EP4677406A1 - Optical fiber management tray with improved fiber management component retainer arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

Optical fiber management trays with retainer arrangements for improved installing and removing of fiber management components, such as signal splitters, on the trays without the need for adhesive or fasteners. The retainer arrangements can be built into a resiliently flexible portion of an outer wall of the tray at an end of the tray opposite the tray's hinge arrangement to improve stackability of a plurality of the trays.

Description

OPTICAL FIBER MANAGEMENT TRAY WITH IMPROVED FIBER MANAGEMENT COMPONENT RETAINER ARRANGEMENT

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is being filed on February 29, 2024, as a PCT International Application and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/488,264 filed on March 3, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to telecommunications equipment and, more particularly, to optical fiber management trays.

Background

Telecommunications systems typically employ a network of telecommunications cables capable of transmitting large volumes of data and voice signals over relatively long distances. Telecommunications cables can include fiber optic cables, electrical cables, or combinations of electrical and fiber optic cables. A typical telecommunications network also includes a plurality of telecommunications enclosures integrated throughout the network of telecommunications cables.

The telecommunications enclosures (or “closures”) can include equipment having structures for routing and managing optical fibers. Typically, telecommunications closures house a fiber organizing assembly (or “organizer”) having equipment for organizing fibers, storing fibers, and optically connecting provider side fibers to subscriber side fibers. Such organizers typically include equipment, such as pivotally mounted trays, that can support fiber management components, such as power splitters, wave division multiplexers, and protective splice bodies.

Organizers, for example, can include fiber optic power splitters (“splitters”), which are generally located in the proximity of fiber optic connectors and adapters to allow fiber optic cables to be selectively attached. Typical fiber optic splitters receive data signals via one or more fiber inputs. The splitters are often attached to a fiber management tray. The splitters divide each input data signal into a plurality of signals sent to a plurality of output ports of the respective splitter. Typical splitters may include 1x2, 1x4, 1x8, 1x16, 1x32, or higher dimension splitters. During use, it is desired that splitters and other fiber management components are protected and do not slide or move within the closure, as such movement can be damaging to the management components and/or to the fibers themselves.

Summary

In general terms, the present disclosure is directed to improvements in optical fiber management trays that can be used in optical fiber organizers housed in telecommunications closures.

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to improvements in optical fiber organizers that can be housed in telecommunications closures.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to improvements in telecommunications closures.

In another aspect, a fiber management tray includes a fiber management tray with an improved retainer arrangement for retaining a fiber management component, such as an optical fiber signal splitter (or, simply, splitter) on the tray.

In another aspect, the retainer arrangement for retaining a fiber management component is positioned so as not to impact the position of any other fiber management tray in a stack of fiber management trays pivotally mounted to a tray support structure.

In another aspect, the retainer arrangement is configured to retain a fiber management component on a fiber management tray without adhesive and without a fastener.

In some examples, the fiber management component can include a power splitter (“splitter”) or a module that includes a power splitter.

