Removable fiber management sections for fiber optic housings, and related components and methods

• US 9,519,118 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Giraud, William J., Kingsbury, Brian D., Rasmussen, M. Heath, Rodriguez, Diana
• Primary Examiner(s): LEPISTO, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/953,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20110268410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,212 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 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices

Abstract

Removable fiber management sections for fiber optic housings, and related components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic system is provided. The fiber optic system comprises a fiber optic housing defining at least one interior chamber configured to support fiber optic equipment. The fiber optic system also comprises a removable front section connected to the fiber optic housing and defining at least one front section interior chamber coupled to the at least one interior chamber of the fiber optic housing. The removable front section is configured to support at least one fiber management device to manage one or more fibers connected to fiber optic equipment disposed in the enclosure. In another embodiment, a method of managing optical fiber in a fiber optic system is provided.

Claims

1. A fiber optic system, comprising:

a fiber optic housing defining at least one interior chamber configured to support fiber optic equipment; and

a removable front section connected to the fiber optic housing and defining at least one front section interior chamber coupled to the at least one interior chamber of the fiber optic housing;

wherein the removable front section is configured to support at least one fiber management device to manage one or more optical fibers connected to fiber optic equipment disposed in the fiber optic housing.

2. The fiber optic system of claim 1, further comprising a door attached to the removable front section and configured to close off at least a portion of the at least one front section interior chamber.

3. The fiber optic system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber management device is disposed in the removable front section.

4. The fiber optic system of claim 3, wherein the at least one fiber management device is comprised of at least one opening disposed through the removable front section configured to route the one or more optical fibers outside of the at least one front section interior chamber.

5. The fiber optic system of claim 4, further comprising a flexible edge protection piece molded into the at least one opening.

6. The fiber optic system of claim 4, further comprising at least one grommet disposed in the at least one opening.

7. The fiber optic system of claim 6, wherein the at least one grommet is removable from the at least one opening to expose the at least one opening to allow the one or more optical fibers to be routed through the at least one opening.

8. The fiber optic system of claim 6, wherein the at least one grommet is made from a material comprised of a polymer.

9. The fiber optic system of claim 3, wherein the at least one fiber management device is comprised of at least one routing guide configured to route the one or more optical fibers.

10. The fiber optic system of claim 9, wherein the at least one routing guide is comprised of a first routing guide disposed on a first end of a base attached to the removable front section and a second routing guide disposed on a second end of the base.

11. The fiber optic system of claim 9, wherein the at least one routing guide is comprised of at least one routing clip.

12. The fiber optic system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber management device is comprised of at least one first fiber management device disposed on an interior surface of a top side of the removable front section and is comprised of at least one second fiber management device disposed on an interior surface of a bottom side of the removable front section.

13. The fiber optic system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber management device is comprised of

a base;

at least one fiber management component attached to the base and configured to manage one or more optical fibers; and

at least one opening disposed in the base and configured to route one or more optical fibers from the removable front section.

14. The fiber optic system of claim 13, further comprising at least one grommet disposed in the at least one opening.

15. The fiber optic system of claim 14, wherein the at least one grommet is removable from the at least one opening to expose the at least one opening to allow the one or more optical fibers to be routed through the at least one opening.

16. The fiber optic system of claim 13, wherein the at least one fiber management component is comprised of at least one routing guide configured to route one or more optical fibers.

17. The fiber optic system of claim 16, wherein the at least one routing guide is comprised of a first routing guide disposed on a first end of the base and a second routing guide disposed on a second end of the base.

18. The fiber optic system of claim 16, wherein the at least one routing guide is comprised of at least one routing clip.

19. The fiber optic system of claim 16, wherein the at least one routing guide is comprised of a first arcuate member having a first end attached to the base and a second end adjacent a second end of a second member having a first end attached to the base.

20. The fiber optic system of claim 19, wherein the first arcuate member is flexible.

21. The fiber optic system of claim 19, wherein the second end of the first arcuate member abuts the second end of the second member when a compression force is not applied to the first arcuate member.

22. The fiber optic system of claim 21, wherein the second end of the first arcuate member is configured to separate from the second end of the second member when a compression force is applied to the first arcuate member.

23. The fiber optic system of claim 1, wherein the removable front section includes a top panel connected to first and second side panels and a bottom panel connected to the first and second side panels, wherein the top panel, bottom panel and first and second side panels define the at least one front section interior chamber.

24. The fiber optic system of claim 1, wherein the removable front section is tool-lessly connectable to and removable from the fiber optic housing.

25. A method of managing optical fiber in a fiber optic system, comprising:

providing a fiber optic housing defining at least one interior chamber configured to support fiber optic equipment; and

attaching a removable front section to the fiber optic housing defining at least one front section interior chamber coupled to the at least one interior chamber of the fiber optic housing,

wherein the removable front section is configured to support at least one fiber management device to manage one or more optical fibers connected to fiber optic equipment disposed in the fiber optic housing.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising routing one or more optical fibers from fiber optic equipment disposed in the fiber optic housing to the removable front section.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising managing the one or more optical fibers in the at least one fiber management device disposed in the removable front section.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein managing the one or more optical fibers comprises routing the one or more optical fibers through at least one opening disposed through the removable front section configured to route the one or more optical fibers outside of the at least one front section interior chamber.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising routing the one or more optical fibers through a flexible edge protection piece molded into the at least one opening.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising routing the one or more optical fibers through at least one grommet disposed in the at least one opening.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein managing the one or more optical fibers comprises routing the one or more optical fibers through at least one fiber management component comprised of at least one routing guide.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein managing the one or more optical fibers in the fiber optic housing comprises routing one or more optical fibers to at least one fiber management component disposed in the fiber management device,

the fiber management device comprises:

a base;

the at least one fiber management component attached to the base and

configured to manage one or more optical fibers connected to the fiber optic equipment; and

at least one opening disposed in the base and configured to route the one or more optical fibers from the fiber optic housing.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising routing the one or more optical fibers through the at least one opening disposed in the base of the fiber management device.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising removing the fiber management device from the removable front section.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

unrouting the one or more optical fibers through the at least one opening; and

inserting at least one grommet in the at least one opening disposed in the base.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising mounting the fiber management device in the removable front section.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein mounting the fiber management device further comprises disposing at least one fastener through at least one opening disposed in a mounting platform in the base into at least one receiver disposed in the removable front section.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the at least one fiber management device is comprised of at least one routing guide, wherein routing the one or more optical fibers comprises:

separating a first arcuate member of the at least one routing guide from a second member of the at least one routing guide;

disposing the one or more optical fibers through an opening formed by the separating of the first arcuate member from the second member; and

releasing the separation of the first arcuate member from the second member to close the at least one routing guide while the one or more optical fibers are disposed inside the at least one routing guide.

39. The method of claim 25, wherein the removable front section includes a top panel connected to first and second side panels and a bottom panel connected to the first and second side panels, wherein the top panel, bottom panel and first and second side panels define the at least one front section interior chamber.

40. The method of claim 25, wherein attaching the removable front section to the fiber optic housing is performed tool-lessly.

41. The method of claim 25, wherein the removable front section includes a door configured to close off at least a portion of the at least one front section interior chamber.