CN102326406B - Fiber management shelving with removable doors, push-push fastening elements, stackable side retaining rings, and reduced-profile front retaining rings - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fiber management shelf having a removable door, push-push fastening elements on the door, stackable side retaining rings, and a reduced profile front retaining ring.

Description

Fiber management shelving with removable doors, push-push fastening elements, stackable side retaining rings, and reduced-profile front retaining rings

technical field

The present invention relates to fiber management shelves with removable doors, push-push fastening elements, stackable side retaining rings, and reduced profile front retaining rings.

Background technique

A data center supporting one or more commercial, industrial, or residential areas typically includes one or more racks or cabinets populated with interconnection stations for fiber optics and fiber optic cables. In a typical installation, a cable consisting of multiple optical fibers from an external source (commonly referred to as an "outdoor plant" or "OSP" fiber) enters a cabinet and is spliced together, the individual optical fibers are referred to as "pigtails" . Splicing typically occurs in a splicing tray or similar component that includes multiple splicing sites. The pigtails are then connected to standard termination sites in the cabinet. Termination sites include terminal ports that are optically connected to "patch cord" optical fibers exiting the rack or cabinet to provide data or other information in optical form to the remainder of the building or site. End stations can be provided in a variety of formats including fiber distribution boxes, fiber distribution modules, multi-position adapter couplers and/or glass frames.

Fiber management shelves are often provided with front doors to provide selective access to end stations and elements near the front of the shelf, and/or rear doors to provide selective access to splice panels and elements located at the rear of the shelf Entrance. These doors can be easily opened and closed as required. However, for certain operations, including installing or removing end stations or working on splice panels, it may be useful to completely remove the front or rear doors. Sometimes disassembly is required to add elements to or remove elements from a wall panel; sometimes removing a door simply makes working inside the wall panel quicker and easier. In either case, it may be necessary to remove the screws and/or the hinge assembly, which may be spring biased and comprise multiple parts, from the shelf.

The front doors of the fiber management shelves may be provided with latches or other mechanisms that must be operable with one or two hands in order to open the doors and/or secure them securely. The locks can add to the complexity of the fiber management shelves, and when the shelves are arranged on top of each other in a rack, the locks on one fiber management shelf can interfere with the movement of adjacent fiber management shelves. operation of the door. Other types of latches may require significant force to release, so a user may have to pull hard on a door equipped with such latches, potentially striking the shelf and affecting the operation of the sensitive fiber optic components contained therein. It is also possible to provide a fiber management shelf with a door that does not include a latch, but this results in the door opening at undesired times and the undesired situation of not being able to provide protrusions for parts it wishes to cover.

Additionally, supports or grooves may be provided on the fiber management shelf, located at the front of the terminal station. Patch cords leaving the terminal station are typically routed along the supports to the sides of the shelf. A plurality of patch cords 900 exiting a termination station 902 mounted in a rack 904 having an opening 905 is shown in FIG. 26 . It is known to provide a fiber retaining ring 906 , as shown in FIG. 25 , for retaining and organizing a patch cord 900 leaving each of a plurality of horizontally aligned termination sites 902 . The rings can be flexible and include gaps 908 that can open wide enough to allow insertion and removal of patch cords 900 . Retainers 906 are installed in close proximity to end stations and generally must be removed when end stations are added to or removed from racks to avoid interfering with the installation and/or removal of end stations. It can also be difficult to access the patch cords closest to the retaining ring because of the small space between the retaining ring and the terminal site. Placing the fiber retaining ring farther away from the terminal station may attenuate this problem, but would disadvantageously increase the size of the shelf assembly.

Additional fiber retaining rings may be provided on each side of the groove for retaining optical fiber bundles from a given column of the fiber management shelf and directing them towards vertical fiber bundles extending along the sides of the fiber management shelf, Especially when multiple fiber management shelves are stacked on top of each other. The fiber retaining rings on the sides of the shelf can rest on grooves, or be attached to the vertical walls of the fiber management shelf.

It would be desirable to provide a fiber management shelf with doors that can be removed and reattached without tools and that still function as conventional doors on fiber management panels. It would also be desirable to provide a fiber management shelf with a lockable door that can be locked and unlocked with one hand without the need to pull on the shelf and that does not Interfering with the operation of the doors of adjacent fiber management shelves stacked above or below a fiber management shelf equipped with such a lock. In addition, it would be desirable to provide an improved fiber retainer that can be mounted at high density and configured to securely retain fibers passing therethrough and facilitate insertion and removal of optical fibers when required, in addition to the fiber The retainer is easy to use and does not significantly interfere with installation and removal of the terminal station, or access to certain patch cords connected to the terminal station.