In some examples, the fiber management component can be a wave division multiplexer or a module that includes a wave division multiplexer.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, an optical fiber management tray for a telecommunications closure, includes: a plate defining: an upward facing fiber management surface; and a downward facing bottom surface; an outer wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface at a periphery of the fiber management surface, the fiber management surface and the outer wall defining a fiber work area of the tray, the fiber work area including a retainer arrangement defining a pocket configured to retain a fiber management component, the retainer arrangement including: a support surface parallel to the fiber management surface; and a lip projecting from a portion of the outer wall, the retainer arrangement being configured to securely retain the fiber management component within the pocket with the lip and the support surface abutting the fiber management component and without any portion of the fiber management component extending below the bottom surface.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, an optical fiber management tray for a telecommunications closure, includes: a plate defining: an upward facing fiber management surface; and a downward facing bottom surface; a hinge arrangement for pivotally coupling the tray to a tray support structure; and an outer wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface at a periphery of the fiber management surface, the fiber management surface and the outer wall defining a fiber work area of the tray, the fiber work area including a retainer arrangement defining a pocket configured to retain a fiber management component, a portion of the outer wall being configured to resiliently flex outwardly away from the hinge arrangement to allow the fiber management component to be installed in the pocket such that the retainer arrangement securely retains the fiber management component within the pocket.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, an optical fiber management tray for a telecommunications closure, includes: a plate defining: an upward facing fiber management surface; and a downward facing bottom surface; a hinge arrangement for pivotally coupling the tray to a tray support structure; and an outer wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface at a periphery of the fiber management surface, the fiber management surface and the outer wall defining a fiber work area of the tray, the fiber work area including a retainer arrangement including a portion of the outer wall, the portion of the outer wall including an interior surface that defines a recess that is at an opposite end of the tray from the hinge arrangement, the recess defining a pocket configured to retain a fiber management component.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, an optical fiber management tray for a telecommunications closure, includes: a plate defining: an upward facing fiber management surface; and a downward facing bottom surface; a wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface; a retainer arrangement defining a pocket, the retainer arrangement including a support surface parallel to the fiber management surface; and a fiber management component securely retained within the pocket with the fiber support surface abutting the fiber management component, wherein there is an opening through the plate adjacent the support surface, the opening having a longest dimension that is longer than a longest dimension of the fiber management component.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, a method of installing a fiber management component, includes: providing an optical fiber management tray for a telecommunications closure, the tray comprising: a plate defining: an upward facing fiber management surface; and a downward facing bottom surface; a hinge arrangement for pivotally coupling the tray to a tray support structure; and an outer wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface at a periphery of the fiber management surface, the fiber management surface and the outer wall defining a fiber work area of the tray, the fiber work area including a retainer arrangement defining a pocket configured to retain a fiber management component; and flexing a portion of the outer wall outwardly away from the hinge arrangement.

A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

FIG. l is a perspective view of an example telecommunications closure that can support an optical fiber organizer assembly according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example optical fiber organizer assembly that can be housed in the closure of FIG 1. FIG. 3 is a side, planar view of a portion of an example optical fiber organizer assembly (or, simply, “optical fiber organizer” or “organizer”) according to the present disclosure that can be housed in the closure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portion of the organizer of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a further perspective view of the portion of the organizer of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, perspective view of an area of the portion of the organizer of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tray support structure of the portion of the organizer of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a further perspective view of the tray support structure of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one of the trays of the portion of the organizer of FIG. 3, including the fiber management component installed on the tray.

FIG. 10 is a further perspective view of the tray of FIG. 9, including the fiber management component installed on the tray.

FIG. 11 is a top, planar view of the tray of FIG. 9, including the fiber management component installed on the tray and showing optical fibers entering and leaving the fiber management component.

FIG. 12 is a perspective, cross-sectional view of one of the trays, along the line 12-12 as shown in FIG. 9, of the portion of the organizer of FIG. 3, including the fiber management component installed on the tray.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, perspective view of an area of one of the trays of the portion of the organizer of FIG. 3, including the fiber management component installed on the tray.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, planar view of an area of one of the trays of the portion of the organizer of FIG. 3, not including a fiber management component installed on the tray.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged, perspective view of an area of one of the trays of the portion of the organizer of FIG. 3, not including a fiber management component installed on the tray.

FIG. 16 is a further enlarged, perspective view of an area of one of the trays of the portion of the organizer of FIG. 3, not including a fiber management component installed on the tray. FIG. 17 is a perspective, schematic view of the fiber management component shown in FIGS. 9-16.

FIG. 18 is a side, planar view of a portion of another example optical fiber organizer according to the present disclosure that can be housed in the closure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the organizer of FIG. 18.

Detailed Description

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

FIG. l is a perspective view of an example telecommunications closure 20 that can support an optical fiber organizer assembly according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example optical fiber organizer assembly 500 that can be housed in the closure 20 of FIG 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the enclosure 20 includes a housing 22 defining an interior volume having an opening. The enclosure includes a cable sealing unit that mounts within the opening of the housing 22 for sealing about one or more cables desired to be routed into the interior volume of the housing 22 through the opening. For example, the sealing unit can include seal blocks. In the example shown, the housing 22 includes a cover 31 (e.g., a dome style cover) defining the opening at one end 29, and a base 32 that mounts to the end 29 of the cover 31. In certain examples, the base 32 can be detachably secured to the cover 31 by a mechanical fastening arrangement that can include latches, clamps, fasteners, or the like. The cable sealing unit can be retained in the opening 26 by the base 32.

