Apparatus and method for interconnecting fiber cables

A apparatus and method are provided to provide a readily rearrangeable interconnection point between two fiber cables. A panel has a series of trays for holding joined fiber pairs. One of the cables is fanned out in equal length fanout tubes and fiber guides are located such that any fanout tube can be routed with its slack managed to any tray in the series of trays. As such, rearrangement of the fanout tubes along the series of trays is readily achieved. The complements of the other cable are routed to the other side of the trays. Inside the trays, the individual fibers are routed to joint holders. The trays are pivotally attached to the panel and hang at a downward angle. The trays are pivotable upward to allow access to lower trays. Opposed fibers are joined and the resulting joint is stored in the trays.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an optical fiber distribution apparatus 
and method for providing a readily rearrangeable interconnection point 
directly between two fiber cables. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In telecommunication networks from a telecommunication company's central 
office to its subscribers, existing copper installations are being 
replaced with optical fiber out to a plurality of fiber nodes that convert 
the optical signals to electrical signals for transmission to the 
subscriber over copper drops. As more fiber nodes are added to networks, 
it becomes increasingly difficult for the central office to handle all the 
distribution needs of the network. In order to move fiber distribution 
downstream of the central office into the network, commonly used central 
office type fiber distribution frames can be used; however, such frames 
require large amounts of space and even larger cabinets and vaults to 
house them. They also use jumpers interposed between the feeder cable and 
distribution cable to allow for reconfigurations. Besides increasing the 
amount of space needed, the use of jumpers adds another connection point 
that contributes to connection loss in the network. Other types of fiber 
interconnection products such as splice closures are limited to mating 
complements of the feeder cable to complements of the distribution cable 
and any reconfiguration is limited to fibers within the same complement. 
Accordingly a need exists for a fiber distribution apparatus that can be 
used downstream of the central office to provide a flexible point of 
demarcation between feeder fibers from the central office and distribution 
fibers leading to optical nodes. More specifically, a need exists for a 
compact fiber distribution apparatus that allows any distribution fiber to 
be joined to any feeder fiber whether at initial installation or later 
reconfiguration and without the need for jumpers or large space 
requirements. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a fiber distribution interface apparatus 
that in its various aspects can have the advantages of 1) high density of 
connections between distribution and feeder fibers, 2) ease of 
disconnecting and reconnecting distribution/feeder joints to effect 
changes in the network 3) the flexibility to connect any one feeder fiber 
to any one distribution fiber regardless of what complement (ganged group 
of fibers in a cable) either fiber comes from, 4) achieving such 
flexibility in making/changing connections without jumpers, 5) achieving 
such with minimum fiber movement, 6) achieving such with simple initial 
installation--constant length buffer tube fanouts, and 7) accommodating 
variety of joining and storage options. 
Specifically, one aspect of the present invention provides a method of 
interposing a readily rearrangeable interconnection point between a first 
fiber cable and a second fiber cable. An end of the first fiber cable is 
routed to a panel. The first fiber cable has a plurality of first fiber 
complements and each first fiber complement has a plurality of first 
fibers. A series of subsets of the plurality of first fiber complements is 
routed to a corresponding series of trays mounted on the panel. The first 
fibers of each subset are routed to joint locations in the subset's 
respective tray. 
An end of the second fiber cable is routed to the panel. The second fiber 
cable has a plurality of second fiber complements and each second fiber 
complement has a plurality of second fibers. The second fibers from the 
second fiber complements are fanned out to create equal length fanout 
tubes containing at least one fiber. At least a first portion of the 
fanout tubes are routed to the series of trays. The second fibers in the 
first portion of fanout tubes are routed to joint locations in the tray. 
The first portion of the second fibers are joined to corresponding first 
fibers to create fiber joints, and the fiber joints are located in the 
trays. 
Another aspect of the present invention is an interconnection apparatus for 
providing a readily rearrangeable interconnection point between a first 
fiber cable and a second fiber cable. Each fiber cable is of the type 
having multiple complements of multiple fibers. The apparatus comprises a 
panel and a series of splice trays. Each splice tray is pivotally mounted 
to the panel defining a pivot axis. An array of fanout blocks is mounted 
on the panel. Each fanout block has a complement end for receiving a 
complement and a fanout end opposite thereto. A plurality of equal length 
fanout tubes extend from the fanout ends of the array of fanout blocks. A 
series of fiber guides are located relative to the series of trays and 
relative to the fanout blocks such that any fanout tube can be routed to 
any tray without unmanaged slack by routing the fanout tube through the 
appropriate number of fiber guides before routing the fanout tube to a 
particular tray. 