Contents of the invention

These technical problems and other technical problems that the present invention solves, each aspect of these problems will be solved in the following:

A first aspect of the present invention includes a fiber management shelf having a housing with an opening, a door pivotally mounted on the housing, the door being accessible from the housing that substantially covers the opening. a first position translating to a second position allowing access to the opening and passing through an intermediate position between the first position and the second position; and a hinge connecting the door to the housing. The hinge includes at least one hinge pin on one of the housing and the door; and at least one receiver configured to receive and rotatably support the at least one hinge pin, the receiver is located on the other of the housing and the door. The receptacle includes a channel having a length and first and second sides defining a channel opening having a first channel width; and at least one boss on either side of the first or second channel, and the The channel has a second channel width at the land that is less than the first channel width. The hinge pin has a length and a first portion having a first hinge pin width in a first direction and a second hinge pin width in a second direction that is less than the first hinge pin width, and the first hinge pin width is greater than a second channel width, and the second hinge pin width is less than the second channel width.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a fiber management shelf comprising a housing having an opening, a door pivotally mounted on the housing, the door being accessible from a first position transfer to a second position allowing access to the opening, and travel through an intermediate position between the first position and the second position; and for pivotally supporting the door on the housing A hinge mechanism for moving the door from the first position to the second position, the hinge mechanism preventing removal of the door from the housing except when the door is in the intermediate position.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of using a fiber management shelf as described above, the method comprising: pivoting the door from the first position to the intermediate position; and by pulling at least one hinge pin The door is removed from the housing through the access opening and through the at least one boss.

Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a fiber optic management shelf comprising a housing having a first opening; a fiber optic termination module mounted in the fiber management shelf; pivotally mounted in the housing a first door on the body and movable from a first position substantially covering the first opening to a second position allowing access to the first opening; and releasably securing a first portion of the first door at least one push-push fastener to the housing.

Another aspect of the present invention includes: a fiber optic management shelf including a housing having a first opening; a fiber optic termination module mounted in the fiber management shelf; pivotally mounted in the housing A first door on the body and pivotable about an axis from a first position substantially covering said first opening to a second position allowing access to said first opening. The first door includes a first protrusion, and there is a first receptacle on the housing configured to receive and selectively retain the first protrusion so that the first A door is releasably secured to the housing. The first receptacle includes a lock configured to retain the first protrusion when the first protrusion is inserted into the first receptacle and configured to While the protrusion is held in the first receptacle, the first protrusion is released when the first door is pressed against the first receptacle.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a fiber optic management shelf comprising a housing having a first opening on a first side of the housing and an opening opposite the first side of the housing. A second opening on a second side of the housing, and a fiber optic termination module is mounted in the first opening, and a fiber optic splice panel is mounted in the second opening. A first door is pivotally mounted on the housing and movable from a first position substantially covering the first fiber optic termination module to a second position allowing access to the fiber optic termination module, and a second door Pivotally mounted on the housing and movable from a first position substantially covering the split panel to a second position allowing access to the split panel. The first door includes first and second protrusions, and the second door includes third and fourth protrusions. The housing includes first and second receptacles configured to receive and selectively retain first and second protrusions to releasably secure the first door to the housing. The first receptacle and the second receptacle respectively include a locking member configured to, when the first protrusion is inserted into the first receptacle and the second protrusion is inserted into the second receptacle, retaining the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively, and configured to hold the first protrusion and the second protrusion respectively by the first receptacle and the second receptacle Simultaneously, when the first door is pressed toward the housing, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are released. The first door is sufficiently rigid so that when the first protrusion is retained in the first receptacle and the second protrusion is retained in the second receptacle, the first Pressing the first door against the housing at a point between the protrusion and the second protrusion will release the first protrusion from the first receptacle and release the first protrusion from the second receptacle. Describe the second protrusion. The second door is sufficiently rigid so that when the third protrusion is retained in the third receptacle and the fourth protrusion is retained in the fourth receptacle, the third protrusion Pressing the second door against the housing at a point between the projection and the fourth projection will release the third projection from the third receptacle and the fourth projection from the fourth projection. Fourth bump. The first opening includes a bottom edge and a top edge, the first door includes a bottom edge pivotally mounted at the bottom edge of the first opening, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion on the first door at a position closer to the top edge of the first door than the bottom edge of the first door. The second opening includes a bottom edge and a top edge, the second door includes a bottom edge pivotally mounted at the bottom edge of the second opening, and the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion on the second door at a position closer to the top edge of the second door than to the bottom edge of the second door. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are integrally molded with the first door, and the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion are integrally molded with the second door.

A further aspect includes an optical fiber retainer comprising a first strip of slit material having a length extending from a first side of the first strip to a second side of the first strip. Describe the bottom, top, front and back of the inner channel of the first belt. The front portion includes a front first portion depending from the top and having a bottom edge facing away from the top; and a front second portion extending from the bottom and including a top edge facing away from the bottom, the top The edge and the bottom edge form a first cut of the first slitting zone. The bottom includes an inner surface including walls of the inner passage and an outer surface facing away from the inner passage, and the top includes an inner surface including walls of the inner passage and an outer surface facing away from the inner passage, and the bottom outer surface includes a first connector The element, the top outer surface includes a second connector element configured to releasably mate with another connector element of another slitting belt.

Another aspect of the present invention includes an optical fiber retainer comprising a first strip of slit material having a first strip enclosing from a first side of the first strip to the first strip. Two sides run through the bottom, top, front and back of the internal channel of the first belt. The front portion includes a front first portion depending from the top and having a bottom edge facing away from the top; and a front second portion extending from the bottom and including a top edge facing away from the bottom. The top edge and the bottom edge form a first cut of the first slitting zone. The back includes a first back portion depending from the top and having a bottom edge facing away from the top; and a second back portion extending from the bottom and including a top edge facing away from the bottom, the back portion The top edge and the bottom edge form a second cut of the first slitting strip. The back further includes a first fastener element on the first back portion and a second fastener element on the second back portion complementary to the first fastener element and releasably connecting the first back portion to the second fastener element of the second portion of the back, and the first fastener element includes one of a protrusion and a receiver, and the second fastener element includes a protrusion and a receiver wherein another. The receptacle includes an opening having a sidewall and a slot in the sidewall, the protrusion having a flange extending into the slot.

