Fiber optic management unit and fiber optic distribution device

• US 8,995,812 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CCS Technology Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CCS Technology Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ciechomski, Tomasz Andrzej, Fabrykowski, Grzegorz, Ruda, Michal, Strunck, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): Lepisto, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GUY G
• Application Number:
  US14/060,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20140119704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-139
• 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 6/4439 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4477 with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element

Abstract

A fiber optic management unit for handling optical fibers unit having a base with first and second segments miming perpendicular to each other. A tray is pivotably attached to the second segment such that the tray is transferable between a first position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is closed and a second position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is opened when the tray is pivoted around a first axis, and wherein the tray is transferable between the second position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is opened and a third position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is also opened when the tray is pivoted around a second axis running perpendicular to the first axis.

Claims

1. A fiber optic management unit for handling optical fibers, the fiber optic management unit comprising:

a base having first and second segments running perpendicular to each other, wherein the fiber optic management unit is mountable to a support structure through the first segment of the base, and wherein the first and second segments of the base provide a fiber routing track for optical fibers; and

a tray pivotably attached to a free end of the second segment of the base such that the tray is transferable between a first position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is closed and a second position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is opened when the tray is pivoted around a first axis, and wherein the tray is transferable between the second position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is opened and a third position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is also opened when the tray is pivoted around a second axis running perpendicular to the first axis.

2. The fiber optic management unit of claim 1, wherein the tray is transferable between the first position and the second position when the tray is pivoted around the first axis by approximately 90°

.

3. The fiber optic management unit of claim 1, wherein the first pivoting axis runs perpendicular to the routing direction of optical fibers through the second segment of the base.

4. The fiber optic management unit of claim 1, wherein the tray is transferable between the second position and the third position when the tray is pivoted around the second axis by approximately 90°

.

5. The fiber optic management unit of claim 1, wherein the second pivoting axis runs parallel to the routing direction of optical fibers through the second segment of the base.

6. The fiber optic management unit of claim 1, further comprising a common hinge, wherein the first axis and the second axis are both provided by a common hinge.

7. The fiber optic management unit of claim 6, wherein the common hinge comprises,

a U-shaped first section with protrusions extending from opposite lateral walls of the first section providing the first axis, and

a cylinder-like second section extending from a middle wall of the first section providing the second axis, wherein the second section extends in an opposite direction from the middle wall of the first section than the opposite lateral walls of the first section.

8. The fiber optic management unit of claim 7, wherein the U-shaped first section and the cylinder-like second section comprise both a central feed-through channel for optical fibers guiding the optical fibers in the direction of the second axis.

9. The fiber optic management unit of claim 8, wherein the U-shaped first section and the cylinder-like second section comprise both a lateral opening for inserting optical fibers into or for removing optical fibers out of the feed-through channel.

10. The fiber optic management unit of claim 7, wherein the protrusions are pin-like.

11. The fiber optic management unit of claim 7, further comprising locking elements are integral with the protrusions of the first section of the hinge and the cylinder-like wall of the second section of the hinge.

12. The fiber optic management unit of claim 1, wherein the tray comprises a cover, and wherein the cover is closed in the first and second position of the tray, and wherein the cover can be opened in the third position of the tray.

13. The fiber optic management unit of claim 1, further comprising an entry guide for optical fibers attached to the second segment of the of the base.

14. A fiber optic distribution device, comprising:

a plurality of fiber optic management units, wherein each of the plurality of fiber management units comprises,

a base having first and second segments running perpendicular to each other, wherein the fiber optic management unit is mountable to a support structure through the first segment of the base, and wherein the first and second segments of the base provide a fiber routing track for optical fibers; and

a tray pivotably attached to a free end of the second segment of the base such that the tray is transferable between a first position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is closed and a second position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is opened when the tray is pivoted around a first axis, and wherein the tray is transferable between the second position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is opened and a third position in which the fiber routing track of the first segment is also opened when the tray is pivoted around a second axis running perpendicular to the first axis, and

wherein the fiber optic management units are positioned side by side providing an array of trays when all trays are in the first position and allowing individual access to the trays by pivoting the same successively around the first axis and then around the second axis.