Patent ID: 7822313

Claim:
A modular fiber optic system comprising: (a) a plurality of fiber optic modules, each fiber optic module including: (1) a module housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, the major sides interconnected by two spaced-apart minor sides, extending parallel to one another, the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing, the front end being open and defined by edges of the two major sides; (2) a front flange on opposite sides of the front end; (3) two side flanges; (4) a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the front end of the module housing; (5) a fiber optic coupler mounted within the module housing; (6) cables connecting the fiber optic adapters and the fiber optic coupler; (b) a chassis housing including: (1) first and second spaced apart ends, and first and second spaced apart sides extending between the ends to define an interior, the chassis housing defining an open front, the first and second ends extending generally horizontally, the first and second sides extending generally vertically; (2) a plurality of longitudinal guides positioned in the interior of the chassis housing for slideably receiving the side flanges of the fiber optic modules through the open front; and (c) a retention mechanism for retaining each fiber optic module with the chassis housing when each fiber optic module is partially removed from the interior of the chassis housing through the open front, the retention mechanism including at least a first spring-biased ball plunger, the first spring-biased ball plunger being configured to exert a retention force on one of the fiber optic modules to retain the fiber optic module in a partially removed position with respect to the chassis housing against a force sufficient to remove a fiber optic connector from one of the adapters mounted to the front end of the module housing of the fiber optic module.