A still further aspect of the present invention includes an optical fiber retainer comprising first and second strips of slit material, each strip comprising The second side runs through the bottom, top, front and back of the inner channel of the belt. The front portion includes a first portion depending from the top and having a bottom edge facing away from the top; and a second portion extending from the bottom and including a top edge facing away from the bottom, the top edge and the The bottom edge forms the first cut of the slitting strip. The back includes a hinge mechanism for varying the spacing between the top edge of the front and the bottom edge of the front. The bottom includes an inner surface containing the inner channel wall and an outer surface facing away from the inner channel, and the top includes an inner surface including the inner channel wall and an outer surface facing away from the inner channel. The holder also includes connector means for releasably connecting the top of the first slitting strip to the bottom of the second slitting strip.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a fiber retaining ring comprising a bottom wall having a first end and a second end, a side wall projecting from the bottom wall first end and including a distal end; and connected to the The second end of the bottom wall forms a top wall inclined with respect to the bottom wall.

Another aspect of the invention includes a fibrous retaining ring formed from a continuous strip of flexible material. The tape includes: a tape first end portion having a fringed first end and a second end; and a base extending substantially perpendicularly from the second end of the first end portion part. The bottom portion has a first end at the second end of the first end portion and a second end, and the strip includes a beak at the second end of the bottom portion, the The beak is partially pivoted from the bottom. The strip also includes a top portion extending from the tip at an acute angle relative to the bottom portion, the top portion covering the bottom portion, and having a first end at the tip and the second end. The strip also includes a second strip end portion extending from the second end of the top portion to the bottom portion, and the second end portion of the strip includes an edge.

A further aspect of the present invention includes a method of installing a fiber optic module in a shelf supporting a wedge-shaped fiber retaining ring as described above, the method comprising: aligning the fiber optic module with an opening in the shelf; Positioning the module on a ramp formed by the top wall of the fiber retaining ring; sliding the module into position on a shelf along the ramp; and securing the module to the shelf.

Description of drawings

These and other aspects of the invention will become more clearly understood after reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

1 is a perspective view of a housing and removable door of a fiber management shelf according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the housing and door shown in Figure 1 with the door disengaged from the housing;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the door and housing shown in Figure 1, with the door in the closed position;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the door and housing shown in Figure 1, with the door in a partially open intermediate position;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the door and housing shown in Figure 1, with the door in an open position;

6 is a perspective view of a housing and removable door of a fiber management shelf according to another embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a side elevational view of a fiber optic management shelf having front and rear doors with push-push fasteners in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a front perspective view of the fiber optic management shelf shown in FIG. 7;

9 is a rear perspective view of the fiber optic management shelf shown in FIG. 7;

Figure 10 is an enlarged elevational view of a partial section of the push-push fastener shown in Figure 7;

11 is a front perspective view of an optical fiber management shelf according to another embodiment of the present invention;

12 is a front perspective view of an optical fiber management shelf according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 13 is a front three-quarter perspective view of a fiber retainer according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 14 is an exploded rear three-quarter perspective view of the fiber retainer shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a front three-quarter perspective view of the first and second fiber retainers shown in Figure 13 superimposed;

Figure 16 is an exploded view of the fiber holder shown in Figure 13, showing the bottom of the holder and the support to which the fiber holder is attached;

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional side view of the components shown in Figure 16 in an assembled state.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a fiber retaining ring according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 19 is a side elevational view of the fiber retaining ring shown in Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a front elevational view of the fiber retaining ring shown in Figure 18;

Figure 21 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken along line 21-21 in Figure 20;

Figure 22 is a front perspective view of a terminal station installed in a rack comprising a plurality of fiber retaining rings shown in Figure 18;

Figure 23 is a side elevational view of the terminal station shown in Figure 22 installed in the rack shown in Figure 22 above the top of one of the fiber retaining rings;

Figure 24 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 25 is a side elevational view of a conventional fiber retaining ring;

26 is a perspective view of an end station installed in a rack including a conventional fiber retaining ring.

Detailed ways

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments discussed herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey to those skilled in the art. scope of the invention.

Throughout, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. In the drawings, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may be exaggerated for clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Unless defined to the contrary, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of this specification and in the relevant fields, and should not be interpreted ideally or overly formally, unless This is clearly defined in the text. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms "comprising" and/or "comprising", when used in this specification, refer to the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not exclude the presence or One or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof are added. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, phrases such as "between X and Y" and "between about X and Y" should be understood to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as "between about X and Y" mean "between about X and about Y". As used herein, phrases such as "from about X to Y" mean "from about X to about Y".

