Fiber access terminal

• US 8,363,999 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• 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: Mertesdorf, Daniel Ray, Smith, Trevor D., Nelson, Keith, Gronvall, Erik, Rudenick, Paula, Ferris, Matthew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAK, SUNG H
• Application Number:
  US13/104,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20120008909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 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 fiber access terminal assembly comprising:

a base having an interior side and an exterior side, the base defining a plurality of mounting openings;

a cover having a closed top and an open bottom, the cover being elongated between the closed top and the open bottom, the elongated cover defining an interior, the open bottom of the cover being configured to sealingly engage the base to form an enclosure so that the interior side of the base faces the interior of the cover;

a plurality of optical fiber adapters disposed in the mounting openings defined in the base, each of the optical fiber adapters having a first port that is accessible from the interior side of the base and a second port accessible from the exterior side of the base, the second ports being configured to receive ruggedized fiber optic connectors; and

a cable management member coupled to the base, the cable management member being configured to extend away from the base and into the interior of the cover when the cover engages the base, the cable management member including cable routing structures configured to guide optical fibers to the first ports of the optical fiber adapters.

2. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable management member includes a cable routing side.

3. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 2, wherein the cable routing side of the cable management member includes a fiber routing path and a slack storage path for managing optical fibers.

4. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 3, wherein the cable management member includes a plurality of retention tabs positioned about the fiber routing path, the retention tabs being adapted to retain optical fibers within the fiber routing path.

5. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable management member defines a plurality of cable pass-throughs.

6. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gasket disposed between the housing and the cover.

7. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable management member defines a cable receiving side and includes a plurality of brackets disposed on the cable receiving side, the brackets being configured to hold the splitter.

8. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover has an annular sidewall.

9. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable management member defines a curved top.

10. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical fiber adapters includes four optical fiber adapters.

11. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the base also defines a cable port configured to enable a fiber optic cable to enter the enclosure.

12. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fanout disposed within the enclosure.

13. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cable clamp disposed within the enclosure.