Abstract:
The invention relates to a connecting box ( 1 ) for glass fiber cables, comprising a housing which is formed from at least two parts and has a lower part and a cover ( 2 ), with at least one holder ( 20 ) for a coupling ( 30 ) for holding glass fiber plugs being arranged within the housing, wherein the holder ( 20 ) is in the form of a double frame which comprises two first vertical struts ( 21 ) and two second vertical struts ( 22 ), with the second struts ( 22 ) being arranged closely to a front face ( 5, 40 ) of the cover ( 2 ) and of the lower part ( 3 ), and with the coupling ( 30 ) optionally being latchable to the first or the second struts ( 21, 22 ).

Description:
This application is a National Stage Application of PCT/EP2011/000059, filed 10 Jan. 2011, which claims benefit of Serial No. 10 2010 010 428.0, filed 5 Mar. 2010 in Germany and which applications are incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosed application 
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to a connecting box for glass fiber cables, comprising a housing which is formed from at least two parts and has a lower part and a cover, with at least one holder for a coupling for holding glass fiber plugs being arranged within the housing. 
     DE 10 2008 027 381 A1 discloses a connecting box for glass fiber cables, comprising a housing which is formed from at least two parts and has a lower part and a cover, with the cover being arranged pivotably on the lower part, at least one holder for a splice, at least one feed for a glass fiber cable and a holder for a coupling, with the side surfaces of the cover being longer than the end surfaces of the cover, and with a pivoting bearing of the cover on an end surface of the cover. The holder for the coupling is arranged with respect to an end surface of the lower part and of the cover such that the inserted coupling ends virtually with the end surface, such that a glass fiber plug can be inserted into and withdrawn from one face of the coupling, from outside the connecting box, even when the cover is closed. 
     Applications are possible where, for various reasons, it should not be possible to pull an inserted glass fiber plug out directly, for example for safety reasons because of the laser light emerging, or to prevent manipulations. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is based on the technical problem of providing a connecting box which can be used flexibly and by means of which a physical form can easily be produced in which an outer glass fiber plug, which is plugged into a coupling, is secured or unsecured, as required. 
     To this end, the connecting box for glass fiber cables comprises a housing which is formed from at least two parts and has a lower part and a cover, with at least one holder for a coupling for holding glass fiber plugs being arranged within the housing, wherein the holder is in the form of a double frame which comprises two first vertical struts and two second vertical struts, with the second struts being arranged closely to a front face of the cover (in the closed state) and of the lower part, and with the coupling optionally being latchable to the first or the second struts. This means that, depending on the latching of the coupling, the face of the coupling for insertion of the outer glass fiber plug ends with the front face, or is recessed into the interior of the housing. In the latter case, the folded-down cover then secures the inserted glass fiber plug from being pulled out. In this case, the holder for couplings may be formed integrally or in one part with the lower part, or else may be connected as a separate component to the lower part. The holder is preferably in the form of a double holder for two couplings. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the lower part is formed with a latching holder, into which an active or passive electrical or optical component can optionally be inserted. In this case, the holder for the couplings is preferably connected integrally to the lower part. By way of example, a further holder for couplings for glass fiber plugs or electrical circuits such as RJ sockets and/or core connectors can then be latched into the latching holder. By way of example, a Cat-TV module or a WDM module can be inserted as active components. The connecting box can therefore be highly flexibly matched to different applications. 
     Particularly when using active optical or electrical components, LEDs or other optical signalling means are used, and these are typically installed on a front face. Because of the arrangement within the connecting box, these would therefore emit via the end surface, although this would lead to difficulty in reading them, particularly when the connecting box is mounted on a wall. 
     At least one optical deflection element is therefore preferably arranged in the connecting box, the optical output of which optical deflection element is aligned with an upper face of the cover, with the cover being transparent in this area. The signaling can in this way be perceived on the cover. By way of example, the deflection element may be in the form of a glass fiber, reflective coating on the housing or optical element which is composed, for example, of PMMA. In this case, by way of example, the cover transparency can be achieved by a transparent window which is adhesively bonded, for example, into the cover. Alternatively, the material thickness of the cover can be reduced in this area, as a result of which the light then emerges to an adequate extent through this thinned area. In this case, a weak point can be provided in this area on the cover, and is knocked out by the inserted deflection element. In this case, the deflection element can be arranged in the lower part or in the cover. 