An optical fiber organizer (such as the organizer 500 described below), which supports fiber optic components (e.g., optical fiber management trays) can be carried with the sealing unit. In one example, the cable sealing unit includes sealant (e.g., a sealant arrangement such as seal blocks, a volume of sealant that may be formed by one or more sections or blocks of sealant, etc.) defining a plurality of cable pass-through locations (e.g., ports, interfaces between adjacent sections of sealant, etc.). When pressurized, the sealant is configured for providing seals about structures (e.g., cables, plugs, etc.) routed though the pass-through locations of the sealant and is also configured for providing a peripheral seal between the housing 22 and the cable sealing unit about the boundary (e.g., perimeter, profile, etc.) of the opening.

The cable sealing unit includes an actuator arrangement 49 for pressurizing the sealant within the opening once cables have been routed through the sealant during installation of the enclosure 20 in the field.

Referring to FIG. 2, components of an example organizer 500 will be described. The organizer 500 is configured to manage optical fibers extending from provider side cables and subscriber side cables that are affixed to the organizer 500, and to manage and organize signal connectivity between optical fibers such cables, e.g., with splices, signal splitters, wave division multiplexers, and so forth. The organizer 500 is also configured to store loops of optical fibers.

The organizer 500 defines a first axis, or vertical axis 502, a second axis 504, and a third axis 506. The first axis 502, the second axis 504, and the third axis 506 are mutually perpendicular. The second axis 504 and the third axis 506 define a horizontal plane. The organizer 500 extends from a top 508 to a bottom 510 along the first axis 502. The organizer 500 extends from a first side 512 to a second side 514 along the second axis 504. The organizer 500 extends from a front 516 to a back 518 along the third axis 506.

For ease of description, relative positioning and orientational terms throughout the present disclosure will be consistent with the description of the organizer 500, without limiting how such terms may be used in the claims, and without limiting how components or combinations of components may actually be situated in practice.

The organizer 500 includes a vertical stack of fiber management tray support modules 122. The stack is mounted at a front of the organizer 500. The stack includes a selectable number of modules 122 stacked along a stacking axis, which is parallel to the axis 102.

Each module 122 pivotally supports a plurality of optical fiber management trays 124. The organizer 500 includes baseplates 200. The baseplates 200 can be mounted to a sealing arrangement (not shown) of the closure 20. The baseplates 200 includes structures and features for mounting cable jacket fixation subassemblies. These structures and features generally project forwards from major forward-facing surfaces of the baseplate 200. Optical fibers (either loose optical fiber fibers or sheathed optical fibers) extend from telecommunications cables that are affixed to the baseplates 200 and are routed to the rest of the organizer 500 via a fiber routing module 520 of the organizer 500 and fiber guide channels 522 defined by the modules 122, which guide the fibers to desired trays 124 for management (e.g., splicing and signal splitting). The organizer 500 also includes a basket 530 configured to store loops of loose or sheathed optical fibers. The loops can be extra slack of actively connected fibers, or fibers that are not yet actively connected but may be in the future.

FIG. 3 is a side, planar view of a portion 300 of an example optical fiber organizer assembly (or, simply, “optical fiber organizer” or “organizer”) according to the present disclosure that can be housed in the closure of FIG. 1. For example, the portion 300 can replace a corresponding portion of the organizer 500 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portion 300 of the organizer of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a further perspective view of the portion 300 of the organizer of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, a portion 300 includes a tray support structure 320. The structure 320 is a module that can be vertically stacked with other such modules 320 in a stack of the modules. To the module 320 are pivotally mounted fiber management trays 322. The fiber management trays 322 have features for managing optical fibers, such as fiber routing features, and structures for retaining fiber management components, such as splitters, wave division multiplexers, protective splice bodies, etc.

