Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-24
2001-09-18
Sanghavi, Hemang (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
C385S134000, C385S136000, C385S137000, C174S050510
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292614
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to optical fiber interconnection closures and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for holding internal components of a splice closure during servicing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fiber optic networks typically include interconnection closures at various splice locations throughout the fiber optic network. Typically, these interconnection closures include splice closures and patch closures. For example, splice closures commonly house the splices connecting the optical fibers of one or more distribution cables to respective ones of the optical fibers of a fiber optic feeder cable. By housing the splices, a splice closure protects the spliced end portions of the optical fibers from environmental degradation, strain, and other deleterious forces, thereby increasing the reliability and quality of the splices.
As known to those of ordinary skill in the art, a variety of splice closures have been designed. For example, a typical butt-type splice closure includes a housing open at one end and a single end cap positioned within the open end of the housing. Each of the fiber optic cables associated with the butt-type splice closure extends through the single end cap. In addition, in-line splice closures include a housing open at both of its opposite ends and a pair of end caps respectively positioned within the open ends of the housing so fiber optic cables can enter the in-line splice closure from either end of the housing.
Conventional splice closures of the above-described types generally include a frame that is connected to the end cap(s) and carries a number of splice trays that are disposed in a stacked arrangement within the housing. Each splice tray generally includes a series of splice holders for receiving the spliced end portions of a pair of optical fibers.
When servicing a splice closure, the end cap(s), as well as the frame and components attached thereto, are removed from the housing. Thereafter, it is common to secure the frame to a work surface, such as a workbench or the top of a table. In the furtherance of the securing, it is common to use a C-clamp, or another type of clamp, to clamp the frame at a position adjacent to the end cap. However, it is often inefficient to apply a clamp to the frame at that or another position because the size of the frame is limited and the attached clamp can restrict access to the optic cables, fibers, and splices. In addition, carrying a clamp to and from the site at which a splice closure is being serviced, for the purpose of securing the frame of the splice closure to a work surface, can be an inconvenience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the above problems, and other problems, by providing apparatus and methods for efficiently and securely holding internal components of a splice closure during servicing. More specifically, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a closure that contains optical fiber splices includes a holding bracket and a support assembly. The support assembly supports the splices. The support assembly and the holding bracket can be disposed either in an enclosed configuration or an unenclosed configuration. In the enclosed configuration, the housing substantially contains both the support assembly and the holding bracket. In the unenclosed configuration, both the support assembly and the holding bracket are separated from the housing. The holding bracket is movable relative to the support assembly and operative for securely holding the support assembly during the unenclosed configuration. When the transition is made from the enclosed configuration to the unenclosed configuration, both the support assembly and the holding bracket are removed from the housing. Thereafter and during the unenclosed configuration, the holding bracket is manually configured so a protruding portion of the holding bracket extends away from the support assembly to provide an extended configuration. While in the extended configuration, the protruding portion of the holding bracket is clamped to a work surface with a clamping device to provide a clamped configuration. The holding bracket is constructed so that during the clamped configuration the holding bracket supports the support assembly in a cantilever-like fashion and the holding bracket and the clamping device do not substantially inhibit access to the optical fiber splices and associated optical fibers and cables.
The holding bracket can be configured to extend away from the support assembly in many different manners. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the holding bracket is disconnected from a rearward portion of the support assembly and is thereafter connected to a forward portion of the support assembly in the furtherance of achieving the extended configuration. In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the holding bracket is pivotably connected to the support assembly and is pivoted relative to the support assembly to provide the extended configuration. In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, the holding bracket includes a reference hinge plate and a pivoting hinge plate. The reference hinge plate is mounted to the support assembly, and the pivoting hinge plate is pivotally connected to the reference hinge plate. The pivoting hinge plate is pivoted relative to the reference hinge plate to provide the extended configuration.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, after the holding bracket is unclamped from the work surface, the holding bracket is manually transitioned from the extended configuration to an unextended configuration, and thereafter the support assembly and the holding bracket are together returned to the enclosed configuration within the housing. In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, the holding bracket is disconnected from the forward portion of the support assembly and is thereafter connected to the rearward portion of the support assembly to achieve the unextended configuration. In accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, the holding bracket is pivoted relative to the support assembly to achieve the unextended configuration. In accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, the pivoting hinge plate is pivoted relative to the reference hinge plate to provide the unextended configuration.
More specifically, the support assembly includes a support frame connected to and extending rearward from an end cap. The housing defines an internal cavity and an opening thereto. The end cap occludes the opening of the housing during the enclosed configuration, and the end cap is removed from the opening of the housing to provide the unenclosed configuration. The support frame is contained in the cavity during the enclosed configuration, and the support frame is outside of the cavity during the unenclosed configuration. In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, the holding bracket is carried by the support frame during the enclosed configuration. More specifically, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the holding bracket defines a pair of apertures that receive studs of the support frame to facilitate the connection between the holding bracket and the support frame during the unextended configuration. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the holding bracket is held to the support frame by a strap during the unextended configuration. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the holding bracket is held to the support frame by a strap during the extended configuration.
In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, the holding bracket is connected to both the support frame and the end cap during the extended configuration. More specifically, the holding bracket includes forward and rear connecting mechanisms with the forward connecting mechanism connected to the end cap and the rear connecting mechanism conne
Smith Kelly John
Wicker James H.
Pak Sung
Sanghavi Hemang
Siecor Operations LLC
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