Patent Publication Number: US-2023148140-A1

Title: Base interface for a telecommunications closure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is being filed on Mar. 30, 2021 as a PCT International Patent Application and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/002,086, filed on Mar. 30, 2020, and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/044,909, filed on Jun. 26, 2020, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Various closures are known in the telecommunications industry for receiving cables and enclosing telecommunications equipment and components within the enclosure, such as cables, splices, splitters, and cable connectors and adaptors. Enclosures may also include cable fixation devices. Fiber optic cables and equipment can be managed and protected by the closures. 
     Telecommunications equipment, such as the closures, contain telecommunications cables and connectivity equipment, often in a sealed interior. The closures need to be worked on by a technician. Sometimes the work is needed during initial installation. Other times the work is needed after installation to make a repair or to make a change in the cable or connectivity equipment. With the telecommunications equipment there are typically telecommunications connections between cables, such as fiber cables, for connecting the closure to other pieces of equipment, such as a central office, a telecommunications hub, a multi-service terminal, or a customer&#39;s premises. 
     In the case of some closures, cables enter and exit the closure through a seal of a base and a cover or dome covers the internal equipment and mounts to the base in a sealed fashion. 
     When the closures need to be worked on by a technician, there is a need for devices, systems, and methods for holding the closures in a manner that allows a technician to work on the internal elements of the closure without having to simultaneously hold the closure or otherwise work on it in an unstable arrangement, such as with the closure lying on the ground or on a work table in an unsecured manner. 
     There is a need to improve one or more aspects of these telecommunications enclosures including such items as ease of assembly, ease of installation, ease of repair or servicing after initial installation, ease of mounting the functioning closure to other structures, and other aspects of the closures. 
     SUMMARY 
     A base interface is provided for a telecommunications closure includes structure for mounting to the closure as a workstand. 
     The base interface can include structure for mounting cables to the base interface. 
     The base interface can be used in combination with other features for mounting the closure to a pole or other device in the field. 
     The base interface can mount to a support device which is mountable to a wall, a pole, a workstand, or a lifting device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows an example embodiment of a base interface including cable mounting brackets, wherein the base interface is mounted to two horizontally oriented rod ends. 
         FIG.  2    shows the two horizontally positioned rods of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    shows the base interface mounted to two vertically oriented rod ends. 
         FIG.  4    shows a cable attachment bracket separated from the base interface of the type for mounting to one or more cables. 
         FIG.  5    shows an example cable mounted to the cable mounting bracket of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  6    shows the cable mounted to the bracket and the bracket mounted to the base interface. 
         FIG.  7    shows interior elements of a closure being initially mounted to the base interface of  FIG.  6   . 
         FIG.  8    shows a further step in the mounting process of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    shows a base of the exterior of the closure during mounting of the base to the closure interior elements. 
         FIG.  10    shows the base mounted and positioned over the cable ceiling area. 
         FIG.  11    shows the dome cover of the closure ready for mounting over the interior elements and mounting to the base. 
         FIG.  12    shows the dome cover mounted to the base. 
         FIG.  13    shows another example embodiment of a base interface. 
         FIG.  14    shows a mounting bracket for mounting to the base interface of  FIG.  13   . 
         FIG.  15    shows the base interface of  FIG.  13    mounted to the mounting bracket of  FIG.  14   . 
         FIG.  16    shows a cable mounting bracket. 
         FIG.  17    shows a cable mounted to the cable bracket of  FIG.  16   . 
         FIG.  18    shows the cable mounting bracket with the attached cable mounted to the base interface. 
         FIG.  19    shows the closure interior elements mounted to the base interface. 
         FIG.  20    shows a gel segment mounted over the cable relative to the view of  FIG.  19   . 
         FIG.  21    shows the closure base added over a lower portion of the interior elements of the closure, including the gel seal. 
         FIG.  22    shows a dome closure added and connected to the base of the closure. 
         FIG.  23    shows an alternative embodiment of a base interface. 
         FIG.  24    shows the alternative embodiment of the base interface of  FIG.  23   , with a different cable mounting bracket in one of the bracket mounting locations. 
