Carrier for multiple splice trays

• US 7,200,314 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commscope Solutions Properties LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Womack, Wade J., Case, Richard Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): CONNELLY CUSHWA, MICHELLE R
• Application Number:
  US10/840,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20050249475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-135, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• 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 splice site carrier includes an interconnecting member and a plurality of generally planar carrier members that are pivotally interconnected therewith. The carrier members are configured to receive a splice tray mounted on a front side thereof. Each of the carrier members is pivotable about a respective pivot axis between an access position, in which the front side of the carrier member faces in a first direction, such that the splice tray is presented for access to splice sites thereon, and a non-access position that is at least partially inverted from the access position, in which a rear side of the carrier member is presented and the splice tray is not accessible.

Claims

1. A multi-tray splice site carrier, comprising:

an interconnecting member; and

a plurality of generally planar carrier members that are pivotally interconnected with the interconnecting member, the carrier members being configured to receive a splice tray mounted on a front side thereof, each of the carrier members being pivotable about a respective pivot axis between an access position, in which the front side of the carrier member faces in a first direction, such that the splice tray is presented for access to splice sites thereon, and a non-access position that is at least partially inverted from the access position, in which a rear side of the carrier member is presented and the splice tray is not accessible;

wherein when all of the plurality of carrier members are in the access position, at least some of the carrier members are in stacked, generally parallel relationship, and when all of the carrier members are in the non-access position, at least some of the carrier members are in stacked, generally parallel relationship, and wherein the carrier members can be rotated individually from the access position to the non-access position to provide access to any of the carrier members;

wherein each of the carrier members includes a handling tab; and

each of the carrier members includes a latch adapted to secure a splice tray to the front surface of the carrier member, the latch and the handling tab being mounted on a common member.

2. The splice site carrier defined in claim 1, wherein the interconnecting member comprises a unitary base, and wherein the base includes one of a plurality of pivot pins and a plurality of pivot apertures, and the carrier members include the other of a plurality of pivot pins and a plurality of pivot apertures.

3. The splice site carrier defined in claim 2, wherein the base comprises a plurality of pairs of substantially aligned apertures, each pair of which defines a respective pivot axis, and, wherein each of the carrier members includes pins that are received in and pivot relative to a respective pair of pivot apertures.

4. The splice site carrier defined in claim 3, wherein the base includes a detent spaced apart from and associated with each pivot axis, the detent defining an intermediate position between the access and non-access positions, and wherein each of the carrier members includes a retention pin that is received in the detent.

5. The splice site carrier defined in claim 2, wherein the base is configured to rest against a mounting surface, and wherein each of the carrier members pivots relative to the base about a respective pivot axis, and wherein the pivot axes are substantially parallel and non-coincident and are staggered horizontally and vertically relative to the mounting surface.

6. The splice site carrier defined in claim 2, wherein the base includes apertures for mounting the carrier to the underlying surface.

7. The splice site carrier defined in claim 1, wherein in the non-access position, the front side of the carrier member faces in a second direction that is generally inverted from the first direction.

8. The splice site carrier defined in claim 1, wherein in the non-access position, the front side of the carrier member faces in a second direction that is generally normal to the first direction.

9. The splice site carrier defined in claim 8, wherein in the non-access position, the splice trays are generally vertically disposed.

10. The splice site carrier defined in claim 8, wherein in the access position, the splice trays are generally horizontally disposed.

11. The splice site carrier defined in claim 1, further comprising a splice tray mounted on each carrier member.

12. A multi-tray splice site carrier, comprising:

a base, the base being configured for mounting to either of a vertical or horizontal surface; and

a plurality of generally planar carrier members that are pivotally interconnected with the base, the carrier members being configured to receive a splice tray mounted on a front side thereof, each of the carrier members being pivotable about a respective pivot axis between an access position, in which the front side of the carrier member faces in a first direction, such that the splice tray is presented for access to splice sites thereon, and a non-access position that is at least partially inverted from the access position, in which a rear side of the carrier member is presented and the splice tray is not accessible;

wherein when all of the plurality of carrier members are in the access position, at least some of the carrier members are in stacked, generally parallel relationship, and when all of the carrier members are in the non-access position, at least some of the carrier members are in stacked, generally parallel relationship, and wherein the carrier members can be rotated individually from the access position to the non-access position to provide access to any of the carrier members; and

wherein the carrier members are movable between the access position and the non-access position whether the base is mounted to a vertical surface or to a horizontal surface, wherein the orientation of the carrier members is inverted to switch between a vertical and horizontal mounting configuration.

