to accommodate a fiber-optic splice tray;

a top located above said plurality of trays and having a first and second side;

an ejector for each tray channel for ejecting a fiber-optic splice tray from said each tray channel;

a locking aperture defined through said top; and

a locking tab provided as part of said base and being complementarily sized and shaped to said locking aperture.

21. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system comprising:

a fiber-optic splice tray rack comprising;

a base having a first side and a second side;

a plurality of trays vertically spaced apart from said base and from each other to define a plurality of tray channels, each tray channel being sized and shaped to accommodate a fiber-optic splice tray;

a top located above said plurality of trays and having a first side and a second side; and

an ejector for each tray channel for ejecting a fiber-optic splice tray from said each tray channel;

a fiber-optic splice tray comprising;

a base having a first end and a second end located longitudinally opposite of the first end; and

a first buffer tube strain relief located at one of the first and second end of said base for holding a first buffer tube; and

a fiber-optic splice holder comprising a base having defined therein a single channel and a double channel, said single channel having a first inner diameter sized and shaped to hold a single fusion splice of a first fiber-optic cable, said double channel having a first inner diameter to hold a single fusion splice of a second fiber-optic cable, and having a second inner diameter sized and shaped to hold a mass fusion splice of a third fiber-optic cable, said first inner diameter of said single channel and said first inner diameter of said double channel being vertically offset with respect to each other.

22. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 21, wherein said fiber-optic splice tray rack further comprises a front stop defined on each of said plurality of trays for securing a fiber-optic splice tray on said tray and in said tray channel corresponding to said tray.

23. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 21, wherein said fiber-optic splice tray rack further comprises:

a top mount defined in said top; and

a bottom mount defined in said base and complementarily sized and shaped to said top mount, said top mount and said bottom mount facilitating sliding engagement of said fiber-optic splice tray rack and another fiber-optic splice tray rack.

24. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 23, wherein said top mount further comprises:

a top mounting rail defined on each side of said top;

a top mounting channel defined on each side of said top;

a bottom mounting rail defined on each side of said base; and

a bottom mounting channel defined on each side of said base.

25. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 21, wherein said fiber-optic splice tray rack further comprises:

a locking aperture defined through said top; and

a locking tab provided as part of said base and being complementarily sized and shaped to said locking aperture.

26. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 21, wherein said fiber-optic splice tray comprises a second buffer tube strain relief located at the one of the first and second end of said base for holding a second buffer tube.

27. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 21, wherein said fiber-optic splice tray comprises a third buffer tube strain relief located at the other one of the first and second end of said base for holding a third buffer tube.

28. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 27, wherein said fiber-optic splice tray further comprises a fourth buffer tube strain relief located at the other one of the first and second end of said base for holding a fourth buffer tube.

29. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 28, wherein said first, second, third and fourth buffer tube strain reliefs are unitarily formed with said base.

30. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 21, said fiber-optic splice tray further comprises:

a first slack storage reel located at said first end and defining a first arcuate part of the cable routing path; and

a second slack storage reel located at said second end and defining a second arcuate part of the cable routing path.

31. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 30, wherein said first and said second slack storage reels each have a top surface having a plurality of fingers extending radially outward therefrom.

32. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 21, wherein said fiber-optic splice tray further comprises:

a first wall extending generally upward from said base and longitudinally therealong; and

a second wall extending generally upward from said base and longitudinally therealong, said second wall being spaced apart from said first wall in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction;

said first wall and said second wall defining a fiber-optic cable routing and storage channel.

33. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 32, wherein said fiber-optic splice tray further comprises a plurality of cable guides provided on said base.

34. A fiber-optic cable routing and management system as recited by claim 30, wherein said fiber-optic splice tray further comprises:

a locking tab extending upward from a top surface of each of said first and said second slack storage reel; and

a cover having a locking aperture defined therethrough for each said locking tab.