Patent Publication Number: US-2022214514-A1

Title: Telecommunications enclosure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is being filed on May 14, 2020 as a PCT International Patent Application and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/849,878, filed on May 18, 2019, and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/954,249, filed on Dec. 27, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to telecommunications enclosures. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to telecommunications enclosures including hardened fiber optic connector ports. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Telecommunications enclosures, such as multi-service terminals, are commonly used to provide fiber optic connection locations in the field. The telecommunications enclosures often include hardened fiber optic adapter ports adapted for receiving hardened fiber optic connectors. Example telecommunications enclosures including hardened fiber optic adapter ports are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,397,997; 7,120,347; and 7,753,596. 
     SUMMARY 
     Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to telecommunications enclosures for supporting architectures that can initially be installed at relatively low cost, and that can be expanded over time as customer demand increases. In certain examples, enclosures in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure can be used in combination with indexing architectures, wavelength division multiplexing architectures, symmetric passive optical power splitting architectures, and passive asymmetric optical power splitting architectures such as tapping architectures. In certain examples, architectures can support a deferred investment strategy in which components such as multi-service terminals or other terminals can be added to the architecture later in time concurrent with customer demand. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to telecommunications enclosures having features that assist in reducing the size and cost of the enclosures. In certain examples, the enclosures can include housings having main in-line body sections and branch sections that are monolithically formed in single pieces to assist in reducing size, regions in need of sealing, and cost. Aspects of the present disclosure also relate to optical fiber and connector management structures adapted for use with relatively small housings. In certain examples, the management structures can include a fiber management portion and a connector mounting portion. In certain examples, the connector mounting portion is movable relative to the fiber management portion between an extended orientation and retracted orientation. The connector mounting portion can be resiliently biased toward the extended orientation. In certain examples, the connector mounting portion can be temporarily retained or latched in the retracted orientation. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a telecommunications enclosure including a housing having a main body section which defines a main axis. The main body section includes a length that extends along the main axis between first and second in-line ends of the housing. The housing also includes a branch section that branches outwardly from the main body section at an intermediate location between the first and second in-line ends of the housing. The branch section defines an offset end of the housing. The telecommunications enclosure also includes a first fiber optic adapter positioned at one of the first and second in-line ends of the housing, a second fiber optic adapter positioned at the offset end of the housing, and a third fiber optic adapter or a cable attachment location positioned at the other of the first and second in-line ends of the housing. Each of the fiber optic adapters includes an outer connector port accessible from outside the housing and an inner connector port facing inside the housing. 
     A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a telecommunications enclosure having a configuration that enhances internal access within the enclosure at least during initial manufacturing of the enclosure. The internal access can be used to facilitate fiber routing and general setup of the internal fiber optic architecture of the enclosure. The telecommunications enclosure has a housing including a length that extends along a first axis. The housing also includes a width that extends along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a depth that extends along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes. The housing includes first and second opposite ends separated by the length and first and second opposite sides separated by the width. The housing also includes a front and a back separated by the depth. A base of the housing includes a rear wall that defines the back of the housing. The base includes first and second end walls that project forwardly from the rear wall and define the first and second ends of the housing. The base includes a front edge defining a front opening of the base. The front edge is defined by the first and second end walls along the width of the housing adjacent the first and second opposite ends of the housing. The front edge extends the length of the housing adjacent the first and second opposite sides of the housing. The front edge defines a first depth dimension with respect to the rear wall at the first and second opposite ends of the housing and defines a second depth dimension with respect to the rear wall at the first and second sides of the housing. The first depth dimension is at least three times as large as the second depth dimension. The telecommunications enclosure also includes a front cover having a rear edge that is bonded to the front edge of the base. The telecommunications enclosure further includes at least one cable port location at each of the first and second opposite ends of the housing. 
     A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples disclosed herein are based. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a front, perspective view of a telecommunications enclosure in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, a mounting bracket is shown attached to the telecommunications enclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the telecommunications enclosure and mounting bracket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the telecommunications enclosure and mounting bracket of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the telecommunications enclosure and mounting bracket of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the telecommunications enclosure and mounting bracket of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of the telecommunications enclosure and mounting bracket of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the mounting bracket of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the telecommunications enclosure and mounting bracket of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an optical fiber and connector management insert of the telecommunications enclosure of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 10  is another perspective view of the optical fiber and connector management insert of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the optical fiber and connector management insert of  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the optical fiber and connector management insert of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the optical fiber and connector management insert of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view showing the optical fiber and management insert of  FIGS. 12 and 13  installed within the housing of the telecommunications enclosure of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing the optical fiber and connector management insert of  FIGS. 12 and 13  installed in the housing of the telecommunications enclosure of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a side view showing a fiber routing configuration for the optical fiber and connector management insert of  FIGS. 9-13 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a front perspective view of another telecommunications enclosure in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 18  is a rear perspective view of the telecommunications enclosure of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a cable attachment plate that is part of the telecommunications enclosure of  FIGS. 17 and 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  depicts an example indexing configuration that can be used with telecommunications enclosures in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic view showing a splitting architecture that can be used with telecommunications enclosures in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 22  depicts an example hardened fiber optic connector; 
         FIG. 23  depicts a hardened fiber optic adapter and mating hardened fiber optic connector suitable for use with telecommunications enclosures in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 24  is a front, end perspective view of another telecommunications enclosure in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 25  is a front view of the telecommunications enclosure of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 26  is a cross sectional view of the telecommunications enclosure of  FIG. 24  taken along section line  26 - 26  of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 27  is a front, end perspective view of a housing of the telecommunications enclosure of  FIG. 24  with fiber optic adapter mounting plates removed from cable port locations of the housing; 
         FIG. 28  is a back, end perspective view of the housing of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 29  is a front view of the housing of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 30  is a rear view of the housing of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 31  is a side view of the housing of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 32  is an end view of the housing of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 33  is a front, exploded view of the housing of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 34  is rear, exploded view of the housing of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 35  depicts an example internal fiber optic architecture that can be used with the telecommunications enclosure of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 36  depicts another internal fiber optic architecture that can be used in combination with the telecommunications enclosure of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 37  depicts still another internal fiber optic architecture that can be used with the telecommunications enclosure of  FIG. 24 ; and 
         FIG. 38  depicts still another internal fiber optic architecture that can be used with the telecommunications enclosure of  FIG. 24 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a telecommunications enclosure  20  in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The telecommunications enclosure  20  is shown secured to a mounting bracket  22  for use in securing the telecommunications enclosure  20  to a structure such as a wall, pole, wire or the like. The mounting bracket  22  includes resilient clips  24  for temporarily securing the mounting bracket  22  and the telecommunications enclosure  20  together. The clips  24  define strap receivers  26  for receiving straps  28  that wrap around the telecommunications enclosure  20  around the clips  24  and through slots in a base  30  of the bracket  24  to more securely secure the telecommunications enclosure  20  the mounting bracket  22 . The telecommunications enclosure  20  can also include strap receivers  26  at its front side. The base  30  of the bracket  24  can define fastener openings  32  for receiving fasteners used to secure the mounting bracket  22  to a structure such as a wall or a pole. The base can also define slits  34  for receiving a strap used to secure the mounting bracket  22  to a pole or other structure. The clips  24  are generally C-shaped and flex open to receive the telecommunications enclosure  32  within an enclosure receiving region  35  of the clips  24 .  FIG. 7  shows the mounting bracket  22  in isolation from the telecommunications enclosure  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the telecommunications enclosure includes a housing  40  having a main body section  42  which defines a main axis  44 . The main body section  42  includes a length that extends along the main axis  44  between first and second in-line ends  46 ,  48  of the housing  40 . The housing  40  also includes a branch section  50  that branches outwardly from the main body section  42  at an intermediate location between the first and second in-line ends  46 ,  48  of the housing  40 . The branch section  50  defines an offset end  52  of the housing  40 . The telecommunications enclosure also includes a first fiber optic adapter  54  positioned at the first in-line end  46  of the housing  40 , a second fiber optic adapter  56  positioned at the offset end  52  of the housing  40 , and a third fiber optic adapter  58  positioned at the second in-line end  48  of the housing  40 . Each of the fiber optic adapters  54 ,  56 , and  58  includes an outer connector port  60  accessible from outside the housing  40  and an inner connector port  62  facing inside the housing  40 . It will be appreciated that the fiber optic adapters  54 ,  56 , and  58  include internal structure for facilitating aligning the optical fibers of two fiber optic connectors desired to be optically coupled together. For example, the fiber optic adapters  54 ,  56 , and  58  can include internal split sleeves for aligning the ferrules of two single-fiber fiber optic connectors desired to be optically coupled together. In other examples, the fiber optic adapters  54 ,  56 , and  58  may be configured for coupling the optical fibers of multi-fiber fiber optic connectors. Example single-fiber fiber optic adapters are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,288 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Example multi-fiber fiber optic adapters are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,402, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     It will be appreciated that the outer connector ports  60  are preferably configured to receive hardened fiber optic connectors.  FIG. 22  shows an example hardened fiber optic connector  64  having a connector body  66  supporting an environmental seal  68  and supporting a ferrule  69  at its distal end. The hardened fiber optic connector  64  can be secured within a corresponding port of a hardened fiber optic adapter by a turn-to-secure fastening element which is shown in the depicted example as a nut  73  having exterior threads adapted to mate with corresponding interior threads of the fiber optic adapter. Alternative turn-to-secure fastening elements can include connecting elements having bayonet-type interfaces or other interfaces. It will be appreciated that when a hardened fiber optic connector is installed within a corresponding port of a hardened fiber optic adapter, it is preferred for an environmental seal to be provided between the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic adapter. The seal may be carried by the fiber optic connector, or in alternative examples may be carried by the fiber optic adapter. 
     As indicated previously, the outer connector ports  60  of the fiber optic adapters  54 ,  56 , and  58  are configured to receive hardened fiber optic connectors. The outer connector ports  60  preferably include turn-to-secure interfaces (e.g., threads, bayonet interfaces, or other interfaces) for engaging with corresponding turn-to-secure fastening elements of the hardened fiber optic connectors. When the hardened fiber optic connectors are installed within the fiber optic adapters  54 ,  56 , and  58 , the fiber optic connectors are preferably sealed relative to the fiber optic adapters  54 ,  56 , and  58 . The inner connector ports  62  are preferably configured for receiving non-hardened fiber optic connectors. As depicted, the inner connector ports  62  are configured for receiving SC-type fiber optic connectors. In other examples, the inner connector ports  62  may be configured for receiving other types of fiber optic connectors such as LC fiber optic connectors or other types of connectors. 
     The first in-line end  46  of the housing  40  is enclosed by a first end plate  70  bonded to the main body section  42  at the first in-line end  46  of the housing  40 . The first fiber optic adapter  54  is coupled to the first plate. The second in-line end  48  of the housing  40  is enclosed by a second plate  72  bonded to the main body section  42  at the second in-line end  48  of the housing  40 . The third fiber optic adapter  58  is coupled to the second plate  72 . The offset end  52  of the housing  40  is enclosed by a third plate  74  bonded to the branch section  50  at the offset end  52  of the housing  40 . The second fiber optic adapter  56  is coupled to the third plate  74 . In one example, the first, second and third plates  70 ,  72 , and  74  are bonded to their respective housing ends after the internal fiber optics and fiber optic management structures have been loaded into the interior of the housing  40 . In certain examples, an insert arrangement can be used to facilitate routing optical fibers within the interior of the housing  40  and to provide pre-positioning of internal fiber optic connectors corresponding to the fiber optic adapters  54 ,  56 , and  58 . In certain examples, the insert arrangement can be configured to allow the optical fibers and the fiber optic connectors to be pre-positioned on the insert arrangement in the desired routing and positioning configuration prior to loading the insert arrangement into the interior of the housing  40 . In certain examples, the insertion process can include a linear insertion process through the in-line portion of the housing  40 . 
     In certain examples, the main body section  42  and the branch section  50  are molded as a one-piece unit having a monolithic construction. The monolithic construction can include a composition that includes plastic. In certain examples, branch section  50  is aligned at an oblique angle relative to the main body section  42 . In one example, the branch section  50  angles away from the second in-line end  48  of the housing  40 . The angling away of the branch section  50  facilitates routing optical fiber from the in-line main-body section  42  to the branch section  50  from the direction of the second in-line end  48 . In other examples, the branch section  50  may be perpendicular relative to the in-line section. In the depicted example, the main body section  42  is cylindrical in shape. 
     It will be appreciated that the plates  70 ,  72 , and  74  can be bonded to their respective ends of the housing  40  by any number of different bonding techniques. For example, the end plates  70 ,  72 , and  74  can be welded (e.g., friction welded, high-frequency welded, hot gas welded, hot plate welded, solvent welded, laser welded, induction welded, ultrasonically welded, etc.) to their respective ends of the housing  40 . In certain examples, an intermediate bonding material may be used to bond the plates  70 ,  72 , and  74  to their respective housing ends and to provide sealing between the plates  70 ,  72 , and  74  and their respective housing ends. Example bonding materials can include adhesive materials such as epoxies. The bonding materials can include thermoset materials and thermoplastic materials. In one example, the plates  70 ,  72 , and  74  may be secured to their respective housing ends using a strength seal. In certain examples, the strength seal can be disposed within a groove adjacent to a tongue. In certain examples, the plates  70 ,  72 , and  74  can include the tongues and the housing ends can include grooves for receiving the tongues. In other examples, the configuration can be reversed with the tongues being provided at the ends of the housing and the grooves being provided within the plates  70 ,  72 , and  74 . In certain examples, the strength seal can include a thermoplastic bonding material having magnetically active particles to activate the strength seal. To activate the strength seals, an electromagnetic field is introduced to the strength seals. The electromagnetic field induces eddy currents in the magnetically active particles, which heats the particles. Heating the particles softens and activates the thermoplastic material and allows the material to bond with the housing ends and the end plates  70 ,  72 , and  74 . Preferably, the components designed to be bonded together are compressed together while the strength seal is activated. Upon cooling, the thermoplastic material hardens, thereby securing the plates  70 ,  72 , and  74  to the ends of the housing  40 . One example embodiment employs EMABOND™ commercially available from Ashland Specialty Chemical Company of Ohio as the thermoplastic material with embedded magnetically active particles. Additional information relating to strength seals can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,753,596, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     It will be appreciated that the configuration of the telecommunications enclosure  20  is relatively simple and includes a relatively low number of parts. Further, the telecommunications enclosure  20  is configured to support an architecture which allows components such as multi-service terminals containing optical power splitters or wavelength division multiplexers to be added to the architecture over time to meet customer demand. In this manner, the cost associated with the multi-service terminals and their corresponding optical splitters can be deferred until customer demand requires the expanded architecture. By stringing together a plurality of the telecommunications enclosures  20  in a daisy-chain type fashion via fiber optic cables coupled to the in-line ends  46 ,  48  of the enclosures  20 , the outer connector ports  60  of the fiber optic adapter  56  at the offset ends  52  are distributed across a given network region and are readily available for adding additional telecommunications equipment to the architecture. 
