Patent ID: 7142765

Claim:
A fiber distribution frame comprising: (a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear; (b) a left vertical cable guide with a side access, the left vertical cable guide positioned on the left side of the rack, and a right vertical cable guide with a side access, the right vertical cable guide positioned on the right side of the rack; (c) a cable termination area positioned on the rack including: (1) a first area defining at least one array of termination locations on a front portion, the first area positioned on the left side of the rack adjacent to the left vertical cable guide, the at least one array including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations; (2) a second area defining at least one array of termination locations on a front portion, the second area positioned on the right side of the rack adjacent to the right vertical cable guide, the at least one array including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations; (d) wherein the first and second areas are each defined by at least one termination module mounted to the rack, each termination module including: (1) a housing having first and second spaced-apart ends, and first and second spaced-apart sides extending between the ends, the housing including a rear extending between the first and second ends and the first and second sides to define an interior, the housing defining an open front, with the first and second ends extending horizontally, and the first and second sides extending generally vertically; (2) a plurality of panels mounted so as to close the open front, each panel including at least one opening arranged and sized for holding at least one adapter to define the termination locations, the adapters being sized for mounting to cable connectors; (3) wherein the housing includes a plurality of panel holders, and wherein each of the panels further include a plurality of front adapters, a fiber optic coupler, and cables connecting the front adapters to the fiber optic coupler; (4) wherein the panels each include a longitudinal guide, and wherein the panel holders include a vertical array of mating longitudinal guides for receiving the longitudinal guides of the panels; (e) a horizontal passageway positioned on the rack extending between the right vertical cable guide, and the left vertical cable guide; (f) wherein the panels are selectively, partially removable from the respective termination module; (g) a retention mechanism for retaining the panels when each panel is partially removed from the respective termination module.