Patent Description:
The present invention relates to telecommunications panels, trays, and related cable management structures.

Numerous telecommunications panels exist today and are used in various equipment applications. Conventional telecommunications panels include hinges that are designed to allow a tray to be rotated out of the telecommunications panel. By rotating the tray out of the telecommunications panel, access is provided to rear portions of a termination field. Such trays may include cable management structures that aid in organizing and managing telecommunications cables routed to and away from the telecommunications panel. <CIT> relates a pivotable and removable cable management tray comprsing openings for entering and exiting optical fibers, as well as retention structures and a storage area.

<CIT> discloses a pre-cabled telecommunication assembly.

In one aspect the claimed invention provides.

a basket for a telecommunications tray in accordance with claim <NUM>. In another aspect the claimed invention provides a pre-cabled telecommunications tray in accordance with claim <NUM>.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:.

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts.

Referring now to <FIG>, a telecommunications panel <NUM> (e.g., an enclosure, an optical distribution frame, etc.) is illustrated according to the principles of the present disclosure. The telecommunications panel <NUM> may be included in a cabinet (not shown). The telecommunications panel <NUM> and/or the cabinet may be used for various purposes in telecommunications systems. For example, housing a cable management arrangement including, for example, a cable management basket and a patch panel. In one aspect, patch cords (i.e., patch cables, connectorized fiber optic cables, etc.) may enter the telecommunications panel <NUM> and/or the cabinet and be interconnected at a patch panel which may include a plurality of fiber optic adapters. Fiber optic connectors that terminate ends of the patch cords may connect with the fiber optic adapters of the patch panel. The interconnections at the patch panel may be rearranged from time-to-time, as desired, for changing configurations of the telecommunications system. The telecommunications panel <NUM> may further hold various other telecommunications components. An exemplary telecommunications system <NUM> is shown and described in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) publication number <CIT>, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Referring to <FIG>, the telecommunications panel <NUM> may include a chassis <NUM> to which one or more multi-positionable tray assemblies <NUM> are removably attached. In the example shown, a single tray assembly <NUM> is attached to the chassis <NUM>. However, the chassis <NUM> may be configured to hold multiple tray assemblies <NUM>, for example, three or more tray assemblies <NUM>, as shown and described in the WO '<NUM> publication. In one aspect, the chassis <NUM> can be configured to support other components of the telecommunications panel <NUM>, as desired. For example, the chassis <NUM> can be configured to support cable management structures <NUM> and <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, cable management structure <NUM> is configured to guide patch cords extending from the tray assembly <NUM>. The cable management structure <NUM> is configured to allow one or more cables to enter the chassis <NUM> and tray <NUM>. The tray <NUM> may also be configured to support various cable management structures. For example, cable management structures <NUM> and <NUM> may be provided to guide patch cords towards cable management structure <NUM>.

In one aspect, the telecommunications panel <NUM> further includes a patch panel <NUM> including a plurality of fiber optic adapters <NUM> supported by a patch panel frame <NUM>. As shown, the fiber optic adapters <NUM> are LC-type adapters. However, other types of adapters may be provided, for example, SC-type adapters. The fiber optic adapters <NUM> are configured to receive fiber optic connectors on each side of the patch panel <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the multi-positionable tray assembly <NUM> can include a tray <NUM> (e.g., a sub-rack) and a support arm <NUM> that are pivotally connected to each other via a pivot joint <NUM> that allows the tray assembly <NUM> to be moved between a folded position and an access position. The pivot joint <NUM> is formed by the interface between an upper joint arm of the support arm <NUM> and an upper joint extension of the tray <NUM> and by the interface between a lower joint arm of the support arm <NUM> and a lower joint extension of the tray <NUM>. The interfaces can be secured together by a variety of means, for example, a snap-fit type connection via protrusions and corresponding recesses or by a connection utilizing fasteners. As depicted, the pivot joint <NUM> represents the connection between the tray <NUM> and the support arm <NUM> to the chassis <NUM> and defines a vertical hinge with an axis for the multi-positionable tray assembly <NUM>. Although the pivot joint <NUM> and support arm <NUM> are shown as being provided on the left-hand side of the tray <NUM> (as viewed at <FIG>, for example) to result in a left-hand swinging tray, the tray <NUM> may be configured such that the pivot joint <NUM> and support arm <NUM> are provided on the right-hand side of the tray <NUM> to result in a right-hand swinging tray <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, it can be seen that the tray <NUM> is configured with multiple attachment feature arrangements <NUM> which enables the tray <NUM> to accept various types of telecommunications components, for example the cable management basket <NUM> shown at <FIG> and <FIG>. In one aspect, the tray <NUM> includes a rear sidewall 22a, a front sidewall 22b, a second sidewall 22d, an interior wall structure 22e, and a bottom wall 22f. Various cable guide structures <NUM> extending from the bottom wall 22f are also shown as being provided.

