Fiber optic cable distribution box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE48063-E
Application number	US-201615390085-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Dec 23, 2016
Priority date	Jan 13, 2007
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A fiber optic cable distribution box has an interface compartment for interfacing a first set of fibers when routed inside the compartment, with a second set of fibers associated with a fiber optic cable that is routed to the box. A drum region is disposed beneath the interface compartment. The drum region includes a cylindrical wall for supporting a fiber optic cable wound about the wall. The drum region is formed so that the box can turn about the axis of the cylindrical wall when a cable is paid out from the drum region. The interface compartment and the drum region are constructed so that the first set of fibers inside the interface compartment, originate from an inside end portion of the cable wound on the drum region.

First claim

We claim:

1. A fiber optic cable distribution box, comprising:
an interface compartment constructed and arranged for interfacing a first set of fibers when routed inside the compartment, with a second set of fibers associated with a fiber optic cable that is routed to the box; a drum region extending beneath the interface compartment, wherein the drum region includes a first cylindrical wall having an axis, the wall is dimensioned to support a length of a first fiber optic cable wound about the wall, and the drum region is constructed and arranged so that the distribution box can turn about the axis of the cylindrical wall when a cable is paid out from the drum region; and the interface compartment and the drum region are constructed and arranged so that the first set of fibers inside the interface compartment, originate from an inside end portion of the cable wound about the first cylindrical wall of the drum region.

2. A cable distribution box according to claim 1 , including a tube arranged to extend coaxially through the drum region, and the tube has a central passage through which an outside shaft or spindle is insertable.

3. A cable distribution box according to claim 1 , wherein a first cable entry port is formed in the first cylindrical wall of the drum region for receiving the inside end portion of the first fiber optic cable.

4. A cable distribution box according to claim 1 , wherein the drum region includes a second cylindrical wall arranged radially inward and coaxially with the first cylindrical wall, and an annular fiber routing region is defined between the first and the second walls.

5. A cable distribution box according to claim 3 , including a strain relief device arranged at the first cable entry port for guiding the inside end portion of the first fiber optic cable through the first cylindrical wall over a path tangential to the circumference of the wall.

6. A cable distribution box according to claim 5 , wherein the strain relief device is constructed and arranged to transfer a pull force applied externally to the first fiber optic cable, to the first cylindrical wall of the drum region when the cable is wound on or off the drum region.

7. A cable distribution box according to claim 5 , wherein the strain relief device includes one or more guides for securing a strength material beneath an outer jacket of the cable.

8. A cable distribution box according to claim 1 , wherein the interface compartment includes a connector panel, and a number of connector adapters mounted in the panel for coupling fiber optic connectors at an externally facing side of the panel, with corresponding fiber optic connectors at an internally facing side of the panel.

9. A cable distribution box according to claim 8 , wherein the interface compartment is constructed and arranged to support the connector panel so that a first connector panel can be removed and exchanged with a second connector panel having connector adapters of a type different from a type of adapters mounted in the first connector panel.

10. A cable distribution box according to claim 1 , wherein the interface compartment has a side wall, and a number of fingers or tabs that project outward from the side wall for confining the length of the first fiber optic cable when wound about the first cylindrical wall of the drum region.

11. A cable distribution box according to claim 1 , including a disk flange that extends radially outward beneath the interface compartment for confining the length of the first fiber optic cable when wound on the first cylindrical wall of the drum region.

12. A cable distribution box according to claim 1 , wherein the interface compartment has a side wall, and the side wall has a second cable entry port for receiving a fiber optic cable or cable assembly having a third set of fibers to be coupled via the connector panel with the second set of fibers of the second fiber optic cable routed to the box.

13. A cable distribution box according to claim 8 , wherein one or more of the adapters mounted in the connector panel of the interface compartment are constructed and arranged to couple multi-fiber type connectors with one another.

14. A cable distribution box according to claim 1 , including a length of the first fiber optic cable wound about the first cylindrical wall of the drum region, and a fiber optic connector for terminating an outside end of the cable.

15. A cable distribution box according to claim 14 , wherein the fiber optic connector at the outside end of the cable is a multi-fiber type of connector.

16. A fiber optic cable distribution device comprising:
a base constructed and arranged for mounting on a wall or other surface at a subscriber premises; and a drum region that extends axially upward from a central portion of the base, the drum region including an outer cylindrical wall defining an outside diameter sufficient to allow a length of a fiber optic cable to be wound on the outer cylindrical wall for storage or retention, with at least the minimum bend diameter specified for the cable; wherein an inside end portion of the fiber optic cable enters a cable entry port into an interface compartment that is disposed atop the drum region and which has a peripheral side wall; wherein the interface compartment is dimensioned and formed to allow a first set of optical fibers that enter the interface compartment and originate from the fiber optic cable to be wound over the drum region to connect with a second set of optical fibers; wherein the interface compartment includes a number of optical adapters mounted thereto for coupling the first set of optical fibers terminated with connectors with the second set of optical fibers terminated with connectors; and wherein the fiber optic cable distribution device is constructed and arranged such that the interface compartment and the drum region rotate together as the fiber optic cable is paid off from the outer cylindrical wall of the drum region.

17. The fiber optic cable distribution device of claim 16, wherein the drum region includes a second cylindrical wall arranged radially inward of and coaxial with the outer cylindrical wall, and wherein an annular fiber routing region is defined between the outer cylindrical wall and the second cylindrical wall for routing the first set of fibers originating from the inside end portion of the fiber optic cable into the interface compartment.

18. The fiber optic cable distribution device of claim 16, wherein the cable entry port is formed in the outer cylindrical wall of the drum region.

19. The fiber optic cable distribution device of claim 16, wherein the adapters of the interface compartment are mounted to a connector panel of the interface compartment.

20. The fiber optic cable distribution device of claim 19, wherein the interface compartment is constructed and arranged to support the connector panel so that a first connector panel can be removed and exchanged with a second connector panel having adapters of a type different from the type of adapters mounted in the first connector panel.

21. The fiber optic cable distribution device of claim 16, further comprising a continuous circular disk flange that extends radially outward beneath the interface compartment for confining the length of the fiber optic cable wound about the outer cylindrical wall of the drum region in a region between the base and the interface compartment.

22. The fiber optic cable distribution device of claim 16, further comprising a len

Assignees

• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Hendrickson Daniel
• Zhang Hongbo

Classifications

• G02B6/44528

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

• G02B6/4471

  Terminating devices (demountable connectors G02B6/3807); Cable clamps · CPC title

• G02B6/475 Primary

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

• G02B6/4466

  Physics · mapped topic

• G02B6/4441 Primary

  Boxes · CPC title