Fiber distribution hub with swing frame and wrap-around doors

• US 7,760,984 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2007
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Solheid, James J., Holmberg, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Uyen-Chau N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bedtelyon; John M
• Application Number:
  US11/743,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20080031585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135, 385/134, 312/324
• 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 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4478 Bending relief means

Abstract

A fiber distribution hub (FDH) provides an interface between an incoming fiber and a plurality of outgoing fibers. The FDH includes a cabinet, at least one door pivotably mounted to the cabinet, and a frame pivotably mounted within the cabinet. The doors wrap around the sides and the front of the cabinet to provide access to both the front and sides of the frame when the doors are open. The frame can pivot out of the cabinet through the open doors to enable access to the rear of the cabinet and the rear side of the frame. The frame includes a termination region and a splitter region. The frame can include a storage region and/or a pass-through region.

Claims

1. A fiber distribution hub adapted to provide an interface between an incoming fiber and a plurality of outgoing fibers, the fiber distribution hub comprising:

a cabinet main body defining a front half having a front and a rear half having a rear, the rear half of the cabinet main body including a back panel extending between a first end panel and a second end panel, the back panel and end panels defining an interior of the cabinet main body;

at least a first door pivotably mounted to one side of the cabinet main body adjacent the rear for accessing the interior of the cabinet main body, the first door configured to pivot from a closed position to an open position, the first door including a front portion and a side portion wherein the front portion is substantially parallel with the back panel and the side portion is substantially perpendicular to the back panel when the first door is pivoted into the closed position, and wherein the front portion is substantially perpendicular with the back panel and the side portion is substantially parallel with the back panel when the first door is pivoted into the open position;

a second door pivotably mounted to an opposite side of the cabinet adjacent the rear of the cabinet for accessing the interior of the cabinet, the second door configured to pivot from a closed position to an open position, the second door including a front portion and a side portion wherein the front portion is substantially parallel with the back panel and the side portion is substantially perpendicular to the back panel when the second door is pivoted into the closed position, and wherein the front portion is substantially perpendicular with the back panel and the side portion is substantially parallel with the back panel when the second door is pivoted into the open position; and

a frame pivotably mounted to the cabinet at a pivot location defining a pivot axis, the pivot axis being located within the rear half of the main cabinet body, the frame configured to pivot about the pivot axis at least partially through the front of the cabinet main body from a first position to a second position when the door is pivoted into the open position, the frame including a termination region with a plurality of adapters and a splitter region with at least one splitter, wherein the termination region of the frame is contained within the interior of the cabinet when the frame is pivoted into the first position, and the termination region is at least partially external of the cabinet when the frame is pivoted into the second position.

2. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the first door further comprises a connecting portion linking the front portion with the side portion.

3. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the first door further comprises an angle feature, the angle feature including an L-shaped flange extending outwardly from the front portion of the first door to overlap an intersection of the first and second doors, the L-shaped flange forming a channel between the flange and the front portion of the second door.

4. The fiber distribution hub of claim 3, wherein the first door further comprises a gasket lining the angle feature of the first door, the gasket sealing the intersection of the first and second doors.

5. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a storage region that includes at least one storage module.

6. The fiber distribution hub of claim 5, wherein the frame includes a second termination region that includes at least one adapter module, wherein the storage region is positioned between the first and second termination regions.

7. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a pass-through region adjacent the splitter region.

8. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the frame pivots about 90 degrees out of the cabinet.

9. A fiber distribution hub adapted to provide an interface between an incoming fiber and a plurality of outgoing fibers, the fiber distribution hub comprising:

a cabinet having a front and rear, the cabinet including a back panel extending between a first end panel and a second end panel, the back panel having a first side and a second side;

a first door pivotably mounted to the first side of the back panel, the first door including a front portion extending partially across the front of the cabinet;

a second door pivotably mounted to the second side of the back panel, the second door including a front portion extending partially across the front of the cabinet;

a flange overlapping an interface of the first door and the second door, the flange including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the flange extending at an obtuse angle from the front portion of the first door, the second portion of the flange extending rearwardly from the first portion to abut against the front portion of the second door, the first and second portions of the flange forming a channel for mounting a gasket to seal the interface.

10. The fiber distribution hub of claim 9, further comprising a frame pivotably mounted within the cabinet, the frame including a termination region with at least one adapter module, a splitter region with at least one splitter module, a storage region with at least one storage module, and a pass-through region.

11. The fiber distribution hub of claim 9, wherein the cabinet further comprises a gasket lining edges of the back panel, the first end panel, and the second end panel where the edges interface with the first and second doors, the gasket configured to seal an interior of the cabinet from contaminants.

12. The fiber distribution hub of claim 9, wherein the flange is substantially L-shaped.

13. The fiber distribution hub of claim 9, wherein the flange includes a first and second end flange adjacent and parallel to the first and second end panels, respectively.

14. A fiber distribution hub adapted to provide an interface between an incoming fiber and a plurality of outgoing fibers, the fiber distribution hub comprising:

a cabinet including a main body defining a front half having a front and a rear half having a rear, the rear half of the main body including a back panel extending from a first end panel to a second end panel, the main body defining a front opening, a first side opening, and a second side opening;

a first door coupled to the rear of the main body, the first door including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the first door extending across the first side opening when the first door is in a closed position;

a second door coupled to the rear of the main body, the second door including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the second door extending across the second side opening when the second door is in a closed position, the second portion of at least one of the first and second doors extending at least partially across the front opening; and

a frame pivotably mounted to the main body of the cabinet at a pivot axis within the rear half of the main cabinet body, the frame configured to pivot about the pivot axis from a first position, in which the frame is within the main body of the cabinet, to a second position, in which the frame extends at least partially through the at least one of the first and second side openings.

