Patent Publication Number: US-2016223770-A1

Title: Fiber optic termination assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/877,770 filed on Sep. 13, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A fiber optic termination assembly allows for fiber optic cables to be connected to other fiber optic cables through a termination panel including a plurality of adapters. Sometimes feeder cables are connected directly to distribution cables. In other examples, patch cords are utilized to connect patch fields between distribution and feeder cables. In some systems, cable storage and cable splicing may be provided. Improvements in this area are desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention includes a fiber optic termination assembly including a chassis which holds at least one pivotally mounted tray, and alternatively a plurality of pivotally mounted trays in a stacked array. The trays and chassis allow selective access to each tray as desired by pivoting a selected tray relative to the chassis. The tray includes a base part and a detachable part. The base part remains with the chassis, and the detachable part is separable from the base part. The base part cooperates with the detachable part to form a cable storage area for storing one or more loops of fiber optic cables. The detachable part includes a termination panel for holding a plurality of adapters wherein the adapters allow for mating of two connectors for fiber optic signal transmission. The detachable part may instead or in addition to also include a cable storage area and/or a cable splice area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fiber optic termination assembly in accordance with aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the fiber optic termination assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the fiber optic termination assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the fiber optic termination assembly of  FIG. 1 , with portions removed, and showing a single tray; 
         FIG. 5  is a further view of the assembly of  FIG. 4 , without the top cover, and with a front cover pivoted away from the tray; 
         FIG. 6  is a view like  FIG. 5 , with the tray also pivoted out of the chassis; 
         FIG. 7  is a further perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 6 , with the tray shown in a pivoted position, and showing a detachable part of the tray separate from a base part; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of one of snap fit connections between the base part and the detachable part of the tray; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the tray latch and other features of the tray and frame; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view like  FIG. 9  from a different angle; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a tray removed from the chassis; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the tray of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the tray of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-10 , a fiber optic termination assembly is shown including a chassis  12  and a plurality of trays  14 . Trays  14  are pivotally rotatable about hinge axis  16  relative to chassis  12 . 
     Chassis  12  includes a top  20  and a frame  22  having a top portion  24 , a bottom portion  26  and a side portion  28 . A rear portion  30  is also provided. Hinge  34  defines hinge axis  16  to allow pivoting movement of a selected tray  14  relative to chassis  12  to permit access to an interior of tray  14 . 
     Frame  22  includes cable management elements  36  for holding incoming cables or fiber tubes inside of chassis  12 . Elements  36  include hooks, tabs, ties, and other devices for guiding and managing cables or tubes. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-10  and also  FIGS. 11-13 , tray  14  includes a base part  40  and a detachable part  42 . A front cover  44  covers a front area of tray  14 , and is separately pivotable about hinge axis  16  relative to a remainder of tray  14 . 
     Base part  40  is connected in a pivotable manner to frame  22  of chassis  12  at hinge element  48 . Base part  40  includes a bottom  50 , a side  52  and cable tab  54 . Base part  40  further includes two projections  58  each defining a hole  60  in a distal end  62 . 
     The detachable part  42  has a side portion  70  and a cable termination portion  72 . Other functions besides terminations or in addition to terminations can be handled by portion  72 . Side portion  70  cooperates with base part  40  to form a basket area  74  for storing loops of cable. Side portion  70  includes slots  78  which each receive one of projections  58  of base part  40 . Flexible tabs  80  each including a projection  82  for engagement with holes  60  of projections  58  of base part  40  to retain detachable part  42  with base part  40 . Side portion  70  includes first cable tabs  90  and second cable tabs  92  which cooperate with cable tab  54  of base part  40  to form a partially enclosed basket area  74  for storage of cable loops. Flexible tabs  80  allow for a quick connect of detachable part  42  to base part  40 . Flexible tabs  80  also allow for a quick disconnect of detachable part  42  from base part  40 . The flexible tabs  80  and projections  82  form a snap fit connection. Termination portion  72  is surrounded by a wall  94 . 
