Optical waveguides – Accessories
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-05-22
Palmer, Phan T. H. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
C385S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236795
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the management of telecommunications cabling, and more specifically, to distribution frames used for fiber optic cables.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Fiber optic cables have found increasing usage in the telecommunications industry as a result of their greater bandwidth and immunity from noise. As in the case of conventional copper electrical conductors, fiber optic cables used in the telecommunications industry are typically bundled together in large bundles. At various locations within a fiber optic cable system, including at the central office of the telecommunications system operator, in Controlled Environment Vaults (CEVs) out in the field, and at the premises of larger customers, it is often necessary to terminate and distribute a large number of incoming and outgoing fiber optic cables. Typically, the bundles of fiber optic cables include a relatively large number of individual optical fibers. The task of keeping such large number of optical fibers organized at such termination/distribution points, so that the optical fibers can be properly distributed throughout the system, poses a significant challenge.
The space available at such termination/distribution points is often at a premium, so it is important to maintain a relatively high density of optical fiber connections at such locations to minimize the space required. On the other hand, optical fibers can not be bent along sharp bends without risk of damaging such fibers, so any system for connecting together the ends of such incoming and outgoing fibers must support the optical fibers in such a way as to avoid such sharp bends. Moreover, high density must not come at the cost of making it more difficult to properly identify particular incoming and outgoing fibers; otherwise, the system operator will not be able to efficiently maintain, modify, and diagnose the fiber optic system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,688 to Anton, et al. discloses an optical fiber distribution frame for terminating and distributing fiber optic cables. The disclosed frame includes a series of modular cabinets, including a connector cabinet having an essentially planar front panel with sleeve adaptors for mounting a plurality of connector sleeves thereto at an angle to the front panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,465 to Korkowski, et al. discloses a fiber optic connector module that includes a framework for receiving circuit card cartridges, and each of the cartridges include electrical connectors for attachment to telecommunication wires and cables. The connectors are angled so that the bending radius of the cables is not too sharp as to cause damage to the cable.
However, the apparatus disclosed by the two above-mentioned patents fails to achieve the packing density, ease of identification, and convenience obtained by the invention that is the subject of the present application.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fiber optic cable distribution frame which facilitates the connection of pairs of incoming and outgoing optic fibers as a highly dense, space-saving structure without concern for bending the optical fibers around too sharp a bend.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a distribution frame which conveniently organizes a relatively large number of optical fibers at a termination/distribution points, and which allows such optical fibers to be easily identified so that they can be properly distributed throughout the fiber optic cable system.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a distribution frame as a highly dense structure, but which provides ready and convenient access to each coupled connection between incoming and outgoing optical fibers in order to efficiently maintain, modify, and diagnose the fiber optic system.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art as the description of the present invention proceeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, the present invention relates to a fiber optic cable distribution frame assembly for interconnecting fiber optic cables, and including a support frame for supporting at least one, and preferably a number of slide-out drawers for movement between a stored position inside the support frame and an extended position projecting from the support frame. In the preferred embodiment, the drawers are arranged vertically, and each drawer slides within a movement plane that extends parallel to the corresponding movement planes of the other drawers. Preferably, the support frame includes a slide track for slidably mounting each drawer thereto.
Each drawer includes at least one, and preferably several, termination connector support brackets that are used to support fiber optic cable connectors in a highly-dense manner. The termination connector support bracket generally parallel to and primarily within, the movement plane of the drawer to which it is attached. Each termination connector support bracket includes two or more termination connector support columns, each of which extends vertically in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Each such termination support column has a first set of connector support arms that extend therefrom in a first direction, as well as a second set of connector support arms that extend generally in the opposite direction. The first and second sets of support arms extend at an offset angle from the movement plane of the drawer; this offset angle ranges between 25 degrees and 65 degrees, and is preferably between 35 degrees and 55 degrees from the movement plane of the drawer. Since the first and second sets of support arms extend in opposite directions, and since they are offset from the drawer movement plane, the first and second sets of connector support arms are disposed on opposite sides of the termination connector support column relative to the drawer movement plane; thus, the first and second sets of support arms extend on opposite sides of the drawer movement plane.
Each drawer is adapted to receive a number of incoming and outgoing optical fibers; the ends of such optical fibers include termination connectors, and the termination connector of one incoming Optical fiber must be coupled with the termination connector of a respective outgoing optical fiber. To this end, a series of incoming fiber optic cable curved guides may be provided on each drawer for partially supporting incoming optical fibers, and for guiding each incoming fiber optic cable to a related coupling adaptor; likewise, a series of outgoing fiber optic cable curved guides may be provided on each drawer for partially supporting outgoing optical fibers, and for guiding each outgoing fiber optic cable to a related coupling adaptors.
A series of such coupling adaptors are secured to, and supported by, the aforementioned connector support arms. Each such adaptor is adapted to receive a termination connector of a selected incoming optical fiber and a termination connector of a selected outgoing optical fiber for removably coupling such optical fibers together.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the termination connector support bracket, including its termination connector support columns and associated connector support arms, are formed of a single piece of material, such as a sheet of metal that is punched and formed to provide such components.
REFERENCES:
patent: B1 Re. 34955 (1996-08-01), Anton et al.
patent: 4995688 (1991-02-01), Anton et al.
patent: 5214735 (1993-05-01), Henneberger et al.
patent: 5363465 (1994-11-01), Korkowski et al.
Excerpt from AT&T Distributing Frame Systems Products Manual (DFSPM), Aug. 1989, including pp. 3-15 through 3-18 regarding “Slide Drawer Assembly Protector Frame for 309-Type Connectors”.
Undated AT&T Bulk Protection Slide Drawer Assembly (SDA) data sheet, published prior to 1998. No month.
“Fiber Distribution Frame”,ADC Telecommunications, Jul. 90.
“F
Cahill Sutton & Thomas P.L.C.
Palmer Phan T. H.
LandOfFree
High-density fiber optic cable distribution frame does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with High-density fiber optic cable distribution frame, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High-density fiber optic cable distribution frame will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2508462