Fiber management frame having connector platform

• US 6,654,536 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Battey, Jennifer A., Fontaine, Steve A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Assistant Examiner(s): KNAUSS, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US09/833,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20020150369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134-137, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00

Abstract

A fiber management frame and an associated interconnection closure are provided that may be configured to house splice connections or to connect pre-connectorized optical fibers by means of connector sleeves. The fiber management frame includes a frame, at least one optical fiber connection tray, and a connector platform including at least one connector sleeve. The connector platform may be detachably mounted to the frame such that the connector platform is removable. In order to provide access to the connector platform, the connector platform may also be slidably connected to the frame. The fiber management frame facilitates routing of the optical fibers. For example, the fiber management frame may include stacks of connector sleeves that are spaced from adjacent stacks to define a gap therebetween through which optical fibers may be routed. The connector platform may also include at least one routing guide for guiding optical fibers to respective connector sleeves.

Claims

1. A fiber management frame for an interconnection closure comprising:

a frame;

at least one optical fiber connection tray carried by the frame; and

a connector platform mounted to the frame, the connector platform comprising first and second banks of connector sleeves disposed in a spaced apart relationship, the connector sleeves for interconnecting a pair of optical fibers having connectors mounted upon the ends thereof;

wherein the frame defines a plurality of compartments with the at least one optical fiber connection tray disposed within one compartment and the connector platform disposed within another compartment.

2. A fiber management frame according to claim 1 wherein the connector platform is detachably mounted to the frame such that the connector platform is capable of being removed from the frame.

3. A fiber management frame according to claim 1 wherein the at least one optical fiber connection tray comprises a coupler tray.

4. A fiber management frame according to claim 3 further comprising a splice tray disposed within the same compartment as the connector platform.

5. A fiber management frame according to claim 4 wherein the connector platform is mounted proximate one end of the frame.

6. A fiber management frame according to claim 1 wherein the at least one optical fiber connection fray comprises a splice tray.

7. A fiber management frame according to claim 1 wherein the connector platform further comprises at least one routing guide for routing optical fiber to respective connector sleeves.

8. An interconnection closure comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity and a plurality of ports opening into the internal cavity for receiving a plurality of cables; and

a fiber management frame disposed within the internal cavity of the housing, the fiber management frame comprising;

a frame;

at least one optical fiber interconnection tray carried by the frame; and

a connector platform mounted to the frame, the connector platform comprising first and second banks of connector sleeves disposed in a spaced apart relationship;

wherein the frame defines a plurality of compartments with the at least one optical fiber connection tray disposed within one compartment and the connector platform disposed within another compartment.

9. An interconnection closure according to claim 8 wherein the connector platform is detachably mounted to the frame such that the connector platform is capable of being removed from the frame.

10. An interconnection closure according to claim 8 wherein the at least one optical fiber connection tray comprises a coupler tray.

11. An interconnection closure according to claim 10 further comprising a splice tray disposed within the same compartment as the connector platform.

12. An interconnection closure according to claim 11 wherein the connector platform is mounted proximate one end of the frame.

13. An interconnection closure according to claim 8 wherein the at least one optical fiber connection tray comprises a splice tray.

14. An interconnection closure according to claim 8 wherein the connector platform further comprises at least one routing guide for routing optical fiber to respective connector sleeves.

15. A fiber management frame for an interconnection closure comprising:

a frame;

at least one optical fiber connection tray carried by the frame; and

a connector platform comprising a shelf and first and second banks of connector sleeves disposed upon the shelf in a spaced apart relationship, the connector platform slidably connected to the frame and adapted to move between a stowed position in which the connector platform is proximate the frame and an extended position in which the connector platform protrudes beyond the frame;

wherein the frame defines a plurality of compartments with the at least one optical fiber connection tray disposed within one compartment and the connector platform disposed within another compartment.

16. A fiber management frame according to claim 15 wherein the frame defines at least one track upon which the connector platform rides.

17. A fiber management frame according to claim 15 wherein the connector platform is detachably mounted to the frame such that the connector platform is capable of being removed from the frame.

18. A fiber management frame according to claim 15 wherein the connector platform further comprises at least one routing guide for routing optical fiber to respective connector sleeves.

19. A fiber management frame for an interconnection closure comprising:

a frame;

at least one optical fiber connection tray carried by the frame; and

at least one stack of connector sleeves mounted upon the frame, the stack of connector sleeves comprising a plurality of connector sleeves disposed in a stacked relationship for interconnecting a pair of optical fibers having connectors mounted upon the ends thereof, at least one of the pair of optical fibers routed from the at least one optical fiber connection tray to one of the connector sleeves;

wherein the frame defines a plurality of compartments with the at least one optical fiber connection tray disposed within one compartment and the at least one stack of connector sleeves disposed within another compartment.

20. A fiber management frame according to claim 19 further comprising a shelf mounted upon the frame, wherein the connector sleeves are disposed upon the shelf.

21. A fiber management frame according to claim 20 wherein the shelf is slidably connected to the frame and adapted to move between a stowed position in which the shelf is proximate the frame and an extended position in which the shelf protrudes beyond the frame.

22. A fiber management frame according to claim 20 wherein the shelf is detachably mounted to the frame such that the shelf and the connector sleeves are capable of being removed from the frame.

23. A fiber management frame according to claim 19 wherein the connector sleeves are arranged in first and second banks of connector sleeves mounted upon the frame in a spaced relationship.

24. A fiber management frame according to claim 19 further comprising at least one routing guide for muting optical fiber to respective connector sleeves.

25. A fiber management frame for an interconnection closure comprising:

a frame;

a shelf mounted upon the frame;

first and second banks of connector sleeves disposed upon the shelf in a spaced relationship;

at least one routing guide disposed between the first and second banks of connector sleeves for routing optical fiber to respective banks of connector sleeves;

a panel, spaced from the shelf, that carries the at least one routing guide; and

a bias member operably contacting the panel.

26. A fiber management frame according to claim 25 wherein the shelf is slidably connected to the frame and adapted to move between a stowed position in which the shelf is proximate the frame and an extended position in which the shelf protrudes beyond the frame.

27. A fiber management frame according to claim 25 wherein the shelf is detachably mounted to the frame such that the shelf and the first and second banks of connector sleeves are capable of being removed from the frame.

28. A fiber management frame according to claim 25 wherein the at least one routing guide is spaced from the shelf.

29. A fiber management frame for an interconnection closure comprising:

a frame;

at least one optical fiber connection tray carried by the frame; and

a connector platform mounted to the frame, the connector platform comprising a plurality of stacks of connector sleeves, the connector sleeves for interconnecting a pair of optical fibers having connectors mounted upon the ends thereof;

wherein the frame defines a plurality of compartments with the at least one optical fiber connection tray disposed within one compartment and the connector platform disposed within another compartment.

30. An interconnection closure comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity and a plurality of ports opening into the internal cavity for receiving a plurality of cables; and

a fiber management frame disposed within the internal cavity of the housing, the fiber management frame comprising;

a frame;

at least one optical fiber interconnection tray carried by the frame; and

a connector platform mounted to the frame, the connector platform comprising a plurality of stacks of connector sleeves, the connector sleeves for interconnecting a pair of optical fibers having connectors mounted upon the ends thereof;

wherein the frame defines a plurality compartments with the at least one optical fiber connection tray disposed within one compartment and the connector platform disposed within another compartment.