Fiber optic interface device

• US 6,625,375 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mahony, Glenn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US10/282,030
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 385/24, 385/53-55, 385/76, 385/92, 385/86, 385/134-137, 359/163
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2804 forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/501 underground installation of connection boxes

Abstract

A fiber optic interface device that facilitates the deployment of fiber to the home by connecting a connectorized outside fiber optic drop to a connectorized inside fiber optic drop, the fiber optic interface device including a housing having two ports, termination hardware, routing hardware, and one or more adapters. The housing provides environmental protection and is adapted to be mounted to a customer'"'"'s house. The two ports receive the outside and inside drops. Positioned above the ports inside the housing, the termination hardware secures the drops to the housing. The routing hardware receives the drops from the ports, routes the drops to the one or more adapters, and stores any extra length in the drops, while maintaining a proper fiber strand bend radius. The one or more adapters connect the outside drop to the inside drop, providing a well-aligned and stable fiber optic connection that does not require splicing.

Claims

1. A fiber optic interface device comprising:

(a) a housing adapted to receive a connectorized outside fiber optic drop and a connectorized inside fiber optic drop;

(b) termination hardware attached to the housing, wherein the termination hardware secures transition fittings of the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop to the housing;

(c) routing hardware attached to the housing, wherein the routing hardware receives the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop from the termination hardware, stores slack of the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop, and routes the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop; and

(d) one or more adapters attached to the housing, wherein the one or more adapters receive the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop from the routing hardware, and connect the connectorized outside fiber optic drop to the connectorized inside fiber optic drop.

2. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic interface device mounts to a subscriber premises and facilitates deployment of a fiber to the home network.

3. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, wherein the housing mounts to a subscriber premises.

4. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, wherein the housing is sealed.

5. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, further comprising a grommet for preventing infiltration of environmental hazards, through which at least one of the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop enter the housing.

6. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator on the housing to show proper placement of the transition fittings.

7. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, wherein the termination hardware comprises one of a clamp and a raised slot through which a cable tie is placed.

8. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, wherein the routing hardware is shaped to prevent the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop from kinking.

9. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, wherein the routing hardware comprises two opposing semicircular members.

10. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, wherein the routing hardware comprises routing clips.

11. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, wherein the one or more adapters accommodate one of SC-type connectors, ST-type connectors, and FC-type connectors.

12. The fiber optic interface device of claim 1, wherein the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop each contain two fiber optic strands and the one or more adapters are two adapters that provide communication between the two fiber optic strands of the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the two fiber optic strands of the connectorized inside fiber optic drop.

13. A method for delivering fiber optic service to a subscriber premises in a fiber to the home network, the method comprising:

providing a fiber optic interface device at the subscriber premises, the fiber optic interface device having routing hardware and an adapter;

attaching a transition fitting of a connectorized outside fiber optic drop to the fiber optic interface device;

attaching a transition fitting of a connectorized inside fiber optic drop to the fiber optic interface device;

routing the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop around the routing hardware and to the adapter; and

connecting the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop to the adapter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein attaching the transition fitting of the connectorized outside fiber optic drop comprises one of

tying the transition fitting of the connectorized outside fiber optic drop to a slot in the fiber optic interface device and

securing the transition fitting of the connectorzied outside fiber optic drop with a clamp attached to the fiber optic interface device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising feeding the connectorized outside fiber optic drop into the fiber optic interface device through a grommet.

16. A fiber optic interface device comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) termination hardware adapted to secure a first transition fitting of a connectorized outside fiber optic drop and a second transition fitting of a connectorized inside fiber optic drop to the housing;

(c) an adapter inside the housing, wherein the adapter is adapted to connect the connectorized outside fiber optic drop to the connectorized inside fiber optic drop; and

(d) routing hardware inside the housing, wherein the routing hardware is adapted to store slack of the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop and to route the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop from the termination hardware to the adapter.

17. The fiber optic interface device of claim 16, further comprising a grommet through which at least one of the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop enter the housing.

18. The fiber optic interface device of claim 16, wherein the termination hardware comprises one of a raised slot and a clamp.

19. The fiber optic interface device of claim 16, wherein the housing has an indicator to guide placement of at least one of the first transition fitting and the second transition fitting.

20. The fiber optic interface device of claim 16, wherein the routing hardware prevents the connectorized outside fiber optic drop and the connectorized inside fiber optic drop from kinking.