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on," "attached to," "connected to," "coupled to," "contacting" another element, etc., it can be directly on, Attached to, connected to, coupled to, or contacting another element, or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as, for example, being "directly on," "directly attached to," "directly connected to," "directly coupled to," or "directly contacting" another element, there are no intervening elements present. . Those skilled in the art will also understand that when a structure or feature is described as being disposed "adjacent" to another feature, a portion may overlie or underlie the adjacent feature.

Spatially relative terms, such as "below", "below", "lower", "above", "upper", "transversely", "left side", "right side", etc., may be used herein to describe an element or The relationship of a feature to another element or feature shown in the figure. It will be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. The device may assume another orientation (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the descriptions of relative spatial relationships used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

removable door

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a fiber management shelf 10 comprising a housing 12 having a floor 14 with rounded edges 16 and attached to the housing 12 near the edges 16. Door 18 for selectively allowing access to opening 20 in the housing. As used herein, "housing" refers to the element that encloses a plurality of fiber optic components, and may include the floor of the fiber optic management shelf, the side walls of the fiber optic management shelf, or the bracket (not shown) in which the shelf is mounted. ), and/or a top wall formed by another element mounted above the fiber management shelf in the bracket. The housing may also be at least partially defined by one or more fiber retaining rings mounted near either side of the door at the front of the fiber management shelf. The door 18 is removably attached to the housing 12 by means of hinges generally designated by the reference numeral 22 and includes an inner surface 24 facing the opening 20 when the door 18 is in the closed position; a rounded edge 16 held adjacent the floor 14 and a distal edge 27 that moves toward and away from the housing 12 as the door 18 pivots between open and closed positions, as described herein. It is shown in Figure 1 that there are two hinges 22 on the left side of the door and a second pair of hinges (not shown) on the right side of the door. The hinges 22 are substantially identical and only one hinge 22 is described below.

Hinge 22 includes a hinge pin 28 on door 18 and a receiver 30 on housing 12 . The hinge pin 28 includes generally cylindrical first and second ends 32 and an intermediate portion 34 with flattened and parallel first and second portions 36 spaced apart from each other. The distance is less than the diameter of the cylindrical end 32 of the hinge pin 28 . First and second arcuate portions 37 join the flattened portion 36 and generally follow the curvature of the cylindrical end 32 . The distance between the first and second arcuate portions 37 is the same as the diameter of the first and second cylindrical ends 32 , and the distance between the flattened portions 36 is smaller than the diameter of the first and second cylindrical ends 32 . First and second arms 38 are connected to the first and second ends 32 of the hinge pin 28, support the hinge pin 28 in a spaced relationship above the inner surface 24 of the door 18, and extend at least partially beyond the proximal end of the door 18. The plane of the end edge 26. The first and second arms 38 include a first surface 40 facing the door inner surface 24 and a second surface 42 facing away from the door inner surface 24 , both of the first surface 40 and the second surface 42 being generally parallel to the inner surface 24 of the door 18 .

Receptacle 30 includes a channel 44 having an opening 46 with spaced apart and generally parallel side walls 48 having upper edges 50 . The distance between the side walls 48 at the upper edge 50 is greater than the diameter of the hinge pin 28, and the interior of the channel is configured to substantially follow the shape of the cylindrical end 32 of the hinge pin 28 so that the door 18 moves between the open and closed positions. , forming a bearing surface 52 for the cylindrical end 32 and the arcuate portion 37 . A first boss 54 projects from the first channel sidewall 48 and a second boss 54 projects from the opposite channel sidewall 48 beyond the first boss 54 . The first and second bosses 54 bound the passage opening 46 and constitute a narrowed portion of the passage opening 46 . The distance between the first and second bosses 54 is greater than the distance between the first and second parallel portions 36 of the hinge pin 28, but less than the distance between the first and second arcuate portions 37 and the distance between the hinge pin 28. The diameter of the cylindrical end portion 32 . The channel 44 includes a first slot 56 at one end of the channel 44 that extends into the floor 14 of the housing 12; 44 of the second slot 58 .

Referring now to FIG. 2 , by aligning the first and second flattened portions 36 of the hinge pin 28 with the space between the first and second bosses 54 and inserting the hinge pin 28 into the channel 44 until the cylindrical end portion 32 and One of the arcuate portions 37 attaches the door 18 to the housing 12 until it contacts the bearing surface 52 . Boss 54 of receiver 30 and first and second parallel portions 36 on hinge pin 28 are configured such that when door 18 is at an angle of approximately 135 degrees from floor 14 of housing 12, or viewed from the outside of the housing, When opened approximately 45 degrees, the middle portion 34 of the hinge pin 28 can pass between the bosses 54 . Changing the configuration of the boss and/or the flattened portion 36 of the hinge pin 28 may allow the door 18 to be removed or inserted at different angles to the housing floor. However, it is generally preferred to have the door removable in an intermediate position between the open and closed positions so that it can be safely retained in the receptacle 30 when the door is in the open and closed positions, ie the door is in its usual position. Under the condition that the cylindrical end portion 32 and the arcuate portion 37 of the hinge pin 28 contact the support surface 52, the door 18 can be moved from the insertion/removal position shown in FIG. 4 to a closed position covering the opening 20 as shown in FIG. 3 or Open position as shown in Figure 5. It is held securely by boss 54 and channel 44 and cannot be removed from channel 44 except when door 18 is in the neutral position shown in FIG. 4 .

