Optic fiber slack storage bracket

Details Optic fiber slack storage bracket Optic fiber slack storage bracket

1999-09-17

2001-02-13

Lee, John D. (Department: 2874)

Optical waveguides

Accessories

Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers

C385S136000, C385S137000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06188826

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of optical fiber splice enclosures and, more particularly, storage structures for retaining fiber optic cable inside the enclosures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A significant amount of information is now carried over fiber optic cables. Presently, the majority of telephone and data transmission lines are or are being converted to fiber optics. Fiber optic lines, however, have their own unique issues which must be addressed. One such issue is splicing fiber optic lines.
Fiber optic splices are generally found, among other places, where the lines are brought into a building. When large numbers of splices are required in one place, i.e. at an office building, the splices are contained in an enclosure or housing. The splice enclosure is usually round, has an end cap through which the cable enters and exits and a sleeve which covers the structure holding the splices. In this regard, the end cap usually includes a bracket mounted thereon that holds a number of splice trays having splice holders which secure the individual splices.
Since fiber optic cable cannot be extended and new or repaired splices use up additional cable, it is common to keep an excess amount of cable slack in the enclosure for later splices. This is currently done by merely leaving slack hanging in the sleeve portion of the enclosure. The slack of the 300-400 cables which are spliced in an enclosure can quickly become unmanageable.
Additionally, fiber optic cable has unique physical limitations including a minimum bend radius wherein bending the cable in a radius smaller than the minimum bend radius jeopardizes the integrity of the fiber cable. The minimum bend radius of typical fiber optic cable is about 1½ inches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a fiber optic cable slack storage bracket for use in a splice enclosure comprising a body including a mounting member for attachment of the bracket to a portion of the enclosure and opposed radial shelf portions extending outwardly from the body, said shelf portions having one or more stop members extending substantially perpendicular to the shelf portions to prevent the cable from slipping off of the shelf portions.
Similarly, the body of the bracket is preferably formed in an arc when used in a round enclosure, the radius of the arc being not less than the bend radius of the cable. Similarly, the shelf portions are formed in an arc having a radius which is not less than the bend radius of the cable.
Preferably, two opposed shelf portions are used so that the cable slack can be wound around the shelf portions in an oval or “figure eight” pattern. However, a unitary oval or circular shelf can be used, having opposed shelf portions thereon.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5323480 (1994-06-01), Mullaney et al.
patent: 5553186 (1996-09-01), Allen

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