When mounted to the tray support structure 320 as shown, the trays 322 form a stack 324 of the trays 322, with one tray atop another in the stack 324 along a stacking axis 326. The stacking axis 326 is perpendicular to the major fiber management surface of each tray 322. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3 with all of the trays 322 in a storage configuration (e.g., when the closure is sealed with the organizer inside), the stacking axis 326 is oblique to a vertical axis 318 defined by the module 320 or vertical stack of modules. In the storage configuration shown in FIG. 3, the trays 322 hang from the module 320, forming an angle 321 of approximately 30 degrees. To manage fibers on the trays 322, the organizer 100 can be (but need not be) removed or partially removed from the closure. At this point, individual ones of the trays 322 can be pivoted in the direction 328 about their hinge arrangements 330 with the tray support structure 320 to provide access to the fiber management surfaces of trays in the stack 324 below the pivoted tray(s). The hinge arrangements 330 include locking features (such as crenelated hinge pins 389 (FIGS. 9, 12)) configured to lock each tray in one or more pivoted open positions relative to other trays unless sufficient force is applied to disengage the locking interface. A tray in a pivoted open position allows access to the work surface of the tray below it in the stack of trays. The hinge pins 389 of the trays 322 are pivotally received in hinge pin receivers 391, 393 (FIG. 7) defined at each pivot support location of the module 320. Each pivot support location of the module 320 also includes receivers 394 (FIG. 7) that pivotally receive posts 395 (FIG. 9) of the hinge arrangement of a tray 322. Engagement of the posts 395 and receivers 394 can keep a tray 322 pivotally coupled to its pivot support location of the module 320.

Referring to FIGS. 9-11, each tray 322 includes a fiber management surface 332. The fiber management surface 332 is an upper surface of a plate 341 of the tray 322. The plate 341 also includes a bottom surface 343 that faces away from the fiber management surface 332. An outer wall 334 projects away from the fiber management surface 332 perpendicularly to the surface 332 at an outer perimeter of the fiber management surface 332. Fibers from optical cables entering the telecommunications closure are routed to a tray support structure 320 and then onto a tray 322 via fiber entryways 323 adjacent on opposite sides of the hinge arrangement 327.

When trays 322 are arranged in a stack 324 (FIG. 3), the bottom surface 343 of one tray 322 abuts the top of the wall 334 of the tray 322 immediately below it in the stack. Thus, in at least some examples, there is no gap along the stacking axis between the trays when the trays are stacked in the storage configuration.

The tray 322 defines a fiber routing area 336 on the fiber management surface 332 and a fiber work area 338 on the fiber management surface 332. The fiber routing area 336 includes routing structures 340 and retaining tabs 342 that, together with the wall 334 and the fiber management surface 332 define channels for routing fibers to different parts of the tray and storing loops of fibers. The fiber work area 338 includes a block 344 defining splice body holders 346. In this example, the block 344 includes nine spice body holders 346. More or fewer splice body holders can be provided. The splice body holders 346 include tabs 348 with catches 350 (FIG. 13) to secure splice bodies that protect splices between optical fibers. In some examples, the block 344 is not an integral part of the tray 322 and is a separate part (e.g., a splice chip) that is mounted to the fiber management surface 332. In other examples, the block 344 is an integral part of the tray 322, e.g., formed in seamless, unitary construction with the fiber management surface 332.

The fiber work area 338 also includes a component retainer arrangement 352. The component retainer arrangement 352 is configured to securely retain a fiber management component, such as a splitter module or a wave division multiplexer module. In the examples shown in the figures, a splitter module 333 is shown retained in the component retainer arrangement 352. Referring to FIG. 17, the splitter module 333 includes a dedicated housing 335 that defines a fiber input end 337 and a fiber output end 339. In this example, the splitter 333 has a 1x4 configuration, such that a signal propagating down a single input fiber is split by the splitter 333 into four output fibers. For example, referring to FIG. 11, a single input fiber 3 from a provider side (e.g., feeder) cable fixed to an interior organizer of a closure is routed on the organizer to the splitter 333 on the tray 322, and the four output fibers 5 are then routed from the splitter 333 to the block 344 that supports splices of the four output fibers to four separate fibers of four separate subscriber side (e.g., drop) cables that are also fixed to the interior organizer of the closure.