     In a further embodiment, a pivotable support having at least one holder for splices is arranged between the lower part and the cover, with the support and the holder being formed integrally. 
     The support preferably has a latching holder in which one further holder for splices or a coupling for glass fiber plugs can optionally be latched, thus further increasing the flexibility in use. 
     In a further embodiment, a pivoting bearing which has an open contour is arranged on the lower part. In this case, the pivoting bearing may be composed of one or more parts. One possible embodiment is slotted cylinders in which case, for example, the opening angle is between 30° and 180°. The support is preferably formed with an opposing bearing which can rotate about the pivoting bearing of the lower part, that is to say the pivoting bearing cannot move on the lower part. 
     Drop cables, cores or fibers are therefore preferably guided in the pivoting bearing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to one preferred exemplary embodiment. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective front view of the cover with an LED deflection element, 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective front view of the connecting box with the cover pivoted open, 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective front view of the connecting box with the support pivoted open, 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective illustration of a standard coupling (prior art), 
         FIG. 5  shows a first perspective illustration of a holder, in the form of a double frame, for couplings, 
         FIG. 6  shows a second perspective illustration of the double frame, 
         FIG. 7  shows a first illustration with couplings inserted into the double frame, 
         FIG. 8  shows a second illustration with couplings inserted into the double frame, 
         FIG. 9   a  shows a perspective illustration with a Cat-TV module, 
         FIG. 9   b  shows a perspective illustration with an electrical plug connector, 
         FIG. 9   c  shows a perspective illustration with a further holder for couplings, 
         FIG. 10   a  shows a perspective illustration of the support with a further holder for splices, 
         FIG. 10   b  shows a perspective illustration of the support with a coupling for glass fiber plugs, 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective illustration of an optical deflection element, 
         FIG. 12  shows a detail illustration of the guidance of drop cables in the pivoting bearing, and 
         FIG. 13  shows a detail illustration of the guidance of cores in the pivoting bearing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The connecting box  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  comprises a cover  2  and a lower part  3 . In this case, the cover  2  is articulated such that it can pivot on a rear end surface  4  of the lower part  3 , and the cover  2  may in this case have one or more latching positions. On a front end surface  5 , the cover  2  has lugs  6  which have predetermined breaking points and can be knocked out of the cover  2  as required. Furthermore,  FIG. 1  shows a holder  7  for a securing screw, which can be screwed into a thread  8  in the lower part  3 . The cover  2  has an opening  9 , into which a lug  10  on the lower part  3  latches in the closed state. Dashed lines in  FIG. 1  show an optical deflection element  11 , which is illustrated in detail in  FIG. 11  and will also be explained in more detail later. Furthermore, the connecting box  1  has a support  12  which is articulated pivotably on the lower part  3  and is illustrated in a basic position in  FIG. 2 , and in a pivoted open position in  FIG. 3 . Various fiber guide elements  13  and hold-down devices  18  are arranged on the support  12 . Furthermore, the support  12  has two holders  19  for four splices or else splitters as well as a latching holder  14  into which various elements can be latched, as will also be explained in more detail later. The lower part  3  has two strain relief means  15  as well as elements  16  for the fiber and cable guidance. Furthermore, the lower part  3  has a holder  20  for couplings  30  (see  FIG. 4 ) and a further latching holder  17 . 
