Patent Description:
As demand for data and connectivity increases, network planners and installers are seeking more efficient and cost-effective deployment options for their fiber to the X (FTTX) rollouts. FTTX comprises the many variants of fiber optic access infrastructure. These include fiber to the home (FTTH), fiber to the premise (FTTP), fiber to the building (FTTB), fiber to the node (FTTN), and fiber to the curb or cabinet (FTTC). The optical FTTP or FTTH network is an optical access network that supplies broadband or ultra-broadband communication services to a number of end users (e.g., services that require data transmission speeds measuring several hundred Mbit/s or even higher).

An optical FTTP or FTTH network typically includes a fiber distribution hub (FDH), which is typically located in the basement or vault of a multi-dwelling unit building in which the end users reside. A multi-fiber distribution cable typically leads out of the distribution hub to a fiber connection point that is typically located remote from the distribution hub. At the distribution hub, the distribution cable can be connected optically to one or more drop cables. As used herein, a "drop cable" is an optical fiber cable that typically runs towards an apartment or office of an end user. To connect the distribution cable to the drop cables, a number of optical fibers are broken out of the distribution cable and into a same number of single-fiber cables that are each terminated with an optical fiber connector. Each drop cable is then typically terminated in a termination box located in the proximity of or inside an apartment or office of an end user. A building may include a single FDH for the entire building, or one FDH per floor, or any combination in between, depending on the fiber connection needs and capacity of the building.

When installing an FDH, it is difficult for a technician to determine the length of input fiber cable needed to connect the FDH to a fiber connection point, which is usually outdoors where the connections to the larger fiber networks (e.g., a city wide fiber network) are made. In some installations, the fiber connection point could also be within the same building, perhaps on another floor or in the basement of the building. Regardless of the location of the fiber connection point, it is typically necessary to physically locate the FDH before the required length of input fiber cable between the FDT and the fiber connection point is known. As a result, the technician needs to approximate the length of input fiber cable to the fiber connection point and prepare that length of the input fiber cable before installing the FDH.

If the approximated length is too short, the technician must then splice the approximated length of input fiber cable with another length of input fiber cable. On the other hand, if the approximated length is too long, the excess slack of the input fiber cable must be stored somewhere along the length of fiber cable. If not properly stored, unwanted bends and thus unwanted bend loss can be introduced into the fiber cable path.

Although it is convenient for a technician to secure the FDH to its permanent location before connecting the input fiber cable to the fiber connection point, conventional FDHs include an adapter plate mounted to the spool of fiber cable such that the adapter plate will rotate with the spool when the input fiber cable is deployed from the spool to the fiber connection point. Thus, although the terminated breakout cables can be connected to the adapter plate before the input fiber cable is deployed from the spool to the fiber connection point, the drop cables that run from the FDH to an apartment or office of an end user cannot be connected until after the input fiber cable is deployed from the spool to the fiber connection point because the adapter plate rotates with the spool and would damage the drop cables.

Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a multi-fiber reel and adapter assembly that permits a technician to connect drop cables to the adapters in advance of the multi-fiber cable being deployed or paid out from the reel to a remote fiber connection of a FTTX application and keep the drop cables connected to the adapters while the reel is being rotated to deploy or pay out the multi-fiber cable to the remote fiber connection. It may also be desirable to provide a multi-fiber reel and adapter assembly that includes a reel that holds the multiple connectors of breakout cables that are broken out from the multi-fiber cable while the reel is being rotated to deploy or pay out the multi-fiber cable to the remote fiber connection.

<CIT> shows an assembly comprising a housing, a spool rotatably coupled within the cavity of the housing, prongs receiving optical cable ends, and a module releasably coupled to the housing with an adapter to optically couple the fiber optic cable to another fiber optic cable.

A multi-fiber reel and adapter assembly according to the invention is disclosed din any one of claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

Use of an assembly according to the invention is disclosed in claim <NUM>.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description of the invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing and in which like numbers refer to like parts, wherein:.

As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

<FIG> illustrate an exemplary reel and adapter assembly <NUM> for a multi-fiber cable in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. As shown in the embodiment of <FIG>, the reel and adapter assembly <NUM> includes a base <NUM>, an adapter plate <NUM>, and a cable reel <NUM>. The base <NUM> includes a back wall <NUM> and four side walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The back wall <NUM> and the four side walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> define an interior <NUM>, which is configured to receive the cable reel <NUM>. A bearing mount <NUM> extends from the back wall <NUM> into the interior <NUM> and is configured to rotatably receive the cable reel <NUM>. It should be appreciated that, in some aspects, the base <NUM> can be closed by a door or panel (not shown) if it is desired to prevent access to the interior <NUM> of the base <NUM> and/or if it is desired to shield the interior <NUM> of the base <NUM> from the environment (e.g., dust, moisture, etc.).

