Fiber access terminal

• US 7,397,997 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• 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, Ferris, Matthew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak; Sung H
• Application Number:
  US11/708,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20070140642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 terminal assembly comprising:

a fiber optic cable;

an enclosure defining an interior volume, the enclosure including a first end and an opposite second end, the first end of the enclosure defining an opening through which the fiber optic cable enters the interior volume of the enclosure, the fiber optic cable extending away from the first end of the enclosure in a first direction;

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 enclosure defining a first drop cable connection region at which the enclosure defines a first group of at least three openings, the openings of the first group of openings being positioned generally along a first curve; and

at least three fiber optic adapters mounted at the openings of the first group of openings, each of the fiber optic adapters 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 fiber optic adapters, the second ends of the fiber optic adapters being adapted to receive connectorized ends of exterior drop cables, and the second ends of the fiber optic adapters facing generally in the first direction.

2. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic adapters are part of environmentally hardened connectors mounted to the enclosure.

3. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes front and rear pieces joined by a plurality of fasteners.

4. The terminal assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of fasteners includes at least 10 fasteners positioned generally about a periphery of the enclosure.

5. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure defines a central axis that extends from the first end of the enclosure to the second end of the enclosure, wherein the fiber optic cable is generally parallel with the central axis, and wherein the first curve curves generally about the central axis.

6. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure defines a second drop cable connection region at which the enclosure defines a second group of at least three openings, the second drop cable connection region being positioned between the first drop cable connection region and the second end of the enclosure, the openings of the second group of openings being positioned generally along a second curve, at least three fiber optic adapters being mounted at the openings of the second group of openings, each of the fiber optic adapters 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 fiber optic adapters, the second ends of the fiber optic adapters being adapted to receive connectorized ends of exterior drop cables, and the second ends of the fiber optic adapters facing generally in the first direction.

7. The terminal assembly of claim 6, wherein the fiber optic adapters at the second drop cable connection region are part of environmentally hardened connectors mounted to the enclosure.

8. The terminal assembly of claim 6, wherein the enclosure defines a central axis that extends from the first end of the enclosure to the second end of the enclosure, wherein the fiber optic cable is generally parallel with the central axis, and wherein the first and second curves curve generally about the central axis.

9. The terminal assembly of claim 6, wherein the second drop cable connection region is defined at a step structure of the enclosure.

10. A terminal assembly comprising:

a fiber optic cable;

an enclosure defining an interior volume, the enclosure including a first end and an opposite second end, the enclosure having a length that extends from the first end to the second end and a width that is transverse relative to the length, the first end of the enclosure defining an opening through which the fiber optic cable enters the interior volume of the enclosure, the fiber optic cable extending away from the first end of the enclosure in a first direction;

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 enclosure defining a first drop cable connection region at which the enclosure defines a first group of at least three openings, the openings of the first group of openings being spaced apart across the width of the enclosure and being arranged in a non-linear configuration; and

at least three fiber optic adapters mounted at the openings of the first group of openings, each of the fiber optic adapters 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 fiber optic adapters, the second ends of the fiber optic adapters being adapted to receive connectorized ends of exterior drop cables, and the second ends of the fiber optic adapters facing generally in the first direction.

11. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the first direction is generally parallel to the length of the enclosure.

12. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the fiber optic adapters are part of environmentally hardened connectors mounted to the enclosure.

13. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the enclosure includes front and rear pieces joined by a plurality of fasteners.

14. The terminal assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of fasteners includes at least 10 fasteners positioned generally about a periphery of the enclosure.

15. The terminal assembly of claim 10, wherein the enclosure defines a second drop cable connection region at which the enclosure defines a second group of openings, the second drop cable connection region being positioned between the first drop cable connection region and the second end of the enclosure, the openings of the second group of openings being spaced apart across the width of the enclosure and being arranged in a non-linear configuration, fiber optic adapters being mounted at the openings of the second group of openings, each of the fiber optic adapters 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 fiber optic adapters, the second ends of the fiber optic adapters being adapted to receive connectorized ends of exterior drop cables, and the second ends of the fiber optic adapters facing generally in the first direction.

16. The terminal assembly of claim 15, wherein the fiber optic adapters at the second drop cable connection region are part of environmentally hardened connectors mounted to the enclosure.

17. The terminal assembly of claim 15, wherein the second drop cable connection region is defined at a step structure of the enclosure.