Another aspect of the present invention is a stubbed interconnection 
apparatus that provides a readily rearrangeable interconnection point 
between a first fiber cable and a second fiber cable. Each fiber cable is 
of the type having multiple complements of multiple fibers. The apparatus 
comprises a panel and a stack of splice trays. Each splice tray is 
pivotally mounted to the panel defining a pivot axis. A cable stub 
installed in the apparatus has a first end for splicing to the first 
cable, a second end opposite thereto for splicing to the second cable, and 
a single fiber zone at a midpoint along the stub where single fibers from 
the cable are separated from each other. At least a portion of the single 
fiber zone is located in the series of trays.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
With reference to FIG. 1, a network application incorporating the present 
invention is shown. A telephone company central office is shown as 10 from 
which a backbone ring cable, shown as feeder cable 14, is run. 
Distribution networks 18 branch off of feeder cable 14 to provide 
telecommunication links to subscribers 22. In the shown network, a tapered 
portion 24 of the feeder cable is tapered off at a splice closure 26. A 
separate jacketed cable 28 extends from splice closure 26 to an 
interconnect cabinet 30 that is one aspect of the present invention. 
Distribution cables 20 extend from interconnect cabinet 30 into 
distribution network 18. 
Because the depicted application envisions interconnect cabinet 30 being 
above ground while tapered portion 24 of feeder cable 14 is below ground, 
a separate jacketed cable 28 would most likely be needed. However, tapered 
portion 24 and interconnect cabinet 30 can be located such that a separate 
jacketed cable 28 would not be needed. In such a case, splice closure 26 
may not be necessary. For purposes of this patent, the modifier "feeder" 
will refer to the cable, complements or fibers that are entering the 
interconnect cabinet from the central office side of the network 
regardless of whether there are any separate jacketed cables interposed 
between the actual backbone cable and the interconnect cabinet. The 
modifier "distribution" will refer to cable, complements or fibers that 
enter the interconnect cabinet from the subscriber side of the network. 
However, it should be understood that the present invention could be 
practiced with the feeder cable installed as described for the 
distribution cable and the distribution cable installed as described for 
the feeder cable. Therefore the present invention is for interconnecting a 
first cable and a second cable. 
The present invention can be used with any conventional fiber cable 
including ribbon fiber cable. Fiber cable typically includes a plurality 
of "complements" and each complement has multiple fibers. A complement may 
be, for example, a buffer tube that has up to twelve individual fibers or, 
as another example, a complement may be one or more ribbon fibers ganged 
together in a slot of a slotted core cable. 
FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the flexible interconnectivity of interconnect 
platform 29 which may be housed in a cabinet shown by example as cabinet 
30 in FIG. 3 or be mounted on a frame or in some other type of closure. 
Feeder cable 14 enters platform 29 and a representative feeder complement 
35 is shown entering joint carrier 36 and a representative individual 
feeder fiber 34 is routed to joint 48 also in carrier 36. Distribution 
cables 20 enter interconnect platform 29 and two representative 
distribution complements 38 are shown routed to fanout blocks 39 where 
fibers from one complement are fanned out and a smaller number of 
distribution fibers, for example one or two, are routed in distribution 
fanouts 40 to tray 36, and a representative distribution fiber 44 is 
routed to joint 48. By fanning out the distribution complements into 
fanouts, any distribution fiber 44 can be readily joined to any feeder 
fiber 34 without regard to the complement that the distribution fiber is 
from and as such further allows ready configuration of the 
interconnections on a fiber to fiber basis as opposed to a complement to 
complement basis. 
In some networks, fibers are routed to subscribers in pairs such that the 
pair of fibers would never need to be separated. In such networks, fiber 
pairs can just as easily be substituted in the distribution fanouts 40 as 
opposed to a single fiber and there will be no loss of flexibility. Thus 
"fiber to fiber" flexibility may also refer to "fiber pair to fiber pair" 
flexibility depending on the network. 
