Fiber optic cable management apparatus and method

• US 6,707,978 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: APA Cables & Networks, Inc. (Clearfield, Inc)
• Original Assignee: APA Cables & Networks, Inc. (Clearfield, Inc)
• Inventors: Wakileh, George I., Khamis, Chaouki A., Lowry, Frank E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ellen E.
• Application Number:
  US10/332,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20040013387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134-135
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

A fiber distribution system (10) is used with cable and includes a plurality of frames (12) mounted in a side-by-side relationship with the interbay frame (12A, 12C) is mounted between each frame. At least one splice panel (16) a rear and first and second sides. The splice panel (16) includes a plurality of drawers (26) slidably mounted within the splice panel (16) with the panel and an open position extending from the front of the splice panel (16). There is an opening in the rear of the splice panel (16) for admitting cables for bolding splices between optical fibers forming the cable. A first take-up member (190) is movably mounted in each drawer. The first take-up member (190) is biased toward the second side of the drawer to slidably travel between a first position about in the center of the drawer and a second position adjacent the second side of the drawer.

Claims

1. A splice drawer for slidably mounting in a splice panel for use in a fiber distribution system wherein the splice drawer is slidable between a closed position fully within the splice panel and an open position extending from the front of the splice panel, the splice drawer comprising:

a drawer frame having a bottom, a front, a rear, first and second sides and a longitudinal axis;

an opening in the rear of the splice drawer for admitting cables;

at least one splice tray disposed within the splice drawer for holding splices between optical fibers forming the cable; and

a first take-up member mounted in the splice drawer, the first take-up member being biased toward the second side of the splice drawer to slidably travel between a first position proximate the longitudinal axis of the splice drawer when the splice drawer is in the open position and a second position adjacent the second side of the splice drawer when the splice drawer is in the closed position wherein cable entering the opening passes through the first take-up member.

2. The splice drawer of claim 1, and further comprising:

a plurality of guide elements attached to the drawer and encircling the splice tray wherein cable passing through the first take-up member passes along the guide elements before entering the splice tray.

3. The splice drawer of claim 1, and further comprising:

a slot formed in the bottom of the splice drawer, the slot extending from the first side of the splice drawer to the second side of the splice drawer and the slot having a first end and a second end wherein the first take-up member is slidably mounted within the slot.

4. The splice drawer of claim 3, wherein the splice drawer includes a first mounting element attached to the splice drawer proximate the second end of the slot and the first take-up member further comprises:

a base slidably mounted relative to the slot;

a support member extending from the base wherein the support member has a shoulder extending substantially perpendicular from the base and an arm extending substantially perpendicular from the shoulder;

a rounded guide attached to the support member;

a base mounting element attached to the base; and

a first bias member extending between the base mounting element and the first mounting element wherein the first bias member biases the first take-up member toward the first position.

5. The splice drawer of claim 3, and further comprising:

a second take-up member slidably mounted to the slot, the second take-up member being biased toward the first side of the splice drawer to slidably travel between a first position proximate the longitudinal axis of the splice drawer when the splice drawer is in the open position and a second position adjacent the first side of the splice drawer when the splice drawer is in the closed position wherein a portion of cable entering the opening passes through the second take-up member.

6. The splice drawer of claim 5 wherein the splice drawer includes a second mounting element attached to the splice drawer proximate the first end of the slot and the second take-up member further comprises:

a base slidably mounted relative to the slot;

a support member extending from the base wherein the support member has a shoulder extending substantially perpendicular from the base and an arm extending substantially perpendicular from the shoulder;

a rounded guide attached to the support member;

a base mounting element attached to the base; and

a second bias member extending between the base mounting element and the second mounting element wherein the second bias member biases the second take-up member toward the first position.

7. The splice drawer of claim 6 further comprises a side guide element attached to the splice drawer adjacent the second side wherein cable passing through the second take-up member loops around the side guide element before passing along the guide elements to enter the splice tray.

