Optical fiber distribution frame with outside plant enclosure
First Claim
1. A fiber distribution frame, comprising:
- a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear;
b) a cable termination area positioned on the front of the rack, the cable termination area including at least two termination modules each having rows and columns of termination locations, the termination modules each including a housing, the housings of the termination modules each including a front panel, and defining an interior, an exterior, and a side opening that provides side access to the interior, the front panel having a panel construction that defines the rows and columns of the termination locations, the panel construction facing in a direction non-perpendicular to a vertical plane defined by the front of the rack, each termination location of the termination modules including a front termination connection at the exterior of the housing and a rear termination connection within the interior of the housing;
c) a cable splice area positioned on the front of the rack, the cable splice area including a plurality of angling splice holders that hold splice trays in a non-horizontal orientation;
d) a first cable pathway in which patch cords are routed for linking the front termination connections of one of the termination modules with the front termination connections of the other of the termination modules, the first cable pathway being defined by;
i) vertical cable guides located at the left and right sides of the rack; and
ii) a horizontal passageway that extends between the left and right vertical cable guides; and
e) a second cable pathway in which cables are routed for linking the rear termination connections of the termination modules with the splice trays, the second cable pathway being defined by;
i) a central cable passageway located centrally within the rack and adjacent to the termination modules; and
ii) a cable passageway from the cable splice area to the central cable passageway;
iii) wherein the central cable passageway provides communication to the side openings of the housings of the termination modules.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including panels having front and rear termination locations, the panels positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame includes vertical access for the rear cables. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides for the front patch cables. The frame further includes cable storage spools for the patch cables. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. A portion of the frame defines splice tray holders and a central passage from the splice tray holders to the rear sides of the left and right panels. From a front of each panel, access to a rear of the panel is provided by the hinged panels. Alternatively, the panels can form connector modules with front termination locations and rear connection locations for connecting to the rear cables. The modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave division multiplexers. The termination locations can be located on the same side of the frame as the splice tray holders, or on an opposite side. An enclosure of the frame included hinged or otherwise moveable panels to allow access to the terminations or the splice trays.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A fiber distribution frame, comprising:
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a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear; b) a cable termination area positioned on the front of the rack, the cable termination area including at least two termination modules each having rows and columns of termination locations, the termination modules each including a housing, the housings of the termination modules each including a front panel, and defining an interior, an exterior, and a side opening that provides side access to the interior, the front panel having a panel construction that defines the rows and columns of the termination locations, the panel construction facing in a direction non-perpendicular to a vertical plane defined by the front of the rack, each termination location of the termination modules including a front termination connection at the exterior of the housing and a rear termination connection within the interior of the housing; c) a cable splice area positioned on the front of the rack, the cable splice area including a plurality of angling splice holders that hold splice trays in a non-horizontal orientation; d) a first cable pathway in which patch cords are routed for linking the front termination connections of one of the termination modules with the front termination connections of the other of the termination modules, the first cable pathway being defined by; i) vertical cable guides located at the left and right sides of the rack; and ii) a horizontal passageway that extends between the left and right vertical cable guides; and e) a second cable pathway in which cables are routed for linking the rear termination connections of the termination modules with the splice trays, the second cable pathway being defined by; i) a central cable passageway located centrally within the rack and adjacent to the termination modules; and ii) a cable passageway from the cable splice area to the central cable passageway; iii) wherein the central cable passageway provides communication to the side openings of the housings of the termination modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fiber distribution frame, comprising:
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a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear; b) a cable termination area positioned on the front of the rack, the cable termination area including at least two termination modules each having rows and columns of termination locations, the termination modules each including a module housing that defines an interior, an exterior, and a side opening providing side access to the interior, the module housing including; i) a front panel facing in a direction non-perpendicular to a vertical plane defined by the front of the rack; and ii) a plurality of spaced-apart interior supports; iii) wherein the front panel of the module housing is defined by a plurality of sub-panels supported at least in part by the interior supports, each of the sub-panels including a plurality of front adapters that define in part the termination locations of the termination module, each of the sub-panels further including a rear housing, the rear housing including; 1) a plurality of side adapters accessible through the side opening of the module housing; 2) a fiber optic coupler mounted within the rear housing; and 3) at least one cable connecting the front adapters to the side adapters; c) a cable splice area positioned on the front of the rack, the cable splice area including a plurality of angling splice holders that hold splice trays in a non-horizontal orientation; d) a first cable pathway in which patch cords are routed for linking the front adapters of one of the termination modules with the front adapters of the other of the termination modules, the first cable pathway being defined by; i) vertical cable guides located at the left and right sides of the rack; and ii) a horizontal passageway that extends between the left and right vertical cable guides; and e) a second cable pathway in which cables are routed for linking the side adapters of the termination modules with the splice trays, the second cable pathway being defined by; i) a central cable passageway located centrally within the rack and adjacent to the termination modules; and ii) a cable passageway from the cable splice area to the central cable passageway; iii) wherein the central cable passageway provides communication to the side openings of the module housings of the termination modules. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification