Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-08-14
Lee, John D. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
C385S134000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275641
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telecommunications equipment generally, and more specifically to enclosures for optical fibers.
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. No. 5,069,516 to Kohy et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,575 to Hayward et al. are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties for their teachings on sealed fiber enclosures.
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.
FIG. 1
of the present application shows FIG. 10
b
of the above-identified Nolf patents. The enclosure includes a base plate
1
and a dome-shaped cover (not shown), which together form a hollow article for use as a butt splice case for optical fibre cables
13
. Outlets (not shown) are provided in the base
1
through which the cables
13
pass.
The hollow article contains an optical fibre organizer
30
which comprises a series of trays
5
. Each tray includes means
6
for accommodating splice tubes (not shown) which house fibre splices (not shown). The trays
5
are held in an orderly fashion on a carrier
7
which is fixed to the base
1
. The trays are hinged along their short edges. The hinging allows chosen trays to be exposed for installation or the repair of the splice, etc.
In a conventional tray carrier, the hinge has a cylindrical inner surface with a slot on the side for inserting the pivot pin on the edge of the tray. To facilitate insertion of the pivot pin of the tray in the hinge of the carrier, the pivot pin has two flat sides. The width of the pivot pin (distance between the two flat sides) is less than the diameter between the curved sides, and is less than the inner diameter of the hinge on the tray carrier. Thus, by positioning the tray at an angle, the smallest dimension of the pivot pin is presented for insertion into the slot of the hinge of the carrier. The tray is easily inserted.
Unfortunately, the above-described design for the hinge and pivot pin results in the tray being wobbly once attached to the carrier. Further, the tray may inadvertently become detached when rotated, as the tray passes through the angle at which the minimum dimension of the pivot pin is aligned with the opening of the hinge.
An improved tray organizer system is desired, which provides for easy insertion of trays and holds the trays securely after insertion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an optical fiber organizer including at least one optical fiber tray having a top side for holding a fiber. The tray has a pivot pin. A tray carrier has at least one socket. The socket is capable of having the pivot pin of the tray inserted therein and allowing the tray to rotate therein. The tray carrier has a respective protrusion proximate to the socket. The protrusion is positioned so that the tray acts as a lever while being inserted in the socket, and the protrusion is a fulcrum of the lever, to forcibly insert the pivot pin of the tray into the socket by applying a force on the tray.
Another aspect of the invention is a method for inserting an optical fiber tray into a tray carrier. A pivot pin of the optical fiber tray is inserted into an entrance of a socket in the tray carrier. A force is applied on the optical fiber tray, using the tray as a lever and a first protrusion on the tray carrier as a fulcrum of the lever. The optical fiber tray is rotated till the pivot pin moves from the entrance to a sleeve portion of the socket.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4913522 (1990-04-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 5071220 (1991-12-01), Ruello et al.
patent: 5155794 (1992-10-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 5249253 (1993-09-01), Franckx et al.
patent: 5323480 (1994-06-01), Mullaney et al.
patent: 5602954 (1997-02-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 5619608 (1997-04-01), Foss et al.
patent: 6188826 (2001-02-01), Daoud
Duane Morris & Heckscher LLP
Koffs Steven E.
Lee John D.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Rahll Jerry
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