     It will be appreciated that various fiber optic architectures can be provided within the interior of the housing  40 .  FIG. 20  shows an example indexing architecture incorporated with the telecommunications enclosure  20 . As shown at  FIG. 20 , multi-fiber optical connectors  80   a,    80   b  are installed at the inner ports  62  of the first and third fiber optic adapters  54 ,  58 . In alternative examples, the multi-fiber connector  80   a  may be positioned at the end of a tether coupled to the end of the housing  40  rather than being installed directly at the end of the housing (e.g., see the tether cable version of the telecommunications enclosure depicted at  FIGS. 17 and 18 ). A plurality of optical fibers  82  are indexed between the multi-fiber connectors  80   a,    80   b.  For example, as depicted, the multi-fiber connectors  80   a,    80   b  each have twelve fiber positions labeled  1 - 12 . An optical fiber  83  corresponding to the first position of the multi-fiber connector  80   a  is shown being dropped to a fiber optic connector  84  positioned within the inner connector port  62  of the second fiber optic adapter  56  at the offset end  52  of the housing  40 . The remaining optical fibers  82  corresponding to positions  2 - 12  of the multi-fiber connector  80   a  are routed to multi-fiber connector  80   b  and are indexed so as to be positioned respectively at positions  1 - 11  of the multi-fiber connector  80   b.  Further details about indexing architectures are disclosed by International Publication No. WO2014/190281, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       FIG. 21  shows another example fiber routing architecture that can be utilized within the interior of the enclosure  20 . In the depicted example, single-fiber fiber optic connectors  90   a - c  are respectively positioned in the inner connector ports  62  of the fiber optic adapters  54 ,  56 , and  58 . An optical fiber  92  is routed from the fiber optic connector  90   c  to an optical device  96 . It will be appreciated that the optical device  96  can include a device such as a symmetrical passive optical power splitter, an asymmetric optical power splitter (e.g., an optical power tapping device) or a wavelength division multiplexer. The optical fiber  92  connects to an input side of the device  96  and the device optically couples the fiber  92  to output fibers  97 ,  98  respectively routed to the connectors  90   a  and  90   b.  In the case where the device  96  is an optical power tapping device, the tapping device  96  routes a majority of the power of an optical signal from the optical fiber  92  through the device  96  to the optical fiber  97  which routes to the fiber optic connector  90   a.  Therefore, a majority of the power of the optical signal input to the enclosure via the connector  90   c  passes directly through the enclosure  20  in an in-line manner and is output through the connector  90   a.  The tapping device taps a smaller portion of the power of the signal and directs that portion of the power of the signal through fiber  98  which is directed through the branch section  50  to the fiber optic connector  90   b  located at the offset end  52 . In a case where the device  96  is a wavelength division multiplexer, the device  96  extracts pre-determined wavelengths from the signal stream being routed inline through the device and directs such extracted wavelengths through the branch section  50  to the second fiber optic connector  90   b.  The non-extracted wavelengths are passed from connector  90   c , through the device  96 , to the connector  90   a.  In the case where the device  96  is a symmetric passive optical power splitter, the device  96  evenly splits the signal provided from fiber  92  to each of the output fibers  97 ,  98 . Thus, the optical signal received at the fiber optic connector  90   c  is power split evenly at the device  96  and half of the signal power is directed inline to the fiber optic connector  90   a  while the other half is directed through the branch section  50  to the second fiber optic connector  90   b.  Example tapping architectures and strategies for installing telecommunications equipment over time are disclosed by International Publication No. WO2018/231833, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
     The systems depicted at  FIGS. 20 and 21  allow for a network to be inexpensively installed at a first date, and then expanded at a later date. In this way, cost can be deferred. The network can be installed by connecting a plurality of the enclosures together with fiber optic cables routed between the fiber optic adapters  54 ,  58  at the in-line ends of the enclosure  20 . The network can be expanded by optically connecting telecommunication equipment to the pre-installing in-line optical fiber via the branch ports defined by the fiber optic adapters  56 . For example, drop terminals  101  having passive optical power splitters  102  and hardened drop ports  103  defined by hardened fiber optic adapters can be coupled to the adapters  56  via fiber optic cable  104 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8-17 , the telecommunications enclosure  20  also includes an optical fiber and connector management insert  100  having a form factor suitable for allowing the optical fiber and connector management insert  100  to be loaded into the main body section  42  of the housing  40  through the second in-line end  48  of the housing  40 . Preferably, the optical fibers can be pre-routed in a desired routing path on the insert  100  before loading the insert into the housing  40 . The pre-routing path preferably corresponds to the final intended routing path of the optical fibers when the insert  100  is loaded into the housing  40 . In certain examples, fiber optic connectors can also be pre-positioned prior to loading the insert into the housing  40 . The pre-positioned locations of the fiber optic connectors can correspond to desired final position locations of the connectors when the telecommunications enclosure  20  is fully assembled. In certain examples, the end plates  70 ,  72 , and  74  are mounted at the ends of the housing  40  after the insert  40  has been pre-routed with optical fibers and connectors and the insert has been loaded into the housing  40 . 