Depending on the dimensions of the arrangement 352 and the dimensions of the splitter or other fiber management component, different sizes of fiber management components can be accommodated by the component retainer arrangement.

The arrangement 352 is unitarily formed (e.g., of seamless unitary construction with) the fiber management surface 332 and the wall 334. For example, the tray 322, including all the features of the arrangement 352, the wall 334 and the surface 332 can be molded in a single mold of polymeric material. The arrangement 352 can be configured to accommodate a substantially square or round profile component (e.g., splitter module with a substantially square profile perpendicular to its elongate dimension). Referring to FIGS. 12-16, the component retainer arrangement 352 will be described in greater detail.

The retainer arrangement 352 is partially built into the outer wall 334 of the tray 322. The retainer arrangement 352 is positioned at an end of the tray 322 that is opposite the end of the tray that includes the hinge arrangement 330.

The retainer arrangement 352 defines a pocket 353 configured to receive and securely retainer a fiber management component, such as a splitter module, without adhesive or fasteners.

The retainer arrangement 352 includes a portion 354 of the outer wall 334. In the portion 354, the interior surface 356 of the wall 334 defines a recess 358 within the outer wall that is at an opposite end of the tray from the hinge arrangement 330. The recess is aligned with the hinge arrangement 330 along a reference line that is perpendicular to the pivot axis of the hinge arrangement 330 when the tray is pivotally mounted to a tray support structure. The recess 358 partially defines the pocket 353.

The retainer arrangement 352 includes a support surface 360. The support surface 360 partially defines the pocket 353. In some examples, the support surface 360 is recessed downward from the adjacent fiber management surface 332, which can advantageously reduce the vertical dimension of the tray 322 at the retainer arrangement 352 while still accommodating the same size fiber management component (e.g., splitter module).

The retainer arrangement 352 includes a lip 362 projecting from the portion 354 of the outer wall 334 toward the hinge arrangement 330. The lip 362 partially defines the pocket 353.

The retainer arrangement 352 includes an elongate opening 364 through the plate 341 adjacent the support surface 360 on one side of the opening 364 and adjacent the interior surface of the portion 354 of the outer wall 334 on the opposite side of the opening 364. The opening 364 has a longest dimension that is longer than a longest dimension of the fiber management component 333 when the fiber management component 333 is installed in the retainer. The elongate dimension of the opening 364 extends beyond the recess 358 and beyond the portion 354 of the outer wall 334 in both directions along the elongate dimension of the opening 364. Portions 368 of the opening 364 that extend beyond the recess 358 and beyond the portion 354 of the outer wall 334 can be tapered. The opening 364 is configured to allow the portion 354 of the outer wall 334 adjacent the opening 364 to be resiliently flexed outwardly (in the direction of the arrow 366) away from a hinge arrangement 330, allowing the fiber management component to be installed in the pocket 353. Once the fiber management component 333 is installed in the pocket 353, the lip 362 and the portion 354 are released and they return to their unflexed position in which the lip 362 prevents the component 333 from being lifted upward out of the pocket 353. The shape, position, dimensions, and/or other features (e.g., the tapered portions 368) of the opening 364 are configured to maximize resilient outward flexibility of the portion 354 of the outer wall 334 and structural integrity of the arrangement 352, while minimizing reduction in support surface area for retaining a component 333 within the pocket 353.

The retainer arrangement 352 is configured to securely retain the fiber management component 333 within the pocket 353 with the lip 362 abutting the component 333 from the top and the support surface 360 abutting the component from the bottom, and without any portion of the fiber management component 333 extending below the bottom surface 343. That is, with the component 333 securely received in the pocket 353, no portion of the component 333 extends into or through the opening 364, such that, advantageously the vertical profile of the tray 322 is not increased by the presence of the component 333 in the pocket 353.