With reference to FIGS. 3-4, the preferred embodiment of interconnect 
platform 29 is shown. In this embodiment, interconnect platform 29 is 
housed in cabinet 30 which has outer housing 70 that defines interior 72 
and that has doors 74 which provide access to interior 72. Cables are 
brought into cabinet 30 through the bottom and the sheath is clamped and 
the strength member bonded at a point inside the cabinet that is 
accessible through access panels (not shown) on each side of housing 70. 
Mounted in housing 70 is interconnect frame 84. Frame 84 is shown as sheet 
metal panel 85. Panel 85 has front surface 88 facing toward doors 74 and 
back surface 90 opposite thereto. Panel 85 also has top 92, bottom 94, 
first side 96 and second side 98 opposite thereto. Interconnect frame 84 
may be assembled from frame pieces instead of a panel as the purpose of 
frame 84 is to hold various items. 
Located above panel 85 is complement management panel 100 with complement 
slack spools 102a on the left and 102b on the right. Located below panel 
85 is complement storage area 104. 
Mounted on panel 85 is a series of carriers 110 which are shown, by 
example, as column 109 of trays 112. Each tray 112 is mounted to panel 85 
by a pair of hinges 114 (shown in FIG. 7) that are preferably 
self-supporting hinges, for example, friction hinges sold by Southco. The 
friction in the pivoting of these hinges can be adjusted by set screw 116 
so that a pair of hinges 114 can hold a fully loaded tray 112 cantilevered 
at any angle with respect to panel 85. Hinges 114 define pivot axis 118 
about which tray 112 is raised and lowered. Pivot axis 118 is horizontal 
in this embodiment and parallel with the plane of panel 85. 
In order to route feeder complements 35 and distribution fanouts 40 into 
trays 112, fiber guides 128 (shown in more detail in FIG. 8) are mounted 
in two columns 113a,b on panel 85 outside of where hinges 114 are mounted 
on panel 85. Fiber guides 128 are shown by example as molded channels 130 
with overhanging tabs 132 that extend over channels 130 which help retain 
fibers in the channels after they are worked into the channel around the 
overhanging tabs 132. Channels 130 are curved with an entry end 134 curved 
toward the direction from which the fiber will be coming and exit end 136 
which is in line with a corresponding pivot axis 118. As will be explained 
in more detail, by having exit end 136 in line with pivot axis 118, tray 
112 can be designed so that fibers enter the tray along the axis of pivot 
such that pivoting of the tray does not appreciably move the fiber. 
When fiber guides 128 are attached to panel 85 in column 113a, curved entry 
ends 134 of channels 130 are located to the outside of panel 85 (first 
side 96) and oriented upward because in the preferred embodiment of 
cabinet 30, feeder fiber complements 35 come down from the top of housing 
70. When fiber guides 128 are attached to panel 85 in column 113b, curved 
entry ends 134 are located to the outside of panel 85 (second side 98) and 
are oriented downward because distribution fanouts 40 come up to trays 112 
from being routed around fanout hoops 106. As can be seen in the preferred 
embodiment, regardless of the column that fiber guides 128 are located in, 
curved entry ends 134 are located to the outside relative to straight exit 
ends 136. However, it should be understood that fiber guides 128 may be 
configured and located as desired to accommodate whatever fiber routing is 
desired to carriers 110. 
An array of fanout blocks 39 is mounted on the second side 98 of panel 85 
below which is located a series of large fanout hoops 106. The fanout 
blocks 39 and hoops 106 are spaced sufficiently from the right side of 
trays 112 to permit routing of distribution fanouts 40 from below fanout 
blocks 39 and over to trays 112 taking into account the minimum bend 
radius of fiber. With reference to FIGS. 10-11, the preferred embodiment 
of fanout block 39 and fanouts 40 is shown. The "Buffer Tube Fan-Out Kit" 
part number FDI-FAN-OD45 available from Siecor Corporation is the 
preferred fanout block. Fanout blocks 39 transition one complement to 
several fanout tubes that either hold a single fiber or a pair of fibers 
from the complement depending on the network. Blocks 39 have complement 
end 50 for receiving a feeder complement and fanout end 52 for 
accommodating fanout assembly 54 of FIG. 10. Fibers from the complement 
are threaded through the desired fanouts 40 of assembly 54. Fanouts 40 
allow for ready routing and protection of the fiber. Assembly 54 has bound 
end 56 that is received in fanout end 52 of block 39 and each fanout 40 
has tube end 64. Fanning out fibers from complements into fanout tubes 
inside blocks like block 39 is known in the art. Block 39 also has lid 58 
for closing over the transition from complement to fanout assembly 54 and 
mounting rings 60 that allow a series of blocks 39 to be slid on mounting 
rods 62 (shown in FIG. 4). 