     The holder  20  for couplings  30  will now be explained in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 4-8 . In this case,  FIG. 4  illustrates a standard coupling for SC plugs. The coupling  30  is essentially cuboid, with a stop edge  32  and a spring lug  33  being arranged on each of the end surfaces  31 . Furthermore, the coupling  30  has a groove  35  on the upper face  34 . A coupling  30  such as this is prior art, and will therefore not be described any further here. In this case, it should just be noted that the coupling may also be in the form of a coupling for glass fiber plugs other than SC plugs, for example LC, E2000 or LX.5 plugs. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the holder  20  for couplings  30  without couplings, and  FIGS. 7 and 8  with couplings  30  inserted. The holder  20  is in the form of a double holder, that is to say it can hold two couplings  30 . The holder  20  has twice two first vertical struts  21  and two second vertical struts  22 , with the struts  21  and the struts  22  each being connected to one another via common upper lateral stays  23 ,  24 . The lateral stays  23 ,  24  in this case each have vertically projecting webs  25 , with the webs  25  being aligned flush with one another. All the struts  21 ,  22  are connected to one another on the lower face via a common base part  26 . The holder  20  is in this case preferably in the form of an integral injection-molded part. Latching elements  27  are arranged on each of the outer struts  21 ,  22  and are used to allow the holder  20  to be latched in the latching holder  17  in the lower part  3 . In contrast, if the holder  20  is formed integrally with the lower part  3 , then there is no need for these latching elements  27 . The holder  20  is now inserted into the lower part  3  such that the second struts  22  are arranged closer to a front end surface  40  of the lower part  3 . In this case, the side of the second strut  22  is referred to as the front face V, and the side of the first strut is referred to as the rear face R. 
     A coupling  30  can be inserted into the holder  20  from the front face V or from the rear face R. The illustration in  FIG. 7  shows the front coupling  30  being inserted from the rear face R, and the rear coupling  30  from the front face V. When the front coupling  30  is being inserted into the holder  20 , the spring lugs  33  are forced in the direction of the side surface  31  by the first struts  21 . The stress in the spring lines  33  is then released behind the first struts  21 , and the stop edges  32  strike against the first struts  21  from the rear face. The coupling  30  is latched. Analogously, the coupling  30  with spring lugs  33  and stop edges  32  latches on the second struts  22  when the coupling is inserted into the holder  20  from the front face V (see in particular  FIG. 8 ). The opening, which is located on the front face, of the coupling  30  for glass fiber plugs is located outside the holder  20  or inside the holder  20 , depending on whether the coupling  30  is inserted from the front face V or from the rear face R. 
       FIG. 9   a  now illustrates how this is done in conjunction with the lower part  3  and cover  2 . In this case, the left-hand coupling  30  is inserted into the holder  20  from the front face V, and the right-hand coupling  30  is inserted into the holder  20  from the rear face R. In this case, the front part of the left-hand coupling  30  ends flush with the front end surface  40  of the lower part  3  while, in contrast, the front part of the right-hand coupling  30  is located in the holder  20 . When glass fiber plugs are now inserted into each of the front parts of the couplings  30  and the cover  2  is closed, then the glass fiber plug and the left-hand coupling  30  can still be pulled, since it is still located largely outside the connecting box  1 . In contrast, the glass fiber plug in the right-hand coupling  30  cannot be pulled, since the glass fiber plug is located completely in the connecting box  1 , and is thus secured by the cover  2  against being pulled out. 
       FIG. 9   a  also shows a Cat-TV module  41  with LEDs  42  being latched in the latching holder  17  in the lower part  3 . In this case, a panel  43 , which is matched to the Cat-TV module  41 , is arranged on the front end surface  40 , and a cable which originates from the Cat-TV module  41  is passed through it. 
       FIG. 9   b  shows an alternative fitting of the latching holder  17  of the lower part  3 , in which an RJ plug connector  45  followed by insulation-displacement terminal contact strips  46  is latched into the latching holder  17 . In this case, the insulation-displacement terminal contacts of the contact strips  46  are electrically connected to spring contacts in the RJ plug connector  45 . A matched panel  47  is also arranged on the front end surface  40  of the lower part  3  for the RJ plug connector  45 . 
       FIG. 9   c  shows a further alternative fitting of the latching holder  17  in the lower part  3 , in which a holder  20  for couplings  30  is being latched in the latching holder  17 . In this case, as in the case of the adjacent holder, the left-hand coupling  30  has been inserted from the front face V, and the right-hand coupling  30  from the rear face R. 
     The latching holder  17  therefore allows the connecting box  1  to be flexibly and easily matched to widely different applications. 
       FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  show how the support  12  can be flexibly matched by appropriate fitting of the latching holder  14 . In this case, a support  48  with two holders  19  for four splices is latched in  FIG. 10   a . In this case, latching tabs  49  on the latching holder  14  latch over wall elements of the holders  19 , as a result of which the latter are fixed in the lower part  3 . Alternatively,  FIG. 10   b  shows a coupling  30  for glass fiber plugs having been latched in the latching holder  14 . 
     The optical deflection element  11  will now be explained in more detail with reference to  FIG. 11 . The deflection element  11  is essentially H-shaped. In this case, the lateral stay  50  is used exclusively for connection of the two vertical struts  51 . Latching tabs  52  are arranged on the vertical struts  51 , on the front face below the lateral stay  50 . The latching tabs  52  are used to attach the deflection element  11  to the cover  2 . In this state, the LEDs  42  of the CAT-TV module  41  rest on the rear face of the vertical struts  51  under the lateral stay  50 . Reflection surfaces  54  are arranged on the front face of the struts  51 . The upper faces  53  of the deflection element  11  in this case form the optical output of the deflection element. When the LEDs  42  now emit light, then this light is injected from the rear face of the deflection element  11 , strikes the reflection surfaces  54 , is reflected upward, and emerges through the upper faces  53 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a detail view of the lower part  3 , with the support  12  having been removed. A pivoting bearing  60  is illustrated in this case, comprising a plurality of elements  61  with radial outer surfaces. The elements  61  in this case have an open contour in which drop cables  62  are guided. Drop cables are glass fiber cables with a diameter of 3 mm and with a glass fiber plug. The inserted drop cable can then be inserted from the front end face of the connecting box, can be guided around over the pivoting bearing  60 , and can be terminated in a coupling in the latching holder  17 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates how cores  65  are guided in the pivoting bearing  60  and in the support  12  where they are then, for example, guided for splicing purposes to the holders  19  for splices. In this case, the support  12  has an opposing bearing  63  which can rotate on the pivoting bearing  60 , with the pivoting bearing  60  being rigid. In this case, the opposing bearing  63  has two curved elements  64 , which can be seen particularly well in  FIGS. 9   a  to  9   c . Because of the fact that the cores  65  are guided in the pivoting bearing  60 , they are moved only to a minimal extent during a pivoting movement of the support  12 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
     
         
           1  Connecting box 
           2  Cover 
           3  Lower part 
           4  Rear end surface 
           5  Front end surface 
           6  Lugs 
           7  Holder 
           8  Thread 
           9  Opening 
           10  Lug 
           11  Deflection element 
           12  Support 
           13  Fiber guide element 
           14  Latching holder 
           15  Strain relief means 
           16  Elements 
           17  Latching holder 
           18  Hold-down device 
           19  Holders 
           20  Holder 
           21  First vertical struts 
           22  Second vertical struts 
           23  Lateral stays 
           24  Lateral stays 
           25  Webs 
           26  Base part 
           27  Latching elements 
           30  Coupling 
           31  Side surface 
           332  Stop edge 
           33  Spring lug 
           34  Upper face 
           35  Groove 
           40  End surface 
           41  Cat-TV module 
           42  LEDs 
           43  Panel 
           44  Cable 
           45  RJ plug connector 
           46  Insulation-displacement terminal contact strips 
           47  Panel 
           48  Support 
           49  Latching tabs 
           50  Lateral stay 
           51  Vertical strut 
           52  Latching tabs 
           53  Upper face 
           54  Reflection surfaces 
           60  Pivoting bearing 
           61  Elements 
           62  Drop cable 
           63  Opposing bearing 
           64  Curved element 
           65  Cores (with glass fibers) 
         R Rear face 
         V Front face