Patent Description:
Telecommunications systems typically employ a network of telecommunications cables capable of transmitting large volumes of data and voice signals over relatively long distances. The telecommunications cables can include fiber optic cables, electrical cables, or combinations of electrical and fiber optic cables. A typical telecommunications network also includes a plurality of telecommunications enclosures integrated throughout the network of telecommunications cables. The telecommunications enclosures are adapted to house and protect telecommunications components such as splices, termination panels, power splitters and wavelength division multiplexers. It is often preferred for the telecommunications enclosures to be re-enterable. The term "re-enterable" means that the telecommunications enclosures can be reopened to allow access to the telecommunications components housed therein without requiring the removal and destruction of the telecommunications enclosures. For example, certain telecommunications enclosures can include separate access panels that can be opened to access the interiors of the enclosures, and then closed to re-seal the enclosures. Other telecommunications enclosures take the form of elongated sleeves formed by wrap-around covers or half-shells having longitudinal edges that are joined by clamps or other retainers. Still other telecommunications enclosures include two half-pieces that are joined together through clamps, wedges or other structures.

Document <CIT> discloses such telecommunications enclosures.

Telecommunications enclosures are typically sealed to inhibit the intrusion of moisture or other contaminants. Pressurized gel-type seals have been used to effectively seal the locations where telecommunications cables enter and exit telecommunications enclosures. Example pressurized gel-type seals are disclosed by document <CIT> and document <CIT>. Both of these documents disclose gel-type cable seals that are pressurized through the use of threaded actuators. Document <CIT> discloses a cable seal that is pressurized through the use of an actuator including a cam lever. While pressurized cable seals have generally proven to be effective, improvements in this area are still needed.

The invention relates to a telecommunications enclosure as defined in independent claim <NUM>. Further embodiments are described in the dependent claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive 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 embodiments disclosed herein are based.

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.

The present disclosure is directed to a communications enclosure <NUM> (e.g., a telecommunications enclosure) extending along a length L from a first end <NUM> to a second end <NUM> (<FIG>). The enclosure <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> that defines a sealed interior. A fiber optic organizer <NUM> (<FIG>) is disposed within the sealed interior. The first end <NUM> of the enclosure <NUM> is closed and the second end <NUM> of the enclosure <NUM> defines gel block ports <NUM> at each of which a cable sealing gel block <NUM> can be received. Cables pass through the cable sealing gel blocks <NUM> to enter the housing <NUM> and reach the fiber optic organizer <NUM>. In certain implementations, the fiber optic organizer <NUM> can be selectively mounted in one of multiple tower positions relative to the housing <NUM>.

In accordance with some aspects of the disclosure, the fiber optic organizer <NUM> is mountable to the housing in one of at least two different tower positions. In the first tower position, the tower is disposed between a first of the gel block ports and a second of the gel block ports. In the second tower position, the tower is disposed between the second gel block port and a third of the gel block ports that is different from the first gel block port. In certain examples, the fiber optic organizer <NUM> faces in different directions between the first and second tower positions.

In certain implementations, the housing <NUM> includes a dome <NUM> and a base <NUM>. The dome <NUM> defines the first end <NUM> of the enclosure <NUM> and the base <NUM> defines the second end <NUM> of the enclosure. Accordingly, the base <NUM> defines the gel block ports <NUM>. The dome <NUM> cooperates with the base <NUM> to define the sealed interior of the housing <NUM>. In certain examples, a gasket is disposed between the base <NUM> and the dome <NUM> at a mating interface thereof. The gasket provides environmental sealing at the mating interface.

In certain examples, the dome <NUM> has an open end <NUM> positioned opposite from a closed end <NUM>. The base <NUM> mounts at the open end <NUM> of the dome <NUM> to close the open end <NUM> of the dome <NUM>. In some examples, the dome <NUM> and the base <NUM> are secured together by latches <NUM>. In other examples, however, the dome <NUM> and base <NUM> are secured together by fasteners, a friction-fit, or securement techniques.

In some examples, the dome <NUM> and the base <NUM> have transverse cross-sectional shapes that are polygonal. In certain examples, the dome <NUM> and the base <NUM> have transverse cross-sectional shapes that are generally rectangular. In certain examples, the housing <NUM> has a width W extending from a first side <NUM> to a second side <NUM> (<FIG>) and a depth D extending from a third side <NUM> to a fourth side <NUM> (<FIG>). In certain examples, the transverse cross-sectional shapes of the dome <NUM> and the base <NUM> are generally square. In such examples, the width W is generally the same as the depth D. In other examples, the dome <NUM> and the base <NUM> have transverse cross-sectional shapes that are generally rounded (e.g., circular, oblong, etc.).