15. The fiber distribution hub of claim 14, wherein the second portion of the first door and the second portion of the second door extend towards each other across the front opening.

16. The fiber distribution hub of claim 14, wherein the frame comprises:

a termination region configured to retain a plurality of adapters; and

a splitter region configured to retain at least one splitter, each splitter receiving a splitter input and outputting a plurality of pigtails having connectorized ends configured to couple to the plurality of adapters in the termination region.

17. The fiber distribution hub of claim 16, wherein the frame further comprises a pass-through region adjacent the splitter region, the pass-through region including an adapter module configured to accept an incoming fiber and to output a pass-through pigtail, wherein the pass-through pigtail has a connectorized end adapted to be plugged into one of the adapters of the termination region.

18. The fiber distribution hub of claim 16, wherein the frame further comprises a storage region adjacent the termination region, the storage region including at least one storage module adapted to retain the connectorized end of at least one of the splitter pigtails before the splitter pigtail is connected to an appropriate adapter in the termination region.

19. The fiber distribution hub of claim 14, further comprising:

a flange overlapping an interface of the first door and the second door; and

a gasket mounted on the flange to seal the interface of the first door and the second door.

20. A fiber distribution hub comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior, the cabinet including a main body that defines a front half and a rear half and a door, the rear half of the main body including a back panel, the main body defining an opening having a side portion, a second side portion and a front portion, the door including a front portion and a side portion, the door pivotably mounted to the cabinet at a pivot location adjacent to the back panel of the cabinet main body, the door configured to move relative to the main body from a closed position wherein the side and front portions of the door at least partially cover the side and front portions of the opening of the main body, to an open position;

a second door having a front portion and a side portion, the second door being pivotably mounted to the cabinet at a pivot location adjacent to both the back panel of the main body and the second side portion of the opening of the main body, the second door configured to move relative to the main body from a closed position wherein the side and front portions of the second door at least partially cover the second side and front portions of the opening of the main body, to an open position; and

a frame pivotably mounted within the cabinet at a pivot location within the rear half of the main cabinet body and adjacent to both the back panel of the main body and the side portion of the opening of the main body, the frame including a termination region with a plurality of fiber optic adapters, the frame configured to pivot from a first position, in which the frame is within the interior of the cabinet, to a second position, in which the frame extends at least partially through the opening of the main body of the cabinet.

21. The fiber distribution hub of claim 20, wherein the frame moves at least partially through both the side and front portions of the opening of the main body when the frame is moved to the second position from the first position.

22. The fiber distribution hub of claim 20, wherein the frame has a height which is a majority of the height of the cabinet interior and a width which is a majority of the width of the cabinet interior.

23. A fiber distribution hub comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior, the cabinet including a main body that defines a front half and a rear half and a door arrangement, the rear half of the main body including a back panel, the main body defining an opening having a side portion and a front portion, the door arrangement configured to move relative to the main body from a closed position wherein the door arrangement at least partially covers the side portion and the front portion of the opening of the main body, to an open position; and

a frame pivotably mounted within the cabinet at a pivot location within the rear half of the main cabinet body and adjacent to both the back panel of the main body and the side portion of the opening of the main body, the frame including a termination region with a plurality of fiber optic adapters, the frame configured to pivot from a first position, in which the frame is within the interior of the cabinet, to a second position, in which the frame extends at least partially through the opening of the main body of the cabinet;

wherein the door arrangement includes a first door and a second door, the first door including a side panel and a front panel interconnected by a bend, the second door including a side panel and a front panel interconnected by a bend;

wherein the first door and the second door are each pivotably mounted to the cabinet at a pivot location adjacent to the back panel of the main body.

24. The fiber distribution hub of claim 23, wherein the door arrangement includes a door including a side panel and a front panel interconnected by a bend.

25. A fiber distribution hub comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior, the cabinet including a main body defining a front half and a rear half and an access door arrangement, the main body including a top wall positioned opposite from a bottom wall, the main body also including an upright wall that extends between the top and bottom walls and that is located within the rear half of the main body, the main body further defining a first open side positioned opposite from the upright wall and a second open side positioned between the first open side and the upright wall, the access door arrangement being positionable in a closed configuration in which the access door arrangement at least partially covers the first and second open sides of the main body, the access door arrangement also being positionable in an open configuration in which the first and second open sides of the main body are not covered by the access door arrangement, the access door arrangement including a first door pivotally movable relative to the main body about a first upright pivot axis and a second door pivotally movable relative to the main body about a second upright pivot axis;

a frame pivotally connected to the main body of the cabinet at a third upright pivot axis, the frame being pivotally moveable about the third upright pivot axis between first and second positions relative to the main body, the frame being completely within the interior of the cabinet when in the first position, the frame extending outside the interior of the cabinet through the second open side of the main body when in the second position, and the frame swinging at least partially through the first open side of the main body as the frame is pivoted from the first position to the second position; and

a plurality of fiber optic adapters carried by the frame;

wherein the first, second and third upright pivot axes are positioned within the rear half of the main cabinet body.

26. The fiber distribution hub of claim 25, wherein the at least one door includes first and second portions interconnected by a bend, wherein the first portion is adapted to at least partially cover the first open side of the main body and the second portion is adapted to at least partially cover the second open side of the main body.