Interconnection enclosure having a connector port and preterminated optical connector

• US 6,856,748 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tran, Hieu V., Luther, James P., Elkins, Robert B. II, Nielsen, Lars K., Szentesi, Otto I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US10/674,696
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135, 385/136, 385/100, 385/53, 385/55, 385/76, 385/112
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/444 Systems or boxes with surplus lengths

Abstract

An interconnection enclosure comprising at least one connector port operable for receiving a connector pair and a preterminated optical connector received in the at least one connector port, wherein the preterminated optical connector is adapted to be withdrawn from the exterior of the enclosure without entering the enclosure. The enclosure further comprising a tether means, a bend radius control means and a sealing means. An interconnection enclosure comprised of two halves held together by a fastening means, the enclosure defining an end wall and defining at least one connector port opening through the end wall for receiving a preterminated optical connector, the enclosure housing further defining an opening for receiving a distribution cable extending therethrough, wherein the preterminated optical connector is adapted to be withdrawn from the exterior of the enclosure without entering the enclosure.

Claims

1. An interconnection enclosure comprising at least one housing wall separating an interior of the enclosure from an exterior of the enclosure, the housing wall having an opening therethrough, the enclosure comprising:

at least one connector port positioned within the opening of the housing wall and operable for receiving a preterminated optical connector from the interior of the enclosure;

the preterminated optical connector attached to an optical fiber that is optically connected to a distribution cable; and

a tether means within the interior of the enclosure;

wherein the preterminated optical connector is adapted to be withdrawn from the enclosure without entering the enclosure and the tether is operable for limiting an extension distance of the preterminated optical connector withdrawn from the enclosure.

2. The interconnection enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a bend radius control means for maintaining a minimum bend radius of the optical fiber.

3. The interconnection enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a sealing means operable for sealing the at least one connector port.

4. The interconnection enclosure of claim 3, wherein the sealing means is an invertable rubber boot operable for providing a sealing function and a tether function.

5. The interconnection enclosure of claim 1, wherein the connector port comprises a receptacle fixably attached to the housing wall, a removable receptacle cap positioned within the receptacle, a removable receptacle cap cover and a removable adapter sleeve, wherein the adapter sleeve is removable from the connector port through the housing wall of the enclosure without entering the enclosure.

6. The interconnection enclosure of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is operable for enclosing at least one of direct-terminated optical fibers and fusion-spliced optical fibers.

7. The interconnection enclosure of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is factory-installed or field-installed.

8. An interconnection enclosure, comprising:

an enclosure housing comprising two housing halves held together by a fastening means, the enclosure housing defining an end wall and defining at least one connector port opening through the end wall for receiving a preterminated optical connector, the enclosure housing further defining an opening for receiving a distribution cable extending therethrough; and

a tether means within the enclosure operable for limiting an extension distance of the preterminated optical connector exterior of the enclosure;

wherein the preterminated optical connector is adapted to be withdrawn from the enclosure without entering the enclosure.

9. The interconnection enclosure of claim 8, further comprising a sealing means within the enclosure operable for sealing the at least one connector port.

10. The interconnection enclosure of claim 9, wherein the sealing means is an invertable rubber boot operable for providing a sealing function and a tether function.

11. The interconnection enclosure of claim 8, further comprising a bend radius control means for maintaining a minimum bend radius of preterminated optical fibers.

12. The interconnection enclosure of claim 8, wherein the connector port comprises a receptacle fixably attached to the enclosure end wall, a removable receptacle cap within the receptacle, a removable receptacle cap cover and a removable adapter sleeve, wherein the adapter sleeve is removable from the receptacle from the exterior of the enclosure without entering the enclosure.

13. The interconnection enclosure of claim 8, wherein the enclosure is factory-installed or field-installed.

14. A preterminated fiber optic connection, comprising:

an access point located at a predetermined position on a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers;

at least one optical fiber of the distribution cable branched from the distribution cable at the access point;

a preterminated optical connector attached to the at least one optical fiber;

an enclosure forming a cavity therein and defining a passage for the distribution cable extending therethrough, the enclosure further defining at least one connector port opening through at least one end wall of the enclosure;

a tethering means; and

a bend radius control means;

wherein the preterminated optical connector is adapted to be withdrawn from the exterior of the enclosure without entering the enclosure.

15. The preterminated connection of claim 14, further comprising a sealing means within the enclosure operable for sealing the at least one connector port.

16. The preterminated connection of claim 15, wherein the sealing means is an invertable rubber boot.