Deploying optical fibers within a multi-dwelling unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10754115-B2
Application number	US-201615567913-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2016
Priority date	Apr 22, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

Example wall outlets include a base; a spool arrangement that mounts to the base; and a cable wound around the spool arrangement at the drum region. The base includes a mounting wall and a sidewall. The base defines a port and defines a first annular perimeter. The spool arrangement is rotatable relative to the base. The spool arrangement includes a drum region, a management region, and an aperture extending between the drum region and the management region. The drum region is enclosed by the sidewall of the base and the management region extends outwardly beyond the base. The cable has a first end extending through the aperture and terminated at a first fiber optic ferrule held at the management region. The cable also has a second end that extends through the port defined in the base and is terminated at a second fiber optic ferrule disposed external of the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable storage arrangement comprising:
a coil of cable extending between a first end and a second end, the second end being connectorized at a fiber optic connector;
a wall outlet holding at least a portion of the coil, the wall outlet defining a port through which the cable can be dispensed by pulling on the first end of the cable, the wall outlet also including a first interface part holding the fiber optic connector at the second end of the cable;
a patchcord extending between a first end and a second end, each of the first and second ends being connectorized at fiber optic connectors; and
a patchcord storage arrangement holding the patchcord and from which the patchcord is dispensed, the patchcord storage arrangement being configured to mount to the wall outlet, the patchcord storage arrangement including a second interface part holding the fiber optic connector at the first end of the patchcord, the second interface part being aligned with the first interface part when the patchcord storage arrangement is mounted to the wall outlet, the second end of the patchcord being accessible from an exterior of the patchcord storage arrangement.

2. The cable storage arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first interface part includes an optical adapter that holds the fiber optic connector at the second end of the cable, the optical adapter defining a port configured to receive the fiber optic connector at the first end of the patchcord when the patchcord storage arrangement mounts to the wall outlet.

3. The cable storage arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the second interface part includes an optical adapter that holds the fiber optic connector at the first end of the patchcord, the optical adapter defining a port configured to receive the fiber optic connector at the second end of the cable when the patchcord storage arrangement mounts to the wall outlet.

4. The cable storage arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the wall outlet includes a first spool arrangement disposed within a base, the first spool arrangement being rotatable relative to the base to dispense the cable, the base defining the port, the first spool arrangement defining the first interface part.

5. The cable storage arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the patchcord storage arrangement includes a cover mounted over a second spool arrangement, the cover being rotatable relative to the second spool arrangement to dispense the patchcord.

6. The cable storage arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the second spool arrangement is rotationally stationary relative to the first spool arrangement.

7. The cable storage arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the port defined by the wall outlet is lined with a gasket to generate friction as the cable is dispensed.

8. The cable storage arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a retaining arrangement that releasably secures the patchcord storage arrangement to the wall outlet.

9. The cable storage arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the retaining arrangement comprises a button disposed at the patchcord storage arrangement, the button defining a groove, the button being movable between a first position and a second position.

10. The cable storage arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the retaining arrangement comprises a pair of buttons.

11. The cable storage arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the button is spring biased towards the first position.

12. The cable storage arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the patchcord storage arrangement defines a channel that extends across the button, wherein the groove defined by the button does not align with the channel when the button is disposed in the first position, wherein the groove defined by the button aligns with the channel when the button is disposed in the second position.

13. The cable storage arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the retaining arrangement also comprises an abutment member fixedly disposed on the wall outlet, the abutment member being received in the channel.

14. The cable storage arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the second interface part includes shroud members disposed at opposite sides of the fiber optic connector at the second end of the cable.

15. The cable storage arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first interface part includes alignment rails and the second interface part defines slots sized and shaped to receive the alignment rails.

16. The cable storage arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a packaging arrangement that holds a second portion of the coil of cable that is disposed external of the wall outlet.

17. The cable storage arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the packaging arrangement is configured to hold the wall outlet and the patchcord storage arrangement within the second portion of the coil of cable.

18. The cable storage arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the packaging arrangement includes a base, an inner ring sized to hold the wall outlet, and an outer ring sized to receive the second portion of the coil of cable.

19. The cable storage arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the wall outlet has a front and a rear, wherein the first interface part is disposed at the front, and wherein the rear is configured to fit with a mounting member via which the wall outlet mounts to a wall.

20. The cable storage arrangement of claim 19 , wherein the mounting member enables the wall outlet to rotate relative to the wall.

Assignees

• CommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA
• Adc Czech Republic Sro

Inventors

• Van Baelen David Jan Irma
• Pasek Jiri
• Alaerts Roger

Classifications

• G02B6/477

  Wall sockets · CPC title

• G02B6/44528

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

• G02B6/475

  Mechanical aspects of installing cables in ducts or the like for buildings · CPC title

• G02B6/3825

  with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/4457 Primary

  Bobbins; Reels · CPC title