Fiber Optic Drop Terminal Mounting Plate

• US 20100107399A1
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Diana, Cox, Terry Dean
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/525.10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4439 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

There is provided fiber drop terminal (“FDT”) assemblies for providing selective connections between optical fibers of distribution cables and optical fibers of drop cables, such as in multiple dwelling units. The FDT assemblies include a mounting plate that enables the FDT to be conveniently and securely mounted to a generally vertical surface, such as a wall. The mounting plate is structured such that the base of the FDT must be removed before the mounting plate can be removed, and the cover of the FDT is structured that neither the base nor the mounting plate can be removed without first removing the cover. The cover may be selectively locked to the base and/or mounting plate with a locking fastener; therefore, only technicians able to remove the locking fastener may remove the cover, base, and/or mounting plate of the FDT assembly.

Claims

1. A method of installing a fiber drop terminal (“

FDT”

) assembly to a generally vertical surface, the FDT assembly adapted for use in a fiber optic network of a multiple dwelling unit to selectively optically connect at least one connectorized optical fiber of a distribution cable to a connectorized optical fiber of at least one drop cable, the method comprising;

providing the FDT assembly comprising a base, a cover, at least one plurality of adapters joined to at least one of the base and the cover, and a mounting plate;

mounting the mounting plate to the generally vertical surface, wherein the mounting plate is selectively mountable;

retaining at least one of the base and the cover of the FDT assembly to the mounting plate, wherein the at least one of the base and the cover is selectively retained by the mounting plate; and

locking at least one of the cover and the base such that the mounting plate is prevented from selective dismounting without prior removal of at least one of the cover and the base.

2. The method of claim 1, retaining at least one of the base and the cover of the FDT assembly to the mounting plate comprises inserting a protrusion of the base into an aperture of the mounting plate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein locking at least one of the cover and the base comprises:

inserting at least one latch device of the cover into a locking feature of the mounting plate; and

locking the cover to the base with a locking fastener.