The retainer arrangement 352 includes a row of guides 370 opposite the portion 354 of the outer wall. The guides 370 can have chamfered surfaces 372 for gently guiding the fiber management component into the pocket 353 while the lip 362 is flexed outwardly. Surfaces 374 of the guides 370 partially defined the pocket 353 and serve as a stop preventing movement of the component 333 toward the hinge arrangement 330 when the component is retained in the pocket 353. Similarly, the interior surface 356 of the portion 354 of the outer wall 334 serves as a stop for preventing movement of the component 333 away from the hinge arrangement 330 when the component is retained in the pocket 353.

The retainer arrangement 352 includes four stopping structures 376 projecting upward relative to the fiber management surface 332. The stopping structures 376 prevent movement of the fiber management component 333 along the portion 354 of the outer wall 334 when the fiber management component is installed in the pocket 353. Thus, the interior surface 356, the lip 362, the surfaces 374, the support surface 360, and the stopping structures 376 cooperate to securely retain the component 333 within the pocket 353.

To install a fiber management component 333 in the pocket 353, the portion 354 of the outer wall 334 is flexed outwardly away from the hinge arrangement 330 and, while flexed outwardly, the component 333 is slide along the surfaces 374 of the guides 370 until the component 333 is firmly positioned within the pocket 353, at which point the portion 354 of the outer wall is released causing the lip 362 to capture the component 333 within the pocket 353.

A label (not shown) to help identify a given tray 322 can be removably mounted at an external side 378 of the wall 334, by fitting the label over projections 400 projecting from the external side of the wall 334. The projections 400 project from opposite sides of the retainer arrangement 352. The projections 400 include stems projecting from an exterior surface of the wall 334 and bulbous portions projecting from the stems. Openings of a label can be stretched as the bulbous portions pass through the label openings, allowing the label to be mounted.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the trays 322 are in the storage configuration at an angle 321 relative to the vertical axis 318 defined by the tray support structure 320, the lips 362 and the components 333 are positioned sufficiently at the ends of the trays opposite the hinge arrangements that the lips 362 and components 333 advantageously do not interfere with, encumber, or introduce gaps in the stack 324 of trays 322. Similarly, because no portion of the components 333 extend below the bottom surfaces of the trays 322, the components 333 do not interfere with, encumber, or introduce gaps between adjacent trays 322 in the stack 324 of trays 322. Thus, despite the lip 362 and component 333 extending above a top of the wall 334, the density of the stack 324 of trays (e.g., the number of trays that can be accommodated in a given space) is advantageously not impacted.

FIG. 18 is a side, planar view of a portion 700 of another example optical fiber organizer 700 according to the present disclosure that can be housed in the closure of FIG. 1. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the organizer of FIG. 18.

Referring to FIGS. 18-19, many of the features of the portion 700 and the trays 722 are the same as those described with respect to the portion 300 and the trays 322. For the sake of brevity, the following description primarily focuses on differences between the portions 700 and 300.

The portion 700 includes a tray support structure 720. The structure 720 is a module that can be vertically stacked with other such modules 720 in a stack of the modules. To the modules 720 are pivotally mounted fiber management trays 722. The fiber management trays 722 have a different shape than the trays 322 (e.g., a shape that conforms to a different shaped closure volume). Like the trays 322, the trays 722 have features for managing optical fibers, such as fiber routing features, and structures for retaining fiber management components, such as splitters, wave division multiplexers, protective splice bodies, etc.

When mounted to the tray support structure 720 as shown, the trays 722 form a stack 724 of the trays 722, with one tray atop another in the stack 724 along a stacking axis 726. The stacking axis 726 is perpendicular to the major fiber management surface of each tray 722. In the configuration shown in FIG. 18 with all of the trays 722 in a storage configuration (e.g., when the closure is sealed with the organizer inside), the stacking axis 726 is oblique to a vertical axis 718 defined by the module 720 or vertical stack of modules. In the storage configuration shown in FIG. 18, the trays 722 hang from the module 720, forming an angle 721 of approximately 45 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the trays 722 are in the storage configuration at an angle 721 relative to the vertical axis 718 defined by the tray support structure 720, the lips 362 and the components 333 are positioned sufficiently at the ends of the trays opposite the hinge arrangements that the lips 362 and components 333 advantageously do not interfere with, encumber, or introduce gaps between adjacent trays 722 in the stack 724 of trays 722. Similarly, because no portion of the components 333 extend below the bottom surfaces of the trays 322, the components 333 do not interfere with, encumber, or introduce gaps in the stack 724 of trays 722. Thus, despite the lip 362 and component 333 extending above a top of the outer wall of a tray 722, the density of the stack 724 of trays (e.g., the number of trays that can be accommodated in a given space) is advantageously not impacted.

