Patent ID: 6933441
Filing Date: 2005-08-23
Classification: G02B,H02G

Abstract:
1. A telecommunications and data transmission fiber optic cable storage enclosure for providing the maximum internal volume therein for housing a cable storage reel in an enclosure which must fit in sliding horizontal reciprocating relation through an aperture having a fixed width and height formed in a front surface of a pre-existing vertical rack, said enclosure comprising a rectangular box enclosure having a flat bottom pan, two side panels, a rear panel, and a front panel faceplate, said side panels having a height, and said rear panel having a height and width, small enough to fit through said aperture in said front surface of said rack, said side panels of said enclosure having the exterior surfaces thereof formed for engaging shelf rails in the form of C section members forming slide channels secured to said rack and formed for receiving said side panels of said enclosure in a horizontal sliding reciprocating relation said rack, a cable reel disposed for rotation in said enclosure with a vertical axis of rotation and the periphery thereof being positioned in close relation to at least said side panels thereof, said reel having a pair of horizontally oriented parallel side plates mounted on opposite sides of a central circular hub, said reel having a multiple of low-rise protuberances formed around said hub at least on the a lower plate exterior surface of said reel whereby said reel rests in said enclosure on said bottom pan and rotates thereon on said protuberances, and further whereby the clearance between said bottom pan and the lower of said reel side plates is minimal and considerably less than the diameter of the cable to be wound on said reel and still further whereby the width of said hub between said plates is maximized within said enclosure between the top surface plane of said box and said bottom pan, and still further whereby a predetermined length of said cable can be wound thereon without excess thereof being stored in the corners of said enclosure and without fracturing the internal fibers of said cable by being wound with too acute of an angular bend around said hub, at least one coupler being secured to a first or fixed end of said cable disposed proximate to said central hub of said reel when cable is wound on said reel around said hub, said coupler being formed to engage a receptor disposed in said panel face plate of said enclosure, the opposite end of said cable from said first fixed end being a second or free end of said cable and having a second coupler secured thereto for engaging a remotely located receptor, at least one receptor disposed in said panel faceplate for receiving male and female couplers and an opening in said panel faceplate within which said second free end of said cable can be disposed for extraction therethrough, and a locking means actuated by a lever pivoted in said faceplate for engaging said shelf rails selectively.