         FIG.  25    is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a base interface which receives a U-shaped rod, and showing a support device mounted to a U-shaped channel. 
         FIG.  26    is front elevational view of the view of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  27    is a bottom perspective view of the views of  FIGS.  25  and  26   . 
         FIG.  28    is a rear elevational view of the view of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  29    is further top perspective view of the view of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  30    is a further bottom perspective view of the view of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  31    is a further view showing the interior elements of the closure removed from the base interface. 
         FIG.  32    is a front perspective view of the support device of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  33    is a rear perspective view of the support device of  FIG.  32   . 
         FIG.  34    is a front elevational view of the support device of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  35    is a rear elevational view of the support device of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  36    is a top perspective view of the base interface of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  37    is a bottom perspective view of the base interface of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  38    is a top view of the view of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  39    is a side view of the view of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  40    is a partial cross-section along lines  40 - 40  of  FIG.  39   . 
         FIG.  41    is an exploded view of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  42    is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a base interface usable with the U-shaped rod of  FIG.  25    and the support device of  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  43    is a view of  FIG.  42    without the interior elements and the base of  FIG.  42   . 
         FIG.  44    is a top perspective view of the base interface of  FIG.  42   . 
         FIG.  45    is a bottom perspective view of the base interface of  FIG.  44   . 
         FIG.  46    is a top view of the base interface of  FIG.  44   . 
         FIG.  47    is a bottom view of the base interface of  FIG.  44   . 
         FIG.  48    is an exploded view of the view of  FIG.  42   . 
         FIG.  49    shows the base interface, the U-shaped rod, and the support device of  FIG.  42    mounted to a pole. 
         FIG.  50    shows the device of  FIG.  49   , without the interior elements and the base of the closure. 
         FIG.  51    is an alternative view of the view of  FIG.  50   . 
         FIG.  52    shows the base interface, the U-shaped rod, and the support device of  FIG.  42    mounted to a wall. 
         FIG.  53    shows the device of  FIG.  52    without the interior elements and the base of the closure. 
         FIG.  54    is a side view of the view of  FIG.  53   . 
         FIG.  55    shows the base interface, the U-shaped rod, and the support device of  FIG.  42    mounted to a workstand on a table in a vertical orientation. 
         FIG.  56    is a close-up view of the view of  FIG.  55   . 
         FIG.  57    is an exploded view of the view of  FIGS.  55  and  56   . 
         FIG.  58    shows the workstand mounted to a table in a horizontal orientation. 
         FIG.  59    shows the support device shown in previous figures with an alternative form, and mounted to a U-shaped channel in a similar manner, and including an alternative closure mounting bracket. 
         FIG.  60    is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a base interface which receives a mounting bracket which is mounted to a U-shaped channel, and the base interface being mounted to some interior elements of a closure. 
         FIG.  61    is a further top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG.  60    of the base interface and the mounting bracket, and a base of the closure mounted to the mounting bracket. 
         FIG.  62    is a bottom view of the base interface, the interior elements, the mounting bracket, the base, and the U-shaped channel of  FIGS.  60  and  61   . 
         FIG.  63    is an exploded perspective view of the base interface, the interior elements, the mounting bracket, and the base of  FIGS.  61  and  62   . 
         FIG.  64    is a top perspective view of the base interface of  FIGS.  60 - 63   . 
         FIG.  65    is a top perspective of the mounting bracket of  FIGS.  60 - 63   . 
         FIG.  66    is a further bottom perspective view of the mounting bracket of  FIG.  65   . 
         FIG.  67    is a top perspective view of a closure mounted to a wall with the mounting backet of  FIGS.  60 - 63 ,  65 , and  66   . 
         FIG.  68    is a closeup perspective of a mounting support of the closure of  FIG.  67   . 
         FIG.  69    is a perspective view of the mounting support of  FIGS.  67  and  68   . 
         FIG.  70    is a closeup of another mounting support usable with the U-shaped channel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , a base interface  10  is shown having a disk shape with an upper surface  12 , a lower surface  14 , and a side surface  16 . Mounting openings  18  are for use in mounting the base interface to a closure, such as with posts on the closure and fasteners through the base interface  10 . 