In comparing FIGS. 3 and 18, principles of the present disclosure pertaining to fiber management component retention can be applied to different stacks of trays depending on the configurations of the trays and the stacking angle of trays relative to a tray support structure. The stacking angle can be determined by one or more of: hinge characteristics of the trays and/or the tray support structure: dimensions of the trays and/or the pitch between adjacent trays in the stack, as well as other features.

Having described the preferred aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An optical fiber management tray for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a plate defining: an upward facing fiber management surface; and a downward facing bottom surface; an outer wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface at a periphery of the fiber management surface, the fiber management surface and the outer wall defining a fiber work area of the tray, the fiber work area including a retainer arrangement defining a pocket configured to retain a fiber management component, the retainer arrangement including: a support surface parallel to the fiber management surface; and a lip projecting from a portion of the outer wall, the retainer arrangement being configured to securely retain the fiber management component within the pocket with the lip and the support surface abutting the fiber management component and without any portion of the fiber management component extending below the bottom surface.

2. The tray of claim 1, further comprising: a hinge arrangement for pivotally coupling the tray to a tray support structure, wherein the portion of the outer wall is configured to resiliently flex outwardly away from the hinge arrangement to allow the fiber management component to be installed in the pocket.

3. The tray of claim 2, wherein the outer wall includes an interior surface that defines a recess that is at an opposite end of the tray from the hinge arrangement.

4. The tray of any of claims 1-3, comprising a fiber management component securely retained within the pocket with the fiber support surface abutting the fiber management component, wherein there is an opening through the plate adjacent the support surface, the opening having a longest dimension that is longer than a longest dimension of the fiber management component.

5. The tray of claim 4, wherein the fiber management component is a signal splitter module.

6. The tray of claim 1, further comprising a tray support structure, the tray being pivotally coupled to the tray support structure.

7. The tray of any of claims 1-6, wherein the retainer arrangement includes a guide with a chamfered surface for guiding the fiber management component into the pocket.

8. The tray of any of claims 1-7, wherein the retainer arrangement includes stopping structures, the stopping structures preventing movement of the fiber management component along the portion of the outer wall when the fiber management component is installed in the pocket.

9. The tray of any of claims 1-8, wherein the support surface is recessed downward from the fiber management surface.

10. The tray of any of claims 1-9, further comprising projections with bulbous portions projecting from an exterior surface of the outer wall at opposite sides of the portion of the outer wall, the projections being configured to mount a label.

11. An optical fiber management tray for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a plate defining: an upward facing fiber management surface; and a downward facing bottom surface; a hinge arrangement for pivotally coupling the tray to a tray support structure; and an outer wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface at a periphery of the fiber management surface, the fiber management surface and the outer wall defining a fiber work area of the tray, the fiber work area including a retainer arrangement defining a pocket configured to retain a fiber management component, a portion of the outer wall being configured to resiliently flex outwardly away from the hinge arrangement to allow the fiber management component to be installed in the pocket such that the retainer arrangement securely retains the fiber management component within the pocket.

12. The tray of claim 11, wherein the outer wall includes an interior surface that defines a recess that is at an opposite end of the tray from the hinge arrangement.

13. The tray of any of claims 11-12, comprising a fiber management component securely retained within the pocket, wherein there is an opening through the plate adjacent a support surface of the retainer arrangement, the opening having a longest dimension that is longer than a longest dimension of the fiber management component.