     The insert  100  includes a tray portion  102  including a fiber loop-storage region  104 . The fiber loop-storage region  104  can include one or more fiber routing paths for allowing the storage of optical fiber within the insert. The loop-storage paths can include storage paths routed in a racetrack configuration, a  FIG. 8  configuration, circular configuration, an oval configuration, or other configurations suitable for maintaining desired bend radius limitations of the optical fibers. As depicted at  FIG. 11 , the loop-storage region  104  defines a loop-storage path  106  in the shape of a racetrack surrounding a central island  108 . The racetrack shape is formed by a channel  107 . Fibers are held within the channel by fiber retention fingers  110  that project at least partially over the channel  107 . The insert  100  can be formed of a plastic material and can be manufactured in one or more parts. As depicted at  FIG. 11 , the tray portion  102  includes a first piece  109  defining the fiber loop-storage region  104 , and a second piece  111  including a cover  113  that mates with the first piece to enclose the fiber loop-storage region  104 . The pieces  109 ,  111  can be coupled together by a snap fit connection such as by posts  115  that snap into openings  117 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , the insert  100  includes a first connector mount  120  that is movable between an extended orientation and a retracted orientation relative to a main section of the insert defined by the tray portion  102 . In certain examples, the first connector mount  120  is resiliently biased toward the extended orientation. In certain examples, the first connector mount  120  is coupled to the tray portion  104  by at least one arm  124  that resiliently flexes as the first connector mount  120  is moved from the extended orientation toward the retracted orientation. As depicted, for arms  124  are provided. The first connector mount  120  is adapted to receive a fiber optic connector  130  (see  FIG. 8 ) and to hold the fiber optic connector  130  and to position the fiber optic connector  130  in alignment with the inner connector port  62  of the first fiber optic adapter  54  when the insert  100  is loaded into the main body section  42  of the housing  40 . Once the insert  100  has been loaded into the main body section  42  of the housing  40 , the connector mount  120  holds the connector  130  at a position where the connector projects beyond the first in-line end  46 . Therefore, the fiber optic connector  130  can be easily plugged into the inner connector port  62  of the first fiber optic adapter  54 . After the fiber optic connector  130  has been inserted into the first fiber optic adapter  54 , the first plate  70  can be secured to the first in-line end  46  of the main body section  42 . As the first plate  70  is pressed toward the first end  46  after the connector  130  has been installed in the inner connector port  62  of the fiber optic adapter  54 , the arms  124  flex thereby allowing the first connector mount  120  and the corresponding connector  130  to move from the extended position toward the retracted position to allow for connection of the end plate  70  to the first in-line end  46 . 
     It will be appreciated that the first connector mount  120  moves generally in a linear motion along the main axis  44  of the main body section  42  as the first connector mount  120  moves between the extended and retracted orientations. 
     The insert  100  also includes a second connector mount  140  that is also movable between an extended orientation and a retracted (e.g., stowed, see phantom line at  FIG. 12 ) orientation relative to the tray portion  102 . The second connector mount  140  is resiliently biased toward the extended orientation. In certain examples, the second connector mount  140  is coupled to the tray portion  102  by at least one arm  142  that flexes as the second connector mount is moved from the extended orientation toward the retracted orientation. The arm  142  can include fiber retainers  143  for maintaining a fiber in fibers at a routing path that extends along the length of the arm  142 . In certain examples, the second connector mount  140  moves between the extended and retracted orientations along a path that is obliquely angled relative to the main axis  44 . 
     In certain examples, when the second connector mount  140  is in the retracted orientation as shown at  FIG. 12 , the second connector mount  140  and the arm  142  are positioned within the form factor of the insert  100  which is sized to fit within the main body section  42 . In contrast, when the second connector mount  140  and the arm  142  are in the extended orientation, the arm  142  extends laterally outwardly from the tray portion  102  and is positioned laterally outside the form factor designed to fit within the main body section  42 . 
     During insertion of the insert  100  into the main body section  42 , the second connector mount  140  is held at the retracted orientation by a retainer  146  provided adjacent the tray portion  102 . During the linear insertion process of the insert  100  into the main body section  42 , the second connector mount  140  engages a release  148  (see  FIG. 14 ) within the housing  40  causing the second connector mount  140  to disengage from the retainer  146  and automatically extend via the resiliency of the arm  142  into the branch section  50  as the second connector mount  140  moves from the retracted orientation toward the extended orientation. In certain examples, when extended the arm  142  is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the main axis  44  of the housing  40 , with the oblique angle of the arm  142  generally matching the oblique angle of an axis of the branch section  50 . 
     It will be appreciated that the oblique angle of the branch  50  is selected such that the branch section  50  angles away from the second in-line end  48  of the housing  40  through which the insert  100  is inserted. In this way, the oblique angling of the branch section  50  can facilitate directing the connector mount  140  into the branch section  50  as the second connector mount  140  moves from the retracted position to the extended position. 
     Once the second connector mount  140  has been moved to the extended orientation within the branch section  50 , a fiber optic connector  132  pre-installed in the connector mount  140  is preferably positioned outside the offset end  52  of the branch section  50 . This allows the fiber optic connector  130  to be readily inserted into the inner connector port  62  of the second fiber optic adapter  56 . Once the fiber optic connector  132  has been inserted in the inner port  62  of the second fiber optic adapter, the third plate  74  can be bonded to the offset end  52 . As the second plate  72  is moved toward the offset end  52 , the arm  152  can flex to allow the fiber optic connector  132  and the second connector mount  140  to retract within the branch section  150  as the third plate  74  is moved toward the offset end  52  of the branch section  50 . 
     The insert  100  also includes a third connector mount  150  for mounting and prepositioning a fiber optic connector  134  at a desired location. The third connector mount  150  is preferably adapted to align the fiber optic connector  134  with the inner connector port  62  of the third fiber optic adapter  58  secured to the second plate  22 . In practice, the insert is initially pre-routed with optical fiber and the connectors  130 ,  132 ,  134  are mounted at their respective connector mounts  120 ,  140  and  150 . Optical fibers interconnecting the fiber optic connectors  130 ,  132 , and  134  can be pre-routed on the insert  100  as shown at  FIG. 16 . For example, an optical fiber  160  can be routed from the fiber optic connector  134  to a splitter  135  such as a fiber tap. Excess length of the optical fiber can be stored at the loop-storage region  104 . The optical fiber  160  can be optically coupled to an input side of the splitter device  135 . Output optical fibers  161 ,  162  are connected to output sides of the splitter device  135  with the splitter device  135  providing an optical connection between the optical fiber  160  and the output optical fibers  161 ,  162 . The optical fiber  161  is routed from the output side of the splitter device  135  to the fiber optic connector  130  while the optical fiber  162  is routed from the output side of the splitter device  135  to the fiber optic connector  132 . The fiber optic connectors  130 ,  132  and  134  are shown pre-installed with their respective connector mounts  120 ,  140  and  150 . Excess length of the fibers  161 ,  162  can be routed at the loop storage region  104 . The tray portion  102  can include openings  163  for allowing the optical fibers  160 - 162  to be routed in/out of the fiber loop-storage region  104 . 