By moving the distal edge 27 of the door 18 toward the housing 12 until the first latch element 60 on the door 18 engages the complementary second latch element 62 on the housing 12 to maintain the door 18 in the first closed position, the door 18 moves from the inserted position to the closed position shown in FIG. 3 . The first locking element 60 and the second locking element 62 are preferably two halves of a push-push type locking device that presses the first locking element 60 into the second locking element 62 At this time, the door 18 is fixed to the housing 12, and when the door 18 is pressed against the second locking element 62 again, the door 18 is released. When the door 18 is pressed against the housing 12 , the first locking member 60 is released from the second locking member 62 and the distal end 27 of the door 18 can pivot away from the housing 12 to the open position shown in FIG. 5 . The door 18 passes through the intermediate insertion/removal position shown in FIG. With 18 in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 4 , the user exerts an outward and upward force on door 18 . When the door 18 reaches the second position, the second surface 42 of the arm 38 enters the second slot 58 in the rounded edge 16 of the floor 14, and the second slot 58 forms a stop for the arm 38 and the door 18, and Limit the door opening to about 95 degrees.

So far it has been described that the hinge pin 28 and the receiver 30 are formed on the door 18 and the housing 12, respectively. However, in another embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 6, the hinge pin 28 is formed on the housing 12' and the receptacle 30 is formed on the door 18'. Otherwise, this embodiment is constructed and operates in the same manner as the above-described embodiment, and the same reference numerals are used to designate elements that are common to both embodiments.

locking mechanism

The fiber management shelf 110 shown in FIG. 7 includes a housing 112 having a front opening 114 with a bottom edge 116 and a top edge 118 and a rear opening 120 with a bottom edge 122 and a top edge 124. . As used herein, "housing" refers to an element that encloses a plurality of fiber optic components, and may include the floor of a fiber optic management shelf, the side walls of a fiber optic management shelf, or a frame (not shown) in which the shelf rests. out), and/or a top wall that may be formed by another element mounted above the fiber optic management shelf in the bracket. The housing may also be at least partially defined by one or more fiber retaining rings mounted near either side of the door at the front of the fiber management shelf. The first or front door 126 has a bottom edge 128 and a top edge 130 , and the bottom edge 128 of the front door 126 is connected adjacent the bottom edge 116 of the front opening 114 with a plurality of hinges 132 . A second or rear door 134 has a bottom edge 136 and a top edge 138 , and the bottom edge 136 of the rear door 134 is connected adjacent the bottom edge 122 of the rear opening 120 with a plurality of hinges 140 . The front door 126 includes first and second projections 142 closer to the top edge 130 than to the bottom edge 128, the first and second projections being configured to be releasably retained on the first and second projections proximate the top edge 118 of the front opening 114. and second receptacle 144, while rear door 134 includes third and fourth projections 146 closer to rear door top edge 138 than rear door bottom edge 136, said third and fourth projections being configured to be releasably retained in In the third and fourth receptacles 148 near the top edge 124 of the rear opening 120 . As shown in FIG. 10 , the first and second receptacles 144 include locking elements 150 for selectively retaining the first and second protrusions 142 . The third and fourth receptacles 148 include similar locking elements (not shown).

The first protrusion 142 and the first receiver 144 form a push-push connection or push-push fastener. As used herein, a "push-push" fastener is a fastener that selectively secures a relatively moving object, such as a door, to a relatively stationary object, such as a housing. Push-push fasteners are tightened by pressing the fastener elements on the moving object against the fastener elements on the stationary element, such pressing causing a connection between the fastener elements. The push-push fastener may be released by pressing the moving object against the fixed element again, which depresses the fastener elements on the moving object from the fastener elements on the fixed element and allows the moving element to move. One such push-push fastener is disclosed in US Patent No. 4,655,489 to Bisbing, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other push-push fasteners are known, and the present invention is not limited to a particular push-push fastener.

FIG. 8 shows the front door 126 in an open position, providing access to the fiber termination element 152 installed in the front opening 114 . Only two fiber termination elements 152 are shown in FIG. 8 , but in many cases a sufficient number of fiber termination elements 512 may be provided to fill the front opening 114 . To cover the front opening 114 , the front door 126 pivots about the hinge 132 until the first and second projections 142 approach the first and second receptacles 144 and then enter the first and second receptacles 144 . Continued movement of the front door 126 toward the housing 112 causes the locking elements 150 in the first and second receptacles 144 to engage the first and second protrusions 142 and retain the first and second protrusions 142 in the receptacles 144, thereby The front door 126 is held securely in the closed position such that the top edge 130 of the front door 126 is adjacent the top edge 118 of the front opening.

