Field installable optical module with configurable cable attachment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10048460-B2
Application number	US-201314430645-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2013
Priority date	Sep 28, 2012
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A cable adaptor case for sorting a first plurality of cables and adapting a plurality of types of cables comprising a cable tray for holding cables, an adaptor tray for adapting a first plurality of cables to a second plurality of cables, and a lid which is removably attached and hingably attached to the cable tray.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable adaptor case comprising:
a cable tray configured to hold a plurality of cables; and
an adaptor tray removably attached to the cable tray,
wherein the cable tray comprises a base wall and a sidewall, the base wall spaced from a top of the cable tray along an axis, and wherein the cable tray further comprises a plurality of steps spaced apart between the base wall and the top of the cable tray in a direction along the axis, the plurality of steps configured to hold the plurality of cables, the plurality of steps formed by an exterior surface of the sidewall such that the steps are on an exterior of the cable tray;
a plurality of cable clips configured to secure the plurality of cables to the cable tray, each of the plurality of cable clips removably insertable in the direction along the axis into one of a plurality of channels defined in the cable tray, the plurality of channels extending in the direction along the axis, and wherein an entry port into the cable tray is defined at each of the plurality of channels, each entry port transverse to the direction along the axis; and
wherein the adaptor tray comprises a plurality of adaptors configured to connect the plurality of cables.

2. The cable adaptor case of claim 1 , wherein the cable tray further comprises a plurality of splice holders configured to hold spliced cables.

3. The cable adaptor case of claim 2 , wherein the cable tray further comprises a plurality of splice slots, the plurality of splice holders removably attached to the plurality of splice slots.

4. A cable adapter case comprising:
a cable tray configured to hold a plurality of cables; and
an adapter tray removably attached to the cable tray;
wherein the cable tray comprises a base wall and a sidewall, the based wall spaced from a top of the cable tray along an axis, a plurality of splice slots extending from the base wall towards the top of the cable tray, and a plurality of splice holders removably attached to the plurality of splice slots, and wherein the cable tray further comprises a plurality of steps spaced apart between the base wall and the top of the cable tray in a direction along the axis, the plurality of steps configured to hold the plurality of cables, the plurality of steps formed by an exterior surface of the sidewall such that the steps are on the exterior of the cable tray;
a plurality of cable clips configured to secure the plurality of cables to the cable tray, each of the plurality of cable clips removably insertable in the direction along the axis into one of a plurality of channels defined in the cable tray, the plurality of channels extending in the direction along the axis, and wherein an entry port into the cable tray defined at each of the plurality of channels, each entry port transverse to the direction along the axis;
wherein the adapter tray comprises a plurality adaptors configured to connect the plurality of cables; and
wherein each splice holder of the plurality of splice holders comprises:
a splice sorter comprising a plurality of fingers and a plurality of receptacles defined between adjacent fingers of the plurality of fingers, each receptacle configured to hold a plurality of the spliced cables, whereby the spliced cables are sorted into separate columns when the spliced cables are held within the receptacles;
a splice holder adaptor directly attached to the splice sorter and directly removably attached to the splice slots; and
a splice cap covering the splice sorter and configured to retain the spliced cables in the splice sorter.

5. The cable adaptor case of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of steps comprises a plurality of removably breakout portions through which the plurality of cables enter the cable tray.

6. The cable adaptor case of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of steps comprises a plurality of holes for attaching the plurality of cables to the plurality of steps.

7. The cable adaptor case of claim 1 further comprising a lid removably attached to and enclosing the top of the cable tray, the cable clips held within the channels by the lid when the lid is removably attached to the top of the cable tray.

8. The cable adaptor case of claim 7 , wherein the cable tray further comprises a plurality of receivers, the lid removably attached to the top of the cable tray by the plurality of receivers.

9. The cable adaptor case of claim 8 , wherein the lid further comprises a plurality of snaps configured to be removably attached to the receivers of the cable tray, and a plurality of hinges configured to be hingably attached and removably attached to the receivers of the cable tray.

10. The cable adaptor case of claim 1 , wherein the cable tray further comprises a plurality of hooks configured to secure the plurality of cables to the cable tray.

11. The cable adaptor case of claim 1 , wherein the cable tray further comprises a plurality of towers configured to sort and organize the plurality of cables.

12. The cable adaptor case of claim 1 , wherein the cable tray further comprises a plurality of screw receivers opposite the plurality of steps configured to receive the adaptor plate.

13. The cable adaptor case of claim 12 , wherein a plurality of screws are removably attached to a plurality of screw adaptors for removably attaching the adaptor plate to the plurality of screw receivers.

14. The cable adaptor case of claim 1 , wherein the steps are tiered.

15. The cable adaptor case of claim 1 , wherein the cable tray comprises a semi-circular sidewall and the steps extend from the sidewall.

16. The cable adaptor case of claim 1 , wherein the cable tray comprises a semi-circular sidewall and the plurality of entry ports includes two entry ports positioned at opposing ends of the semi-circular sidewall.

17. A cable adaptor case comprising:
a cable tray configured to hold a plurality of cables, the cable tray comprising a semi-circular sidewall and a plurality of tiered steps formed by an exterior surface of the semi-circular sidewall such that the steps are spaced apart along a first direction on an exterior of the semi-circular sidewall, the plurality of tiered steps configured to hold the plurality of cables, the cable tray further defining a plurality of entry ports, the plurality of entry ports oriented along a second direction transverse to the first direction;
an adaptor tray removably attached to the cable tray, the adaptor tray comprising a plurality of adaptors configured to connect the plurality of cables; and
a plurality of removable cable clips configured to secure the plurality of cables to the cable tray, each of the plurality of cable clips removably insertable into one of a plurality of channels defined in the cable tray and extending along the first direction, and wherein an entry port into the cable tray is defined at each of the plurality of channels.

18. The cable adaptor case of claim 17 , wherein the cable tray further comprises a plurality of splice holders configured to hold spliced cables.

19. The cable adaptor case of claim 17 further comprising a lid for enclosing a top of the cable tray.

Assignees

• Afl Telecommunications Llc

Inventors

• Courchaine Wilfred J
• Polidan Steve
• Turner Phillip
• Johnston Matthew
• Vaughn Roger

Classifications

• G02B6/4454 Primary

  with splices · CPC title

• G02B6/444

  Systems or boxes with surplus lengths · CPC title

• G02B6/44528

  Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00) · CPC title

• G02B6/4446

  Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables · CPC title