     Side openings  20  are used to mount to one or more support rods  30  or other support structure for use as a workstand to assemble or to repair or service, or for use as a permanent mounting structure for mounting the closure to another structure. Fasteners can be used to mount the base interface  10  to the support rods  30 . 
     Cable mounting brackets  40  are mounted to base interface  10 . Cable mounting brackets  40  are separable from base interface  10 . Cable mounting brackets  40  can be mounted to the lower surface of base interface  10  in one example. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the base interface can also be mounted horizontally with different positioning of support rods  30 . Such an arrangement allows flexibility for the installer who is assembling the closure and the cables. The installer can choose to work on the closure in a horizontal position or in a vertical position, or another orientation such as angled if desired. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4 - 6   , one of the cable mounting brackets  40  is shown being mounted to a cable  50 . In this example, cable  50  is mounted to cable mounting bracket  40  with a plurality of cable ties  52 . Cable  50  is a jacketed fiber optic cable, with fibers inside, and also one or more strength members, and possibly one of more tubes containing various numbers of optical fiber. Some fibers are accessed for connection to other fibers within closure  60 , or they may be looped through to another closure or device. Once the cable  50  is mounted to the bracket  40 , the bracket can be mounted to base interface  10 . Additional cables can be mounted to bracket  40 , or other brackets on base interface  10 . The technician can work on the cable attachment to the mounting bracket  40 , and then work on the mounting bracket  40  to the base interface  10  with easier access, since the closure structure is not yet present in one example. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , interior elements  62  of closure  60  are able to be separately mounted to base interface  10 . One mounting arrangement is with posts  72  from the interior elements mounting to mounting openings  18  such as with fasteners. Interior elements  62  include a seal  64  for sealing the cables relative to an interior of the closure  60 . 
     Interior elements  62  also include cable management devices for mounting and/or routing of the individual cables to the interior of closure  60 . Base interface  10  includes a center opening  22  for receiving the actuator  68  of closure  60  as shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8   . Actuator  68  controls the sealing and unsealing of the closure. Interior elements  62  of closure  60  can include such items as cables, cable mounts, cable routing managers, loop storage, splices, splitters, and cable connectors and adaptors. Interior elements  62  of closure  60  can also include hingable trays containing one or more of cable slack, splices, splitters or other telecommunications components. 
     In  FIGS.  9  and  10   , base  70  of closure  60  is shown being mounted over interior elements  62 . In  FIGS.  11  and  12   , a dome cover  80  is shown being mounted over interior elements  62  and then connected to base  70 , such as with a clamp or strap  82 . Closure  60  can have a variety of shapes, structures and internal components. The seal  64  and an example incoming cable  50  is shown. The internal telecommunications cables and connectivity components such as fiber optic splice trays, splitter trays or fiber optic connectors and mating adapters are shown. Commercial closures of the type illustrated include FIST style and FOSC style closures available from CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina, USA. An example closure of the type described above is shown U.S. Pat. No. 8,989,550, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. A further example closure of the type described above is shown in WO2018/234579, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The closure of WO2018/234579 closely resembles the closure  60  of the Figures. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  13   , an additional embodiment of base interface  110  similar to base interface  10  is shown including the center opening  22 , the mounting openings  18  for connecting to the closure  60 , and the two side openings  20  for mounting to the support rods  30  or other rods. 
       FIG.  14    shows a mounting bracket  120  for use as a workstand or a permanent mounting structure including similar support rods  130 . 
       FIG.  15    shows the base interface  110  mounted to the support rods  130  of the mounting bracket  120  of  FIG.  14   . 
       FIGS.  16  and  17    show another example cable mounting bracket  140  and a cable  50  being mounted to the cable mounting bracket  140 . Cable mounting bracket  140  includes structure such as T tabs  142  to enable cables  50  to be mounted with cable ties  52 , such as zip ties. Cable mounting bracket  140  includes a mounting hole  144  for mounting to the lower surface of base interface  110  such as with a fastener. 
       FIG.  18    shows the example cable mounting bracket  140  and cable  50  of  FIG.  17    being mounted to the base interface  110 . 