To open the front door 126 and access the fiber termination element 152 in the front opening 114 , pressure is applied between the first and second protrusions 142 against the vicinity of the top edge 130 of the front door 126 . The front door 126 is rigid enough so that this pressing moves the first and second projections 142 further into the first and second receptacles 144 simultaneously to release the first and second projections 142 from the first and second projections 142. The locking element 150 in the receiver 144 also allows the front door 126 to pivot about the hinge 132 to the open position shown in FIG. 9 . The front door 126 can be opened and closed with one hand without applying any pulling force on the front door 126 or the fiber management shelf 110 . The rear door 134 selectively covers the rear opening 120 and the splice panel 151 therein, as shown in FIG.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11, wherein housing 154 includes spaced apart first and second wall portions 156, 158 protruding from its front, and spaced apart first and second wall portions 156, 158. Between the two wall portions 156 , 158 are first and second fiber retaining rings 160 on opposite sides of the housing 154 . Fiber retention ring 160 is provided to assist in guiding a patch cable (not shown) as it exits fiber termination element 152 . Each fiber retaining ring 160 includes a receptacle 162 for receiving and securing the first and second protrusions 142 on the front door 126 in the same manner as the first and second receptacles 144 described above. The fiber retaining ring 160 is fastened to the housing 154 and thus provides a receptacle 162 on the fiber retaining ring 160, providing a secure connection between the front door 126 and the housing 154, while at the same time providing a connection between the fiber terminal element 152 and the front door 126. Space is provided for patch cables in between.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 12, wherein a housing 170 includes spaced apart upper and lower wall portions 172, 174 projecting from the front thereof; 176 of fiber termination elements 152 and a second column 178 of fiber termination elements 152 . First and second fiber retaining rings 180 are provided on the lower wall portion 172 for guiding the plug cables of the fiber termination elements leaving the first row 176 of fiber termination elements 152 , while third and fourth fiber retaining rings 182 Overlying each of the first and second fiber retaining rings 180 is used to guide the patch cables of the second row 178 of fiber termination elements 152 . Each of the third and fourth fiber retaining rings 182 includes a receptacle 184 that is compatible with the first and second protrusions 126 of the above-described embodiment for receiving the front door 126 and securing the front door 126 to the third and second The fourth retaining ring 182 and thus the first and second receptacles 144 secured to the housing 170 are identical.

stackable holder

FIG. 13 shows a fiber retainer 210 that includes a strip of slit material 212 including a top 214 , a bottom 216 , a front 218 , and a back 220 that define an interior passage 222 through the retainer 210 . The top 214 includes an inner surface 224, which is convex as seen most clearly in FIG. Mounting opening 230 between front sections 218 . The bottom 216 of the holder 210 includes a raised inner surface 232, and an outer surface 234, best seen in FIG. A first leg 238 extending from 216 and a second leg 240 extending from the first leg 238 toward the back 220 . The bottom 216 also includes a second tab 242 having a barbed end 244 . The second tab 242 is located between the L-shaped tab 236 and the retainer front 218 . The raised inner surface 224 of the top 214 and the raised inner surface 232 of the bottom 216, as well as the raised inner portions of the retainer front 218 and retainer back 220 discussed below, form a bend limiter that lowers the The optical fiber passing through the inner channel 222 has the potential to bend beyond its maximum bend radius while passing through the retainer 210 .

The front portion 218 of the holder 210 includes a raised inner surface 246 , as shown in FIG. 14 , and an outer surface 248 . The first cutout 250 divides the front portion 218 into a first portion 252 depending from the top 214 and a second portion 254 extending from the bottom 216 . The first portion 252 includes a bottom edge 256 having a recessed end portion 258 and a mounting opening 260 that retains a fastener element 262 , which may include, for example, a receiver portion of a push-push fastener. The second portion 254 of the retainer front 218 includes a top edge 264 with a convex end portion 266 that generally follows the shape of the concave end portion 258 of the front first portion 252 . As can be seen from the cross-sectional view of FIG. 17 , the concave end portion 258 includes a notch 268 facing the inner passage 222 , while the convex end portion 266 includes a notch 270 on the side facing away from the inner passage 222 . The raised end portion 266 extends behind the recessed end portion 258, forming an overlap, and the overlap assists in retaining the optical fiber in the inner channel 222 under normal conditions, while providing a smooth sloped surface for ease of movement. The optical fiber is inserted into the inner channel 222 when the first cutout 250 is opened as described below.

Referring now to FIG. 14 , the back 220 of the retainer 210 includes a raised inner surface 272 and an outer surface 274 . The second cutout 276 divides the retainer back 220 into a first portion 278 depending from the top 214 and a second portion 280 extending from the bottom 216 . The back first portion 278 includes a bottom edge 282 and the second portion 280 has a top edge 284 . The first back portion 278 includes a first connector element 286 for connecting the first back portion 278 to a second connector element 288 on the second back portion 280 . The first connector element 286 includes a generally planar protrusion 290 extending away from the first portion 278 , the protrusion 290 including a flange 292 extending from the protrusion 290 in a direction away from the inner channel 222 . First and second bosses 294 are located on the protrusion 290 and one boss is located on one side of the flange 292 . The second connector element 288 includes an opening 296 having a side wall 298 with a slot 800 and first and second holes 302, one hole on one side of the slot 300, the holes configured to receive the first and second holes 302. The second boss 294 .

The first connector element 286 is connected to the second connector element 288 to connect the first portion 278 of the back 220 to the second portion 280 of the back 220 . The protrusion 290 of the first connector element 286 is received in the opening 296 of the second connector element 288 and the flange 292 extends into the slot 300 . Boss 294 is received in bore 302 to form a snap fit between first connector element 286 and second connector element 288 . This connection forms a hinge 304 that allows the first cutout 250 to open when the first portion 252 and the second portion 254 of the front portion 218 are pulled away from each other. Boss 294 and hole 302 assist in maintaining the connection between first portion 278 and second portion 280 of back 220, while first portion 278 of retainer back 220 bends relative to second portion 280 of retainer back 220, slot 300 allows the protrusion 290 to move into the opening 296 of the second connector element 288 .

