Abstract:
A fiber optic connectivity system for fiber optic cable management comprising a main chassis surrounding an interior cavity and including a main opening and a plurality of access points; a door assembly adjacent to the main opening including at least one mounting accessory aperture that is sized and configured for engaged receipt of a mounting accessory component, and said door assembly being selectively positionable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the interior cavity; a tray supported on a rail on the interior facing surface of the main chassis, and the tray being selectively slideable upon the rail; a plurality of grommets each being integrally secured within a respective one of the access points, and each of the grommets being sized and configured for passage of at least one cable therethrough; and an adapter bracket on the tray being sized and configured for accommodating at least one fiber optic adapter plate thereon.

Description:
This patent application is based on and claims priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/934,247 filed on Jan. 31, 2014. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to the field of cabinets for both rack mount and wall mount fiber optic installations that utilize both fiber optic splices and fiber optic couplers and management and storage of fiber optic cable. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Cabinets for fiber optic connections and terminations are commonplace in the art of optical transmission systems, but as data networks become more complex, the need for efficiency in fiber optic cable management grows Cabinets for modern fiber optic systems require capacity for more cable entry and exit routes, additional space for connection and termination equipment, better access for maintenance, new techniques for security, and advancements in protective features that prevent contamination and system degradation due to unwanted physical forces on the cables. 
     Prior developments in fiber optic cable management have focused more heavily on cable features and relied less on cabinet advancements to maximize optical data transmission. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,505,664 (Weinert 2009) incorporates termination features that allow interoperability between cable installations from different manufacturers with a maneuverable “flap” arrangement at cable ends. U.S. Pat. No. 7,668,431 (Cox 2010) illustrates how limited cabinet advancements have traditionally developed in its description of grommets through which cables enter and exit cabinets. According to the Cox &#39;431 patent, prior art grommets have required sealants applied to the grommet and cable intersection to ensure protection against dirt and grime entering the enclosure. Cox attempts to alleviate this problem by incorporating grommets into a panel that holds and releases individual grommets in keyhole type structures. Cox&#39;s panels fit within openings in the enclosure. Still, however, Cox requires a two part grommet and panel construction with particular shapes so that the interchangeable components seal properly with cable therein. Accordingly. Cox&#39;s grommet configuration utilizes a one way construction for either cable entry or exit but not both. 
     There continues to be a need in the art of fiber optic cable cabinets for features that provide better access to the fiber cables while providing system integrity and accuracy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One form of the present invention is directed to a fiber optic cable cabinet assembly including a main chassis surrounding an interior cavity and including a main opening and a plurality of access points; a door assembly adjacent to the main opening including at least one mounting accessory aperture that is sized and configured for engaged receipt of a mounting accessory component, and said door assembly being selectively positionable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the interior cavity; a tray supported on a rail on the interior facing surface of the main chassis, and the tray being selectively slideable upon the rail; a plurality of grommets each being integrally secured within a respective one of the access points, and each of the grommets being sized and configured for passage of at least one cable therethrough; and an adapter bracket on the tray being sized and configured for accommodating at least one fiber optic adapter plate thereon. 
