Modular high density telecommunications frame and chassis system

• US 9,435,975 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bison Patent Licensing, LLC
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ott, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Radkowski, Peter
• Application Number:
  US14/213,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20140270676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications device includes a frame defining a right vertical support and a left vertical support. A chassis is mounted to the right and left vertical supports, wherein the chassis is configured to pivot about a pivot axis that is defined by one of the right and left vertical supports. A plurality of modules are mounted on the chassis, each of the modules slidable on the chassis along a direction extending between the right and left vertical supports, wherein the chassis is configured to pivot about a plane parallel to the sliding direction of the modules, each module defining fiber optic connection locations.

Claims

1. A fiber optic telecommunications device comprising:

a frame defining a right vertical support and a left vertical support;

a chassis mounted to the right and left vertical supports, wherein the chassis is configured to pivot about a pivot axis that is defined by one of the right and left vertical supports;

a plurality of modules mounted on the chassis, each of the modules slidable on the chassis along a direction extending between the right and left vertical supports, wherein the chassis is configured to pivot about a plane parallel to the sliding direction of the modules, each module defining fiber optic connection locations in the form of fiber optic adapters, wherein the fiber optic adapters are located on cassettes removably mounted to the modules, wherein each module defines a housing portion for receiving the removably mounted cassette and a cable management portion extending from the housing portion for guiding cables extending to and from the fiber optic adapters of the cassette, the housing portion configured to receive the removably mounted cassette including at least one slide hole for receiving a slide structure of the chassis for allowing the module to slide on the chassis.

2. The fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the frame defines a front side and a rear side and right and left vertical supports at both the front side and the rear side, the frame further including a chassis pivotally mounted at the front side and a chassis pivotally mounted at the rear side.

3. The fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 2, further comprising a cable management panel located between the chassis mounted at the front side of the frame and the chassis located at the rear side of the frame.

4. The fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the chassis mounted to the right and left vertical supports in a vertically stacked arrangement.

5. The fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the fiber optic adapters are LC-format adapters.

6. The fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1 wherein the cable management portion of each module includes a cable management structure defining a split-ring configuration.

7. The fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the chassis defines a latch for locking the chassis in a closed position when the chassis is not pivoted with respect to the frame.

8. The fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the chassis further includes a cable management module slidable along the same direction as the modules, the cable management module including a cable management structure in the form of a split-ring configured to manage cables extending to and from the modules.

9. A fiber optic chassis comprising:

a right rack mount portion and a left rack mount portion and at least one slide extending between the right and left rack mount portions, one of the right rack mount portion and the left rack mount portion defining at least a part of a hinge structure for pivotally mounting the fiber optic chassis to a telecommunications fixture;

a plurality of modules mounted on the chassis along a horizontal stack extending between the right and left rack mount portions, each of the modules slidable on the slide along a direction extending between the right and left rack mount portions, each module populated with fiber optic equipment defining fiber optic connection locations in the form of fiber optic adapters, wherein the fiber optic equipment are fiber optic cassettes removably mounted to the modules, the fiber optic cassettes defining the fiber optic adapters at a first end, a cable extending from an opposite second end, and fibers extending within the cassette from the cable to the fiber optic adapters, wherein each module defines a housing portion for receiving the removably mounted cassette and a cable management portion extending from the housing portion for guiding cables extending to and from the fiber optic adapters of the cassette, the housing portion configured to receive the removably mounted cassette including at least one slide hole for receiving a slide structure of the chassis for allowing the module to slide on the chassis.

10. A fiber optic chassis according to claim 9, wherein the fiber optic adapters are LC-format adapters.

11. A fiber optic chassis according to claim 9, wherein the cable management portion of each module includes a cable management structure defining a split-ring configuration.

12. A fiber optic chassis according to claim 9, wherein one of the right rack mount portion and the left rack mount portion defines a latch for locking the chassis in a closed position when the chassis is not pivoted with respect to the telecommunications fixture.

13. A fiber optic chassis according to claim 9, further comprising a cable management module slidable along the same direction as the modules, the cable management module including a cable management structure in the form of a split-ring configured to manage cables extending to and from the modules.

14. A telecommunications module for slidable mounting to a telecommunications chassis, the module comprising:

a housing portion configured to removably receive fiber optic equipment defining fiber optic connection locations, the housing portion defining a right side, a left side, a front side, and a rear side, wherein the housing portion is configured such that the fiber optic connection locations are accessible from at least one of the front side and the rear side;

a plurality of holes extending from the right side to the left side of the housing portion for receiving slides for slidably coupling the module to the telecommunications chassis; and

a cable management structure in the form of a split-ring for receiving cables extending to and from the fiber optic connection locations, wherein the fiber optic equipment is defined by a removably mounted fiber optic cassette, the cassette including fiber optic adapters defining the fiber optic connection locations at a first end, a cable extending from an opposite second end, and fibers extending within the cassette from the cable to the fiber optic adapters.

15. A telecommunications module according to claim 14, wherein the fiber optic adapters are LC-format adapters.

16. A fiber optic chassis comprising:

a right rack mount portion and a left rack mount portion and at least one slide extending between the right and left rack mount portions;

a plurality of modules mounted on the chassis in a stacked configuration extending between the right and left rack mount portions, each module populated with fiber optic equipment defining connection ports formed by fiber optic adapters that face out along a front to back direction, each of the modules slidable on the slide along a direction extending between the right and left rack mount portions that is perpendicular to the front to back direction, wherein the fiber optic equipment are fiber optic cassettes removably mounted to the modules, the fiber optic cassettes defining the fiber optic adapters at a first end, a cable extending from an opposite second end, and fibers extending within the cassette from the cable to the fiber optic adapters, wherein each module defines a housing portion for receiving the removably mounted cassette and a cable management portion extending from the housing portion for guiding cables extending to and from the fiber optic adapters of the cassette, the housing portion configured to receive the removably mounted cassette including at least one slide hole for receiving a slide structure of the chassis for allowing the module to slide on the chassis.

17. A fiber optic chassis according to claim 16, wherein the fiber optic adapters are LC-format adapters.

18. A fiber optic chassis according to claim 16, wherein one of the right rack mount portion and the left rack mount portion defines at least a part of a hinge structure for pivotally mounting the fiber optic chassis to a telecommunications fixture and the other of the right rack mount portion and the left rack mount portion defines a latch for locking the chassis in a closed position when the chassis is not pivoted with respect to the telecommunications fixture.

19. A fiber optic chassis according to claim 16, further comprising a cable management module slidable along the same direction as the modules, the cable management module including a cable management structure in the form of a split-ring configured to manage cables extending to and from the modules.