Fiber storage area 108 is located on panel 85 and above column 109 of trays 
112. Fiber storage area 108 is for storing unused distribution fibers for 
future deployment. As is typical in a fiber network, the ratio of 
distribution fibers to feeder fibers may be around 2:1. As such, it is 
preferred that the unused distribution fibers be readily stored and easily 
movable to be connected to a feeder fiber when the need arises. 
With reference to FIGS. 11-13, the preferred embodiment of trays 112 is 
shown. Tray 112 is generally flat with bottom wall 140 and outer wall 142 
extending up therefrom. Tray 112 has attachment side 144 and free side 146 
opposite thereto. Hinges 114 are mounted on hinge mounts 148 on attachment 
side 144. Tray 112 has an outer channel 162 that extends around the inside 
of outer wall 142. Outer channel 162 has rear portion 164 that has 
entrances 166a, b opposite each other. Entrances 166a, b are located in 
line with exit ends 136 of channels 130 of fiber guides 128 when tray 112 
is mounted on panel 85. Entrances 166a, b are also in line with pivot axis 
118. Accordingly, when a fiber is routed from fiber guide 128 which is 
fixed on panel 85 to tray 112 which can pivot relative to panel 85, the 
fiber enters the tray along pivot axis 118 for some distance before 
turning away from pivot axis 118 such that pivoting of tray 112 will not 
appreciably move the fiber. As can be seen, if the fiber were to enter 
tray 112 at an angle relative to pivot axis 118, the fiber would be bent 
and unbent as tray 112 was raised and lowered. It is preferred that such 
bending of the fiber be avoided. 
Outer channel 162 also has front portion 167 that opens to interior 168 of 
tray 112. Inner wall 170 separates outer channel 162 from interior 168. 
Interior 168 receives feeder fibers and distribution fibers and stores 
slack of such fibers. Slack is needed to allow easy removal and access to 
the fiber ends from tray 112 and then replace them in tray 112. 
Joint holder 180 is located in interior 168 of tray 112 on bottom wall 140. 
Holder 180 has a series of grooves 182 sized to receive a packaged splice 
of two fiber ends. Various holders 180 can be used depending on the type 
of joint to be used between two fibers. For example, connectors may be 
used to join fibers, in which case, adapters to receive the connectors 
could be located in tray 112 or some other suitable carrier 110. An 
additional example is a holder designed to hold mass splices that are used 
with ribbon fiber cable. 
Tray 112 also has strain relief locations 150 a and b that receive a strain 
relief 172 shown in FIG. 13. Inner wall 170 has catches 152 that snap over 
cutouts 154 on the ends of strain relief 172. Feeder strain relief 172 is 
preferably a plastic piece with a series of flaps 173 defining grooves 174 
sized to receive either the end of a feeder complement 35 or fanout 40 
friction pressed therein. Flaps 173 have broadened ends 176 to help retain 
any complement of fanout pressed therein. Because strain relief 172 is a 
removable insert, various designs of strain relief can be interchanged and 
inserted in tray 112 to accommodate the variety of complements and 
fanouts. For example, a strain relief insert may be structured to 
accommodate ribbon fiber complements. 
Tray 112 also has lid pins 190 located at attachment side 144 for pivoting 
attachment of lid 192. Lid 192 is generally planar and has extension 194 
that is configured to snap fit over lid pins 190. 
As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5-6, trays 112 preferably hang at a downward 
angle overlapping each other. In the preferred embodiment, the trays hang 
downward at approximately a 50 degree angle down from the horizontal and 
can be pivoted to a 50 degree angle upward from the horizontal. With such 
overlapping at an angle, the depth of column 109 of trays 112 is 
significantly reduced and while still allowing ready access to the trays. 