     With the optical fiber pre-routed on the insert and with the fiber optic connectors pre-installed at their respective connector mounting locations, the second connector mount  140  is moved to the retracted position and secured in the retracted position through engagement with the retainer  146  as shown at  FIG. 12 . The insert  100  is then inserted through the second in-line end  148  of the housing  40  and moved linearly through the main body section  42  along the main axis  44 . During the insertion process, the second connector mount  140  engages the release member  148  and is moved out of engagement with their retainer  146  and allowed to automatically extend by the resiliency of the arm  142  into the branch section  50 . In the inserted configuration with the connector mounts extended, the connector  130  is positioned outside the first in-line end  46  of the housing  40 , the connector  132  is positioned outside the offset end  52  of the housing  40 , and the connector  134  is positioned outside the second in-line end  48  of the housing  40 . Next the connector  134  is inserted into the interconnector port  62  of the fiber optic adapter  58  and the plate  72  is installed at the second in-line end  48 . Thereafter, the connector  130  is inserted into the inner connector port  62  of the fiber optic adapter  54  and the first plate  70  is installed at the first in-line end  46  of the housing  40 . During the plate installation process, the resiliency of the connector mount  120  allows the fiber optic connector  130  to be pressed inwardly into the housing  40 . Finally, the connector  132  is installed in the inner port  62  of the second fiber optic adapter  56  and the third plate  74  is bonded to the offset end  52  of the housing  40 . The resiliency of the arm  142  allows the connector  132  to move into the housing  40  as the third plate  74  is moved toward the offset end  52 . 
     As previously indicated, in an alternative example, the second plate  72  coupled to the third fiber optic adapter  58  can be replaced with a plate  72   a  having a cable attachment location  200  (see  FIGS. 17 and 18 ). A cable  201  is shown secured to the attachment location  200  by a cable affixing sleeve  202  such as a shape-memory sleeve or an overmolded sleeve. In other examples, the cable can be clamped or otherwise secured in place. The plate can be bonded to the second in-line end  48 . Optical fibers of the cable can be routed through the plate  72   a  into the interior of the enclosure. The cable  201  can form a stub cable or tether cable having one end attached to the enclosure  20  and an opposite end being connectorized. The optical fiber or fibers of the tether cable can be coupled to the input side of an internal device. Optical fibers of a multi-fiber cable can also be routed in an indexing configuration as previously described. 
       FIG. 23  shows an example configuration for a hardened fiber optic adapter  300  that is one example of a way to define hardened ports in any of the enclosures disclosed herein. The adapter  300  is adapted to be mounted in sealed relation relative to a housing of an enclosure. For example, seal  314  can seal against the outside of a mounting plate (e.g., any of plates  70 ,  72  or  74 ) of the enclosure and nut  316  can be used to secure the adapter  300  within an opening in the mounting plate. The hardened fiber optic adapter includes an outer port  318  for receiving a hardened fiber optic connector such as the connector  64 . Either the adapter  300  or the connector  64  preferably has a seal for providing environmental sealing between the adapter  300  and the connector  64  when the connector  64  is inserted in the outer port  318 . As depicted, the connector  64  includes seal  68  that seals against a sealing surface  324  of the outer port  318  when the connector  64  is inserted therein. The connector  64  also includes twist-to-secure fastener  73  (e.g., a threaded fastener, a bayonet-style fastener or other structure) that interlocks with a corresponding twist-to-secure fastening arrangement (e.g., threads or bayonet configuration) provided on the adapter  300  to secure the connector  64  within the outer port  318 . The adapter  300  also includes internal alignment sleeve  330  for aligning ferrule  69  of the optical connector  64  with a ferrule of a fiber optic connector (e.g., any of connectors  130 ,  132  or  134 ) that is loaded within an internal port  339  (e.g., a port that is inside the housing of the enclosure) of the adapter  300 . In this way, when the connectors are loaded in their respective ports, their ferrules are aligned and an optical connection is made between optical fibers supported by the ferrules. 
       FIGS. 24-26  depict another telecommunications enclosure  320  in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The telecommunications enclosure  320  includes a housing  322  (see  FIGS. 27-34 ) having a configuration that facilitates configuring an internal optical architecture of the enclosure  320  at least when the telecommunications enclosure  320  is initially being manufactured/assembled. The housing  322  includes a base  324  and a front cover  326 . As shown at  FIGS. 33 and 34 , the base  324  includes an enlarged front opening  328  for providing front and side access to an interior of the base  324 . The front cover  326  has a shape that complements the shape of the front opening  328 . In one example, the front cover  326  mounts over the front opening  328  and is bonded to the base  324  using a bonding technique of the type previously described. In certain examples, the front cover  326  and the front opening  328  can have matching perimeter shapes. In certain examples, the front cover  326  can have a saddle-shaped configuration. In certain examples, the front cover  326  and the base  324  can have edges with mating, complementary profiles (e.g., a mating tongue and groove configuration) for facilitating bonding the base  324  and the front cover  326  together. In certain examples, the bonding interface can include a strength seal having a thermoplastic bonding material including magnetically active particles to activate the strength seal. In certain examples, the front cover  326  can include rear posts  330  that project through the front opening  328  when the front cover  326  is mounted over the front opening  328 . 
