Abstract:
A telecommunications cabinet includes a cabinet housing; a fiber optic splitter; a plurality of spools disposed on a cable management surface; a panel oriented at a fixed angle relative to the access opening so that the panel extends laterally and rearwardly between the access opening and the cable management surface; and a plurality of adapters disposed on the panel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/814,047, filed Jul. 30, 2015 now U.S. Pat. No. 9,250,408, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/341,938, filed Jul. 28, 2014 now U.S. Pat. No. 9,304,276, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/768,378, filed Feb. 15, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,811,791, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/176,577, filed Jul. 5, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,401,357, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/908,238, filed Oct. 20, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,995,894, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/276,886, filed Nov. 24, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,844,159, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/729,310, filed Mar. 27, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,457,503, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/613,764, filed Jul. 2, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,233,731, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to cabinets for connecting telecommunications cables. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Installation of telecommunications equipment to support the current and potential future needs of a particular group of customers may make it desirable to install more capacity than the current customer base alone may dictate. Excess capacity may be installed to permit the easy addition of new circuits for new or existing customers. A telecommunications connection cabinet with such excess capacity may be pre-configured at a fabrication facility and installed in the field to include more circuits than are necessary to provide service to the existing customers. Prior to the linkage of these surplus or future expansion circuits to customers, it is desirable to provide for storage, organization and protection of the patch cords or other connection cables within the cabinet. 
     Such connection cables might include fiber optic patch cords terminated with fiber optic connectors. Fiber optic connectors include a polished end face, typically held by a ferrule, which permits positioning of the optical fiber held by the connector to receive and transmit signals another optical fiber or optical light source. It is desirable to keep these polished end faces as free of contaminants as possible to improve the transmission of light to and from the optical fiber held by the connector. Such contaminants which might adversely impact the transmission of light to and from the optical fiber include but are not limited to dust and finger prints. 
     Dust caps may be provided for connectors to protect the polished end face of the optical fiber. However, when such dust caps are in place, the connector is not capable of being received in known optical fiber adapters, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,663, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,888. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. A connector may be inserted into one of these known adapters for storage or pre-wiring of a cross-connection point, an interconnection point or some other type telecommunications switching or connection equipment with the dust cap removed. While the adapters might provide some protection from contaminants to a single connector inserted into an adapter, these adapters are not as effective as a dust cap in protecting the polished end face. 
     It is desirable to improve the known methods and apparatus for protecting the polished end face of a fiber optic connector within telecommunications equipment. 
     SUMMARY 
     A telecommunications cabinet comprising a top, a floor, a pair of opposing sides, a front wall and a rear wall defining an interior, the front including an access door for accessing the interior. Within the interior are mounted a cable management structure, an adapter panel with an adapter configured to optically connect two optical fiber cables terminated with fiber optic connectors, and a fiber optic connector holder mounted in openings of the adapter panel. The connector holder has an opening configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap, the opening accessible from a front side of the adapter panel. A fiber optic connector including a ferrule with a polished end face holding an end of an optical fiber with a dust cap placed about the ferrule and polished end face is inserted within the opening of a fiber optic connector holder. 
     A telecommunications connection rack with a rack mounting structure, and a cable management structure, a fanout panel and an adapter panel mounted to the rack mounting structure. The adapter panel includes a plurality of adapter openings sized to receive and mount fiber optic adapters for optically connecting optical fibers within fiber optic cables terminated with fiber optic connectors, and a plurality of optical fiber adapters mounted within the openings. A cable connector holder panel is mounted to the rack mounting structure and includes a plurality of openings sized similarly to the openings in the adapter panel and a plurality of fiber optic connector holders mounted within the openings. Each of the fiber optic connector holders is configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap in place about a polished end face of a ferrule holding the end of an optical fiber. The cable management structure is configured to direct a fiber optic cable from the fanout panel to each of the adapter panel and the cable connector holder panel and to store excess cable length. 