       FIG.  19    shows the interior elements  62  of closure  60  being mounted to the base interface  110 . 
       FIG.  20    shows a gel sealing element  66  being positioned over the cable  50 . 
       FIG.  21    shows the base  70  mounted over a lower portion of the interior elements  62 . 
       FIG.  22    shows the dome cover  80  being mounted to the base  70 , and connected with a strap  82 , to form closure  60 . 
       FIG.  23    shows an alternative embodiment of a base interface  210 , which includes a plate  220 , and side mounts  224  for the mounting brackets  240 .  FIG.  24    shows the alternative embodiment of the base interface  310  with plate  220  of  FIG.  23   , with a different cable mounting bracket  340  in one of the bracket mounting locations. 
       FIGS.  25  through  41    show an alternative embodiment of a base interface  410  which is mountable with U-shaped rods  430  to a support device  400 . Support device  400  is mounted to a U-shaped channel or projection  440 . U-shapes  492  receive the rod  430  and secure it with a fastener. Holes  494  secure base interface  410  to interior elements  62 . 
     A pin  450  mounts support device  400  to U-shaped projection  440 . Support device  400  includes a cylindrical opening  460  extending in an axial direction parallel to an axial direction of the inner elements of the closure. Cylindrical opening  460  can rotate as desired (once no longer fixed with pin  450 ) about u-shaped projection  440 . 
     U-shaped projection  440  can be stationary or movable. In one example, it is rotatable into and out of an underground location. Projection  440  can rotate upwardly as shown in  FIG.  39    for a technician to work on the closure interior elements. In some cases, support device can either or both lift and rotate relative to projection  440  to facilitate easier technician access. Pin  450  as described below and shown in the figures allows for the technician to make the adjustments. Either pin  450  is received in a hole in projection of just below for the technician to work on the closure in a more convenient orientation besides the storage orientation on projection  440 . 
     Support device  400  includes one or more features for mounting to other structures, such as a wall, a pole or a projection. In the example embodiment, the closure can be mounted to the front of support device  400  or the rear of support device  400 . The rear of support device  400  can include a curved portion  470  to facilitate pole mounting. Strap cut outs  472  can be provided to facilitate a pole mount. Openings  476  in support device  400  facilitate a wall mount to fasteners. Openings  480  receive the ends of U-shaped rod  430  and mating fasteners (nuts) to secure base interface  410  to support device  400 . Further openings  490  can receive a pin  450  to secure the closure in a certain orientation (vertical or rotational or both) relative to any inner mating device like U-shaped projection  440 , or other device (see below for cylinder  800 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  42  through  48    an alternative embodiment of a base interface  510  is shown mountable with a U-shaped rod  430  to support device  400 . Base interface  510  can be made from molded plastic, wherein base interface  410  can be made from sheet metal and include integral cable mounting brackets  40 . Brackets  40  mount to base interface  510  with fasteners. U-shapes  592  receive the rod  430  and secure it with a fastener. Holes  594  secure base interface  510  to interior elements  62 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  49  through  51   , the device shown in  FIGS.  42  through  48    is mounted to a pole  600 . Furthermore, base interface  510  is mounted to an opposite side of the support device  400  with the same U-shaped rod  430 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  52  through  54   , the device of  FIGS.  42  through  51    is shown mounted to a planar wall surface  700  utilizing various fasteners for mounting to the wall. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  55  through  58   , the device shown in  FIGS.  42  through  54    is mounted in a manufacturing or workstand arrangement for initial assembly or for working on the device for a repair. The workstand includes a cylinder  800  which is received in the cylindrical hole of support device  400 . As shown in  FIGS.  55  through  58   , the cylinder  800  can be mounted vertically to arrange the closure in a vertical orientation, or horizontally. Cylinder  800  can have other shapes such as square in outer cross section. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  59   , a different support device  400 ′ is shown, although similar in function to support device  400 . Support device  400 ′ is shown mounted to a U-shaped projection  440  as in  FIG.  42   , but mounted to a support bracket  900  which interfaces with a different style closure. In this case, a TENIO style enclosure, manufactured and sold by CommScope, Inc., mounts to the support bracket  900 . 