     The base  324  and the front cover  326  cooperate to define a main body of the housing  322 . The main body of the housing  322  includes a length L that extends along a first axis  332 . The length L is best shown at  FIGS. 29-31 . The main body of the housing  322  includes first and second opposite ends  334 ,  336  separated by the length L. The telecommunications enclosure  320  preferably includes at least one cable port location located at each of the first and second ends  334 ,  336 . Cable port locations include locations where fiber optic cables can optically connect to the interior of the housing  322 , or pass through a wall of the housing  322  into the interior of the housing  322 . Example port locations can include structures such as hardened fiber optic adapters, cable attachment locations optionally including shape-memory sleeves, and sealed openings including sealant material such as gel for sealing a location where a fiber optic cable enters/exits the housing  322 . In other examples, one or more of the port locations can include stub cables having free ends connectorized by hardened single fiber or multi-fiber optical connectors. 
     In the depicted example of  FIG. 24 , the telecommunications enclosure  320  has four cable port locations which include a first cable port location  338   a  located at the first end  334 , a second cable port location  338   b  located at the second end  336 , a third cable port location  338   c  located at the first end  334 , and a fourth cable port location  338   d  located at the second end  336 . The first and second cable port locations  338   a,    338   b  are coaxially aligned with respect to one another along a first cable port axis  340   a,  and the third and fourth cable port locations  338   c,    338   d  are coaxially aligned with another along a second cable port axis  340   b.  The first and second cable port axes  340   a,    340   b  are parallel with respect to the first axis  332  and with respect to one another. Additionally, the first and second cable port axes  340   a,    340   b  are positioned on opposite sides of the first axis  332 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 24-26 , each of the cable port locations  338   a - 338   d  includes a hardened fiber optic adapter  342  mounted within an opening of a mounting plate  344 . The mounting plates  344  are adapted to be bonded to the housing  322  at locations where the mounting plates  344  cover cable access openings  346  defined through the housing  322 . In the depicted example, the mounting plates  344  and the cable access openings  346  are each circular in shape. In certain examples, a keying arrangement  348  can be defined between each mounting plate  344  and the housing  322 , such that the mounting plates  344  can only be mounted in predetermined rotational orientations relative to their corresponding cable access openings  346 . In the depicted example, each mounting plate  344  defines a key  350  that fits within a corresponding keyway  351  defined by the housing  322  adjacent each of the cable access openings  346 . It will be appreciated that the mounting plates  344  can be bonded to the housing  322  using any of the bonding techniques previously described herein. In a preferred example, strength seals are used to secure the mounting plates  344  to the housing  322 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 26 , each of the hardened fiber optic adapters  342  includes a hardened outer port  352  for receiving a hardened fiber optic connector from outside the enclosure  320 . Each of the hardened fiber optic adapters  342  also includes a ferrule assembly  354  having an internal ferrule  355  mounted within an adapter body of the hardened fiber optic adapter  342 . When a hardened fiber optic connector is inserted within one of hardened outer ports  352 , a corresponding ferrule of the hardened fiber optic connector is aligned with the internal ferrule  355  to provide an optical connection. In certain examples, the hardened fiber optic adapter  342  can be configured to accommodate single-fiber optical connectors, or alternatively, can be configured to accommodate multi-fiber optical connectors. The internal ferrules  355  preferably terminate the ends of optical fibers that are routed within the interior of the housing  322 . The internal optical fibers can be routed to optical components (e.g., asymmetric optical power splitters, symmetric optical power splitters, wavelength division multiplexers, or the like) within the housing  322 , or can be routed between ferrules  355  corresponding to different ones of the cable port locations  338   a - 338   d.    
     Referring to  FIGS. 29, 30, and 32 , the housing  322  includes a width W that extends along a second axis  360  that is perpendicular with respect to the first axis  332 . The housing  322  also includes a depth D (see  FIGS. 31 and 32 ) that extends along a third axis  362  that in perpendicular with respect to the first and second axes  332  and  360 . The first and second ends  334 ,  336  of the housing  322  are separated by the length L of housing  322 . The housing also includes first and second opposite sides  364 ,  366  separated by the width W. Additionally, the housing includes a front  368  and back  370  separated by the depth D. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 33 and 34 , the base  324  has a rear wall  372  that defines the back  370  of the housing  322 . The base  324  also includes first and second opposite end walls  374 ,  376  that project forwardly from the rear wall and respectively define the first and second ends  334 ,  336  of the housing  322 . The base  324  includes a front edge  378  which extends around and defines the front opening  328  of the base  324 . The front edge  378  is defined by the first and second end walls  374 ,  376  along the width W of the housing  322  adjacent the first and second opposite ends  334 ,  336  of the housing  322 . The front edge  378  also extends along the length L of the housing  322  adjacent the first opposite sides  364 ,  366  of the housing  322 . The front edge  378  defines a first depth dimension D 1  with respect to the rear wall  372  at the first and second opposite ends  334 ,  336  of the housing  322 . The front edge  378  defines a second depth dimension D 2  with respect to the rear wall  372  at the first and second sides  364 ,  366  of the housing  322 . In a preferred example, the first depth dimension D 1  is at least three times as large as the second depth dimension D 2 . In the depicted example, the second depth dimension D 2  is defined at a mid region  380  along the length L of the housing  322 . It will be appreciated that the front cover  326  has a rear edge  382  adapted to engage and mate with the front edge  378 . Preferably, both the front edge  378  and the rear edge  382  are adapted to extend about a full perimeter of the front opening  328  and have matching, complementary contours. It will be appreciated that with the front cover  326  disengaged from the base  324 , optical fibers can be readily routed within the interior of the base  324  and optical components can be positioned within the base. In certain examples, optical fibers can be arranged in slack storage areas and optical fibers can be routed to ferrule assemblies  354  corresponding to the hardened fiber optic adapters  342 . Typically, the fiber routing and component positioning takes place during manufacture of the telecommunications enclosure  320  to provide the optical architecture within the enclosure  320 . 
