Optical fiber connection housing with an outlet connector element and a splice connection to an optical line group

• US 6,788,871 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: KRONE GmbH
• Inventors: Taylor, Christoper Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US10/381,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20040013389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135, 385/137, 385/136, 385/138, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices

Abstract

A housing is provided for a connection between optical fibers located in line groups (trunking or the like) in a building and one or more items of equipment. The housing is molded of plastic material and includes first and second housing members which are connectable. The first housing member is mountable on a wall or the like in the building so that it can receive optical fibers from the trunking and having formations which define a path for the fibers. The second housing member is pivotably mounted on the first member and has a shell. The shell has formations which define a path which can receive the fibers from the first housing member and along which the fibers can be guided to a splice region. The housing member has further formations which define paths for fibers extending from the splice region to one or more outlets.

Claims

1. A housing for use in providing a connection between optical fibers located in trunking or the like in a building and one or more items of equipment, the housing comprising:

a first housing member;

a second housing member, said first and second housing members being connectable, said first housing member being mountable on a wall or support surface in the building so as to receive optical fibers from said trunking and having formations which define a path for said fibers, said second housing member having a splice region and formations which define a path which can receive said fibers from said first housing member and guide the fibers to said splice region, said second housing member having further formations which define paths for fiber extending from said splice region to one or more outlets.

2. A housing according to claim 1, wherein said second housing member comprises two parts including a first part pivotally connected to said first housing member, said first part being molded so as to define said one or more outlets, and said second part including a tray member which has said formations which define said paths.

3. A housing according to claim 2, wherein the splice region is defined in said tray member and is arranged to receive one or more splice units.

4. A housing according to claim 3, wherein each splice unit comprises a molded member which defines a number of side-by-side channels.

5. A housing according to claim 3, wherein the splice region also accommodates a breakout unit which, when used, is disposed below the splice unit or units.

6. A housing according to claim 1, wherein the formations define paths which are arranged to have a radius of curvature which is not less than a preselected critical radius.

7. A housing according to claim 1, wherein the paths are so defined that the optical fibers can extend around them a plurality of times.

8. A housing according to claim 1, wherein the formations provided on the first housing member define a path whose shape enables the direction of the fibers to be changed without subjecting the fiber to bending of less than a critical bending radius.

9. A housing according to claim 4, wherein the splice region also accommodates a breakout unit which, when used, is disposed below the splice unit or units.

10. A housing providing a connection between optical fibers located in line groups and one or more devices, the housing comprising:

a first housing member including a support surface mount and an opening to receive optical fibers from a line group and having formations which define a path for said fibers from said opening; and

a second housing member, said fist housing member being connected to said second housing member, said second housing member having a splice region and formations which define a path which can receive said fibers from said first housing member and guide the fibers to said splice region, said second housing member having further formations which define further paths for fibers extending from said splice region to one or more outlets.

11. A housing according to claim 10, wherein said second housing member comprises two parts including a first part pivotally connected to said first housing member, said part being molded so as to define said one or more outlets, and said second part including a tray member which has said formations which define said paths.

12. A housing according to claim 11, wherein the splice region is defined in said tray member and is arranged to receive one or more splice units.

13. A housing according to claim 12, wherein each splice unit comprises a molded member which defines a number of side-by-side channels.

14. A housing according to claim 12, wherein the splice region also accommodates a breakout unit which, when used, is disposed below the splice unit.

15. A connection housing for an optical fiber, the housing comprising:

a first housing member including a support mount and defining an opening to receive the optical fiber, said first housing member including first housing formation which define an incoming housing path guiding the fiber from said opening; and

a second housing member movably connected to said first housing member, said second housing member having a splice region and defining a fiber connector outlet, said second housing including second housing formations which define a first, second and third path, said first path guiding the fiber from said first housing and around an inside of said second housing said second path guiding the fiber from said first path, around said inside of said housing to said splice region, said second path being inside said first path, said third path guiding the fiber from said splice region around said inside of said second housing, said third path being inside said first path, said third path branching back to said second path and also branching to said fiber connector outlet.

16. A connection housing in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

said second housing member defines a plurality of fiber connector outlets;

said first and second housing formations guide a plurality of optical fibers.

17. A connection housing in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

said third path is arranged inside said path;

said splice region is arranged inside said first path.

18. A connection housing in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

said second path has a slack area.

19. A connection housing in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

said fiber connector outlet is arranged inside said third path.

20. A connection housing in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

an optical fiber connector element arranged in said connector outlet;

an optical fiber connected to said connector element and extending along said third path to said splice region.

21. A connection housing in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

a splice unit arranged in said splice region;

one of either another splice unit and a breakout unit also arrange in said splice region, said splice unit being stacked with said one of said another splice unit and said breakout unit in said splice region.

22. A connection accordance with claim 21, wherein:

said splice unit and said one of said another splice unit and said breakout unit have housing connectors for connecting to each other and to said second housing member.

23. A connection housing in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

said first housing member has a wall mount for mounting to a wall;

said second housing member is pivotally connected to first housing between a first position substantially parallel to the wall and a second position substantially perpendicular to the wall with an inside of the second housing member facing upward in said second position.

24. A connection housing in accordance with claim 22, wherein:

said first housing member has a wall mount for mounting to a wall;

said second housing member is pivotally connected to first housing between a first position substantially parallel to the wall and a second position substantially perpendicular to the wall with an inside of the second housing member facing upward;

said second housing member defines a plurality of connector outlets;

said first and second housing formations guide a plurality of optical fibers;

said third path is arranged inside second path;

said second path has a slack area;

said connector outlet is arranged inside said third path;

an optical fiber connector element is arranged in said connector outlet;

an optical fiber is connected to said connector element and extends along said third path to said splice region.