     Another form of the present invention is directed to a fiber optic connectivity system for fiber optic cable management including a main chassis surrounding an interior cavity and including a main opening and a plurality of access points each defined by an opening extending between the inner and outer facing surfaces; a door assembly adjacent to the main opening including at least one mounting accessory aperture that is sized and configured for engaged receipt of a mounting accessory component, and the door assembly being selectively positionable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the interior cavity through the main opening; a tray supported on at least one rail, and the tray being selectively slideable upon the rail; a plurality of slits in the inner facing surface of the main chassis and in the tray; and a plurality of grommets each being integrally secured within a respective one of the plurality of access points, and each of the plurality of grommets being sized and configured for passage of at least one cable therethrough. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view showing the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 1B  is a rear perspective view showing the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  are isolated perspective views of the front door of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a front elevational view of the sliding top cover of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a side elevational view of the sliding top cover of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  is a partially exploded perspective view of the sliding top cover and separated labeling surface identification card of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention: 
         FIG. 3D  is an isolated perspective view of the wedged gussets of the sliding top cover of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3E  is a perspective view of the sliding top cover of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3F  is a perspective view of the sliding top cover of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating the components of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating the components of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly including a rear cover of the present invention in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 6A  is an isolated perspective view of a tray rail component of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6C  is an isolated perspective view of a lug component of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7A-7C  are rear elevational views of racks of varying relative size; 
         FIG. 8A  is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating a first grommet separated from an access point of the main chassis of the fiber optic cable cabinet assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 88  is a side elevational view of a grommet; 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a grommet; 
         FIG. 9B  is a sectional view taken from line  9 B- 9 B on  FIG. 9C ; 
         FIG. 90  is a side elevational view of a grommet; 
         FIG. 9D  is a perspective view of a grommet; 
         FIG. 9E  is an isolated view of the grommet taken, from  FIG. 9B  and illustrating a bump component; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a grommet showing passage of a cable between oppositely disposed flaps; 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of a fiber optic coupler adapter plate; 
         FIG. 11B  is a top plan view of a fiber optic coupler adapter plate; 
         FIG. 11D  is a side elevational view of a fiber optic coupler adapter plate; 
         FIG. 11D  is a front elevational view of a fiber optic coupler adapter plate; 
         FIG. 12A  is an isolated perspective view taken from  FIG. 12F  illustrating hook components of the adapter bracket; 
         FIG. 12B  is a sectional view taken from line  12 B- 12 B on  FIG. 12D ; 
         FIG. 12C  is an isolated view of the hook component taken from  FIG. 12B ; 
         FIG. 12D  is a front elevational view of an adapter bracket; 
         FIG. 12E  is a partially exploded perspective view of an adapter bracket; 
         FIG. 12F  is a partially exploded perspective view of an adapter bracket; 
         FIG. 12G  is an isolated view taken from  FIG. 12F ; 
         FIG. 13A  is an exploded view of a strain relief bracket and a mounting bracket; 
         FIG. 13B  is an isolated top plan view of the strain relief bracket; 
         FIG. 13C  is a perspective view of the main cabinet chassis illustrating the strain relief bracket and mounting bracket secured thereto; 
         FIG. 13D  is a top plan view of the strain relief bracket; 
         FIG. 13E  is a perspective view of the strain relief bracket according to one embodiment: 
         FIG. 13F  is a perspective view of the strain relief bracket according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 14A  is a perspective view of the top portion of a fiber storage hoop; 
         FIG. 14B  is a perspective view of the bottom portion of a fiber storage hoop; 
         FIG. 14C  is a side elevational view of a fiber storage hoop; 
         FIG. 14D  is a sectional view taken from line  14 D- 14 D in  FIG. 14C ; 
         FIG. 14E  is an isolated view taken from  FIG. 14D  illustrating a mounting foot; 
         FIG. 14F  is an isolated view taken from  FIG. 14B  illustrating a mounting foot; 
         FIG. 14G  is an isolated view taken from  FIG. 14B  illustrating a mounting foot; 
         FIG. 15A  is a side elevational view of a fiber storage hoop; 
         FIG. 15B  is a side elevational view of a fiber storage hoop; 
         FIG. 16A  is an exploded perspective view of a first and second storage hoop and the floor of the main cabinet chassis; and 
         FIG. 16B  is a perspective view of a first and second storage hoop secured to the floor of the main cabinet chassis. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the several views of the drawings, the fiber optic cable connectivity assembly of the present invention is shown and is generally indicated as  10 . 
     The fiber optic cable cabinet assembly ( 10 ) disclosed herein includes numerous structural advancements that provide improved efficiencies in fiber optic cable management and ease of installation. Without limiting the invention to any one concept or structure, the overall outline of features includes (i) labeling structure for cabinet identification; (ii) a sliding rail adapter plate configuration; (iii) a grommet with a dual access flap for cable entry and exit; (iv) mounting bracket for cable support; and (v) stackable reels for excess cable in the cabinet enclosure. These and other features of the cabinet construction are set forth below. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  present an overview of the cabinet ( 10 ) that incorporates the features delineated above. Of note,  FIGS. 1A  (front view) and  1 B (corresponding rear view) show a cabinet ( 10 ) that can be sized to fit standard racks, including either a 19 inch or 23 inch rack, and can house fiber optic terminations whether by splice or coupler. The cabinets ( 10 ) are also compatible with wall mount hardware, Access points ( 15 ) for cable entry and exit are provided within the cabinet ( 10 ), and in one non-limiting embodiment, the access points ( 15 ) are configured as four corner openings within side walls ( 12 A,  12 B) of the cabinet ( 10 ). Front door assemblies and rear walls of these kinds of cabinets may accommodate mounting accessories ( 17 ). 