In certain implementations, the base <NUM> is a unitary (e.g., molded) piece. the base <NUM> includes a plate portion <NUM> through which the gel block ports <NUM> extend. In some implementations, sleeves <NUM> extend outwardly from the plate portion <NUM> to extend the lengths of the gel block ports <NUM>. For example, the plate portion <NUM> extends across the open end <NUM> of the dome <NUM> and the sleeves <NUM> extend outwardly from the plate portion <NUM> away from the dome <NUM>. In certain examples, the sleeves <NUM> may define a lip on which the corresponding cable sealing gel block <NUM> seats when installed at the gel block port <NUM>. In other examples, the cable sealing gel block <NUM> can be otherwise secured at the gel block port <NUM> (e.g., using fasteners, friction-fit, or other attachment mechanisms). In other examples, the sleeves <NUM> can detachably couple to the plate portion <NUM> and seals can be provided for sealing between the sleeves <NUM> and the plate portion <NUM>.

In certain implementations, cover portions <NUM> are initially disposed at the gel block ports <NUM> to close the gel block ports <NUM> (e.g., see <FIG>). The cover portions <NUM> inhibit cable sealing gel blocks <NUM> from being positioned within the gel block ports <NUM>. In certain examples, the cover portions <NUM> inhibit dust or other particle contaminants from entering the housing <NUM> through the gel block ports <NUM>. In certain examples, the cover portions <NUM> inhibit water or other liquids from entering the housing <NUM> through the gel block ports <NUM>. Each of the cover portions <NUM> is individually removable from the respective gel block port <NUM> to enable installation of a cable sealing gel block <NUM> at the gel block port <NUM>. In certain examples, the base <NUM> is a molded piece and the cover portions <NUM> are unitary with the molded piece. In certain examples, peripheries of the cover portions <NUM> may be perforated, scored, or otherwise seamed to facilitate removal of the cover portions <NUM>. In some examples, the cover portions <NUM> are punch out covers. In other examples, the cover portions <NUM> are removed by cutting.

In certain implementations, at least one of the gel block ports <NUM> has a different transverse cross-sectional area than another of the gel block ports <NUM> (e.g., see <FIG>). In certain implementations, at least two of the gel block ports <NUM> have a common transverse cross-sectional area (e.g., see <FIG>). In certain implementations, the base <NUM> includes first, second, and third gel block ports 120a, 120b, 120c each adapted to receive a respective cable-sealing gel block <NUM>.

In certain implementations, each of the first, second, and third gel block ports 120a-120c have a common transverse cross-sectional shape. In certain examples, the first, second and third gel block ports 120a-120c each have a circular transverse cross-sectional shape. In certain examples, the first, second and third gel block ports 120a-120c each have an oval transverse cross-sectional shape. In certain examples, the first, second and third gel block ports 120a-120c each have an otherwise oblong transverse cross-sectional shape.

In certain examples, the base <NUM> can be divided into first, second, third and fourth quadrants Q1-Q4 by first and second perpendicular reference planes R1, R2 that intersect at a central longitudinal axis C of the housing <NUM> (e.g., see <FIG>). In the example shown, the first, second, third and fourth quadrants Q1-Q4 are sequentially positioned in a clockwise direction about the central longitudinal axis C of the housing <NUM>. The first, second, and third gel block ports 120a, 120b, 120c also are positioned sequentially about the central longitudinal axis C of the housing <NUM> in a clockwise direction (e.g., see <FIG>). Of course, the quadrants Q1-Q4 and gel block ports 120a-120c can be sequentially positioned in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis C.

In certain examples, the first and second gel block ports 120a, 120b have the same transverse cross-sectional area while the third gel block port 120c has a different transverse cross-sectional area from the second gel block port 120b. In certain examples, the transverse cross-sectional area of the third gel block port 120c is at least <NUM> percent larger than the transverse cross-sectional area of the second gel block port 120b. In certain examples, the transverse cross-sectional area of the third gel block port 120c is at least <NUM> percent larger than the transverse cross-sectional area of the second gel block port 120b.