     A method of connecting telecommunications service cables including providing a equipment mounting rack with a fanout module, an adapter module, a connector holder module and a cable management structure mounted to the rack. A multi-strand optical fiber service cable is directed to the fanout module. The multiple strands of the service cable are separated into individual fiber patch cords extending from the fanout module, with a distal end of each patch cord terminated with a fiber optic connector. The fiber optic connectors include a dust cap positioned about a polished end face. A first patch cord is extended from the fanout module into the cable management structure so that the connector of the first patch cord is proximate a fiber optic connector holder mounted within an opening in a front of the connector holder module. The fiber optic connector of the first patch cord is inserted into the fiber optic connector holder without removing the dust cap. The connector of the first patch cord is withdrawn from the connector holder. The dust cap is removed from the polished end face. The first patch cord is adjusted within the cable management structure so that the connector is adjacent an fiber optic adapter mounted within an opening in a front of the adapter module. The connector of the first patch cord is inserted into the adapter so that the optical fiber of the patch cord is optically connected to a second connector inserted within an opposite end of the adapter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is front perspective view of a telecommunications connection cabinet according to the present invention with an access door to the front of the cabinet open. 
         FIG. 2  is front view of the telecommunications connection cabinet of  FIG. 1  with illustrative cable paths. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the telecommunications connection cabinet of  FIG. 1  with the adapters and connector holders removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the telecommunications connection cabinet of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the rack, modules and cable management devices of the telecommunications cabinet of  FIG. 1  removed from the cabinet. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the rack, modules and cable management structures of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the rack, modules and cable management structures of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of the rack, modules and cable management structures of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a splice drawer module for use with telecommunications connection cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of a splice drawer module for use with telecommunications connection cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a fanout module for use with telecommunications connection cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of a fanout module for use with telecommunications connection cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of a chassis for the splitter module or the adapter module of telecommunications connection cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 14  is a rear perspective view of a chassis for the splitter module or the adapter module of telecommunications connection cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 15  is a first perspective view of a fiber optic connector holder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a second perspective view of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 18  is a bottom view of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 19  is a first end view of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 20  is a side view of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 21  is a second opposite end view of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 22  is a first perspective view of system for holder a fiber optic connector including the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15  with a fiber optic connector inserted. 
         FIG. 23  is a second perspective view of the system for holding a fiber optic connector of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 24  is a top view of the system for holding a fiber optic connector of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 25  is a side view of the system for holding a fiber optic connector of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 26  is an end view of the system for holding a fiber optic connector of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional view of the system for holding a fiber optic connector of  FIG. 8 , taken along line A-A in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 28  is an exploded perspective view of the system for holding a fiber optic connector of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective view of the main housing of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 30  is a first perspective view of an inner housing of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 31  is a second perspective view of the inner housing of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 32  is a top view of the inner housing of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 33  is a side view of the inner housing of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 34  is a first end view of the inner housing of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 35  is a second end view of the inner housing of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 36  is a first perspective view of the cover of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 37  is a second perspective view of the cover of  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 38  is a top view of the cover of  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 39  is a side view of the cover of  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 40  is a bottom view of the cover of  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 41  is a first end view of the cover of  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 42  is a second end view of the cover of  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 43  is a perspective view of the clip of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 29 . 
         FIG. 44  is an end view of the clip of  FIG. 43 . 
         FIG. 45  is a side view of the clip of  FIG. 43 . 
         FIG. 46  is a bottom view of the clip of  FIG. 43 . 
         FIG. 47  is a top view of the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15  inserted within an opening in a bulkhead. 
         FIG. 48  is a perspective view of a bulkhead including a plurality of openings for receiving fiber optic connector adapters and the fiber optic connector holder of  FIG. 15  inserted within one of the openings. 
         FIG. 49  is a perspective view of the dust cap of the fiber optic connector of  FIG. 29 . 
         FIG. 50  is a side view of the dust cap of  FIG. 49 . 