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate a substrate 306 onto which the retainer 210 may be mounted as described below. Substrate 306 may include a portion of a fiber management shelf or grooves (not shown) attached to the shelf, and the invention is not limited to mounting retainer 210 on any particular support. It is merely desired that the support includes a first mounting opening 308 and a second mounting opening 310 for receiving the L-shaped tab 236 and the second tab 242 of the bottom 216 of the holder 210 . To mount the holder 210 on the substrate 306, the second leg 240 of the L-shaped tab 236 is inserted into the first mounting opening 308 of the substrate 306 until the first leg 238 of the L-shaped tab 236 contacts the first mounting opening. 308 and the retainer 210 pivots to insert the second tab 242 into the second mounting opening 310 of the substrate 306 until the barbed end 244 of the second tab 242 engages the wall to secure the holder 210 to the substrate 306. Insert the L-shaped tab 236 under the shackle 228 of the holder top 214 and pivot the second holder 210 until the second tab 242 of the second holder 210 enters the mounting opening 230 position on the top 214, the second The holder 210 is mounted on the top 214 of the first holder 210 . Two holders 210 on top of each other without being attached to a substrate are shown in FIG. 15 .

In use, a first holder 210 is assembled and mounted to a support, such as the substrate 306, and further holders 210 are mounted on top of the first holder 210 as required for a particular application. By bending hinge 304 to form a space between first portion 252 and second portion 254 of holder front 212, and inserting a patch cable (not shown) into internal channel 222, the patch cable Insert into one of the suitable holders 210. When the force separating the first portion 252 from the second portion 254 is removed, the elasticity of the material forming the retainer 210 causes the first slit 250 to close again. Fastener element 262 may be used to releasably retain a complementary fastening element (not shown) of a door (not shown) mounted adjacent retainer 210 . Preferably, the material of the holder 210 is rigid enough so that the holder 210 can be used as a finger pull to move an object attached to it, while the hinge 304 provides the necessary elasticity to allow the first slot 250 to open and close. The modular nature of the holder 210 also provides design flexibility, as the upper and lower portions of the holder 210 can be modified independently. For example, the bottom 216 may be used to support a different top 214 , such as a top with a longer front or rear portion, thereby varying the cross-section of the interior channel 222 . Likewise, different bases 216 may be used to mount different substrates 306 , ie substrates with different arrangements of mounting openings.

wedge retainer

Figure 18 shows a fibrous retainer ring 410 formed from a continuous strip of flexible material 411 and comprising a bottom wall 412 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Bottom wall 412 has a first end 414 , a second end 416 , a raised top surface 418 , and a bottom surface 420 including first and second mounting platforms 422 that protrude away from bottom wall 412 . The first end portion 424 of the strip 411 forms a first side wall 424 protruding away from the first end 414 of the bottom wall 412 . The first end portion 424 includes a first or distal end 426 having a hump 428 and a second end 430 at the first end 414 of the bottom wall 412 . The second end 416 of the bottom wall 412 includes a beak 432, which may be arcuate as shown, or alternatively, corner-shaped (not shown), at which point the bottom wall 412 rests on its Turn up on itself to form the top wall 434 . Top wall 434 forms slope 436, and this slope is inclined with respect to bottom wall 412, and comprises the first end 440 that is positioned at beak 432 place, has the slope portion 442 of the slope surface 445 that extends from first end 440, is substantially parallel to The ramp portion 442 extends from the parallel portion 446 of the bottom wall 412, and the second end portion 448 of the strip 411 extends from the parallel portion 446 to a position on the bottom wall 412 between the first end 414 and the second end 416 of the bottom wall 412. extend. The second end portion 448 of the strip 411 includes an end edge 450 and is generally parallel to and spaced from the first end portion 424 of the strip 411 .

FIG. 22 shows a fiber management shelf 460 including grooves 462 on which a plurality of fiber retaining rings 410 are mounted by inserting mounting tabs 422 into openings 464 on the grooves. Fiber management shelf 460 includes an opening 466 into which module 468 is mounted. By pressing a portion of the patch cord 470 between the side wall 424 and the second end portion 448 of the fiber retaining ring, the top wall 434 of the fiber retaining ring 410 is bent toward the bottom wall 412 or away from the bottom wall 412 as desired to form a patch cord. 470 to allow room for access to the interior of ring 410 whereby patch cords 470 connectable to module 468 are inserted into fiber retaining ring 410 . The hump 428 at the end of the side wall 424 and the curved surface between the parallel portion 446 and the second end 448 facilitate insertion of the patch cord 470 into the ring, and the humped end of the strip second end 448 Front edge 450 assists in retaining the patch cord in loop 410. Once in the ring 410 , the raised top surface 418 of the bottom wall 412 forms a bend limiter and reduces the likelihood that a fiber optic patch cord will bend beyond its bend radius as it passes through the ring 410 . The entire inner surface of the ring 410 may be raised, like the top surface 418 of the bottom wall 412, to provide additional bend limiting surfaces as desired.

