Multiport optical fiber terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9804343-B2
Application number	US-201615213006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2016
Priority date	Nov 14, 2012
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A multiport optical fiber connection terminal with a compact footprint has a configuration that allows for easy accessibility and interconnection of cables, while providing several mounting options and including storage space within the terminal. The terminal may include cable connectors that are configured to allow for weather proof installation of pre-terminated fiber optic cables with the terminal ports.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-port connection terminal for optical fibers, the terminal comprising:
a housing defining an interior space within the multi-port connection terminal;
a plurality of connector ports extending through the housing from the interior space to an exterior space outside of the housing, the plurality of connector ports including a stub cable port configured to receive a stub cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers; and
a fiber routing and slack storage system coupled to the housing for storing optical fiber cable within the interior space.

2. The multi-port connection terminal of claim 1 , further comprising:
a perimetrical wall configured as an exterior wall having at least one interior surface disposed towards the interior space; and
wherein the fiber routing and slack storage system comprises inwardly disposed arms extending away from the interior surface and configured for routing and storing excess lengths of optical fiber adjacent the interior surface.

3. The multi-port connection terminal of claim 2 , wherein the perimetrical wall is cylindrical, and the fiber routing and slack storage system comprises a disc-shaped member having a surface, and a circumferential edge disposed about the surface for being disposed adjacent the interior surface of the perimetrical wall, and the disc-shaped member comprising the radially inwardly disposed arms extending radially inwardly from the circumferential edge, substantially parallel to the surface, and spaced axially away from the surface.

4. The multi-port connection terminal of claim 3 , wherein:
the housing comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion, wherein:
the first housing portion comprises:
a base comprising the plurality of connector ports, and
the cylindrical perimetrical wall extending from the base, the cylindrical perimetrical wall having an annular edge disposed away from the base;

the second housing portion comprises a domed cover for being disposed on the annular edge of the cylindrical perimetrical wall to enclose the interior space;
the disc shaped member comprises a bulkhead that fits within the annular edge of the cylindrical perimetrical wall to divide the interior space into a base portion between the base and the bulkhead, and cover portion between the bulkhead and the cover, with the radially inwardly disposed arms disposed in the cover portion; and
the disc-shaped member comprises an opening corresponding and aligned with each connector port in the base for passage of optical fibers therethrough from the fiber routing and slack storage system to the plurality of connector ports.

5. The multi-port connection terminal of claim 4 , wherein:
the base is disc-shaped, the stub cable port being disposed in the center thereof and any additional ones of the plurality of connector ports disposed concentrically around the stub cable port and configured for receiving a terminal end of at least one of the optical fibers therein.

6. The multi-port connection terminal of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of connector ports comprise:
a cylindrical port wall extending externally away from the base, and configured for receiving and retaining thereon at least one of a connector housing and a cap; and
a base portion disposed within the cylindrical port wall and configured for receiving and retaining a connector adapter therein, wherein terminal ends of the plurality of optical fibers of the stub cable are terminated by a fiber optic connector, and the adapter is configured to mate with the fiber optic connector.

7. The multi-port connection terminal of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the base portion within the cylindrical port wall and the cylindrical port wall is removable to provide an opening for alternate connector adapters.

8. The multi-port connection terminal of claim 6 , further comprising connector housings for mating with the cylindrical port walls, the connector housings comprising:
an internal housing portion configured for receiving a pre-terminated optical fiber cable therethrough, the internal housing portion having an opening for receiving the optical fiber cable therethrough and comprising a mating portion for mating with the cylindrical port wall; and
an external housing portion disposed about and engaging the internal housing portion to form a seal about the fiber optic cable.

9. The multi-port connection terminal of claim 8 , wherein:
the cylindrical port wall and mating portion of the inner housing portion comprise a first bayonet-type connection for retaining the inner housing portion with the cylindrical port wall; and
the external housing portion and inner housing portion comprise a second bayonet-type connection for retaining the external housing portion with the inner housing portion.

10. The multi-port connection terminal of claim 9 , wherein:
the mating portion of the inner housing portion comprise a cylindrical wall that fits within the cylindrical port wall, and the first bayonet-type connection comprises at least one pin extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical port wall and at least one corresponding slot in the inner housing cylindrical wall; and
the internal housing portion comprises a cylindrical exterior surface, the external housing portion comprises a cylindrical wall that fits around the cylindrical exterior surface of the internal housing portion, and the second bayonet-type connection comprises at least one pin extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical exterior surface and at least one corresponding slot in the cylindrical wall of the external housing portion.

11. The multi-port terminal of claim 8 , wherein the mating portion of the inner housing portion comprise a wall portion for engaging the cylindrical port wall, and at least one of the cylindrical port wall and the wall portion comprises a locking feature for locking the inner housing portion to the cylindrical port wall.

12. The multi-port terminal of claim 8 , wherein:
the mating portion of the inner housing portion comprises a first internal cylindrical wall that fits internally within the cylindrical port wall, and a second external cylindrical wall disposed about at least a portion of the first internal cylindrical wall that fits externally around the cylindrical port wall;
the cylindrical port wall comprises at least one pin extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical port wall, the internal cylindrical wall comprises at least one corresponding slot for receiving the pin therein, and the at least one pin and corresponding slot comprise a bayonet-type connection requiring an axial and rotational movement of the mating portion with respect to the cylindrical port wall to engage the mating portion with the cylindrical port wall;
the cylindrical port wall has an exterior surface comprising at least one axial ridge extending axially along at least a portion of the cylindrical port wall, the ridge having a first beveled longitudinal edge extending outwardly from the exterior surface in a direction of the rotational movement of the mating portion into engagement with the cylindrical port wall, and a second radially disposed longitudinal edge spaced circumferentially from the first edge; and
the second external cylindrical wall of the inner housing portion comprises a radially displaceable tab having a first position and configured to be displaceable radially outwardly from the first position to move over the axial ridge upon rotational movement of the mating portion into engagement with the cylindrical port wall and returnable radially inwardly to the first position upon moving past the second radia

Assignees

• Clearfield Inc

Inventors

• Hill John P
• Power Ii Walter E
• Van Horn Randy

Classifications

• G02B6/3879 Primary

  Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/3897

  Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/4452

  Distribution frames · CPC title

• G02B6/4446

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

• G02B6/44515

  Fibre drop terminals with surplus length (without surplus length G02B6/4472) · CPC title