In the example presented, various attachment features are provided such that the cable management basket <NUM> can be removably secured to the tray <NUM>. For example, a pair of spaced attachment features <NUM> is provided at the rear sidewall 22a of the tray <NUM>. An attachment feature <NUM> is also provided at the rear sidewall 22a and between the attachment features <NUM>. Another pair of attachment features <NUM> is provided on the bottom wall <NUM>. Attachment features can also be provided at a front sidewall <NUM>. For example, a pair of attachment features <NUM> can be provided, each of which is similarly configured to the attachment feature <NUM>. Yet another attachment feature <NUM> can be provided and is shown as being located between the attachment features <NUM>. Attachment features <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are further shown and described in the WO '<NUM> publication.

Referring to <FIG>, the cable management basket <NUM> is shown in further detail. In one aspect, the cable management basket <NUM> includes a bottom wall <NUM> and an outer perimeter wall <NUM> extending from the bottom wall <NUM>. Together, the bottom wall <NUM> and the outer perimeter wall <NUM> define an interior volume 200a of the cable management basket <NUM>. In one aspect, the outer perimeter wall <NUM> is formed by a front wall portion 204a and a back wall portion 204b with openings 204c, 204d therebetween. The openings 204c, 204d provide an access pathway for cables entering and exiting the interior volume 200a of the cable management basket <NUM>.

The cable management basket <NUM> is further shown as including a pair of hubs <NUM> extending from the bottom wall <NUM>. The hubs <NUM> provide a location about which the excess length of cables within the basket <NUM> can be wrapped. To retain the wrapped cables about the hubs <NUM> and within the interior volume 200a, arms or tines <NUM> can be provided near distal ends 206a of the hubs <NUM>. In the example shown, four tines <NUM> are provided at each hub, with two tines 208a extending from the top of the front wall portion 204a, one tine 208b extending from the top of the back wall portion 204b, and a single tine 208c extending from the distal end 206a of the hub <NUM>. At the location of the distal ends of tines 208a, 208b, the hubs <NUM> can be provided with recessed or scalloped regions 206b such that a gap 206c is provided between the tines 208a, 208b and the hubs <NUM>. The gap 206c allows for the cables to be installed and removed during wrapping and unwrapping about the hubs <NUM>. In the example shown, the hubs <NUM> and tines <NUM> are shown as being integrally formed with the cable management basket <NUM> bottom wall <NUM> and outer perimeter wall <NUM>.

In one aspect, the cable management basket <NUM> is provided with various structures for retaining cable organization components within the interior volume 200a. For example, a retention structure <NUM> is provided on the bottom wall <NUM> adjacent each opening 204c, 204d. The retention structures <NUM> provide a location for a snap-fit type connection with tube holders <NUM>, which can be provided as part of the cable assembly entering the openings 204c, 204d. An example tube holder <NUM> is shown at <FIG> and installed within the tray at <FIG>. The tube holder <NUM> may be characterized as a cable retention structure. Retention structures <NUM> can also be provided extending from the bottom wall between the hubs <NUM>. Retention structures <NUM> provide a location for a snap-fit type connection with cable retention blocks <NUM>. The cable retention blocks <NUM> may be characterized as a cable retention structures. As is explained in further detail later, the cable retention blocks <NUM> are for organizing individual fiber cables extending from the larger cables retained by the tube holder <NUM>. An example cable retention block <NUM> is shown at <FIG>. Four cable retention blocks <NUM> are shown as being installed within the tray at <FIG> and <FIG>. More or fewer retention structures <NUM> and cable retention blocks <NUM> may be provided. A third retention structure <NUM> is also shown as being provided at the bottom wall <NUM> adjacent the front wall portion 204a. The retention structure <NUM> is for providing a snap-fit type connection with a repair station block <NUM>. The repair station block <NUM> is provided such that individual fiber optic cables retained within the cable management basket interior volume 200a can be retained and repaired in situ. A transition area with cable retention members <NUM> can also be provided adjacent the retention structure <NUM> to facilitate cable repair. An example repair station block <NUM> is shown at <FIG> and installed within the tray at <FIG>. In the example shown, the retention structures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the cable retention members <NUM> are integrally formed with the cable management basket <NUM> bottom wall <NUM> and/or perimeter wall <NUM>.

The cable management basket <NUM> is further shown as being provided with attachment features <NUM> for enabling the basket <NUM> to be secured to the tray <NUM>. For example, the basket <NUM> is provided with attachment features 222a and 222b for connecting to the attachment features <NUM> and <NUM> and is provided with attachment features 222c, configured as apertures, for connecting to attachment features <NUM> on the tray <NUM>. The basket <NUM> can also be configure to connect to the attachment features <NUM> and <NUM>.

In the example shown, the cable management basket <NUM> is symmetrical about a transverse centerline axis X1 (see <FIG>). By configuring the cable management basket <NUM> with such symmetry, the tray <NUM> can be configured for either a right-hand swing or left-hand swing without requiring a differently configured cable management basket <NUM>. Accordingly, the disclosed example is advantageous in that the number of unique components required for various configurations is reduced.