13. The splice site carrier defined in claim 12, wherein the base member comprises a plurality of pairs of substantially aligned apertures, each pair of which defines a respective pivot axis, and, wherein each of the carrier members includes pins that are received in and pivot relative to a respective pair of pivot apertures.

14. The splice site carrier defined in claim 12, wherein in the non-access position, the front side of the carrier member faces in a second direction that is generally inverted from the first direction.

15. The splice site carrier defined in claim 12, wherein in the non-access position, the front side of the carrier member faces in a second direction that is generally normal to the first direction.

16. The splice site carrier defined in claim 15, wherein in the non-access position, the splice trays are generally vertically disposed.

17. The splice site carrier defined in claim 15, wherein in the access position, the splice trays are generally horizontally disposed.

18. The splice site carrier defined in claim 12, wherein the base member includes a detent spaced apart from and associated with each pivot axis, the detent defining an intermediate position between the access and non-access positions, and wherein each of the carrier members includes a retention pin that is received in the detent.

19. The splice site carrier defined in claim 12, wherein the base includes multiple frangible sections, each of the frangible section corresponding to a mounting location for a carrier member.

20. The splice site carrier defined in claim 12, wherein the base is configured to rest against a mounting surface, and wherein each of the carrier members pivots relative to the base about a respective pivot axis, and wherein the pivot axes are substantially parallel and non-coincident and are staggered horizontally and vertically relative to the mounting surface.

21. The splice site carrier defined in claim 12, wherein each of the carrier members includes a handling tab.

22. The splice site carrier defined in claim 12, wherein the base includes apertures for mounting the carrier to the underlying surface.

23. The splice site carrier defined in claim 12, wherein each carrier member includes a latch adapted to secure a splice tray to the front surface of the carrier member.

24. A multi-tray splice site carrier, comprising:

an interconnecting member; and

a plurality of generally planar carrier members that are pivotally interconnected with the interconnecting member, the carrier members being configured to receive a splice tray mounted on a front side thereof, each of the carrier members being pivotable about a respective pivot axis between an access position, in which the front side of the carrier member faces in a first direction, such that the splice tray is presented for access to splice sites thereon, and a non-access position that is at least partially inverted from the access position, in which a rear side of the carrier member is presented and the splice tray is not accessible;

wherein when all of the plurality of carrier members are in the access position, at least some of the carrier members are in stacked, generally parallel relationship, and when all of the carrier members are in the non-access position, at least some of the carrier members are in stacked, generally parallel relationship, and wherein the carrier members can be rotated individually from the access position to the non-access position to provide access to any of the carrier members;

wherein the interconnecting member comprises a unitary base, and wherein the base includes one of a plurality of pivot pins and a plurality of pivot apertures, and the carrier members include the other of a plurality of pivot pins and a plurality of pivot apertures; and

wherein the base includes multiple frangible sections, each of the frangible sections corresponding to a mounting location for a carrier member.

25. The splice site carrier defined in claim 24, wherein the interconnecting member comprises a unitary base, and wherein the base includes one of a plurality of pivot pins and a plurality of pivot apertures, and the carrier members include the other of a plurality of pivot pins and a plurality of pivot apertures.

26. The splice site carrier defined in claim 25, wherein the base comprises a plurality of pairs of substantially aligned apertures, each pair of which defines a respective pivot axis, and, wherein each of the carrier members includes pins that are received in and pivot relative to a respective pair of pivot apertures.

27. The splice site carrier defined in claim 26, wherein the base includes a detent spaced apart from and associated with each pivot axis, the detent defining an intermediate position between the access and non-access positions, and wherein each of the carrier members includes a retention pin that is received in the detent.

28. The splice site carrier defined in claim 25, wherein the base is configured to rest against a mounting surface, and wherein each of the carrier members pivots relative to the base about a respective pivot axis, and wherein the pivot axes are substantially parallel and non-coincident and are staggered horizontally and vertically relative to the mounting surface.

29. The splice site carrier defined in claim 25, wherein the base includes apertures for mounting the carrier to the underlying surface.

30. The splice site carrier defined in claim 24, wherein in the non-access position, the front side of the carrier member faces in a second direction that is generally inverted from the first direction.

31. The splice site carrier defined in claim 24, wherein in the non-access position, the front side of the carrier member faces in a second direction that is generally normal to the first direction.

32. The splice site carrier defined in claim 31, wherein in the non-access position, the splice trays are generally vertically disposed.

33. The splice site carrier defined in claim 31, wherein in the access position, the splice trays are generally horizontally disposed.

34. The splice site carrier defined in claim 24, further comprising a splice tray mounted on each carrier member.