Fiber containment system

• US 7,102,884 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Mertesdorf, Daniel Ray, Knudsen, Clinton M., Durand, David Anthony, Follingstad, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US11/080,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20050220436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 361724-730, 361/737, 361683-687, 439/928.1, 439/928, 439/929, 385134-135, 3122231-2232, 165/80.3, 211/216
• US Class Current: 361/679.4
• 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 6/4454 with splices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/021 using pivoting mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/04 Frames or mounting racks for selector switches; Accessories therefor, e.g. frame cover
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/142 Terminal blocks for distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/02 Details of frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/08 Pivotable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/10 Housing details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/804 in optical transmission systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a telecommunications termination panel with a housing including a front opening and a rear opening. Pivotably mounted within the housing is a tray within the front opening, pivoting about a vertical axis located adjacent a first side of the housing. A cable path is defined along a bottom of the housing along the first side between the cable entry of the tray and the rear opening. A movable plate is positioned adjacent the first side and is movable between a first position defining an upper limit of the cable path when the tray is closed and a second position allowing access to the cable path when the tray is open. The movement of the plate between the first and second positions is actuated by the movement of the tray between the closed and open positions. The present invention further relates to a telecommunications termination panel with a housing including a front opening. Pivotably mounted within the housing is a tray within the front opening, pivoting about a vertical axis located adjacent a first side of the housing. The tray is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The tray includes a cover which can be moved between an operational position and an access position when the tray is in the open position. With the cover in the operational position, the tray is prevented from moving from the open position to the closed position.

Claims

1. A telecommunications termination panel comprising:

a housing including a top side, a bottom side, a front side, and a rear side, the front side defining a front opening;

a tray pivotably mounted to the housing, the tray pivotable along a first plane generally parallel to the top and bottom sides of the housing, the tray pivotable about a vertical axis located adjacent the front side, the tray pivotable between an open position and a closed position through the front opening;

the tray including a plurality of adapters for receiving connectors terminated to cables, the adapters movable between a retracted position and an extended position along a line of travel going from the bottom side of the housing toward the top side of the housing to allow access to the connectors;

the tray defining an outer perimeter and including a wall extending upward along at least a portion of the outer perimeter, the tray including a cover hingedly mounted to the wall, the cover pivotable along an axis generally parallel to the first plane, the cover movable between an open position and a closed position;

wherein the tray and the cover define a larger dimension than the opening when the cover is in the open position such that the tray is movable from the open position to the closed position only when the cover is in the closed position.

2. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 1, wherein the cover and the adapters are positioned such that when the tray is pivoted from the open position to the closed position, the cover, when in the open position, contacts the housing before the adapters contact the housing to prevent damage to the adapters.

3. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a window permitting visibility to the adapters when the cover is in the closed position.

4. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 1, wherein the wall includes a mount for receiving information cards such that the cards are within the housing when the tray is in the closed position and are accessible from the outside when the tray is in the open position.

5. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 1, wherein the adapters are fiber optic adapters, each configured to connect a first connector coupled to a first side of the adapter to a second connector coupled to a second side of the adapter, wherein the tray includes a first cable management structure for routing a cable to the first side of the adapter with bend radius protection and a second cable management structure for routing a cable away from the second side of the adapter with bend radius protection.

6. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 1, wherein the adapters are mounted in movable modules.

7. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 1, wherein the adapters are movable at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the bottom side of the housing.

8. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 1, wherein the tray includes a latch to keep the tray in the closed position.

9. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 1, wherein the cover engages the adapters in the extended position such that the cover can only be closed when the adapters are in the retracted position.

10. A telecommunications termination panel comprising:

a housing including a top side, a bottom side, a front side, and a rear side, the front side defining a front opening;

a tray pivotably mounted to the housing, the tray pivotable along a first plane generally parallel to the top and bottom sides of the housing, the tray pivotable about a vertical axis located adjacent the front side, the tray pivotable between an open position and a closed position through the front opening;

the tray including a plurality of adapters for receiving connectors terminated to cables, the adapters movable between a retracted position and an extended position along a line of travel going from the bottom side of the housing toward the top side of the housing to allow access to the connectors; and

means for preventing the tray from pivoting from an open position to a closed position when the adapters are in an extended position.

11. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 10, wherein the means for preventing the tray from pivoting from an open position to a closed position when the adapters are in an extended position includes a hingedly mounted tray cover pivotable along an axis generally parallel to the first plane.

12. A telecommunications termination panel comprising:

a housing including a top, a bottom, a front side defining a front opening and a rear side defining a rear opening;

a tray pivotably mounted to the housing, the tray pivotable along a first plane generally parallel to the top and bottom sides of the housing, the tray pivotable about a vertical axis located adjacent the front side, the tray pivotable between an open position and a closed position through the front opening, the tray including a cable entry adjacent the axis of pivot;

a cable path defined along the bottom of the housing from the cable entry of the tray to the rear opening of the housing; and

means for moving a cable extending along the cable path out of the way when the tray is moved from the open position to the closed position to prevent the cable within the cable path from contacting the tray to prevent pinching of the cable.

13. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 12, wherein the means for moving the cable out of the way of the tray includes a movable plate that is actuated by the movement of the tray between the open position and the closed position.

14. The telecommunications termination panel of claim 12, wherein the means for moving the cable out of the way of the tray includes a plate that moves up and down in a direction generally transverse to the first plane.