     From basket area  74  a cable pathway  96  leads cables to a splice or a storage area  98 . Various structures can be provided on cable termination portion  72  including splices and/or storage of cables. Various additional structures can be provided for managing and organizing the fiber optic cables, including a divider wall  100  and cable retention tabs  102 . A termination panel  110  holds fiber optic adapters  112  which are used to align connectors  114  for transmission of fiber optic signals. 
     Front cover  44  includes a latch  120  which latches front cover to base part  40 . Front cover  44  is separately rotatable relative to base part  40 . Cover  44  includes a flange  122  which is positioned between hinge elements  48  in the stack of trays  14 . Front cover  44  includes an opening for receipt of tray latch  126 . Latch  126  is flexible and is able to hold tray  14  in a closed/retracted position or an open/extended position when latch  126  is positioned in notches  127 . 
     Tray  14  also includes a front element  128  which supports cables on the front of tray  14 . Cables enter tray  14  along pathway  140  and can be held by hooks and ties along wall section  142 . Cables exit tray  14  along pathway  146  and support  128  and front flanges  150 . The outgoing cables can be further supported by cable rings  156  along side portion  28  of frame  22 . 
     The interior of chassis  12  can be accessed and a tray  14 , by pivoting front cover  44  to an open position. This allows for access to front connectors  114  on a tray  14 . If a rear connector  114  needs to be accessed the selected tray  14  can be pivoted can be pivoted out of chassis  12 . Splice/storage area  98  can also be accessed when tray  14  is pivoted out from chassis  12 . 
     If a technician needs to do work on a splice or other equipment in tray  14 , detachable part  42  can be separated from base part  40 . The slack cable in basket area  74  allows for the detachable part  42  to be moved to a table area or more convenient location for the technician to work on tray  14 . Base part  40  stays with chassis  12 . The storage loops of cable in basket area  74  tend to fall out as the detachable part  42  is moved away from base part  40 . Flexible tabs  80  allow for a quick disconnect of detachable part  42  from base part  40 . Flexible tabs  80  allow for a quick connect of detachable part  42  to base part  40 . The slack cable can be looped up and placed back in basket area  74 . 
     Basket area  74  is formed in part by first basket portion  74   a  of base part  40 , and second basket portion  74   b  of detachable part  42 . When detached, the cables stored in basket area  74  easily fall out to allow the technician to easily move detachable part  42  to an area away from chassis  12 . 
     Typically, chassis  12  is mounted in a rack that may hold a column of chassis  12  that span floor to ceiling, or other equipment. By allowing the technician to move detachable portion  42  away from chassis  12  and undoing the storage loops from basket area  74 , the technician can easily move, and more quickly perform the necessary service work. 
     The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. 
     PARTS LIST 
     
         
           10  Fiber optic termination assembly 
           12  Chassis 
           14  Tray 
           16  Hinge axis 
           20  Top 
           22  Frame 
           24  Top portion 
           26  Bottom portion 
           28  Side portion 
           30  Rear portion 
           34  Hinge 
           36  Cable management elements 
           40  Base part 
           42  Detachable part 
           44  Front cover 
           48  Hinge element 
           50  Bottom 
           52  Side 
           54  Cable tab 
           58  Projections 
           60  Holes 
           62  Distal end 
           70  Side portion 
           72  Cable termination portion 
           74  Basket area 
           74   a  First basket portion 
           74   b  Second basket portion 
           78  Slots 
           80  Flexible tabs 
           82  Projections 
           90  First cable tabs 
           92  Second cable tabs 
           94  Wall 
           96  Cable pathway 
           98  Splice/storage area 
           100  Divider wall 
           102  Cable tabs 
           110  Termination panel 
           112  Adapters 
           114  Connectors 
           120  Latch 
           122  Flange 
           124  Opening 
           126  Tray latch 
           127  Notches 
           128  Support 
           140  Pathway 
           142  Wall section 
           146  Pathway 
           150  Front flanges 
           156  Cable rings