Fiber cable connector clip

• US 6,760,530 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mandry, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US09/590,842
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 439/528, 211/89.01
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps

Abstract

An apparatus for storing fiber optic cable including an add-on structure for holding fiber optic cable connectors that includes clips that are integral with the structure. In one example, the clips include two opposing prongs integrally connected to a panel of the structure. The add-on structure can be removably attached to a carrier of the apparatus that is used for storing fiber optic cable in a communications system such as a router. The connectors that terminate fiber optic cable legs stored in the carrier are secured to the clips of the add-on structure so as to prevent damage to the cable legs during the shipment of the carrier and cable legs. The add-on structures can also be used to secure the connectors in repair operations involving the cable legs and/or for shipping the panel and plurality of clips with connectors inserted therein to a use location.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a panel for transport of fiber optic cables including fiber optical connectors to a point of use;

a carrier configured to receive the panel; and

a plurality of clips integral with the panel and extending out from a first side of the panel, wherein

each of the clips comprises;

a first prong, and

a second prong opposite the first prong, wherein

each clip is configured to receive a free end of a fiber optic cable connector pressed through top edges of the clips with the connector substantially parallel to the panel, and

the clips are positioned on the panel such that fiber optic cables extending taut from connectors positioned in the clips meet at a common pathway on the carrier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one attachment structure located at an edge of the panel for attaching the apparatus to another structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a lip extending in a generally perpendicular direction from the edge of the panel;

wherein an attachment structure of the at least one attachment structure includes a hole defined in the lip for receiving a peg like structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a lip extending in a generally perpendicular direction from an edge of the panel; and

at least one alignment post structure attached to the lip and extending generally in a direction parallel with the panel and outward from the interior of the panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of clips are aligned on the panel in a staggered formation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of clips are aligned on the panel generally in an arc formation.

7. A The apparatus of claim 6 wherein no clip is parallel with any other clip.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is made of a plastic resin material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the carrier is coupled to the panel, the carrier including at least one cable path for cables extending from the carrier to the plurality of clips.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first prong and the second prong are configured to provide a force on a longitudinal side of the fiber optic cable connector to removably secure the fiber optic cable connector.

11. A method for securing fiber optic cable comprising:

routing a plurality of fiber optic cables through a common pathway of a carrier, wherein the carrier is for transport of the fiber optic cables to a point of use; and

inserting a plurality of fiber optic cable connectors into a plurality of clips integral with a panel by pressing a free end of the connectors through a lateral opening of one of the clips, each of the clips comprising;

a first prong, and

a second prong opposite the first prong, wherein

each clip is configured to receive the fiber optic cable connector, and

the clips are positioned on the panel such that the fiber optic cables extend taut from fiber optic cable connectors positioned in the clips and meet at the common pathway on the carrier.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

shipping the panel and plurality of clips with the plurality of fiber optic cable connectors inserted therein to a use location.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

removing each connector of the plurality from a clip of the plurality and connecting the each connector to a corresponding connector of a communication system.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

coupling the panel to a carrier prior to the inserting the connectors;

shipping the panel and carrier with the plurality of fiber optic cable connectors inserted in the clips to a use location;

removing, at the use location, each connector of the plurality from a clip of the plurality and connecting the each connector with a corresponding connector of a communication system.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

attaching the panel to the carrier.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the fiber optic cable connectors is a multi-fiber cable connector.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the fiber optic cable connectors is a multiple fiber, single mode optical connector.

18. An apparatus including fiber optic cable comprising:

a panel for transport of fiber optic cables to a point of use, the panel including a plurality of clips integral with the panel and extending out from a first side of the panel;

a carrier configured to receive the panel;

a plurality of fiber optic cables;

a plurality of fiber optic cable connectors, each of the plurality of the fiber optic cable connectors terminating a cable of the plurality of fiber optic cables;

wherein each of the plurality of fiber optic cable connectors being secured in a clip of the plurality of clips, wherein

each of the clips comprises;

a first prong, and

a second prong opposite the first prong,

each clip is configured to receive a fiber optic cable connector pressed through top edges of the clips with the connector substantially parallel to the panel, and

the clips are positioned on the panel such that fiber optic cables extending taut from connectors positioned in the clips meet at a common pathway on the carrier.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each of the fiber optic cables of the plurality is a multi-fiber cable and each of the connectors of the plurality is a multi-fiber connector.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

a carrier removably coupled to the panel, the plurality of cables including portions secured in the carrier, each of the plurality of cables extending out from the carrier to a connector of the plurality.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

a lip extending in a generally perpendicular direction from an edge of the panel;

wherein the lip defines a hole and the carrier defines a hole, a rivet extends through both the hole defined in the lip and the hole defined in the carrier.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

a lip extending in a generally perpendicular direction from an edge of the panel; and

at least one alignment post structure attached to the lip and extending generally in a direction parallel with the panel and outward from the interior of the panel, the at least one alignment post structure disposed within a corresponding hole defined in the carrier.

23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the plurality of clips are aligned on the panel in a staggered formation.

24. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the plurality of clips are aligned on the panel generally in an arc formation.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein no clip is parallel with any other clip.

26. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each of the connectors of the plurality is a multiple fiber, single mode optical connector.

27. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first prong and the second prong are configured to provide a force on a longitudinal side of the fiber optic cable connector to removably secure the fiber optic cable connector.

28. An apparatus for holding fiber optic cable connectors, the apparatus comprising:

a panel for transport of fiber optic cables including optical connectors;

a carrier configured to receive the panel;

a plurality of clips integral with the panel and extending out from a first side of the panel, wherein

each of the clips comprises;

a first prong, and

a second prong opposite the first prong,

the first prong and the second prong are configured to receive a free end of a fiber optic cable pressed through top edges of the clips with the connector substantially parallel to the panel,

the clips are aligned on the panel in a step formation, wherein fiber optic cables extending taut from the connectors positioned in the clips meet at a common pathway on the panel; and

means for attaching the panel to a carrier.