Specifically, when a tray 112 somewhere in the middle of column 109 needs 
to be accessed, all the higher trays are raised and hinges 114 retain the 
higher trays at the angular position to where they are raised. Lid 192 of 
that tray 112 is then pivoted up to access interior 168 of tray 112. 
In an alternative embodiment, a holder may be used to support the higher 
trays when accessing a tray. As another alternative, lids 192 can be 
structured to support trays above them by having its outer edge placed 
under a catch on the underside of the tray immediately above it. As such, 
the weight of the trays above the accessed trays is transferred to lid 192 
which transfers the weight to the lid pins 190 which are located relative 
to hinges 114 such that no appreciable moment is created about hinges 114 
so as to cause the accessed tray to pivot. When the accessed tray is no 
longer needed, lid 192 is simply disengaged from the catch and lid 192 and 
the higher trays are lowered back down to their original location. 
In yet another alternative embodiment, the series of trays 112 can be in a 
row format as opposed to the column format and hang by a vertical axis. 
Essentially, the arrangement of panel 85 can simply be rotated ninety 
degrees to create a row format. However, the column format is preferred 
because of easier access to the interior of trays 112. 
Fiber storage area 108 is used to hold the ends of distribution fibers that 
are to be saved for later deployment. Any of a variety of storage trays or 
other items may be located in this area to accomplish such storage. In the 
preferred embodiment with reference to FIGS. 5 and 14, storage cards 232 
are used for each individual distribution fiber (or pair of fibers if the 
network uses fiber pairs). Each fiber of pair of fibers 44 is wound in a 
circle through slits 233 formed between tabs 234 of card 232 and then 
protective flaps 235 are folded over each side of card 232 and tab 237 is 
inserted into slots 238 on flaps 235 to hold flaps 235 closed over the 
circle of fiber 44 to help protect fiber 44. Card 232 is placed vertically 
on shelf 236 in storage area 108. When a stored fiber is later needed, 
card 232 is removed from shelf 236 and the fiber is unwound from card 232 
and that fibers fanout 40 is routed through the appropriate hoops 106 to 
the desired tray 112 and the fiber 44 is routed around inside tray 112 
until the end of the fiber terminates at joint holder 180. In an 
alternative embodiment for storage area 108 shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, 
storage cassettes 240 can be used to store a plurality of fibers and the 
cassettes stacked horizontally in storage area 108. 
The preferred installation of fiber in interconnect cabinet 30 will now be 
described. A predetermined length of the sheath of the feeder cable and 
distribution cable is stripped back from the cable ends to expose the 
complements of the cable. This length will depend on the size of panel 85 
and other components in cabinet 30 and readily determined by accounting 
for the routing path and appropriate slack storage. The end of the sheath 
of the feeder cable is routed up through the left side of cabinet 30 and 
clamped and its strength member bonded at the left side of interconnect 
panel 85. Feeder complements 35 are extended upward to complement 
management panel 100 and routed around slack spools 102 back to the left 
side of cabinet 30 where they are directed downward alongside the left 
side of trays 112. Each feeder complement is routed to a respective tray 
112 through that tray's corresponding fiber guide 128. With reference to 
FIG. 11, a representative feeder complement 35 is routed through entrance 
166a and into outer channel 162 and terminates at strain relief location 
150a in front portion 167 of outer channel 162. At strain relief location 
150a, representative feeder fiber 34 extends into interior 168 of tray 112 
in a clockwise fashion and terminates at joint holder 180. 
The end of the sheath of the distribution cables is routed up through the 
right side of the cabinet 30 and clamped and its strength member bonded at 
the right side of panel 85. Distribution complements 38 are extended 
upward to complement management panel 100 and routed around slack spools 
102 back to the right side of panel 85 where they are directed down to the 
array of fanout blocks 39. Distribution fanouts 40 extend down from 
fanouts blocks 39 and are turned upward around the appropriate fanout hoop 
106 depending on where the fanout 40 is to be terminated. Fanouts 40 that 
are to be stored for later deployment are routed around the fanout hoop 
106 closest to fanout blocks 39 and routed up to fiber storage area 108 
for suitable storage. 
Fanout blocks 39 and fanout hoops 106 are located relative to each other 
and to column 109 of trays 112 such that all distribution fanouts can be 
the same length yet be routed to any tray or the storage area and have 
their slack appropriately managed. For example, a fanout 40 that is to be 
routed to the lowest tray 112 is routed through all hoops 106 and then 
over and up into guide 128 on the right side of the lowest tray 112. 
