Fiber optic housings configured for tool-less assembly, and related components and methods

• US 9,632,270 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• 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): PAK, SUNG H
• Application Number:
  US12/953,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20110268411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,345 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack

Abstract

Fiber optic housings configured for tool-less assembly, and related components and methods are disclosed. A fiber optic housing is provided having a top, a bottom, a right side, and a left side which removably attach to each other tool-lessly, and by other than external fastening means, thereby defining at least one interior chamber configured to support fiber optic equipment. The top, bottom, right side, and left side may be removably attached to each other by using a snap attachment integral to at least one of the bottom, the right side, and the left side. One or more mounting brackets and/or strain relief brackets may be attached to the fiber optic housing by other than external fastening means, which may be done by using a quick snap attachment integral to at least one of the sides of the fiber optic housing and the mounting brackets and/or strain relief brackets.

Claims

1. A fiber optic housing, comprising:

a top, a bottom, a right side, and a left side defining at least one interior chamber configured to support fiber optic equipment,

wherein each of the top, the bottom, the right side, and the left side is configured to individually, removably and tool-lessly attach to another of the top, the bottom, the right side, and the left side by other than external fastening means.

2. The fiber optic housing of claim 1, wherein the top, the bottom, the right side, and the left side removably attach to each other by at least one snap attachment integral to at least one of the top, the bottom, the right side, and the left side.

3. The fiber optic housing of claim 1, further comprising a side mounting bracket, wherein the side mounting bracket is configured to removably mount the fiber optic housing to an equipment rack tool-lessly, and by other than external fastening means.

4. The fiber optic housing of claim 3, further comprising snap attachments on a side of the fiber optic housing to removably mount the side mounting bracket to the fiber optic housing.

5. The fiber optic housing of claim 1, further comprising a strain relief bracket, wherein the strain relief bracket removably mounts to the fiber optic housing tool-lessly, and by other than external fastening means.

6. The fiber optic housing of claim 5, further comprising snap attachments on a side of the fiber optic housing to removably mount the strain relief bracket to the fiber optic housing.

7. The fiber optic housing of claim 6, wherein the strain relief bracket is configured to allow fiber optic cables to enter the fiber optic housing at any angle.

8. The fiber optic housing of claim 1, further comprising an interchangeable front section, wherein the interchangeable front section removably mounts to the fiber optic housing tool-lessly, and by other than external fastening means.

9. The fiber optic housing of claim 8, further comprising snap attachments on a side of the fiber optic housing to removably mount the interchangeable front section to the fiber optic housing.

10. The fiber optic housing of claim 1, further comprising one or more rubber grommets disposed on at least one of the top, bottom, right side, and left side.

11. The fiber optic housing of claim 1, further comprising an opening on at least one of the top, bottom, right side, and left side, where the opening is configured to allow optical fibers in and out of the fiber optic housing, and wherein a molded flexible edge protection piece is located around a portion of the opening.

12. The fiber optic housing of claim 1, further comprising fiber optic equipment disposed in the at least one interior chamber.

13. The fiber optic housing of claim 12, wherein the fiber optic equipment is comprised of at least one of a fiber optic module and a fiber optic panel.

14. The fiber optic housing of claim 2, wherein at least one snap attachment is located on at least one of the left side and the right side, and the bottom has at least one receiver disposed on at least one side flange of the bottom, the at least one receiver configured to receive the at least one snap attachment.

15. The fiber optic housing of claim 2, wherein the top has at least one receiver disposed on at least one side flange on the top, the at least one receiver configured to receive snap attachments disposed on the left side and the right side.

16. The fiber optic housing of claim 2, wherein at least one of the left side and the right side has a top flange with at least one groove, the at least one groove configured to receive at least one standoff disposed on the top.

17. The fiber optic housing of claim 15, wherein the side flange on the top further comprises a merlon configured to interlock with a crenel disposed on at least one of the left side and the right side.

28. The fiber optic housing of claim 1, wherein each of the top, the bottom, the right side, and the left side is substantially flat panel.

18. A method of assembling a fiber optic housing, comprising:

individually attaching a top, a bottom, a right side, and a left side to another of the top, the bottom, the right side, and the left side tool-lessly and by other than external fastening means, defining at least one interior chamber configured to support fiber optic equipment.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising detaching the top, the bottom, the right side, and the left side from each other tool-lessly.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the attaching further comprises using a snap attachment integral to at least one of the top, the bottom, the right side, and the left side to removably attach the top, the bottom, the right side, and the left side to each other.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising removably mounting a side mounting bracket to the fiber optic housing, wherein the side mounting bracket is configured to removably mount the fiber optic housing to an equipment rack tool-lessly, and by other than external fastening means.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising using snap attachments on a side of the fiber optic housing to removably mount a side mounting bracket to the fiber optic housing.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising removably mounting a strain relief bracket to the fiber optic housing, wherein the strain relief bracket removably mounts to the fiber optic housing tool-lessly, and by other than external fastening means.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising using snap attachments on a side of the fiber optic housing to removably mount the strain relief bracket to the fiber optic housing.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising removably mounting an interchangeable front section, wherein the interchangeable front section removably mounts to the fiber optic housing tool-lessly, and by other than by external fastening means.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising using snap attachments on a side of the fiber optic housing to removably mount the interchangeable front section to the fiber optic housing.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising disposing fiber optic equipment in the at least one interior chamber of the fiber optic housing.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the top, the bottom, the right side, and the left side is substantially flat panel.