     In regard to the front of a cabinet ( 10 ) as disclosed herein,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  illustrate the front of the cabinet ( 10 ) having a front door ( 35 ) with a metal frame base ( 30 ) that defines a base groove ( 36 ) into which one end ( 34 ) of an insert ( 25 ) fits therein to complete the door assembly ( 35 ) as shown in  FIG. 2C . Hinges ( 32 A,  32 B) attach to the cabinet ( 10 ) at opposite ends of the door ( 35 ) for hinged open and close functionality. The insert ( 25 ) defines openings ( 16 A,  16 B) through which the mounting accessories ( 17 ) fit. The details in  FIG. 3  illustrate additional views of the front end of the cabinet ( 10 ) facing the user. The front door assembly ( 35 ) is hinged so that in a vertical, closed position, the front door engages an edge of a sliding top cover ( 60 ). The main chassis ( 85 ), therefore, is covered in total by a rear cover ( 80 ) and the front door assembly ( 35 ) that sandwich a front end cover ( 60 ) that slides over the top of the main chassis ( 85 ), adjoining the rear cover ( 80 ) and the front door assembly ( 35 ). The front end cover ( 60 ), therefore, mates with the rear cover ( 80 ) and completes the overall top cover of the main chassis ( 85 ).  FIGS. 3A-3F  illustrate that the front end cover ( 60 ) is adapted to display an identification card ( 50 ) having a writing surface thereon that is visible along the top front end of the cabinet. In order to hold the visible identification card ( 50 ), the front end cover ( 60 ) is molded with a pocket defined by rails, or lips ( 43 A,  43 B), on one side of the front end cover ( 60 ). The lip feature ( 43 A,  43 B) is designed to hold an identification card ( 50 ) on which the user can write to identify the contents of the cabinet ( 10 ) or other instructions. The front end cover ( 60 ) includes not only the pocket formed by the lip feature ( 43 A,  43 B) but the pocket is open on opposite ends such that the identification card ( 50 ) slides in and out of the pocket along the long axis of the front end cover ( 60 ). Wedged gussets ( 65 ) are ramp-shaped and positioned alongside the pocket, parallel to the direction in which the card ( 50 ) slides in and out, to aid in retaining the identification card ( 50 ) in a visible position but allowing the card ( 50 ) to be removed by sliding the card out of the pocket from an end. The wedged gussets ( 65 ), therefore, are convenient for allowing the card ( 50 ) to be edited as appropriate and/or conveniently replaced in the pocket as necessary without disassembling the entire cabinet.  FIG. 3F  shows that the front end cover ( 60 ) is designed to allow the identification card ( 50 ) to be visible through the front end cover ( 60 ). In one embodiment, appropriate parts of the front door assembly ( 35 ) are made from a transparent material, such as clear plastic, for maximum visibility of the contents in the cabinet. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates how the front cover ( 60 ), holding the identification card ( 50 ), fits into the front door assembly ( 35 ), which utilizes the oppositely positioned hinges ( 32 A,  32 B) to open and close for access control.  FIG. 4  further shows one embodiment of the cabinet ( 10 ) in which the rear cover ( 80 ) fits over the main chassis ( 85 ) to define the interior chamber of the cabinet. An adapter bracket ( 100 ) fits within the cabinet ( 10 ) for accommodating fiber optic adapter plates secured within the cabinet, Grommets ( 92 ), which are discussed in more detail below, allow for fiber optic cable ingress and egress via access openings ( 15 ) in the cabinet.  FIG. 5  displays yet another option for allowing secure access to the interior of the cabinet ( 10 ) in that tray rails ( 105 A,  105 B) are positioned on opposite sides of the cabinet ( 10 ) to allow a tray ( 110 ) to slide in and out of the cabinet. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the front door assembly ( 35 ) opens downwardly to a near vertical position via hinges ( 32 A,  32 B), allowing the sliding tray ( 110 ) to move outwardly for easy access to equipment installed on the tray ( 110 ). 