         FIG. 51  is an end view of the dust cap of  FIG. 49 . 
         FIG. 52  is a cross-sectional view of the dust cap of  FIG. 49 . 
         FIG. 53  is a block schematic diagram showing a splitter arranged within an adapter module in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. 
     Telecommunications connection cabinets, such as cabinet  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , are used to permit organization and interconnection of different telecommunications infrastructure cables. A multi-strand telecommunications service cable such as an IFC or ribbon cable with multiple optical fibers, may be used to electronically or optically link widely spaced facilities. The service cable may be directed into cabinet  10  where it may be connected to a fanout module  34  and separated into individual fibers. Each of these strands may be connected to a patch cord  46  which may be terminated with a fiber optic connector. The fiber optic connector of patch cord  46  (such as connector  200  described below) may then be inserted into the front of an adapter  50  mounted to an adapter module  36  within cabinet  10 . 
     Adapter module  36  may also include a splitter  39  (see  FIG. 53 ) that combines the signals from up to 32 individual patch cords  46  into a single optical fiber cable. As shown in the FIGS., there are four adapter modules  36  with splitters  39 . As configured, cabinet  10  may have up to four optical fibers carrying the signals from up to 128 patch cords  46 . These up to four optical fiber cables are directed to a splice module  32  mounted within cabinet  10 . These up to four cables are available to splice in splice drawer  32  for communication of the signals to other downstream telecommunication equipment. 
     For patch cords  48  connected to circuits for which connection to downstream telecommunications equipment is anticipated but not yet required, these patch cords are routed instead to a connector holder module  37 . Connectors  200  terminating patch cords  48  are directed into a connector holder  110 . These patch cords  48  are not optically linked to any downstream equipment and are being stored and protected for damage or contamination in connector holders  110  until needed. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , cabinet  10  includes a housing  12  with a top  24 , opposing sides  26 , a front wall  22  and a floor  20 . A rear wall  23 , shown in  FIG. 4  below, cooperates with the top, sides, front and floor to enclose the equipment mounted within housing  12  in an interior  13 . Sides  26  include vent openings  28  which are shielded to prevent rain, snow and debris entry into interior  13 . Front wall  22  includes a front access opening  16  permitting access to the front of the equipment mounted within interior  13 . A door  14  is hinged to one side of opening  16  and closes off opening  16  to seal interior  13  from the elements when closed. A cable entry  18  in floor  20  allows the multi-strand telecommunications service cables to be fed into interior  13  and customer cables from the splice tray to exit interior  13 . While only one opening  18  is shown in  FIG. 1 , additional openings in floor  20  may be provided depending on the size and number of cables entering and exiting cabinet  10 . 
     Mounted within interior  13  is a variety of telecommunications equipment and supporting structure. As will be described below, interior  13  includes a rack mounting structure to which this telecommunications equipment is mounted. The equipment within interior  13  includes splice module  32 , fanout module  24 , a plurality of adapter modules  36 , and a plurality of connector holder modules  37 . Adjacent this equipment are mounted a plurality of cable storage spools  30  and bend radius protectors  42 . Spools  30  and radius protectors  42  cooperate to direct cables between the fronts of the different telecommunications equipment mounted within interior  13 . 
     Within interior  13 , adapter modules  36  and connector holder modules  37  include a module housing, which will be discussed below. Each of the housings for modules  36  and  37  are mounted within the internal rack mounting structure of cabinet  10 . Adapter modules  36  are grouped together in an active connection stack  38  and connector holder modules  37  are grouped together in a storage stack  40 . Fanout module  34  is mounted beneath active connection stack  38  as the service cable enters cabinet  10  from below through opening  18 . As configured in the drawings, cabinet  10  also directs the customer cables through floors  20 , so splice module  32  is located below the active connection and storage areas. If the service and/or customer cables enter cabinet  10  through an opening through or adjacent to top  24 , fanout module  34  and splice module  32  may be positioned above the active connection and storage areas. 