In certain examples, the first gel block port 120a is located at least primary in the first quadrant Q1, the second gel block port 120b is located at least primarily in the second quadrant Q2, and the third gel block port 120c is located at least primarily in the third quadrant Q3. As the term is used herein, a gel block port <NUM> is primarily located in a quadrant if at least a majority of the transverse cross-sectional area of the gel block port <NUM> is contained within the boundaries of the quadrant. In the example shown, the first gel block port 120a is fully disposed within the first quadrant Q1 and the second gel block 120b is fully disposed within the second quadrant Q2. The third gel block port 120c, however, is primarily disposed in the third quadrant Q3 while having portions extending into the second and fourth quadrants Q2, Q4 in <FIG>. In certain examples, the fourth quadrant Q4 is primarily void of gel block ports <NUM>. As the term is used herein, a quadrant is primary void of gel block ports <NUM> is no gel block port <NUM> has at least a majority of its transverse cross-sectional area disposed within the boundaries of the quadrant.

<FIG> illustrates an example cable sealing gel block <NUM> suitable for use with the enclosure <NUM> disclosed herein. The cable sealing gel block <NUM> includes a volume of gel <NUM> positioned axially between first and second gel pressurization structures <NUM>, <NUM>. Each of the gel pressurization structures <NUM>, <NUM> defines one or more cable pass-through locations <NUM> that align with the one or more cable pass-through locations of the other pressurization structure <NUM>, <NUM>. An actuator <NUM> enables a user to move the pressurization structures <NUM>, <NUM> towards each other to pressurize the volume of gel <NUM>. In some examples, the actuator <NUM> includes a threaded compression mechanism. In other examples, the actuator <NUM> includes a camming compression mechanism. An example actuator suitable for use with the cable sealing gel block <NUM> is shown and described in <CIT>.

When the cable sealing gel block <NUM> is installed in one of the gel block ports <NUM>, pressurizing the volume of gel <NUM> of the cable sealing gel block <NUM> (e.g., using the actuator <NUM>) provides sealing between a circumferential exterior of the volume of gel <NUM> and the portion of the base <NUM> defining the gel block port <NUM>. The volume of gel <NUM> also conforms about and seals about cables routed through the cable sealing gel block <NUM> during pressurization. When the volume of gel <NUM> is depressurized (e.g., using the actuator <NUM>), the circumferential exterior of the volume of gel <NUM> unseals from the portion of the base <NUM> defining the gel block port <NUM>, thereby allowing movement (e.g., removal) of the cable sealing gel block <NUM> relative to the gel block port <NUM>.

In certain implementations, the first gel block port 120a is configured to receive a first cable sealing gel block 122a; the second gel block port 120b is adapted to receive a second cable sealing gel block 122b, and the third gel block port 120c is adapted to receive a third cable sealing gel block 122c. The third cable sealing gel block 122c has a larger transverse cross-sectional area as compared to the first cable sealing gel block 122a. The third cable sealing gel block 122b is adapted to receive and seal larger diameter cables as compared to the first cable sealing gel block 122a.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a fiber optic organizer <NUM> mounts within the housing <NUM>. In certain implementations, the fiber optic organizer <NUM> includes a tower <NUM> and one or more fiber management trays <NUM> that are supported by the tower <NUM>. In certain examples, the fiber management trays <NUM> are pivotally moveable relative to the tower <NUM>. In certain implementations, the tower <NUM> includes an upright portion <NUM> that extends from an attachment end <NUM> toward the trays <NUM>. The upright portion <NUM> includes a support member <NUM> to which the management trays <NUM> mount (e.g., pivotally mount). In certain implementations, the tower <NUM> also includes a lateral extension portion <NUM> that projects laterally outwardly from the upright portion <NUM> at the attachment end <NUM> of the tower <NUM>.

In certain examples, one or more of the fiber management trays <NUM> include splice trays for holding optical splices between optical fibers. In certain examples, one or more of the fiber management trays <NUM> are storage trays for holding excess fiber length. In certain examples, one or more of the fiber management trays <NUM> include optical splitter trays for holding optical power splitters, wave division multiplexers, optical taps, or other optical signal splitting devices.

