Abstract:
A closure arrangement for cable splice assemblies having two hinged cover members. The cover members are independently hingedly secured to a central spine. The spine, in turn, is affixed to a portion of the frame of the splice assembly. In operation, the cover members are opened outwardly to expose virtually all of the outer portion of the internal splice components. In the described embodiment, the cover members are secured to one another by clasp or buckle-type closures that engage complimentary tabs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to closures for cable splice assemblies. 
     Lengths of telecommunication cables are joined using cable splice assemblies. A cable splice is generally elongated and generally cylindrical in shape. When the communication system is fiber optic based, the splice assemblies usually incorporate a slack storage compartment for placement of extra lengths of optic fibers, at least one splice tray for making splice connections, splice organizing areas and related components. 
     Splices may be disposed below ground, but are most often placed in aerial locations where suspended cables are joined by the splices. A popular type of splice is the in-line splice. An in-line splice has a pair of end caps with cabling and bracketing disposed therebetween. The internal components of the splice point are delicate and need to be enclosed. Therefore, an outer cover or closure is used to protect the vulnerable splice components from weather, animals and other hazards. It is also desirable for part of the closure to be openable in order to allow selective access to the splice components by workers and the like. 
     There are a number of devices known for protecting splices for aerial cables from weather and the like. Unfortunately, when opened, the casings or closures for these splice assemblies do not provide optimal access to the splice components disposed within. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,672 describes a splice closure arrangement having an outer casing formed of a relatively hard plastic or metal that is openable along a seam for access to the interior. A pair of latches along the scam provide for secure closure. The top half of the casing is affixed by hanger members to a support cable, and the casing has a hinge along its length that permits the lower half of the casing to be swung away from the top half when the casing is opened. Similar outer casings are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,479,553 and 5,525,756. This type of arrangement provides only a limited degree of access to the interior components since only one half of the splice assembly components become exposed. This arrangement also does not effectively expose the outer portions of the internal components, particularly if some of the internal components are actually affixed to one of the casing halves. To provide access to such components, one may need to disconnect the components from the casing half. 
     Resilient plastic domes are also known that are removably affixed over one end of a splice assembly. However, when removed, the dome becomes a loose piece that can be lost or misplaced. In addition, if these loose parts are accidently dropped by a worker from the height of the splice location, they may be damaged or injure someone below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a novel and advantageous closure arrangement for splice assemblies. An exemplary cable splice assembly is described having a closure that has a pair of openable cover members. Each of the two cover members is independently hingedly secured to a central spine. The spine, in turn, is affixed to a portion of the frame of the splice assembly. In operation, the cover members are opened outwardly to expose virtually all of the outer portion of the frame and other internal splice components. In the described embodiment, the cover members are secured to one another by clasp or buckle-type closures that engage complimentary tabs. 
     The closure assembly of the present invention is advantageous in that it permits a greater degree of access to the frame of the splice assembly and the components associated therewith. The fact that there are two cover members allows opposing sides of the frame to be exposed. Also, a greater angular dimension of exposure of the frame is possible because the two portions are capable of opening away from the frame in opposing directions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary optic fiber cable splice assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary cover used with the assembly of FIG. 1 apart from the assembly. 
     FIG. 2 a  illustrates an alternative embodiment for a cover used with the assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the closure cover illustrating a partially open configuration for the cover portions. 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the closure cover illustrating a closed configuration for the cover portions. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic end view of an exemplary closure cover of the prior art depicted in an open position. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic end view of an exemplary closure cover of the present invention depicted in an open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary optic fiber cable splice assembly  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention. The splice assembly  10  includes a pair of generally cylindrical end caps  12  of a type known in the art for retaining optic fiber cables  14  that enter the splice assembly  10 . The cables  14  have an outer insulation that contains a number of buffer tubes that house and protect a number of individual optic fibers  16 . After the cables  14  are disposed through the end caps  12  and into the splice assembly  10 , the outer insulation and buffer tube material is removed so that individual optic fibers  16  are exposed between the end caps  12 . 
     It is noted that the end caps  12  may each have a hanger  18  affixed to the upper portion thereof. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, the splice assembly  10  is normally hung by the hangers  18  from a suspension wire (not shown). 
     The interior portion of the cable splice assembly  10  also includes a frame  20  that supports a number of splice trays  22  and a slack storage compartment shown generally at  24 . The frame  20  may include brackets, bars or other structural members that are used to mount or retain optic fibers  16  and related components. There may also be a splice organizing area (not shown) disposed upon the frame  20  or other components that are known in the art for creating and/or maintaining optic fiber splices between the fibers  16 . It should be noted that there may be numerous modifications of the interior components. As the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular layout of interior components, these are not described in any further detail here. 
     The interior splice components are protected by a cylindrical closure cover  26  that is shown apart from the splice assembly  10  in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 . The cover  26  includes a central spine  28  that is a segment of a cylinder, having curved inner and outer sides. Two hinge points  30 ,  32  are used to hingedly affix a pair of arcuate cover members  34 ,  36 , respectively, to the spine  28 . Hinges  30 ,  32  are parallel to each other and to a longitudinal axis  37  of cover  26  (shown in FIG.  4 ). The width of the spine  28  from hinge  30  to hinge  32  may vary. Preferably, a radial line from axis  37  intersecting hinge  30  will be spaced in a range from about 25° to 40° from a radial line intersecting hinge  32 . Hinges  30 ,  32  may be integral “living” type hinges with cover  26  or they may be separate members that are interconnected with one another in the manner of a pintle-type hinge of the sort that is commonly used with door hinges. 