     Referring now also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , cabinet  10  is configured to be a front access cabinet and no provision is made for allowing access through rear wall  23 . In the field, a technician would only need to access the equipment mounted within cabinet  10  through front opening  16  to connect or disconnect a particular customer&#39;s circuit. All connections between the various equipment behind the equipment in the interior  13  are not easily accessible and are anticipated to be pre-configured and cabled before cabinet  10  leaves the manufacturing facility. Alternatively, rear wall  23  could be configured with an access door if such access is desired. 
     Modules  34 ,  36  and  37  include front faces which are angled with respect to front wall  22  to improve the positioning of cables between the cable management structures (including spools  30  and radius limiters  42 ) and adapters  50  and connector holders  110 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , connector holders  110 , adapters  50  and any splitters within modules  36  and  37  have been removed. The module housing  56  for each module  36  and  37  may be identical and will be described further below. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each module  37  includes 32 connector holders in each of seven connector holder modules  37 . This provides a total storage capacity as configured of 224 connectors  200 . 
     Fanout module  34  as shown in the FIGS. includes eighteen cable breakouts  54 . Each cable breakout  54  allows for separation of a service cable or subunit of a service cable into a maximum of 12 fibers. This provides a maximum capacity for fanout module  34  to receive up to eighteen service cables or subunits of service cables, and separate out up to 216 patch cords  46  and  48  from these service cables. This permits a connector holder in storage area  40  for each of the maximum number of patch cords  46  and  48  that may extend from fanout module  34 . 
     Patch cords  46  and  48  may be terminated with fiber optic connectors such as connector  200  shown in  FIGS. 22 through 28 , below. Optical fiber within these cables may be terminated at a polished end face held by a ferrule  202  in connector  200 , as is well known in the art and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,663, incorporated herein by reference. These polished end faces and ferrules  202  need to be stored and protected until needed for connecting to other fiber optic cables or optical signal equipment. 
     Often a dust cap  204  may be placed about ferrule  202  and the polished end face of the optical fiber to protect the polished end face from contamination from dust, fingerprints or other items which might degrade optical signal transmission. While it is known to store these in known optical fiber adapters until the fiber within the attached cable is needed to connect to another fiber optic cable to optical signal equipment, such storage is less than ideal as adapters do not seal the polished end face from contamination as well as dust cap  204  securely fit and held about ferrule  202  of connector  200 . Known adapters do not permit insertion of connector  200  which still has dust cap  204  in place about ferrule  202  and the polished end face of the cable. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , connector holder  110  includes a main housing  112  defining an interior cavity  114 . An open end  118  permits insertion of a connector  200  into cavity  114  while an opposite opening  116  permits dust cap  204  to protrude from connector holder  10 . A clip  120  is positioned about main housing  112  and includes a pair of spring mounting clips  122 . A pair of flanges  124  extends from opposing sides  126  of main housing  112  adjacent spring clips  122 . Clips  122  and flanges  124  cooperate to releasably mount holder  10  to an opening in a bulkhead as is shown below. 
     Main housing  112  also includes a bottom  130  with a keyway  128  to receive a keyed extension of connector  200  to consistently orient connector  200  for insertion into cavity  114 . Opposite bottom  130  is an open top closed by a cover  132 . This is shown in more detail in  FIG. 26 , below.  FIGS. 17 through 21  provide additional views of connector holder  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 22 through 27 , connector  110  is shown with connector  200  positioned within cavity  118 . Dust cap  204  extends from opening  116  of connector holder  110  while connector  200  is inserted through open end  114 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 27 and 28 , connector holder  110  further includes an inner housing  134  with a pair of opposing releasable catches  136  and an opening  138  sized to receive dust cap  204 . Inner housing  134  is positioned within main housing  112  through an open top  140  with opening  138  adjacent opening  116  and catches  136  adjacent open end  114 . Cover  132  is then positioned within open top  140  and clip  120  placed about cover  132  and main housing  112 . Cover  132  may be sealed within open top  140  by gluing, ultrasonic welding or a variety of known fastening techniques. Connector  200  includes a pair of opposing recesses  206  which receive catches  136  when connector  200  is inserted within holder  110 . 
