Fiber access terminal

• US RE43,762 E1
• Filed: 05/07/2008
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• 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: Smith, Trevor D., Ferris, Matthew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAK, SUNG H
• Application Number:
  US12/151,721
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135
• 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 fiber optic distribution cable with a first end and a second end;

an enclosure at the second end of the fiber optic distribution cable, the enclosure including a first piece and a second piece opposite the first piece, the first and second pieces cooperating to define an interior, the enclosure having a cable pass-through end, a non-pass-through end opposite the cable pass-through end, a front face, and a rear face opposite the front face;

the first piece and second piece joined at an environmental seal;

the enclosure defining a plurality of mounting faces projecting outwardly on the front face and angled toward the cable pass-through end, and a plurality of openings disposed through the mounting faces and sized to receive fiber optic connections;

the enclosure including a tab integrally formed at the non-pass-through end of the enclosure that projects outwardly from the non-pass-through end, the tab including an attachment opening substantially perpendicular to an axis running from the non-pass-through end to the cable pass-through end;

the cable pass-through end of the enclosure including an opening through which the fiber optic distribution cable enters/exits the interior of the enclosure;

the fiber optic distribution cable including a plurality of optical fiber strands fibers, the plurality of optical fiber strands fibers separated from the fiber optic distribution cable within the interior and terminated with fiber optic connectors;

the enclosure including a plurality of fiber optic connections adapters extending through the plurality of openings on the plurality of mounting faces of the enclosure, each of the connections adapters having a first end within accessible from the interior and configured to receive one of the connectors of the optical fiber strands fibers within the interior, and a second end accessible from outside the enclosure and configured to receive a connector of an optical fiber drop cable extending to an exterior of the fiber enclosure.

2. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the environmental seal includes a recess and an edge between the first piece and the second piece.

3. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gasket positioned within the recess.

4. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein each mounting face includes one opening having a fiber optic connection extending therethrough.

5. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hinge mounting the first piece to the second piece.

12. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein there is only one fiber optic distribution cable that enters/exits the enclosure and only one opening in the cable pass-through end.

13. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 12, wherein the only one opening in the cable pass-through end is disposed generally in the center of the cable pass-through end.

6. A terminal assembly comprising:

a fiber optic cable with a first end and a second end;

an enclosure positioned at the second end of the fiber optic cable and having a cable pass-through end and a non-pass-through end, the enclosure including a front piece fastened to a rear piece, the front and rear pieces cooperating to define an interior volume of the enclosure, the front piece including a front side that faces in a forward direction and the rear piece including a rear side that faces in a rearward direction;

a tab that projects outwardly from the non-pass-through end of the enclosure, the tab defining a tab opening that extends through the tab in a front to rear direction;

the cable pass-through end of the enclosure defining an opening through which the fiber optic cable enters/exits the interior volume of the enclosure;

the fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers, the optical fibers separated from one another within the interior volume of the enclosure, the optical fibers terminated by interior fiber optic connectors that are located within the interior volume of the enclosure;

the front side of the front piece including at least first, second, third and fourth mounting faces arranged in a stepped configuration with the second mounting face being positioned above the first mounting face, the third mounting face being positioned above the second mounting face and the fourth mounting face being positioned above the third mounting face, each of the first, second and third mounting faces being angled to face forwardly and downwardly;

at least some of the first, second, third and fourth mounting faces defining front openings;

front connectors mounted at the front openings, each of the front connectors including a fiber optic adapter, each of the front connectors being angled forwardly and downwardly, each of the front connectors including a first end accessible from within the interior volume of the enclosure and a second end accessible from outside the enclosure, the interior connectors of the optical fibers being received within the first ends of the front connectors, and the second ends of the front connectors being adapted to receive connectorized ends of exterior drop cables;

at least one of the front and rear pieces of the enclosure defining a recess that extends generally around a periphery of the enclosure;

a sealing member positioned within the recess for providing a seal between the front piece of the enclosure and the rear piece of the enclosure; and

at least ten fastening elements for fastening the front and rear pieces of the enclosure together, the fastening elements being positioned generally about the periphery of the enclosure.

7. The terminal assembly of claim 6, wherein at least some of the fastening elements include latches.

8. The terminal assembly of claim 6, wherein at least some of the fastening elements include hinges.

9. The terminal assembly of claim 6, wherein the sealing member includes an o-ring.

10. The terminal assembly of claim 6, wherein the front openings are defined through all of the first, second, third and fourth mounting faces.

14. The terminal assembly of claim 6, wherein there is only one fiber optic cable that enters/exits the enclosure and only one opening in the cable pass-through end.

15. The terminal assembly of claim 14, wherein the only one opening in the cable pass-through end is disposed generally in the center of the cable pass-through end.

11. A terminal assembly comprising:

a fiber optic cable;

an enclosure positioned at one end of the fiber optic cable, the enclosure having a cable pass-through end and an opposite non-pass-through end, the enclosure including a front piece fastened to a rear piece, the front and rear pieces cooperating to define an interior volume of the enclosure, the front piece including a front side that faces in a forward direction and the rear piece including a rear side that faces in a rearward direction;

a tab that projects outwardly from the non-pass-through end of the enclosure, the tab defining a tab opening that extends through the tab in a front to rear direction

the cable pass-through end of the enclosure defining an opening through which the fiber optic cable enters/exits the interior volume of the enclosure;

the fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers, the optical fibers separated from one another within the interior volume of the enclosure, the optical fibers terminated by interior fiber optic connectors that are located within the interior volume of the enclosure;

the front side of the front piece including at least first, second, third and fourth mounting faces arranged in a stepped configuration with the second mounting face being positioned above the first mounting face, the third mounting face being positioned above the second mounting face and the fourth mounting face being positioned above the third mounting face, each of the first, second and third mounting faces being angled to face forwardly and toward the second end of the enclosure;

at least some of the first, second, third and fourth mounting faces defining front openings;

front connectors mounted at the front openings, each of the front connectors including a fiber optic adapter, each of the front connectors being angled forwardly and toward the second end of the enclosure, each of the front connectors including a first end accessible from within the interior volume of the enclosure and a second end accessible from outside the enclosure, the interior connectors of the optical fibers being received within the first ends of the front connectors, and the second ends of the front connectors being adapted to receive connectorized ends of exterior drop cables; and

at least ten fastening elements for fastening the front and rear pieces of the enclosure together, the fastening elements being positioned generally about a periphery of the enclosure.

16. The terminal assembly of claim 11, wherein there is only one fiber optic cable that enters/exits the enclosure and only one opening in the cable pass-through end.

17. The terminal assembly of claim 16, wherein the only one opening in the cable pass-through end is disposed generally in the center of the cable pass-through end.