     The spine  28  has an outer curved surface  29  and an inner curved surface  31 . A number of raised portions  33  project upwardly from the inner surface  31  and provide substantially flat mounting surfaces  35 , which are best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each of the mounting surfaces  35  contains an aperture  38 , illustrated in FIG.  2 . When assembled, the spine  28  is affixed to the frame  20  of the splice assembly  10  by a connector (not shown) that is disposed through portions of the frame  20  and into each aperture  38  to secure a portion of the frame  20  directly onto each mounting surface  35 . While a number of mounting surfaces are illustrated, more or fewer, including a single mounting surface that extends a substantial length of the spine  28 , may be provided. The mounting surfaces  35  are illustrated in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  to be oriented toward one side of the spine  28 . However, the mounting surfaces  35  can be mounted anywhere along the spine  28  that provides sufficient support to the frame  20 , including in the middle. Additionally, one or more drain holes  39  are disposed through the spine  28  to permit water that may enter the cover  26  to drain therefrom. The configuration of mounting surfaces  35  (or a single, elongated surface) on spine  28  should allow any water entering the closure to flow to the drain hole  39 . 
     In an alternative construction for the cover  26 , shown in FIG. 2 a , the spine  28 ′ has outer and inner curved surfaces  29 ,  31  but lacks the raised portion  33 . The spine  28 ′ contains a number of apertures  38 , that are disposed through the spine  28 ′ and through which connectors such as screws may be disposed. The latter type of spine  28 ′ would be desirable where the cover  26  must be affixed to a portion of a frame  20  that is curved. Although not depicted in FIG. 2 a , it should be understood that there may be drain holes formed into the spine  28 ′ as well. 
     Preferably, three buckle or clasp-type securing members  40  are mounted upon one of the cover members  34 ,  36 . The securing members  40  are shaped, sized, and located to engage and become secured with complimentary tabs  42  that are mounted on the other cover member  34 ,  36 . 
     The closure cover  26  is preferably double-walled for added protection, and may be formed by blow-molding. It will be understood, however, that other methods for forming the closure cover  26  may be used as well. As illustrated in FIG. 2, as well as FIG. 2 a , there are preferably a number of raised ribs  44  inside of each cover member  34 ,  36  that lend structural strength to the closure cover  26 . However, other forms of structural strengthening are acceptable. 
     As FIGS. 3 and 4, and in particular  5  and  6 , illustrate, the presence of two hinge points  30 ,  32  permits the cover portions  34 ,  36  to be opened to provide much greater access to the frame  20  and the interior components than would a cover or closure having only a single hinge point and providing a pair of semicircular arcs. Because two cover members  34 ,  36  are used, the frame  20  and related components may be exposed at two opposite sides. In addition, because the two cover portions open outwardly away from one another, there is a much greater degree of angular exposure for the frame  20  and related components. When cover members  34 ,  36  swing fully open, the angular distance from the free edge of one cover member to the free edge of the other cover member is approximately 260°. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover members  34 ,  36  are shown in a partially open position (FIG. 3) and a closed position (FIG.  4 ). FIG. 4 shows a clasp fastener  40  on the cover member  34  engaged and interlocked with the tab  42  on cover member  36 , thereby securing the cover members  34 ,  36  to one another. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are end-on cross-sectional schematic diagrams that illustrate the operational differences between the use of a prior art type of closure cover  50  (FIG. 5) and the exemplary closure cover  26  that is constructed in accordance with the present invention (FIG.  6 ). Each of these drawings depicts a circular border  52 , shown in phantom, that is representative of the outer boundary of the area enclosed by each of the closure covers  50 ,  26  when the cover members of those covers are secured in a closed position. The longitudinal axis  37  of each closure cover is also depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. It will be understood that the area  53  defined within the border  52  contain optic fibers, splice trays, and other internal cable splice components that are not shown in these drawings. The prior art closure cover  50  has two cover members  54 ,  56  that are affixed to one another at a single hinge point  58 . The cover members  54 ,  56  are shown to have been rotated outwardly from one another and opened to essentially the greatest amount possible about the hinge point  58 . Any further outward rotation of the cover members  54 ,  56  is precluded by contact between the outside surfaces  60 ,  62  of the cover members  54 ,  56  proximate the hinge point  58 . It can be seen that the edges  64 ,  66  of the cover members  54 ,  56  are located at or only slightly below the level of the pivot point  58 . As a result, access to internal components located at or near the lower end of the area  53  may be difficult due to the edges  64 ,  66  of the cover members  54 ,  56  tending to block full access. In practice, this blockage is fairly significant as the worker must typically be able to place tools adjacent the components and move them about. As a result, he may be required to try to remove the closure cover  50  entirely before being able to properly effect repairs. 
     FIG. 6 shows the inventive closure cover  26  that, as previously noted, has spine  28  and cover members  34  and  36  affixed to the spine  28  at hinge points  30  and  32 . When in a substantially fully open position, as shown in FIG. 6, the cover members  34 ,  36  are able to be rotated away from the border  52  to a much greater degree than the cover members  54 ,  56  of the prior art closure cover  50 . The spacing provided by the spine  28  permits this increased rotation by the cover members  34 ,  36 . It can be seen that the edges  68 ,  70  of the cover members  34 ,  36  are located substantially below the hinge points  30 ,  32  thereby providing a worker increased access to internal components that are located around the lower end of the area  53 . If an arc  72  (shown in broken lines in FIG. 5) were drawn through the upper end  74  of the border  52  and both edges  64 ,  66  of the prior art closure cover  50 , it can be seen that it would cover only approximately 180 degrees of the circle. However, if such a similar arc  76  were drawn through the upper end  74  of the border  52  and both edges  68 ,  70  of the inventive closure cover  26 , it would cover a much greater amount of the circle, such as approximately 260 degrees. 
     While the invention has been shown or described in only some of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes within departing from the scope of the invention.