14. The tray of claim 13, wherein the fiber management component is a signal splitter module.

15. The tray of any of claims 11-14, wherein the retainer arrangement includes: a guide with a chamfered surface for guiding the fiber management component into the pocket; and stopping structures, the stopping structures preventing movement of the fiber management component along the portion of the outer wall when the fiber management component is installed in the pocket; and a support surface that is recessed downward from the fiber management surface.

16. The tray of any of claims 11-15, further comprising projections with bulbous portions projecting from an exterior surface of the outer wall at opposite sides of the portion of the outer wall, the projections being configured to mount a label.

17. The tray of any of claims 11-16, wherein the retainer arrangement is configured to securely retain the fiber management component within the pocket without any portion of the fiber management component extending below the bottom surface.

18. An optical fiber management tray for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a plate defining: an upward facing fiber management surface; and a downward facing bottom surface; a hinge arrangement for pivotally coupling the tray to a tray support structure; and an outer wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface at a periphery of the fiber management surface, the fiber management surface and the outer wall defining a fiber work area of the tray, the fiber work area including a retainer arrangement including a portion of the outer wall, the portion of the outer wall including an interior surface that defines a recess that is at an opposite end of the tray from the hinge arrangement, the recess defining a pocket configured to retain a fiber management component.

19. The tray of claim 18, wherein the retainer arrangement is configured to securely retain the fiber management component within the pocket without any portion of the fiber management component extending below the bottom surface.

20. The tray of any of claims 18-19, wherein the portion of the outer wall is configured to resiliently flex outwardly away from the hinge arrangement to allow the fiber management component to be installed in the pocket.

21. The tray of any of claims 18-20, comprising a fiber management component securely retained within the pocket with the fiber support surface abutting the fiber management component, wherein there is an opening through the plate adjacent a support surface of the retainer arrangement, the opening having a longest dimension that is longer than a longest dimension of the fiber management component.

22. The tray of claim 21, wherein the fiber management component is a signal splitter module.

23. The tray of any of claims 18-22, wherein the retainer arrangement includes: a guide with a chamfered surface for guiding the fiber management component into the pocket; stopping structures, the stopping structures preventing movement of the fiber management component along the portion of the outer wall when the fiber management component is installed in the pocket; and a support surface that is recessed downward from the fiber management surface.

24. The tray of any of claims 18-23, further comprising projections with bulbous portions projecting from an exterior surface of the outer wall at opposite sides of the portion of the outer wall, the projections being configured to mount a label.

25. An optical fiber management tray for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a plate defining: an upward facing fiber management surface; and a downward facing bottom surface; a wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface; a retainer arrangement defining a pocket, the retainer arrangement including a support surface parallel to the fiber management surface; and a fiber management component securely retained within the pocket with the fiber support surface abutting the fiber management component, wherein there is an opening through the plate adjacent the support surface, the opening having a longest dimension that is longer than a longest dimension of the fiber management component.

26. The tray of claim 25, wherein the wall is an outer wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface at a periphery of the fiber management surface.

27. The tray of any of claims 25-26, wherein the opening is configured to allow a portion of the wall adjacent the opening to be resiliently flexed outwardly away from a hinge arrangement of the tray to allow the fiber management component to be installed in the pocket.

28. A telecommunications closure, comprising: housing pieces configured to cooperate to define a sealable and re-enterable closure volume; and a fiber organizer positioned in the closure volume, including: a tray support structure; and a plurality of the trays of any of claims 1-26 pivotally mounted to the tray support structure in a stack of the trays one atop another.

29. The closure of claim 28, further comprising fiber optical cables entering the closure volume.

30. A method of installing a fiber management component, comprising: providing an optical fiber management tray for a telecommunications closure, the tray comprising: a plate defining: an upward facing fiber management surface; and a downward facing bottom surface; a hinge arrangement for pivotally coupling the tray to a tray support structure; and an outer wall extending upward away from the fiber management surface at a periphery of the fiber management surface, the fiber management surface and the outer wall defining a fiber work area of the tray, the fiber work area including a retainer arrangement defining a pocket configured to retain a fiber management component; and flexing a portion of the outer wall outwardly away from the hinge arrangement and, simultaneously, installing the fiber management component in the pocket.