The conventional fiber retention ring 906 shown in FIG. 25 partially blocks the opening 905 in the fiber management shelf 904 and therefore generally must be removed before the module 902 is inserted into or removed from the fiber management shelf. Furthermore, due to the tight fit between the patch cord 900 and the existing retaining ring 906 in the prior art module 902, the patch cord 900 itself typically must be removed from the module 902 at least The bottom socket is removed. However, as is apparent from FIG. 22 , the tapered cross-section of fiber retaining ring 410 provides sufficient space adjacent opening 466 on shelf 460 for insertion of module 468 into opening 466 without having to remove fiber management ring 410 from module 468. Or patch cord 470. In effect, as shown in FIG. 23 , the ramp surface 445 provides a guide for sliding the module 468 into the opening 466 and the ring 410 bends around the beak 432 as needed to allow the module 468 to pass and then spring back to its original configuration. This advantage is achieved without significantly reducing the internal area of the ring 410, so the ring 410 retains the ability to hold as many patch cords as would normally be required on a shelf of the type shown. The module 468 can be removed from the opening 466 by sliding the module 468 along the ramp surface 445 in a direction opposite to that described above. This arrangement allows the modules to be inserted and removed as desired without removing patch cords from the modules or fiber retaining rings from the shelves.

The method according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 24 , includes: step 480: providing a fiber retaining ring 410 on the fiber management shelf; step 482: aligning the fiber optic module with the opening on the shelf; step 484: Position the module on the ramp formed by ring 410; step 486: slide the module along the ramp into the desired position on the shelf; and step 488: secure the module to the shelf.

The invention has thus far been described with respect to its presently preferred embodiments. Modifications and additions to these embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the foregoing description. All such modifications and additions are intended to be included as part of the invention which come within the scope of the several claims which follow.

Claims (16)

1. an optical fiber management shelf, this optical fiber management shelf comprises:

With the housing of opening;

Be pivotally mounted on the door on described housing, the primary importance that described door basically can cover described opening moves to the second place allowing to enter described opening, and the centre position between described primary importance and the described second place of passing through; With

Described door is connected to the hinge of described housing, described hinge comprises at least one joint pin and at least one receiver, described joint pin is positioned at described housing and described door wherein on first, described receiver is configured to receive and support at least one joint pin described rotationally, described receiver is positioned at described housing and described door wherein on second

At least one receiver described comprises passage, and this passage has the first and second passage sidepieces that length and restriction have the access portal of first passage width; With at least one boss being positioned at described first or second channel sidepiece, described passage has at least one boss place described the second channel width being less than described first passage width,

At least one joint pin described has length and Part I, described Part I has the first joint pin width in a first direction and has the second joint pin width being less than the first joint pin width in a second direction, and the first joint pin width is greater than second channel width, and the second joint pin width is less than described second channel width.

2. optical fiber management shelf as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, when described door is in described centre position, and housing dismounting described in described Men Nengcong.

3. optical fiber management shelf as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, the described Part I of at least one joint pin described comprises the first and second flats separated by described second joint pin width, and when described door is in described centre position, described first flat face is aimed at at least one boss described.

4. optical fiber management shelf as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, the described Part I of at least one joint pin described comprises the first and second flats separated by described second joint pin width.

5. optical fiber management shelf as claimed in claim 4, it is characterized in that, the described Part I of at least one joint pin described comprises the first and second arch sections coupled together by described first and second flats.

6. optical fiber management shelf as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, the midway of described centre position greatly between described primary importance and the described second place.

7. optical fiber management shelf as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, at least one joint pin described comprises multiple joint pin, and at least one receiver described comprises multiple receiver.

8. optical fiber management shelf as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, comprise the diapire be laid in the first plane, wherein when described door is in described centre position, perpendicular to the lines of described second direction with the angle of about 45 degree and described Plane intersects.

9. optical fiber management shelf as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, described receiver is positioned on described housing.

10. optical fiber management shelf as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, described joint pin is positioned on described housing.

11. optical fibers as claimed in claim 1 management shelves, is characterized in that, comprise installation optical fiber terminal module in said opening or optical fiber splicing dish.

12. optical fiber management shelves as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, described hinge comprises at least one arm, and described joint pin supports to and becomes to separate relation with described first in described door with described housing by described arm.

13. optical fiber management shelves as claimed in claim 12, it is characterized in that, described second in described housing and described door comprises at least one first slit aimed at described at least one arm, when described door is in described primary importance, at least one first slot arrangements described becomes to receive described at least one arm.

14. optical fiber management shelves as claimed in claim 13, it is characterized in that, described second in described housing and described door comprises at least one second slit, at least one second slit described comprises the wall forming stop part, when described door is in the described second place, the described wall of at least one the second slit described in described arm contact.

15. optical fiber management shelves as claimed in claim 12, it is characterized in that, described at least one arm comprises the first and second arms be positioned on the first and second ends of described joint pin, and described Part I is between described first arm and described second arm.

16. 1 kinds, for removing the method for door from the housing of optical fiber management shelf, comprising:

Optical fiber according to claim 1 is provided to manage shelf;

Described door is pivoted to described centre position from described primary importance; With

Described door is removed by least one boss described from described housing through described access portal by least one joint pin of tractive.