Optical fiber slack storage tray for distribution cabinet

• US 20060093302A1
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Vongseng, Soutsada, Holmberg, Matthew, Solheid, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a slack storage tray for managing slack associated with fiber terminations in a distribution cabinet. The storage tray includes a base defining a cable pathway for storing multiple loops of a cable. A hinged cover further defines a cable pathway for managing the cable.

Claims

1. A cable storage tray including:

a) a base including;

i) a bottom wall;

ii) an upstanding outer wall extending from the bottom wall;

iii) an upstanding inner wall disposed inside of the upstanding outer wall and extending upwardly from the bottom wall;

iv) a plurality of cable retention tabs extending from one of the outer and inner walls;

v) a cable entry location through the upstanding outer wall;

wherein a cable path is defined between the inner and outer walls and the bottom wall and the cable retention tabs;

b) a cover hinged to the base and including;

i) a bottom wall;

ii) a cable entry location through the bottom wall;

iii) an upstanding outer wall extending from the bottom wall;

iv) an upstanding inner wall disposed within the outer wall and extending upwardly from the bottom wall;

v) a plurality of cable retentions tabs extending from one of the outer and inner walls;

vi) a cable exit location for cables exiting from the cover;

wherein a cable path is defined on the cover between the outer and inner walls and the bottom wall and the cable retention tabs of the cover.

2. The cable storage tray of claim 1, further comprising a latch for holding the base and the cover in a closed position.

3. The cable storage tray of claim 1, wherein the cover includes an open front which defines the cable exit location, and the base includes mounting tabs on an opposite side of the tray extending from the base, wherein the cable entry location for cables entering the base is defined along a side of the tray between the rear and an opposite front of the base located adjacent to the open front of the cover.

4. A cable storage system comprising:

a fixture;

a plurality of slack storage trays mounted to the fixture, each slack storage tray including a bottom wall, an outer wall extending from the bottom wall, and an inner wall defining a cable path for holding multiple loops of cable positioned around an axis perpendicular to the bottom wall;

a cable termination area including a plurality of rows of adapters, each adapter defining a connection axis for receiving a connecter, wherein the connection axis of each adapter extends generally parallel to the bottom walls, wherein the rows of adapters are slidable relative to the slack storage trays.

5. The cable storage system of claim 4, wherein the slack storage trays and the rows of adapters are positioned horizontally, further comprising a cable manager for directing cables in a vertical direction extending from the rows of adapters.

6. The cable storage system of claim 5, wherein the adapters are mounted to a side wall of the fixture, and wherein the slack storage trays are mounted to a back wall of the fixture, wherein the side wall and the back wall are generally perpendicular to one another.

7. The cable storage system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of splitter modules wherein cables extending from the splitter modules are managed by the cable manager and extend to the rows of adapters.

8. A method of storing telecommunications cables comprising:

providing a storage tray;

looping the cable around a first radius limiter within a first compartment of the storage tray;

exiting the cable from the first compartment;

looping the cable around a second radius limiter outside of the first compartment;

pulling the cable from the storage tray;

pushing the cable back into the storage tray.