     In other example embodiments, U-shaped rod  430  is shown with a round cross-section. In some embodiments a rectangular cross-section can be utilized, if desired. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  60 - 66   , another embodiment of a base interface  1010  receives a mounting bracket  1900  which is mountable to U-shaped channel  440 . As in above-noted embodiments, the base interface  1010  is also mounted to interior elements  62  of a closure  60 . As shown in  FIGS.  61 - 63   , base  70  of closure  60  is also mounted to mounting bracket  1900 . See also  FIG.  67    where base  70  of closure  60  is mounted to mounting bracket  1900  mounted to a wall  2020 , instead of a U-shaped channel. The additional mounting of features on mounting bracket  1900  to closure  60  by way of base  70  helps for more secure mounting of closure  60  as the closure  60  becomes heavier, and/or longer along a central axis. 
       FIGS.  60 - 67    show inner arms  1906  of mounting bracket  1900  mounting to base interface  1010 . Fasteners  1920  pass through holes  1916  of inner arms  1906  onto openings  1930  of U-shapes  1092  on base interface  1010 . U-shapes  1092  include downward tabs  1932  that space inner arms  1906  from openings  1930 . Holes  494  secure base interface  1010  to interior elements  62 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  60 - 67   , inner arms  1906  of mounting bracket  1900  are mounted to base interface  1010 . This allows a technician to work on closure  60  without the presence of dome cover  80  or base  70 . This may occur during manufacture, or during installation in the field. This may also occur if the closure needs to be accessed in the field after installation such as for repair, or to add new cabling in the closure. 
       FIGS.  60 - 67    also show outer arms  1910  of mounting bracket  1900  mounting to base  70 , when base is present. Fasteners  1924  pass through holes  1918  of tabs  1914  of outer arms  1910  into pockets  1940  of base  70 . Base  70  is axially moved in a direction toward actuator  68  to engage tabs  1914  when base  70  is to be secured to mounting bracket  1900 . In this configuration, inner arms  1906  and outer arms  1910  combine to secure closure  60  to projection  440  or other structure. 
     Base  70  is axially moved in a direction away from actuator  68  to disengage tabs  1914  when base  70  is to be separated from mounting bracket  1900 . This may occur when cables are to be added or removed from closure  60 , and seal  64  must be accessed. In this configuration, inner arms  1906  are still mounted to the interior elements  62  of closure  60  through base interface  1010 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  61 - 63 ,  65  and  66   , mounting bracket  1900  includes a rear panel  1902  from which inner arms  1906  and outer arms  1910  extend. Rear panel  1902  includes openings for fastener to mount mounting bracket  1900  to another structure. One example structure is a support device  1400 . Support device  1400  is mounted to U-shaped projection  440 . Pin  450  mounts support device  1400  to U-shaped projection  440 . Support device includes a generally square inner periphery and a generally square outer periphery. 
       FIG.  67    shows closure  60  mounted to a wall  2020  with the mounting bracket  1900  of  FIGS.  60 - 63 ,  65 , and  66   . Fasteners mount rear panel to the wall. A similar arrangement can be used to mount closure  60  to a pole. 
       FIGS.  67 - 69    show a mounting support  2000  for use with the closure  60 . Mounting support  2000  is spaced from mounting bracket  1900  along the longitudinal axis of closure  60 . The additional mounting through mounting support  2000  helps for more secure mounting of closure  60  as the closure  60  becomes heavier, and/or longer along a central axis. 
     The example shown for mounting support  2000  includes a mounting panel  2002  with fastener openings  2004  to mount to the wall  2020  or other structure. A tab  2006  projects from mounting panel  2002 . Opening  2008  on tab  2006  aligns with opening  86  of tab  84  of dome cover  80  for receipt of a mounting pin. 
       FIG.  70    shows another mounting support  2100  usable with the U-shaped projection  440 . Mounting support  2100  includes a loop  2102  to be secured or positioned around the U-shaped projection. Mounting support  2100  can be connected to closure  60  with a strap.