Referring to <FIG>, a cable retention block <NUM> is shown in isolation. As shown, the cable retention block <NUM> is unitarily formed with a bottom wall 218a from which a plurality of sidewall extensions 218b extend to define a plurality of interior channels 218c. The retention block <NUM> is also shown as including a pair of protrusions 218d which engage with the retention structures <NUM> such that the retention blocks <NUM> can be retained in with snap-fit type connection. As most easily viewed, each of the sidewall extensions 218b is provided with a plurality of vertically extending barbs or ribs 218e for aiding in retaining cables within the interior channels 218c.

Referring to <FIG>, a tube holder <NUM> is shown in isolation. As shown, the tube holder <NUM> is configured as two separate members 216a, 216b with each including a plurality of sidewalls 216c extending from a base wall 216d to define a pair of channels 216e. As shown, the sidewalls 216c extend horizontally across the channels 216e such that a narrowed passageway is defined to better retain the cables within the channels 216e. Other configurations are possible. For example, the tube holder <NUM> could be provided as a single component with more or fewer channels 216e.

Referring to <FIG>, a repair station block <NUM> is shown in isolation. As shown, the repair station block <NUM> includes a base wall 220a from which a plurality of sidewalls 220b extend to define a plurality of channels 220c for retaining an individual cable during a repair operation.

Referring to <FIG>, a pre-cabled telecommunications panel <NUM> utilizing the above-described components is presented. It is noted that the example shown in <FIG> is configured with a right-hand swinging tray <NUM> in contrast to the example shown at <FIG>. As shown, a trunk cable <NUM> including a plurality of jacketed fiber optic cables <NUM> enters the telecommunications panel <NUM> at a rear side of the panel, for example via cable management structure <NUM>. The trunk cable <NUM> extends along the rear side of the chassis <NUM> adjacent the tray rear wall 22a to a distribution component <NUM> that is mounted to the chassis <NUM>. With the distribution component <NUM>, an outer jacket of the trunk cable <NUM> is removed to expose the individual fiber optic cables <NUM> which exit the distribution component <NUM> at an opposite end. The distribution component <NUM> can include a lacing structure to organize the fiber optic cables <NUM>. The distribution component <NUM> secures the trunk cable <NUM> and each of the fiber optic cables <NUM> and provides a strain-relief function against tensile forces exerted on the trunk cable <NUM> from being exerted onto the fiber optic cables <NUM>. In one example, this function is accomplished by securing a strength member of the trunk cable <NUM> to an anchor point within the distribution component <NUM>.

From the distribution component <NUM>, the fiber optic cables <NUM> continue to extend along a cable routing pathway defined along the back side 22a of the tray <NUM> and the support arm <NUM>. As the cables exit the support arm, the cables are routed about the cable routing structure <NUM> (i.e. bend radius limiter) and into the cable management basket <NUM> via opening 204c. After entering into the basket <NUM>, the cables <NUM> are bundled and secured by the tube holders <NUM>. At a location between the tube holders <NUM> and the cable retention blocks <NUM>, the outer jackets of the fiber optic cables <NUM> are removed to expose a plurality of optical fibers <NUM>. In the example shown, the optical fibers <NUM> have a nominal diameter of about 250µ. The optical fibers <NUM> are then provided with color-coded overtubing <NUM> having a nominal diameter of about 900µ. The optical fibers <NUM> and overtubing <NUM> are then organized and secured by the cable retention blocks <NUM>. The optical fibers <NUM> and overtubing <NUM> then exit the opening 204d are are routed individually to the adapters <NUM> with the excess cable lengths being wrapped around hub <NUM>. Where a left-hand swinging tray <NUM> is provided, the optical fibers <NUM> and overtubing <NUM> would be wrapped around the opposite hub <NUM> with the fiber optic cables <NUM> entering the opening 204d of the basket <NUM>. With the disclosed configuration, a telecommunications panel <NUM> can be entirely cabled within a factory setting with a predetermined length of trunk cable <NUM> and then shipped for later installation. This approach allows for cabling within the panel <NUM> to be installed in a much more controlled setting, therefore increasing the quality of the installation and greatly reducing field installation time, particularly since the disclosed panel <NUM> eliminates the need for field splicing.

Claim 1:
A basket (<NUM>) for a telecommunications tray, the basket comprising:
a) a bottom wall (<NUM>);
b) a sidewall (<NUM>) extending from the bottom wall, the sidewall (<NUM>) and bottom wall (<NUM>) defining an interior volume (200a), the sidewall (<NUM>) including a first opening (204c) for allowing optical fibers to enter the interior volume (200a) and a second opening (204d) for allowing optical fibers to exit the interior volume (200a);
c) a first cable retention structure (<NUM>) proximate the first opening (204c), the first cable retention structure being for retaining a plurality of optical fiber cables having a first nominal diameter;
d) a second cable retention structure (<NUM>) for retaining the plurality of optical fiber cables housed in overtubing, the overtubing having a second nominal diameter larger than the first nominal diameter; and
e) a first cable storage area (<NUM>) located proximate the second opening;
f) wherein the second cable retention structure is located between the first cable retention structure and the first cable storage area.