The tower <NUM> is mountable to the base <NUM> (e.g., to the plate portion <NUM>) in either of a first tower position and a second tower position. When the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> in the first tower position, the tower <NUM> is located to facilitate routing optical fibers from the first and second gel block ports 120a, 120b to the trays <NUM>. When the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> in the second tower position, the tower <NUM> is located to facilitate routing optical fibers from the second and third gel block ports 120b, 120c to the trays <NUM>.

The first tower position is located adjacent a different set of gel block ports <NUM> than the second tower position. In certain examples, the tower <NUM> faces in a different direction when in the first tower position compared to when in the second tower position. In certain examples, the first and second tower positions are offset about <NUM> degrees with respect to one another about the central longitudinal axis C of the housing <NUM> (e.g., compare <FIG> and <FIG>). In certain examples, the first tower position does not substantially overlap with the second tower position.

In certain implementations, the upright portion <NUM> of the tower <NUM> is positioned asymmetric relative to the base <NUM> in any of the tower positions. In certain examples, the upright portion <NUM> is positioned adjacent to a periphery of the base <NUM> when the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> in any of the first and second tower positions. In certain examples, the upright portion <NUM> of the tower <NUM> is disposed adjacent the fourth side <NUM> of the base <NUM> when in the first tower position (see <FIG>) and is disposed adjacent the first side <NUM> of the base <NUM> when in the second tower position (see <FIG>).

In some implementations, the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> using one or more fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, etc.). In other implementations, the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> using latches. In still other implementations, the tower <NUM> can be friction-fit to the base <NUM>. In some implementations, the first and second tower positions are indicated on the base <NUM>. For example, the base <NUM> may include fastener openings, latches, catch members, guide openings, pegs, or other mounting structures at both of the pre-defined tower positions to facilitate mounting the tower <NUM> to the base <NUM>. In other implementations, however, the base <NUM> does not indicate the first and second tower positions.

In certain implementations, the tower <NUM> includes first and second fiber routing paths P1, P2 for routing fibers from an attachment end <NUM> of the tower <NUM> toward the trays <NUM> (e.g., see <FIG>). The first routing path P1 is positioned adjacent to the first gel block port 120a and the second fiber routing path P2 is positioned adjacent to the second gel block port 120b when the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> in the first tower position (e.g., see <FIG>). The first routing path P1 is positioned adjacent to the second gel block port 120b and the second fiber routing path P2 is positioned adjacent to the third gel block port 120c when the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> in the second tower position.

In certain implementations, the tower <NUM> includes a divider <NUM> for separating the first and second fiber routing paths P1, P2. The divider <NUM> is oriented between the first and second gel block ports 120a, 120b when the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> in the first tower position. The divider <NUM> is oriented between the second and third gel block ports 120b, 120c when the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> in the second tower position.

In certain examples, the divider <NUM> includes a first divider portion <NUM> (<FIG>) on the upright portion <NUM> of the tower <NUM> and a second divider portion <NUM> (<FIG>) on the lateral extension portion <NUM> of the tower <NUM>. In certain examples, the lateral extension portion <NUM> of the tower <NUM> and the second divider portion <NUM> of the divider <NUM> extend between the first and second gel block ports 120a, 120b when the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> in the first tower position. The lateral extension portion <NUM> of the tower <NUM> and the second divider portion <NUM> of the divider <NUM> extend between the second and third gel block ports 120b, 120c when the tower <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM> in the second tower position.

Claim 1:
A telecommunications enclosure comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) including:
a dome (<NUM>) having an open end (<NUM>) positioned opposite from a closed end (<NUM>);
a base (<NUM>) that mounts at the open end of the dome and configured to close the open end of the dome, the base including first, second, and third gel block ports (120a, b, c) adapted to receive cable-sealing gel blocks (<NUM>), at least the second and third gel block ports having different transverse cross-sectional areas; and
a fiber optic organizer (<NUM>) that mounts within the housing, the fiber optic organizer including a tower (<NUM>) and a plurality of fiber management trays (<NUM>) that are supported by the tower and that are pivotally moveable relative to the tower, the tower being mountable to the base in first and second different tower positions, wherein when the tower is mounted to the base in the first tower position, the tower is located to facilitate routing optical fibers from the first and second gel block ports to the plurality of fiber management trays, and wherein when the tower is mounted to the base in the second tower position, the tower is located to facilitate routing optical fibers from the second and third gel block ports to the plurality of fiber management trays,
characterized in that
the first and second tower positions are offset <NUM> degrees with respect to one another about a central longitudinal axis of the housing.