     As shown, connector  200  and holder  110  are SC style. Connector  200  and holder  110  may conform to other styles and formats of electrical connectors and adapters without straying from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 29 , main housing  112  also includes a slot  142  along both sides of cavity  114  to receiving and positioning a flange of inner housing  134  within cavity  114 . A recess  144  is provided along sides  126  to receive clip  120 . Open top  140  includes a ledge  146  upon which cover  132  is positioned to close cavity  114 . An outer bulkhead  168  forms a portion of opening  116 . An inner bulkhead  145  is positioned spaced apart from outer bulkhead  168  and these bulkheads cooperate to define slot  142 . Between bulkheads  145  and  168  is a positioning surface  143  defining the bottom of slot  142 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 30 to 35 , inner housing  134  includes a pair of clip arms  148  extending from a cross piece  150 . Opening  138  for receiving dust cap  204  of connector  200  is in cross piece  150 . Catches  136  are at the end of clip arms  148  opposite cross piece  150 . Cross piece  150  includes a pair of flanges  152  which are received in slots  142  in main housing  112 . As shown in  FIG. 32 , catches  136  include a ramped portion  154  which is engaged by connector  200  as connector  200  is inserted within cavity  114  through open end  118  of connector holder  110 . Clip arms  148  are deflected outward allowing connector  200  to pass between catches  136 . When connector  200  is fully inserted within cavity  114  (as shown in  FIG. 27 ) catches  136  are received within recesses  206  and a retaining surface  156  of each catch  136  holds connector  200  within cavity  114 . 
     Inner housing  134  is configured to permit insertion within slots  142  of cavity  114  of main housing  112  in either of two orientations. A pair of edges  166  of cross piece  150  properly position inner housing within cavity  114  with regard to cover  132  and main housing  112  so that opening  138  is aligned to receive dust cap  204 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 36 to 42 , cover  132  includes a recess  158  for receiving clip  120  along an outer surface  168 . Also in outer surface  168  is a recess  172  for receiving indicia. Along an inner surface  170  are formed a pair of edges  164  configured to be received upon ledges  146  of main housing  112 . Extending from inner surface  170  is an outer flange  160  which cooperates with bulkhead  168  within main housing  112  to define opening  116 . Also extending from inner surface  170  is an inner flange  162  which is spaced apart from outer flange  160  to form a slot  163 . Slot  163  cooperates within slot  142  of main housing  112  to receive flanges  152  of inner housing  134 . 
     At the top of slot  163  is a positioning surface  161  which cooperates with one of edges  166  of inner housing  134  to position inner housing  134  within cavity  114  so that opening  138  of inner housing  134  is aligned with opening  116 . When assembled as connector holder  110 , positioning surface  143  of main housing  112  and positioning surface  161  of cover  132  cooperate to engage both edges  166  of inner housing  134 . Slot  142  of main housing  112  and slot  163  of cover  132  cooperate to capture flanges  152  of inner housing  134 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 43 to 46 , clip  120  includes a cross piece  174  and a pair of opposing sides  176 . Spring clips  122  are formed in sides  176 . Sides  176  are received within recesses  144  of main housing  112  and cross piece  174  is received within recess  158  of cover  132 . It is anticipated that clip  120  will be made of a resilient deformable metal to facilitate insertion and removal from an opening in a bulkhead. Spring clips  122  each include an end  178  and a ramped surface  180 . 
       FIGS. 47 and 48  shows fiber optic connector holder  110  inserted within an opening  184  in a bulkhead  182 . Bulkhead  182  may be part of a piece of telecommunications switching equipment such as a panel for making a plurality of connections between optical fiber cables including a plurality of openings  84  for adapters, as shown in  FIG. 48 , or in connector holder module  37 . Alternatively, bulkhead  182  may include only a single opening  184  where only a single fiber optic connector holder  110  is needed. 