     The sliding tray feature of  FIG. 5  is further explained in regard to  FIGS. 6A-6C . Beginning with  FIG. 6A , the tray rails ( 105 A,  105 B) define not only the rails on which the tray ( 110 ) moves, but the rails ( 105 A,  105 B) also incorporate bendable tabs ( 107 A,  107 B) at opposite ends of the rails. The tabs ( 107 A,  107 B) are bendable to form stop positions for the tray ( 110 ), which is manufactured to include lugs ( 117 ,  FIG. 6C ) that engage the bended tabs when the tray is in place so that the tray stops at appropriate points when pulled outward. These tabs ( 107 A,  107 B) can be moved (i.e., bent) to a position permitting complete removal of the sliding tray ( 110 ) from the mounted chassis ( 85 ) if so desired. As noted in  FIG. 6B , the tray ( 110 ) allows lateral travel for the adapter bracket ( 100 ) holding fiber optic connector equipment in the cabinet. By incorporating the sliding tray ( 110 ) moving along appropriate rails ( 105 A,  105 B), the cabinet ( 10 ) disclosed herein provides access to equipment, connections, and cables within the cabinet for ease in maintenance and system integrity.  FIG. 6B  further illustrates access points ( 15 ) for holding grommets ( 92 ), and the access points are defined within the side walls of the cabinet by pre-cut sections. All of the previously described features of the cabinet ( 10 ) are scalable to accommodate racks of various sizes of rack units (e.g., 1RU, 2RU, and 4RU) as illustrated in the non-limiting example of  FIG. 7 . 
     As noted above, one feature of note in the cabinet ( 10 ) is its use of grommets ( 92 ) for feeding fiber optic cable ( 300 ,  FIG. 10 ) into and out of a cabinet ( 10 ). The grommets ( 92 ) are sized to fit within access points ( 15 ) designed within the main chassis ( 85 ) of the cabinet. The grommets ( 92 ) incorporate bendable flaps ( 98 ) through which cables ( 300 ) run to enter and exit the main chassis ( 85 ). The individual flaps ( 98 A et seq.) are connected to the grommet ( 92 ) and each other via spacer sections ( 94 ) that further define spaces between the flaps ( 98 A et seq.). Overall, then, each grommet ( 92 ) in the examples illustrated herein define a series of flaps ( 98 ) in top and bottom rows with sufficient space therebetween for proper access. The flaps ( 98 ) therefore, define a spaced grid in the grommet ( 92 ) while also providing self-closing dust protection to the cable(s) ( 300 ) entering and exiting the main chassis ( 85 ). The flaps ( 98 A,  98 B, et seq.) are bendable between a top half ( 99 A) and a bottom half ( 998 ), as most clearly shown in  FIG. 10 . The bendable nature of the flaps ( 98 ) provides a natural protective shield over the cable ( 300 ). 
     The grommets ( 92 ) are designed to be secured to access points ( 15 ) cut into the sides of the main chassis ( 85 ) of the cabinet ( 10 ), as illustrated in  FIG. 8A , Additionally, pre-cut holes ( 103 ) in the metal of the side walls of the cabinet ( 10 ) align with raised knobs, or bumps ( 96 ) on the body of the grommet ( 92 ) for additional alignment and fixing points. The grommets ( 92 ), furthermore, define a peripheral groove around edges that match the cut-out access points ( 15 ) of the main chassis ( 85 ). The grommets ( 92 ), therefore, fit within the access points ( 15 ) and attach to the main chassis by fitting an edge of the access points ( 15 ) within the peripheral groove ( 95 ) of the grommet, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 10 . The detailed perspective of  FIG. 9E  illustrates that the grommets ( 92 ) define the peripheral grooves around appropriate edges of the respective grommets, and the bump features ( 96 ) are positioned within the grommet and within the peripheral grooves. Placing the grommets ( 92 ) within a respective access point ( 15 ) and fitting the peripheral grooves over an edge of the main chassis ( 85 ) also aligns a bump ( 96 ) with a pre-cut hole ( 103 ) in the main chassis ( 85 ). The result is an entirely secure grommet ( 92 ) within the cabinet ( 10 ). 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate additional details of accessories used within the cabinet ( 10 ) of this disclosure and possibly other fiber optic enclosures as well. For instance, the adapter bracket ( 100 ) within the cabinet defines openings for receiving a fiber optic adapter plate ( 137 ), and that fiber optic adapter plate ( 137 ) defines coupler openings ( 145 ) for receiving fiber couplers and securing the coupling mechanisms to the adapter bracket ( 100 ). As shown in  FIG. 12A , each adapter plate ( 137 ) defines, at a first end, hook features ( 142 A,  142 B) that engage over and around lug features ( 144 ) defined at an edge of an opening ( 145 ) of the adapter bracket (e.g.,  FIG. 12A ). A second end of the adapter plate ( 137 ) is in abutment with the opposite side of the adapter bracket ( 100 ) and defines an opening ( 147 ) for receiving a pin ( 139 ) that mates with a corresponding opening ( 140 ) in the adapter bracket ( 100 ) (e.g., Figures,  12 E- 12 G) such that the first and second ends of corresponding ones of the adapter plates overlap each other. 
