Densely packed cable port layout

Details Densely packed cable port layout Densely packed cable port layout

1999-08-10

2001-07-17

Epps, Georgia (Department: 2873)

Optical waveguides

Accessories

Plug/termination device

C385S136000, C385S137000, C385S138000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06263145

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telecommunications generally, and more specifically to enclosures for telecommunications cables and equipment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Optical fiber communication networks have gained wide acceptance in place of the use of electrical cable systems, due to the significantly enhanced bandwidth capabilities of optical fiber and its immunity to electromagnetic and radiomagnetic interference. Very significant advantages are achievable by the use of optical fiber rather than electrical conduction media. Nevertheless, a continuing problem with the deployment of optical fiber systems is providing a method to terminate optical fiber cables so as to make electrical or optical connections to fibers within the cables while providing adequate environmental protection and allowing for easy installation.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,913,522, 5,155,794 and 5,602,954 to Nolf et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,253 to Franckx et al. are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. These patents describe an enclosure for a butt splice of optical fiber cables. The enclosure generally includes an end cap and a dome-shaped cover which together form a hollow article for use as a butt splice case for optical fibre cables. Outlets are provided in the end cap through which the cables pass. On a new installation, only some of the outlets may be required, and some may therefore be temporarily blocked. The outlets are made with closed ends which are simply cut off as required.
FIG. 1
of the present application shows a conventional end cap
10
. The end cap has a plurality of cable receptacle tubes
11
-
16
arranged around a perimeter of the end cap. Each cable receptacle tube
11
-
16
has a disk
11
a
-
16
a
on its distal end distal opposite the flat surface
24
of the end cap
10
. The disks
11
a
-
16
a
block the cable receptacle tubes
11
-
16
until the disks are cut off to use the tubes. A saw blade
50
is shown.
Because the disks
11
a
-
16
a
of the cable receptacle tubes
11
-
16
are typically cut off one at a time in situ as new cables are added to the enclosure, it is necessary to leave sufficient room between cable receptacle tubes to insert the saw blade
50
for cutting. As a result, the cable receptacle tubes
11
-
16
are spaced far apart, leaving room for only a small number of cable receptacle tubes
11
-
16
on each end cap
10
.
A method of increasing the number of cable receptacle tubes is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an end cap for a telecommunications enclosure. The end cap has a perimeter. The end cap has a plurality of cable receptacle tubes arranged around the perimeter. Each cable receptacle tube has a respective height. A first one of the cable receptacle tubes has a greatest height. Successive cable receptacle tubes on each side of the first cable receptacle tube decrease in height monotonically from the height of the first cable receptacle tube.
Another aspect of the invention is an end cap for a telecommunications enclosure. The end cap has a perimeter, a first end and a second end diametrically opposed to the first end. The end cap has a plurality of cable receptacle tubes arranged around its perimeter. Each cable receptacle tube has a respective height. The height of the cable receptacle tubes decreases monotonically between the first end and the second end.
Still another aspect of the invention is an end cap for a telecommunications enclosure. The end cap has a perimeter. The end cap has a plurality of cable receptacle tubes arranged around its perimeter. Each cable receptacle tube has a flat surface at a distal end thereof. Each of the flat surfaces is tilted in the tangential direction.
A further aspect of the invention is a method for using an end cap for a fiber enclosure, wherein the end cap has a plurality of cable receptacle tubes arranged around its perimeter, and each cable receptacle tube has a plug on an end distal from the end cap. The method includes cutting the plug off of a first one of the cable receptacle tubes. A cable is secured to the first cable receptacle tube. The plug is cut off of a second one of the cable receptacle tubes adjacent the first cable receptacle tube, the second cable receptacle tube being shorter than the first cable receptacle tube.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4913522 (1990-04-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 5155794 (1992-10-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 5249253 (1993-09-01), Franckx et al.
patent: 5491766 (1996-02-01), Daoud
patent: 5602954 (1997-02-01), Nolf et al.

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