     Open end  118  of connector holder  110  is inserted through opening  184  until a pair of sides  186  of opening  184  engage ramped surfaces  180  of spring clips  122 . Continued insertion of connector holder  110  will cause bulkhead sides  186  to deflect spring clips  122  inward toward sides  126 . Bulkhead sides  186  will eventually pass beyond ends  178  of spring clips  122 . Spring clips  122  will then spring back as shown in  FIG. 48 , capturing bulkhead sides  186  between ends  178  and flanges  124 . Connector holder  110  may be removed from opening  184  by compressing spring clips  122  and removing in a direction opposite the insertion described above. 
     Alternatively, flanges  124  may be configured to include a fastener opening so that connector holder  110  can be mounted within opening  184  by removable fasteners. 
     It is anticipated that openings  184  for mounting adapters and connector holders may be included in sliding adapter packs, such as described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,444. The disclosure of this patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 49 through 52 , dust cap  204  includes a central opening  208  to receive ferrule  202  when ferrule  202  is inserted through open end  210 . Opposite open end  210  is closed end  212  which includes knurling  214  to provide better grip for removing dust cap  204 . Central opening  208  fits about ferrule  202  to provide a seal about ferrule  202  and to hold dust cap to connector  200 . Due to the reduction of air volume within central opening  208  when ferrule  202  is inserted (see  FIG. 27 ), one or more helix shaped recesses  216  are provided within central opening  208  along inner walls  218 . Recesses  216  extend from adjacent closed end  212  to open end  210 . Recesses  216  are small enough prevent entry of unwanted contaminants and still permit air displaced within central opening  208  to be expelled when ferrule  202  is inserted so that dust cap  204  may be fully seat to connector  200 . Recesses  216  also allow air to pass into central opening  208  when dust cap  204  is withdrawn from ferrule  202 . The shape of each recess  216  is also designed to allow passage of air into and out of central opening  208  when dust cap  204  is removed or placed on ferrule  202  while inhibiting the passage of contaminants along the same path. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 through 8 , cabinet  10  is shown without housing  12 . A pair of vertical supports  51  and  52  adjacent sides  26  of housing  12  provide mounting locations for the equipment mounted in cabinet  10 . A cable management panel  58  is mounted to vertical support  51 , and a plurality of cable spools  30  are mounted to panel  58 . Bend radius protectors  42  are mounted to each module housing  56  adjacent panel  58  and provide bend radius protection for cables  46  and  48  being directed from spools  30  to modules  36  or  37 . 
     Mounted to the rear of fanout module  34  is a cable clamp  60  for securing the service cable after it enters cabinet  10  through opening  18  in bottom  20 . From clamp  60 , the service cable, sub-units of the service cable or smaller bundles of optical fibers may enter fanout module  34  through rear opening  62 . In addition to spools  30  mounted to panel  58 , another spool  30  is mounted to the front of fanout module  34  to provide bend radius protection and direct patch cords  46  and  48  from cable breakouts  54  into cable spools  30  of panel  58  and radius protectors  42  of modules  36  and  37 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , splice module  32  includes a splice drawer  64  slidably mounted within a housing  66 . Splice module housing  66  includes a pair of mounting flanges  72  and  74  for mounting splice module  32  to panel  58  and vertical support  52 . A locking drawer latch  68  is included in drawer  64  to prevent unwanted or accidental access to the splices within splice module  32 . A rear opening  70  is provided to permit cables from modules  36  to enter housing  66  and be spliced in drawer  64 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , fanout module  34  includes a front face to which are mounted the eighteen cable breakouts  54 . Fanout module  34  also includes a flange  72  for mounting to panel  58  and a flange  74  for mounting to vertical support  52 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , module housing  56  provides the basic shell for both adapter module  36  and connector holder module  37 . Housing  56  includes a front face  84  with four openings  84 . Openings  84  are sized and configured to receive up to eight adapters  50  or connector holders  110 , so that a total of thirty-two patch cords  46  or  48  can be received. These adapters  50  or connector holders  110  may be held within opening  84  by a retainer clip such as that disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,735, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Module housing  56  also defines an interior space  86  with a cable exit  80  in a side wall  78 . When module housing  56  is used for an adapter module  36 , each adapter  50  mounted in openings  84  may have a connector  200  inserted into a rear side that will be optically linked with a connector  200  of patch cord  46  inserted into a front side. These rear connectors  200  may terminate fiber optic cables which may then extend through cable exit  80 . 
