Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-18
2001-12-11
Sanghavi, Hemang (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
C385S134000, C385S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330389
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.
The systems described in the above mentioned patents include a plurality of hinged fiber splice trays. To use a selected one of the trays, it is necessary to pivot any tray above the selected tray. A separate apparatus is described for selectively exposing respective trays. The apparatus is hinged so that a bar can move to allow selected trays to be held in an upright position for working on those trays.
The above described apparatus for selectively exposing trays is bulky and cumbersome to use. Other, more convenient methods have been sought to allow one of the splice trays to be selectively exposed for installation or repair of a splice. In one example, a clip has been inserted in the hinged corner between the exposed horizontal tray and the adjacent (unexposed) vertical tray immediately above the exposed tray. The clip prevents the adjacent vertical tray from pivoting downward about its hinge, maintaining the horizontal tray exposed. Although the clip is compact, it is easily lost. Further, if the worker forgets to remove the clip when the work is completed, either the clip or the trays, or both, may be damaged when the vertical trays are lowered.
In addition, the above described tray systems are designed to accommodate a large number of fibers, and may not be economically practical for configurations that (at least initially) do not involve a large number of fibers.
An improved and economical fiber organizer system is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is a device for routing optical fiber, including a sleeve and a plurality of troughs. The sleeve has the shape of either: (a) a closed figure having a plurality of substantially flat sides or (b) a ring. The sleeve has a top portion, a bottom portion, and a shoulder connecting the top and bottom portions. One of the top portion and the bottom portion has an inner dimension that is larger than the outer dimension of a corresponding location on the other of the top and bottom portions. The plurality of troughs are attached to an outer surface of the sleeve.
Another aspect of the invention is a fiber storage system, including at least one splice holder assembly and at least one fiber routing device. The splice holder assembly includes a sleeve in the shape of a closed figure having a plurality of substantially flat sides or a ring. The sleeve has at least one hole in at least one side thereof. The splice holder assembly also includes at least one splice holder mounted on the side wall of the sleeve, near the hole. The fiber routing device includes a sleeve in the shape of a closed figure having a plurality of substantially flat sides or a ring, and a plurality of troughs attached to an outer surface of the sleeve. At least one of the splice holder assembly or the fiber routing device is stackable on the other one of the splice holder assembly and the fiber routing device.
Still another aspect of the invention is a method for routing fiber, including the steps of: (a) providing first and second splice holders and at least one trough, the trough being on a different level from either one of the first and second splice holders; and (b) routing a fiber from the first splice holder to the second splice holder by way of the at least one trough.
The above and other features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention which is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4913522 (1990-04-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 5069516 (1991-12-01), Kohy et al.
patent: 5155794 (1992-10-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 5249253 (1993-09-01), Franckx et al.
patent: 5396575 (1995-03-01), Hayward et al.
patent: 5602954 (1997-02-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 5758002 (1998-05-01), Walters
patent: 5825962 (1998-10-01), Walters et al.
Daoud Bassel Hage
Helmstetter Christopher M.
Newell Garth A.
Duane Morris & Heckscher LLP
Koffs Steven E.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Rojas Omar
Sanghavi Hemang
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