Cable closure and assembly

• US 7,376,325 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Preformed Line Products Company
• Original Assignee: Preformed Line Products Company
• Inventors: Cloud, Randy, Levac, Dan, Stransky, Mark, Grubish, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mooney; Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US11/678,439
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-137
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps

Abstract

The specification discloses a cable (e.g., fiber optic) housing assembly that facilitates securing cables and splices within its interior while providing a convenient work tray to assist a technician when splicing cables above ground level. The housing assembly can be equipped with a grommet and bobbin assembly that secures cables within the interior of the housing. Additionally, modular splice blocks can be configured within the interior of the housing in order to secure cable splices. In aspects, these modular splice blocks can be added as needed in a variety of configurations, including but not limited to, vertical stacking, horizontal back-to-back, or the like. The modular characteristics of the splice blocks enhance the as-needed extensibility of the housing assembly.

Claims

1. A fiber optic housing assembly comprising:

a base including walls that define an interior recess and a mounting portion extending from a bottom surface of the base;

at least one fiber optic cable receiver structure received by one of the walls of the base, the receiver structure includes a plurality of holes configured to receive a fiber optic cable;

a cover pivotally connected to the base; and

at least two splice bracket assemblies, wherein at least one of the splice bracket assemblies receives the mounting portion of the base;

wherein the at least two splice bracket assemblies are stacked and secured to the base by a frictionally engaging mechanism; and

wherein the base, the at least one fiber optic cable receiver structure, and the cover are configured to surround the interior recess of the base.

2. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the at least two splice bracket assemblies each include a mounting portion and a splice block;

each mounting portion receives at least one of the at least two mounting portions of the base and is secured to the mounting portion of the base by the frictionally engaging mechanism; and

the splice block is attached to the mounting portion by an adhesive or mechanical attachment.

3. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the at least two splice bracket assemblies each include a mounting portion and a splice block secured to each other;

each splice block includes a plurality of parallel ribs extending from the splice block; and

each splice block has a plurality of depressions aligned with spaces between the ribs, wherein the depressions are located along a perimeter of each splice block.

4. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

at least two stacked splice bracket assemblies, each of the two stacked splice bracket assemblies receives a mounting portion of one of the at least two splice bracket assemblies that are secured to the bottom surface of the base;

wherein the at least two stacked splice bracket assemblies are secured to the at least two splice bracket assemblies that are secured to the base by a second frictionally engaging mechanism.

5. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein the frictionally engaging mechanism includes a hook extending from the bottom surface of the base.

6. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein the frictionally engaging mechanism includes a hook extending from the bottom surface of the base and a hole in the splice bracket assembly, the hole being configured to receive the hook.

7. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one fiber optic cable receiver structure includes at least one recess receiving at least one grommet; and

the at least one grommet includes the plurality of holes configured to receive the fiber optic cable.

8. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one rib extending from the bottom surface of the base;

wherein the at least one rib is semicircular with a radius of curvature of at least 1.5 inches; and

wherein the at least one rib is located between the at least two splice bracket assemblies and the at least one fiber optic cable receiver; and

wherein an open portion of the at least one rib faces the at least two splice bracket assemblies.

9. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein the base is injection molded and the cover is injection molded.

10. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection between the base and the cover is configured to prevent the cover from pivoting more than approximately ninety degrees away from the base.

11. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein the base includes a tab extending from one of the walls away from the interior recess, the tab having a hole configured to receive a screw for mounting the fiber optic assembly above a ground surface.

12. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the walls of the base include a flat planar surface;

the at least one fiber optic cable receiver structure includes a flat planar surface parallel to the flat planar surface of the walls of the base; and

the cover includes a flat planar surface configured to rest along the flat planar surfaces of the walls of the base and the at least one fiber optic cable receiver structure when the fiber optic housing assembly is in a closed position.

13. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the cover includes a flange extending from a surface of the cover and forming a loop;

the walls of the base include a first groove;

the at least one fiber optic cable receiver structure includes a second groove aligned with the first groove;

the first groove and the second groove together surround the interior recess of the base; and

the first groove and the second groove are configured to receive the flange.

14. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a flexible cylinder with a clamp around the flexible cylinder;

wherein the flexible cylinder with the clamp is positioned to receive the fiber optic cable between the flexible cylinder and the clamp as the fiber optic cable enters the fiber optic housing assembly through at least one of the plurality of holes.

15. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 further comprising fasteners configured to secure the cover to the base in a closed position.

16. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the walls of the base include at least one hole;

the walls of the base further include an uneven surface around the hole, the uneven surface being configured to frictionally engage a lock button; and

the cover includes a lock button configured to frictionally engage the uneven surface of the walls.

17. The fiber optic housing of claim 1 wherein the base, the at least one fiber optic cable receiver structure, and the cover are configured to form a waterproof seal when the cover is in a closed position.

18. A housing assembly comprising:

a base including sidewalls defining an interior space, at least two semicircular ribs extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the base, and at least two mounting portions extending upwardly from the bottom surface of the base and located between the at least two semicircular ribs;

at least two grommet housings, the at least two grommet housings being received by apertures in opposing portions of the sidewalls;

at least one grommet received by each of the at least two grommet housings, the grommets each having a plurality of holes configured to receive a fiber optic cable; and

a cover engaging a surface of the sidewalls and engaging a surface of each of the at least two grommet housings.

19. The fiber optic housing assembly of claim 18 wherein the cover is pivotally connected to the base and is restricted to opening to an angle of 90 degrees.

20. A method of securing a fiber optic cable comprising:

stacking at least two splice bracket assemblies onto a mounting portion of an injection molded base of a fiber optic housing assembly;

running the fiber optic cable through a hole of a grommet received by the fiber optic housing assembly;

clamping the fiber optic cable to an outside surface of a cylinder, said cylinder being inside the fiber optic housing assembly and having a diameter larger than the hole of the grommet;

securing the fiber optic cable to one of the splice bracket assemblies; and

closing a cover of the fiber optic housing assembly to enclose the splice bracket assemblies.