Modular hybrid closure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10637220-B2
Application number	US-201716073471-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2017
Priority date	Jan 28, 2016
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A hybrid cable distribution system wherein a feeder cable is received by a box. The feeder cable can be a hybrid cable including optical fibers and copper wire (coax). The box may be used only for copper signal handling (such as coaxial signal handling), and then at a later date, the box may be used for receiving fiber signals. Customers can directly connect to the feeder fan out device by connecting a tail of a drop splice module that is spliced to an individual distribution cable to the feeder fan out device. This connection creates a point-to-point connection. The number of fan out devices in the system can be increased or decreased as needed. Alternatively, a splitter input can be connected to the feeder fan out device, such as through a pigtail extending from the splitter, wherein the splitter splits the signal as desired into a plurality of outputs. The outputs of the splitters can be in the form of connectors or adapters. The connectors or adapters are then connected to tails of drop splice modules that are spliced to individual distribution cables so that customers can receive a split signal. The cable distribution system allows for mixing of connection types to the customer(s) such as a direct connection (point-to-point), or a split signal connection. Further, the types of splitters can be mixed and varied as desired. Further, the types of fan out devices can be mixed and varied as desired.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A telecommunications enclosure comprising:
an outer shell having a first half and a second half; and
a base tray positioned within at least one of the first and second halves of the outer shell, the base tray including:
a first storage location for receiving at least one splice tray, the splice tray being connectable to a feeder cable;
a second storage location for receiving a plurality of fan out modules and/or a plurality of splitter modules; and
a third storage location for receiving at least one drop splice module, the at least one drop splice module being connectable to a distribution cable.

2. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a seal block having passages therethrough, the passages being sized and shaped for feeder cables and distribution cables.

3. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the seal is a gel seal.

4. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is environmentally sealable.

5. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 4 , wherein the enclosure is sealed to IP68 standards.

6. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes at least one fan out module, wherein the at least one splice tray is spliced to the fan out device, and wherein the at least one drop splice module connects to the fan out device to provide at least one point-to-point connection.

7. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes at least one splitter module and at least one fan out device, the at least one splice tray being spliced to the fan out device and the at least splitter module being connected to an output of the fan out device, the at least one drop splice module connecting to the at least one splitter module output of the at least one splitter module to provide at least one split connection.

8. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of drop splice modules each being hingedly connected to the tray.

9. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the drop splice modules are arranged in slots on the tray.

10. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of fan out modules, wherein the plurality of fan out modules are stacked on top of one another.

11. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of splitter modules, wherein the plurality of splitter modules are stacked on top of one another.

12. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a seal positioned between the first half and the second half of the outer shell.

13. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a coaxial splitter attached to the enclosure, wherein the coaxial splitter is configured to split a single coaxial signal into a plurality of output split signals.

14. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes mounting features that are configured to mount the enclosure to at least one of an outdoor pole, an interior wall surface, an exterior wall surface, a pedestal mount, an underground surface, and a cabinet.

15. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the base tray includes a fourth storage location for receiving and storing excess cabling.

16. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the base tray includes at least one splice tray spliced to a feeder cable, and wherein the at least one splice tray of a first enclosure has an output connected to an at least one fan out device of a second enclosure.

17. A telecommunications enclosure comprising:
an outer shell having a first half and a second half;
a base tray positioned within at least one of the first and second halves of the outer shell, the base tray including:
at least one splice tray, the splice tray being connected to a feeder cable;
at least one fan out module connected to the at least one splice tray;
at least one splitter module connected to an output of the at least one fan out module; and
at least one drop splice module, the at least one drop splice module being connected to a distribution cable and being connectable to an output of the splitter module or an output of the at least one fan out module to provide a point-to-point connection or a split output.

18. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 17 , wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of drop splice modules each being hingedly connected to the tray.

19. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 17 , wherein the at least one drop splice module is arranged in a slot on the tray.

20. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 17 , wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of fan out modules, wherein the plurality of fan out modules are stacked on top of one another.

21. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 17 , wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of splitter modules, wherein the plurality of splitter modules are stacked on top of one another.

22. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 17 , further comprising a seal block having passages therethrough, the seal block being positioned between the first and second halves of the outer shell, the passages being sized and shaped for at least one feeder cable and at least one distribution cable.

23. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 22 , wherein the seal is a gel seal.

24. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 17 , wherein the enclosure is environmentally sealable.

25. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 24 , wherein the enclosure is sealed to IP68 standards.

26. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 17 , wherein the drop splice module includes:
an input pig-tail attached to a main body;
a splice area disposed on the main body; and
a cable fixation area configured for connection to a distribution cable.

27. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 26 , further including a cover configured to enclose the splice area.

28. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 27 , wherein the cover is translucent.

29. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 26 , wherein the splice area has a plurality of splice positions so as to be configured to allow at least two fibers per distribution cable.

30. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 26 , wherein the splice area provides storage for overlength fibers.

31. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 26 , further comprising an enclosure fixation fin extending from the main body, wherein the enclosure fixation fin is configured to interface with an enclosure.

32. The telecommunications enclosure of claim 26 , further comprising a yarn fixation portion configured to hold excess aramid yard around a spool.

Assignees

• CommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA

Inventors

• Van Baelen David Jan Irma

Classifications

• G02B6/4472

  Manifolds · CPC title

• H02G15/113

  Boxes split longitudinally in main cable direction · CPC title

• G02B6/4444

  Seals · CPC title

• H02G15/085

  for coaxial cables or hollow conductors (plug and socket connections between HF conductors H01P1/04; plug and socket connections per se H01R24/38) · CPC title

• H02G3/086

  Assembled boxes · CPC title