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the first wall <NUM> defines the adapter plate <NUM>. The adapter plate <NUM> includes a plurality of adapters <NUM> that are each configured to couple a pair of fiber optic connectors. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the adapters <NUM> are configured to couple SC connectors. However, in various aspects, the adapters <NUM> may be configured to couple any fiber optic connector, including but not limited to ST, LC, MU, and MPO connectors. The first wall <NUM> also includes an opening <NUM> configured to receive a cable such as, for example, a multi-fiber cable <NUM>. Each adapter <NUM> includes a first end <NUM> configured to receive a connector <NUM> of one of the breakout cables <NUM> (described in more detail below) broken out from the multi-fiber cable <NUM> and a second end <NUM> configured to receive a connector of a drop cable (not shown) that runs from the adapter plate <NUM> towards an apartment or office of an end user.

The reel <NUM> includes a hub portion <NUM> having a radially inner surface <NUM>, an outer rim portion <NUM>, and a pair of reel flanges <NUM>, <NUM> extending radially outward from the outer rim portion <NUM>. The radially inner surface <NUM> is sized such that the reel <NUM> can be rotatably mounted to the bearing mount <NUM> so as to rotate about an axis X that extends through the bearing mount <NUM>. That is, the diameter of the radially inner surface <NUM> is greater than the outer diameter of the bearing mount <NUM> by an amount that permits the reel <NUM> to rotate relative to the bearing mount <NUM>. In some aspects, the radially inner surface <NUM> can be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the bearing mount <NUM>.

The outer rim portion <NUM> defines an outer circumferential surface <NUM> about which the cable <NUM> can be wound. The reel flanges <NUM>, <NUM> prevent the cable <NUM> from sliding off the outer rim portion <NUM> in the axial direction of the reel <NUM>. The reel flanges <NUM>, <NUM> include one or more openings <NUM> through which the cable <NUM> can pass from a space between the reel flanges <NUM>, <NUM> to a space outside of the reel flanges <NUM>, <NUM> in the axial direction of the reel <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated, the reel flange <NUM> is adjacent the back wall <NUM>, and the reel flange <NUM> is spaced from the reel flange <NUM> and the back wall <NUM> in the interior <NUM> of the assembly <NUM>. A latching member <NUM> may be configured to selectively limit rotation of the reel <NUM> relative to the back wall <NUM>. For example, the latching member <NUM> may be integral with the back wall <NUM> and/or one of the side walls, for example, side wall <NUM>. That is, the latching member <NUM> may be monolithically constructed with the back wall <NUM> and/or the side wall <NUM>, or the latching member <NUM> may be constructed separately from the back wall <NUM> and the side wall <NUM> and then fixedly coupled with the back wall <NUM> and/or the side wall <NUM>. The latching member <NUM> may be configured to selectively extend through one of the openings <NUM> of the reel flange <NUM> to restrict rotation of the reel <NUM> relative to the latching member <NUM>, back wall <NUM>, and side wall <NUM> to the arcuate length of the opening <NUM>.

A header portion <NUM> extends from an outer surface <NUM> of the reel flange <NUM> that faces away from the back wall <NUM>. In some aspects, the header portion <NUM> extends substantially perpendicular to the reel flange <NUM> in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the reel <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the header portion <NUM> can be an integral monolithic structure with the reel flange <NUM> in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the header portion <NUM> can be removably attached to the reel flange <NUM>. For example, as shown in the drawings, in an exemplary embodiment, the reel flange <NUM> can include a mount portion <NUM> configured to receive the header portion <NUM>. The header portion <NUM> can be fixedly attached to the mount portion <NUM> by any conventional attachment mechanism, including but not limited to a friction fit, a snap fit, a fastener, etc..

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, an exemplary embodiment of the header portion <NUM> is shown in detail. The header portion <NUM> includes a plate portion <NUM> and a plurality of pairs of fingers <NUM> that extend from the plate portion <NUM> in a direction away from the surface <NUM> of the reel flange <NUM>. Each pair of fingers <NUM> is configured to receive and hold a connector <NUM>, for example, a fiber optic connector such as the SC connectors shown in the drawings. For example, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each pair of fingers <NUM> and is structured and arranged such that the fingers can bend or deflect away from one another when receiving a portion, for example, a boot portion, of the connector <NUM>. That is, the pairs of fingers <NUM> may be resilient fingers.

