Fiber access terminal

• US 7,480,437 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Smith, Trevor D., Ferris, Matthew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak; Sung H
• Application Number:
  US12/145,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20080260344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 209 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4442 Cap coupling boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables

Abstract

A fiber access terminal for mounting to the end of a fiber distribution cable and configured to be extended through a buried conduit. The fiber distribution cable may include a plurality of optical fibers and enters a housing of the terminal through a base. The terminal also includes a plurality of fiber optic connectors or adapters extending through the housing in generally the same direction as the fiber distribution cable for connecting to optical fiber customer drop cables. The terminal includes a cover and the housing defining an interior and the interior includes a cable slack storage arrangement providing bend radius protection for the optical fiber cables within the interior. A method of assembling a fiber access terminal. A fiber access terminal assembly including a pedestal mounting arrangement.

Claims

1. A terminal assembly comprising:

an enclosure defining an interior volume, the enclosure including a first end and an opposite second end;

the enclosure defining a first drop cable connection region having a first group of at least three openings, the openings of the first group of openings being positioned generally along a first curve;

the enclosure defining a second drop cable connection region disposed between the first drop cable connection region and the second end, the second drop cable connection region having a second group of at least three openings, the openings of the second group of openings being positioned generally along a second curve;

the enclosure having a narrowed waisted area disposed between the first and second drop cable connection regions; and

at least three fiber optic adapters mounted at the openings of the first group of openings and at least three fiber optic adapters mounted at the openings of the second group of openings, each of the fiber optic adapters including a first end accessible from within the interior volume of the enclosure and a second end accessible from outside the enclosure.

2. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first drop cable connection region is defined at a first step structure of the enclosure and the second drop cable connection region is defined at a second step structure of the enclosure.

3. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic adapters are environmentally hardened.

4. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes front and rear pieces joined by a plurality of fasteners.

5. The terminal assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of fasteners includes at least 10 fasteners positioned generally about a periphery of the enclosure.

6. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure defines a central axis that extends from the first end of the enclosure to the second end of the enclosure, and wherein the first and second curves curve generally about the central axis.

7. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the enclosure defines an opening through which at least one optical fiber of a fiber optic cable enters the interior volume of the enclosure.

8. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a front side and a back side with the second ends of the fiber optic adapters being accessible from the front side, wherein at least some of the fiber optic adapters are positioned along axes that are at oblique angles relative to the back side.

9. The terminal assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one of the fiber optic adapters in the first drop cable connection region faces in the same direction as at least one of the fiber optic adapters in the second drop cable connection region.

10. A terminal assembly comprising:

an enclosure defining an interior volume, the enclosure including a first end and an opposite second end, the first end of the enclosure defining an opening;

a fiber optic cable that extends away from the opening;

the enclosure defining a first drop cable connection region at which the enclosure defines a first group of at least three openings, the openings of the first group of openings being arranged in a first non-linear configuration; and

the enclosure defining a second drop cable connection region at which the enclosure defines a second group of at least three openings, the openings of the second group of openings being arranged in a second non-linear configuration;

the enclosure having a narrowed waisted area disposed between the first and second drop cable connection regions; and

at least three fiber optic adapters mounted at the openings of the first group of openings and at least three fiber optic adapters mounted at the openings of the second group of openings, each of the fiber optic adapters including a first end accessible from within the interior volume of the enclosure and a second end accessible from outside the enclosure.

11. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the enclosure defines a central axis that extends from the first end of the enclosure to the second end of the enclosure, and wherein the first and second curves curve generally about the central axis.

12. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the fiber optic adapters are environmentally hardened.

13. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the enclosure includes front and rear pieces joined by a plurality of fasteners.

14. The terminal assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of fasteners includes at least 10 fasteners positioned generally about a periphery of the enclosure.

15. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the first drop cable connection region is defined at a first step structure of the enclosure and the second drop cable connection region is defined at a second step structure of the enclosure.

16. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the first ends of the fiber optic adapters are adapted to receive connectorized ends of optical fibers.

17. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the second ends of the fiber optic adapters are adapted to receive connectorized ends of exterior drop cables.

18. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the enclosure includes a front side and a back side with the second ends of the fiber optic adapters being accessible from the front side, wherein at least some of the fiber optic adapters are positioned along axes that are at oblique angles relative to the back side.

19. The terminal assembly of claim 18, wherein at least one of the fiber optic adapters in the first drop cable connection region faces in the same direction as at least one of the fiber optic adapters in the second drop cable connection region.