Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-01-30
Spyrou, Cassandra (Department: 2872)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
C385S134000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181862
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention is directed to fiber optic connector systems and in particular to a storage unit for mounting to a rack containing a plurality of fiber optic connector housings containing connector panels.
Fiber optic cables are used for transmitting voice, data, and video communications. In some installations, a large number of fiber optic cables must be interconnected with other fiber optic cables extending throughout the user's facility. For large systems, storage racks are often used. A storage rack is a vertical rack that supports itself on the floor and holds a number of fiber optic connector panels in housings, with the housings spaced one above the other. The connector panels have large number of apertures for various connectors/adapters used in connecting the optical fibers. Some of the systems also contain electronics that must be interconnected with the fiber connector panels. In some cases, massive amounts of optical fiber are required to be stored and routed from the front and back of the frame. Care must be taken in storage of the optical fibers to avoid bending the optical fibers more than a specified radius (the bend radius), usually 1.25-1.50 inches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In this invention, a storage unit mounts to at least one of the vertical sides of the storage rack. Each storage unit has a pair of longitudinal extending parallel rails, each of the rails having a front and a back. The rails are connected to each other and spaced apart, defining openings between the rails to allow the passage of optical fibers from the front to the back. The rails also carry hubs to allow for storage of slack optical fibers. The hubs are longitudinally spaced along the rails. Some of the hubs protrude rearward from the rails and some of the hubs protrude forward from the rails.
In the preferred embodiment, the hubs are mounted to spacers that interconnect and maintain the rails in parallel. Both the rails and the spacers preferably have curved portions that join the front and the back and prevent excessive bending of the optical fibers.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5402515 (1995-03-01), Vidacovich et al.
patent: 5640482 (1997-06-01), Barry et al.
patent: 5758002 (1998-05-01), Walters
patent: 5758003 (1998-05-01), Wheeler et al.
patent: 4336079 (1986-07-01), None
patent: 0329935A2 (1989-08-01), None
patent: 0593927A1 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 0183579A1 (1995-04-01), None
Gordon Carrie Lynn
Noble Jennifer D.
Cherry Euncha
Siecor Operations LLC
Spyrou Cassandra
LandOfFree
Interbay fiber optic storage unit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Interbay fiber optic storage unit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interbay fiber optic storage unit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2466147