As shown, the fingers of each pair of fingers <NUM> are curved in opposite directions such that some regions of the pair of fingers <NUM> are closer to one another than other regions. As a result, when the connector <NUM> is received by the pair of fingers <NUM>, the fingers <NUM> are urged away from one another when the connector <NUM> passes through the closer regions and then return toward their original configurations after the connector <NUM> passes through the closer regions and is disposed in a more spaced apart region. As also illustrated, the plate portion <NUM> of the header portion <NUM> includes a U-shaped cutout region <NUM> in the direction perpendicular to the reel flange <NUM>, with the pairs of fingers <NUM> extending from a base <NUM> of the cutout region <NUM> into an opening <NUM> of the cutout region <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the cable <NUM> is a multi-fiber cable that is wound onto the reel <NUM>. A first end <NUM> of the cable <NUM> is arranged on the reel <NUM> so that the first end <NUM> can be deployed or paid out from the reel <NUM> to a remote fiber connection of a FTTX application. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the multi-fiber cable <NUM> includes six fibers, and the six fibers are broken out from a second end of the cable <NUM> into six single-fiber breakout cables <NUM>, as would be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. The multi-fiber cable <NUM> extends from a space between the reel flanges <NUM>, <NUM> through one of the openings <NUM> and to a space outside of the reel flange <NUM> where the fibers of the cable <NUM> are broken out into the six single-fiber breakout cables <NUM>. A length <NUM> of the cable <NUM> is disposed in the space outside the reel flange <NUM> to provide slack for connecting the breakout cables <NUM> to the adapters <NUM> of the adapter plate <NUM>. The slack length <NUM> of the cable <NUM> is retained on the outer surface <NUM> of the reel flange <NUM> by a plurality of retaining members <NUM> that extend from the outer surface <NUM> of the reel flange <NUM> in a direction away from the back wall <NUM>. The plurality of retaining members <NUM> define a slack storage path along which the slack length <NUM> can be wound and prevent the slack length <NUM> from unwinding in a radially outward direction from the reel flange <NUM>. The breakout cables <NUM> each have a length that enables the connectors <NUM> that terminate the breakout cables <NUM> to be received by the pairs of fingers <NUM>.

In use, the reel <NUM> is mounted on the bearing mount <NUM> and includes the wound multi-fiber cable <NUM>, the slack length <NUM> of the cable <NUM> in the space outside of the reel flange <NUM>, and the connectors <NUM> of the breakout cables <NUM> securely received by the fingers <NUM> of the header portion <NUM>. A technician can then pay out the multi-fiber cable <NUM> from the reel <NUM> by grasping the first end <NUM> of the cable <NUM>, passing the first end <NUM> through the opening <NUM> in the first wall <NUM>, and deploying the first end <NUM> of the cable <NUM> to a desired remote fiber connection of a FTTX application. The reel <NUM> rotates relative to the adapter plate <NUM> since the adapter plate <NUM> is fixed to the base <NUM>. As a result, the reel and adapter assembly <NUM> permits a technician to connect drop cables from the adapter plate <NUM> to an apartment or office of an end user in advance of the multi-fiber cable <NUM> being deployed or paid out from the reel to a remote fiber connection of a FTTX application. Because the reel <NUM> rotates while the adapter plate remains stationary, the technician can keep the drop cables connected to the adapters <NUM> while the reel <NUM> is being rotated to deploy or pay out the multi-fiber cable <NUM> to the remote fiber connection. Meanwhile, the reel <NUM> holds the multiple connectors <NUM> of breakout cables <NUM> that are broken out from the multi-fiber cable <NUM> while the reel <NUM> is being rotated to deploy or pay out the multi-fiber cable <NUM> to the remote fiber connection.

Claim 1:
A multi-fiber reel and adapter assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a base (<NUM>) including a back wall (<NUM>) and a side wall (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that are configured to define an interior (<NUM>);
a cable reel (<NUM>) mounted to the base (<NUM>), the cable reel (<NUM>) being configured to be received in the interior of the base (<NUM>), wherein a bearing mount (<NUM>) extends from the back wall (<NUM>) into the interior (<NUM>) and is configured to rotatably receive a hub portion (<NUM>) of the cable reel (<NUM>);
a plurality of adapters (<NUM>) fixedly mounted to the base (<NUM>), wherein the side wall (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes the plurality of adapters (<NUM>) and an opening (<NUM>) configured to receive a distribution cable (<NUM>) that includes a fiber optic cable;
wherein the cable reel (<NUM>) is configured to rotate relative to the base (<NUM>) and the adapters (<NUM>), and wherein the cable reel (<NUM>) comprises:
an outer rim portion (<NUM>) radially outward relative to the hub portion (<NUM>), the outer rim portion being configured to receive the distribution cable (<NUM>) wound thereon, and
a pair of reel flanges (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to extend radially outward from the outer rim portion (<NUM>), at least one (<NUM>) of the reel flanges including an opening (<NUM>) through which the distribution cable (<NUM>) passes from a space between the reel flanges (<NUM>, <NUM>) to a space outside of the reel flanges, wherein one of the reel flanges (<NUM>) includes a header portion (<NUM>) which extends from an outer surface of the one reel flange (<NUM>) that faces away from the back wall, the header portion being configured to rotate with the cable reel relative to the base, and wherein the header portion (<NUM>) includes at least one pair of fingers (<NUM>) that extend in a direction away from the outer surface of the one reel flange, the pair of fingers (<NUM>) being configured to receive and hold the fiber optic cable such that the fiber optic cable is configured to rotate with the cable reel relative to the base:
and
wherein each of the adapters (<NUM>) is configured to couple the fiber optic cable (<NUM>) from the cable reel (<NUM>) with a fiber optic drop cable that is configured to run from the respective adapter (<NUM>) to a location of an end user that is remote from the assembly.