     The cabinet ( 10 ) disclosed herein is likewise amenable for using accessories positioned outside the main chassis ( 85 ).  FIG. 13  illustrates the use of a strain relief bracket ( 260 ) that relieves strain on cables ( 300 ) entering or exiting the grommet ( 92 ) of the cabinet ( 10 ), providing increased security of alignment for the coupling or splicing operations within the enclosure. Beginning with  FIG. 13A , a strain relief bracket ( 260 ) may be mounted via a mounting bracket ( 250 ) that is adaptable for either left or right side mounting via appropriately matched bores ( 251 A,  251 B,  251 C) in the mounting bracket, holes ( 252 ,  253 ,  256 ) in the strain relief bracket and bolts (e.g.,  255 ) holding the assembly together and holding the assembly to the cabinet ( 10 ) via mounting holes ( 254 A,  254 B) illustrated in  FIG. 13F .  FIG. 13C  illustrates the mounting bracket ( 250 ) holding the strain relief bracket ( 260 ) in place on the cabinet ( 10 ) so that a cable ( 300 ) rests thereon. The strain relief bracket ( 260 ) also provides appropriate openings for either cable tie slots ( 267 ) or hook and loop strap slots ( 270 ) as set forth in  FIG. 13D  to stabilize a cable on the strain relief bracket with appropriate securing features ( 263 A,  263 B) such as ties or straps ( FIG. 13C ). Forming the peripheral edge of the strain relief bracket ( 260 ) with a rounded edge ( 257 ) prevents wear on the cable ( 300 ) resting thereon should the weight of the cable ( 300 ) cause a bend over the edge of the strain relief bracket ( 260 ). 
       FIGS. 14-16  illustrate yet another accessory that may be used with the cabinets ( 10 ) disclosed herein or in other kinds of installations as well. The accessory at issue is a customized set of fiber storage hoops ( 400 ) to store excess or slack fiber inside a termination cabinet or other fiber optic cabinet. One kind of fiber product wrapped around the hoops ( 400 ) of this disclosure would be “subgroup” cables containing multiple individualized fiber cables therein. For example, and without limiting the invention, the hoops ( 400 ) may store two to three millimeter (2-3 mm) outer diameter fibers cables that enclose multiple bend tolerant fibers therein. The diameter and storage capacity of each hoop ( 400 ) can be scaled as desired. The figures herein illustrate that the hoops ( 400 ) are outfitted with mounting feet ( 412 ) along an outer surface. The mounting feet ( 412 ) can engage slits ( 414 ) on the floor of the main cabinet chassis ( 85 ) or corresponding and mating holes in other storage hoops, such that hoops can be stacked without rotating in the cabinet. Excess fiber wrapped around the respective spools ( 404 ) of the hoops ( 400 ) are held in place by staggered teeth ( 425 ,  427 ) on opposite diameters of the hoops (e.g.,  FIG. 15A ).  FIG. 15B  illustrates a slight offset in the arrangement of the teeth allowing access for wrapping the fibers. The teeth have rounded corners to avoid damaging the fiber cables during the wrapping process.  FIG. 16  illustrates how the hoops are installed onto the floor of the cabinet and stacked upon each other. 
     These features and others achieve new security and integrity for fiber optic connectivity systems in place today. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention which are not to be limited except as defined in the following claims as interpreted by the Doctrine of Equivalents.