     Alternatively, adapter module  36  may include a splitter within interior  86 . Then, the connectors  200  attached to the rear of each adapter  50  would be optically connected to the splitter. The splitter would then combine the signals from each of the adapters  50  for a given module  36  into a single optical fiber cable which may then be directed out of module  36  through cable exit  80  and to rear opening  70  of splice module  32 . Within splice module  32 , each of the cables carrying the combined signals from the patch cords  46  connected to up to thirty-two adapters of a module  36  could be spliced into another cable for distribution of the signals to downstream equipment or customers. 
     As shown in the FIGS., cabinet  10  is configured for front access only, as no provision is made for an access opening through rear wall  23 . Other configurations of housing  12  for cabinet  10  are contemplated, which may include providing additional access into interior  13 . A preferred method of connecting a fiber optic service cable in cabinet  10  reduces the need access to the rear of the equipment mounted within housing  12 . 
     To connect a service cable within cabinet  10 , the service cable is fed into cabinet  10  through opening  18  in bottom  20 . The service cable is directed into a space between the equipment mounted to vertical supports  51  and  52  and rear wall  23  and then clamped to the rear of fanout module  34  at clamp  60 . From clamp  60 , the cable may be broken out into sub-units and directed through opening  62  into an interior  61  of fanout module  34 . Within interior  61 , the sub-units of cable are further broken down to the individual fibers which are lead to cable breakouts  54  where they are passed out of interior  61  and preferably up jacketed to standard patch cords  46  or  48  terminated with connectors  200 . Patch cords  46  and  48  are anticipated to standard size patch cords such as 1.7 mm, 2.0 mm, or otherwise appropriately sized for routing within cabinet  10 . 
     From the breakouts  54 , patch cords  46  and  48  are lead over spool  30  mounted to fanout module  34  and to the spools  30  mounted to panel  58 . From these spools, the patch cords  46  and  48  are led past radius protectors  42  and connectors  200  inserted within an adapter  50  and a connector holder  110 , respectively. Patch cords  46 , as described above, are optically linked through adapter  50  and possibly a splitter within interior  86  of adapter module  36  to splice module  32  and then to downstream equipment. As described above, patch cords  48  are stored for future use in connector holders  110  with dust cap  104  in place to protect the polished end faces from damage or contamination. 
     When one of the stored or inactive patch cords  48  is needed for connection to downstream equipment, for instance when a new customer requests service or an existing customer needs to expand service, the desired inactive patch cord  48  is removed from connector holder  110 . Dust cap  104  is removed from ferrule  102  of connector  200  and patch cord  48  is partially removed from spools  30  mounted to panel  58 . This patch cord is then rerouted so that its connector  200  is adjacent the desired adapter  50  for connecting to downstream equipment. At this point, the former inactive patch cord  48  has become an active patch cord  46  and is inserted into the appropriate adapter  50 . An active patch cord  46  may be converted to an inactive patch cord  48  by a reversal of the above process when a previously required circuit is no longer needed by a customer or other downstream equipment. 
     By configuring cabinet  10  as described above, only front access through access opening  16  is necessary in the field for a technician to connect a circuit for a new customer or an existing customer or to take a circuit out of service. 
     The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.