However, a fanout 40 that is to be routed to the uppermost tray is routed 
through two hoops 106 before being turned upward and to guide 128 of the 
uppermost tray 112. As can be seen the series of hoops 106 is located such 
that equal length fanouts 40 can be appropriately managed to terminate at 
any tray 112. This equal length fanout feature contributes to the fiber to 
fiber flexibility of the present invention that allows any distribution 
fiber to be joined to any feeder fiber regardless of the complement in 
which the fiber is located. 
With reference to FIG. 11, a representative fanout 40 that is to be 
terminated in a tray 112 is routed through entrance 166b into outer 
channel 162 and terminated at strain relief location 150b in front portion 
167 of outer channel 162. At strain relief location 150b, a representative 
distribution fiber 44 extends into interior 168 of tray 112 in a 
counter-clockwise fashion and terminates at joint holder 180. 
With the feeder fibers and distribution fibers so installed, opposed pairs 
of fibers may now be joined and the resulting joints 181 located in tray 
112. The slack of the fibers that is wound in the interior of trays 112 
allows the opposed pairs to be removed from the trays and placed in a 
fusion splicer, joined, and then the resulting joint located in joint 
holder 180. 
Reconfiguration of fibers in the present invention is readily achieved. If 
a distribution fiber from the top tray 112 is to be moved to the lowest 
tray 112, the top tray is accessed as described above, the distribution 
fiber is cut from its joint, the fiber and fanout are "unrouted" or 
removed from the tray and rerouted through the appropriate hoops 106 and 
over to the lowest tray. Any reconfiguration is possible in view of the 
fiber to fiber flexibility of the fanouts 40. 
With reference to FIG. 15 an alternative embodiment of the present 
invention is shown where interconnect platform 29 is stubbed. This 
particular embodiment may be found particularly useful in applications 
where ribbon fiber is used that can be mass fusion spliced together; 
however, it may be used in single fiber applications as well. Instead of 
having joints located in carriers 110, the fiber is continuous through the 
tray due to use of stub 260. Stub 260 in this embodiment is a ribbon fiber 
cable 262 that has complements 264 of ribbon fibers 266. Stub 260 has 
feeder end 268 that extends outside housing 70 for a desired length to 
reach tapered portion 24 of feeder cable 14. Feeder end 268 can be mass 
fusion spliced to tapered portion 24 as is known in the art for ribbon 
fiber. Stub 260 also has distribution end 270 that where distribution 
cables 20 can be mass spliced onto distribution end 270. 
Stub 260 also has single fiber zone 272 where the fibers of stub 260 are 
not in ribbon form so that they can be readily accessed. If the network 
needs to be reconfigured, the desired single fiber is cut and the 
distribution side of the fiber is moved to the desired location and joined 
to the feeder side of a second cut fiber. With such an embodiment, the 
initial installation of the interconnect platform in the network is 
simplified yet it remains readily reconfigureable. This stubbed embodiment 
is preferably structured with trays and fanouts just as in the preferred 
embodiment but the key distinction is that single fibers run continuous 
through carriers 110 as opposed to having joints between two different 
fibers. In such an embodiment there is no joint within interconnect 
platform 29 until there is a later reconfiguration. 
While the preferred embodiment has been described in the context of 
mounting interconnect platform 29 in a cabinet, it should be understood 
that platform 29 can be readily mounted on a frame or housed in a closure. 
The location of fanout blocks 39 and fanout hoops 106 relative to each 
other and to series of carriers 110 can be rearranged as the application 
dictates as long as any fanout can be routed to any carrier 110 and have 
its slack appropriately managed. For example, in a closure application 
where space is more restricted, fanout blocks 39 and hoops 106 may be 
placed on the back of interconnect frame 84 and located such that any 
fanout can still be routed to any carrier 110. Such an arrangement could 
reduce the width of frame 84 an make it more suitable for a closure 
application. 
Although the present invention has been described with respect to certain 
embodiments, various changes, substitutions and modifications may be 
suggested to one skilled in the art and it is intended that the present 
invention encompass such changes, substitutions and modifications as fall 
within the scope of the appended claims.