     Once the optical architecture has been established within the enclosure  320 , the front cover  326  can be bonded to the base  324  such that the front cover  326  covers the front opening  328 . In certain examples, the front edge  378  and the rear edge  382  having mating profiles (e.g., tongue and groove configurations) that facilitate bonding the front cover  326  to the base  324  with a strength seal. Preferably, once the front cover  326  is bonded to the base  324 , the front cover  326  is not removed from the base  324 . However, by using a strength seal with embedded magnetically active particles, it is possible to soften the strength seal through the use of a magnetic field to allow the cover to be removed after initial securement for purposes such as repair or providing upgrades. 
     In certain examples, the housing  322  is symmetric about both the first axis  332  and the second axis  360 . In certain examples, as shown at  FIGS. 29 and 30 , the first and second opposite sides  364 ,  366  are concave along the length L of the housing  322  when viewed from the front or back of housing  322 , such that the mid region  380  of the housing  322  defines a waist of the housing  322 . In certain examples, as shown at  FIG. 31 , the front cover  326  has a concavity  384  along the length L of the housing  322  when viewed from the first or second side  364 ,  366  of the housing  322 . In certain examples, as shown at  FIG. 32 , the housing  322  includes convex regions  386  when viewed from the first or second end  332 ,  334  of the housing  322 . Referring back to  FIG. 33 , the front edge  378  has curved transitions  388  that extend between the first depth dimension D 1  and the second depth dimension D 2 . 
     It will be appreciated that the different types of fiber optic architectures can be incorporated within the housing  322  of the telecommunications enclosure  320 .  FIG. 35  shows an example fiber optic architecture including an optical component  390  such as a symmetric or an asymmetric passive optical power splitter or a wavelength division multiplexer. An input  392  of the component  390  is optically coupled to an internal ferrule  355  corresponding to the first cable port location  338   a.  A pass-through optical line optically couples an output of the component  390  to the internal ferrule  355  of the second cable port location  338   b,  and a drop line  396  optically connects an output of the component  390  to the internal ferrule  355  of the fourth cable port location  338   d.  It will be appreciated that the component  390  can be configured to tap a portion of the power of an optical signal being transmitted between the first and second cable port locations  338   a ,  338   b  and route the tapped portion to the fourth cable port location  338   d.  In the case of a wavelength division multiplexer, one or more wavelengths are filtered from the main signal and directed through the drop line  396 . In the case of an asymmetric passive power splitter, a smaller portion of the power of the optical signal being transmitted between the cable port locations  338   a,    338   b  is tapped and forwarded to the fourth cable port location  338   d.  In certain examples, the third cable port location  338   c  can be used for upgrades or expansion. 
       FIG. 36  depicts another architecture similar to the architecture of  FIG. 35  except a passive optical power splitter  402  has been provided for splitting the signal carried by the drop line  396  and directing the signal to each of the third and fourth cable port locations  338   c,    338   d.    
       FIG. 37  shows an example fiber optic architecture  410  having an indexing configuration in which optical fibers are indexed from a multi-fiber ferrule  412  at the first cable port location  338   a  to a multi-fiber ferrule  414  at the second cable port location  338   b.  A first fiber position of the ferrule  412  is optically connected to the fourth cable port location  338   d  by a drop line (e.g., an optical fiber) and a last fiber position of the ferrule  414  is optically connected to the third cable port location  338   c  by a drop line. In another example, multi-fiber ferrules can be provided at the third and fourth port locations  338   c,    338   d  and multiple drops are routed from the first cable port location  338   a  to the fourth cable port location  338   d  and multiple drops are routed from the second cable port location  338   b  to the third cable port location  338   c.  In such an example, optical fibers indexed between the first cable port location  338   a  and the second cable port location  338   b  can be indexed a number of positions equal to the number of optical fibers dropped to the fourth cable port location  338   d.  In other examples, optical fibers may only be dropped to one of the third or fourth cable port locations  338   c,    338   d  and the other of the cable port locations  338   c,    338   d  can be a blind port available for future use/expansion/upgrades.  FIG. 38  depicts an example architecture for an indexing configuration where multiple fibers (e.g., four optical fibers) are dropped from the first cable port location  338   a  to the fourth cable port location  338   d  and the third cable port location  338   c  is unused and available for future use. 
     The various examples and teachings described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the examples and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.