8. In a splice drawer of the type for slidably mounting in a splice panel for use in a fiber distribution system wherein the splice drawer is slidable between a closed position fully within the splice panel and an open position extending from the front of the splice panel, the splice drawer having a front, a rear, a first side, a second side and an opening in the rear of the drawer for admitting cables, the improvement which comprises:

a first take-up member mounted in the splice drawer, the first take-up member being biased toward the second side of the splice drawer to slidably travel between a first position proximate a longitudinal axis of the splice drawer when the splice drawer is in the open position and a second position adjacent the second side of the splice drawer when the splice drawer is in the closed position wherein cable entering the opening passes through the first take-up member.

9. The improvement of claim 8, and further comprising:

a slot formed in the bottom of the splice drawer, the slot extending from the first side of the splice drawer to the second side of the splice drawer and the slot having a first end and a second end wherein the first take-up member is slidably mounted within the slot.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein the splice drawer includes a first mounting element attached to the splice drawer proximate the second end of the slot and the first take-up member further comprises:

a base slidably mounted relative to the slot;

a support member extending from the base wherein the support member has a shoulder extending substantially perpendicular from the base and an arm extending substantially perpendicular from the shoulder;

a rounded guide attached to the support member;

a base mounting element attached to the base; and

a first bias member extending between the base mounting element and the first mounting element wherein the first bias member biases the first take-up member toward the first position.

11. The improvement of claim 8, and further comprising:

a second take-up member slidably mounted to the slot, the second take-up member being biased toward the first side of the splice drawer to slidably travel between a first position proximate the longitudinal axis of the splice drawer when the splice drawer is in the open position and a second position adjacent the first side of the splice drawer when the splice drawer is in the closed position wherein a portion of cable entering the opening passes through the second take-up member.

12. The improvement of claim 11 wherein the splice drawer includes a second mounting element attached to the splice drawer proximate the first end of the slot and the second take-up member further comprises:

a base slidably mounted relative to the slot;

a support member extending from the base wherein the support member has a shoulder extending substantially perpendicular from the base and an arm extending substantially perpendicular from the shoulder;

a rounded guide attached to the support member;

a base mounting element attached to the base; and

a second bias member extending between the base mounting element and the second mounting element wherein the second bias member biases the second take-up member toward the first position.

13. The improvement of claim 12, further comprises a side guide element attached to the splice drawer adjacent the second side wherein cable passing through the second take-up member loops around the side guide element before passing along the guide elements to enter the splice tray.

14. A method for taking up slack in cable entering a splice drawer in a fiber distribution system wherein the fiber distribution system includes a splice panel having a plurality of splice drawers slidable between a closed position fully within the splice panel and an open position extending from the front of the splice panel, the method comprising:

providing a splice drawer having a bottom, a rear and first and second sides wherein an opening is formed in the rear of the splice drawer;

providing a take-up member slidably mounted to the bottom of the splice drawer, wherein the take-up member is slidable between a first position and a second position; and

routing cable through a rear opening in the splice drawer, through the take-up member, and into a splice tray holding splices between optical fibers, wherein when the splice drawer is in the open position the take-up member is biased towards the first position about in a center of the splice drawer to allow cable slack and when the splice drawer is in the closed position the take-up member slides to a second position adjacent the second side of the drawer to take up cable slack.

15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising:

forming a slot on the bottom of the splice drawer adjacent the rear and extending from the first side to the second side wherein the first take-up member is mounted to the slot.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a bias member extends between the first take-up member and a first mounting element on the bottom of the splice drawer biases the first take-up member towards the first position.

17. The method of claim 14, and further comprising:

providing a second take-up member slidably mounted to the bottom of the splice drawer wherein the second take-up member is biased towards the first side of the splice drawer to slidably travel between a first position about in the center of the splice drawer to allow cable slack when the splice drawer is in the open position and a second position adjacent the first side of the drawer to take up cable slack when the drawer is in the closed position.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein a bias member extends between the second take-up member and a second mounting element on the bottom of the splice drawer biases the second take-up member towards the first position.

19. The method of claim 17, and further comprising:

routing a portion of the cable through the rear opening into the splice drawer, about the second take-up member, about a guide element attached to the bottom of the drawer, and into the splice tray holding splices between optical fibers.