Modules including multiple rows of adapters for high density optical fiber distribution frame

• US 7,376,321 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Miller, Heidi L., Bolster, Kristofer J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hughes; James P.
• Application Number:
  US10/914,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including termination modules positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. The termination modules hold fiber optic modules with front termination locations. The fiber optic modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave length division multiplexers. A retention mechanism retains each fiber optic module in a partially removed position from the termination module. An adapter retainer may be removably mounted within an open front of the fiber optic modules, and a fiber optic module may include a plurality of rows of adapters.

Claims

1. A fiber optic module adapted to be held by a frame, the fiber optic module comprising:

a housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, the major sides interconnected by two spaced-apart minor sides extending parallel to one another, the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing, the front end being open and defined by the two major sides and the two minor sides;

at least one adapter retainer removably mounted in the open front end of the housing, each adapter retainer including two spaced apart major walls and two spaced apart minor walls extending between the major walls, the major walls extending generally parallel to the edges of the major sides, each of the major walls including a plurality of apertures;

a bracket removably mounted to the housing adjacent the adapter retainer and securing the adapter retainer to the housing;

a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the adapter retainer, each fiber optic adapter including two projections, each projection received in one of the apertures in the major walls of the adapter retainers; and

fiber optic circuitry within the housing connecting the fiber optic adapters.

2. The fiber optic module of claim 1, further comprising front flanges on opposite ends of the front end, one of the front flanges including a latch for latching the front end of the housing to the frame.

3. The fiber optic module of claim 2, wherein the bracket includes one of the front flanges.

4. The fiber optic module of claim 3, wherein the latch is mounted to the front flange opposite the front flange of the bracket.

5. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein one of the major sides of the housing is a top and includes a recess adjacent the open front end, and the bracket is mounted to the housing within the recess of the top.

6. The fiber optic module of claim 5, wherein the top is removable from the housing independent of the bracket.

7. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the minor sides each include a slot adjacent the open front end extending at least partially between the major sides, and each adapter retainer includes an outward projecting tab on each minor wall, each of the tabs of each adapter retainer extending within one of the slots of the minor sides of the housing.

8. The fiber optic module of claim 7, wherein the bracket is positioned within a recess in one of the major sides over the slot in one of the minor sides, and removal of the bracket permits removal of the tab of the adapter retainer from the slot and removal of the adapter retainer from the housing.

9. The fiber optic module of claim 8, wherein the bracket is positioned within a recess in one of the minor sides and forms a portion of the slot in that minor side.

10. The fiber optic module of claim 9, further comprising

more than one adapter retainer mounted within the open front end of the housing, wherein one of the tabs of one of the adapter retainers is within the portion of the slot in the minor side formed by the bracket.

11. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein one of the major sides defines first and second planar flanges extending beyond the minor sides.

12. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein one of the minor sides includes first and second round openings, the first opening positioned further from the rear end than the second opening, each of the first and second openings sized to receive a ball end of a spring loaded ball plunger.

13. The fiber optic module of claim 12, wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening.

14. The fiber optic module of claim 10, wherein two adapter retainers are mounted within the open front end of the housing.