WO2022241108A1

WO2022241108A1 - Optical fiber management assembly with improved fiber loop retention and fiber management

Info

Publication number: WO2022241108A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/028980
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eddy Luc CAMS; Maarten Michiels; Matthew Campsteyn; Cornelia VAN DE VELDE
Original assignee: Commscope Technologies Llc
Priority date: 2021-05-14
Filing date: 2022-05-12
Publication date: 2022-11-17

Abstract

Fiber management organizer assemblies of telecommunications closures. The assemblies include easily installable and removable retainers for retaining loops or portions of loops of optical fibers in fiber storage baskets defined by the organizer assemblies. Optical fibers can be stored in the basket until they are needed for optical signal routing between a network provider and a network subscriber. In some embodiments, the organizer includes a main body having features for improved routing of optical fibers.

Description

OPTICAL FIBER MANAGEMENT ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED FIBER LOOP RETENTION AND FIBER MANAGEMENT Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This application is being filed on May 12, 2022 as a PCT International Patent Application and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 63/188,533, filed on May 14, 2021 and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 63/250,044, filed on September 29, 2021, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entiretie s .

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to telecommunications enclosures, and more particularly to features of fiber management assemblies housed in telecommunications closures.

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”) are adapted to house and protect telecommunications components such as splices, termination panels, power splitters, wave division multiplexers, fiber management trays, cable organizing and routing components, etc. Typically, telecommunications closures house a fiber management assembly having equipment for organizing fibers, storing fibers, and optically connecting provider side fibers to subscriber side fibers. A given closure can accommodate different types of optical connections between fibers, such as connector to connector connections and fiber splices. Fiber slack of actively connected fibers and/or portions of inactive fibers that may be connected for future routing of optical signals, can be stored in loops in fiber storage areas of the management assemblies.

1 Summary

In general terms, the present disclosure is directed to improvements in fiber management equipment of fiber management assemblies (also referred to as organizers, fiber organizers, or fiber management organizers) of telecommunications closures.

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an improved telecommunications closure.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an improved fiber management assembly of a telecommunications closure.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an improved fiber loop retainer.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method that simplifies fiber loop retention by a fiber management assembly.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a fiber loop retainer that can be mounted to a loop storage basket of a fiber management assembly with one hand and/or in a single motion.

As used herein, a loop can be a complete loop or an incomplete loop. An incomplete loop is a curved length of optical fiber or sheath that protects optical fiber. As used herein a partial loop can be a portion of a complete loop or a portion of an incomplete loop.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure, includes: a main body extending from a top to a bottom, the main body including: a plate including an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface facing opposite directions; a wall projecting downwardly relative to the plate, and at least partially defining an outer perimeter of the lower surface, the wall and the lower surface defining a basket for holding loops of optical fibers; and a loop retainer having a retainer body, the retainer body including a first leg, a second leg, and a connector connecting the first leg and the second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg including a coupler, the couplers being configured to mount the loop retainer to the wall by inserting the couplers into openings defined by the wall such that the couplers snappingly engage the wall.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, a loop retainer for retaining loops of optical fibers in a basket of a fiber management assembly of a telecommunications closure, includes: a body, the body including a first leg, a second leg, and a connector connecting the first leg and the second leg, each of the first leg and the

2 second leg including a coupler, the couplers being configured to mount the loop retainer to the basket by inserting the couplers into openings defined by the basket such that the couplers snappingly engage the basket.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, a method includes: (a) forming a portion of a loop of an optical fiber; (b) positioning the portion of a loop in a basket for holding loops of optical fibers, the basket being a part of a fiber management assembly of a telecommunications closure; and (c) subsequent to (b), snappingly engaging a loop retainer to the basket and about the portion of a loop to retain the portion of a loop in the basket.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, a fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure, includes: a basket for storing loops of optical fibers; and a loop retainer having a retainer body, the retainer body including a first leg, a second leg, and a connector connecting the first leg and the second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg including a coupler, the couplers being configured to mount the loop retainer to the basket by inserting the couplers into openings defined by the basket such that the couplers snappingly engage the basket.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, a fiber management organizer for a telecommunications closure, includes: a main body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and extending along a vertical axis from a top to a bottom, the vertical axis and the longitudinal axis being perpendicular to each other, the main body including: a cable fixation region configured to mount assemblies for fixing optical cables to the main body, the main body further defining a fiber management region positioned distally from the cable fixation region; a plate including an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface facing opposite directions; a passage for guiding optical fibers from below the plate to above the plate; and a lip projecting upward from the upper surface and surrounding at least a portion of the fiber management region.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, a fiber management organizer for a telecommunications closure, includes: a main body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and extending along a vertical axis from a top to a bottom, the vertical axis and the longitudinal axis being perpendicular to each other, the main body including: a cable fixation region configured to mount assemblies for fixing optical cables to the main body, the main body further defining a fiber management region positioned distally from the cable fixation region, the fiber

3 management region including structures configured to mount fiber management components; a plate including an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface facing opposite directions; a passage for guiding optical fibers from below the plate to above the plate; and at least one fiber guide tab projecting upwardly away from the upper surface, the at least one fiber guide tab being positioned to guide an optical fiber extending from the passage along a looped path, the looped path fully surrounding and not overlapping the fiber management region.

A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can 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 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. 1 is a perspective view of a telecommunications closure in accordance with the present disclosure, the closure being in a closed configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the housing pieces of the closure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example fiber management assembly of a telecommunications closure according to the present disclosure, such as the closure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a further perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the called out portion of the assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged view of a portion of the view of FIG. 5, but with the fiber loop retainer in a flexed configuration.

FIG. 8 is a perspective, partially exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 3, taken along the line A-A in FIG. 9.

4 FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 3, taken along the line B-B in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the fiber loop retainer of the assembly of FIG. 3, the loop retainer being in an unflexed configuration.

FIG. 13 is a further perspective view of the retainer of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the retainer of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the retainer of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is an end view of the retainer of FIG. 12.

FIG. 17 is a further end view of the retainer of FIG. 12.

FIG. 18 illustrates a step in an example method of retaining a tube containing partially looped optical fibers using components of the assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 19 illustrates a further step in the example method following the step illustrated in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 illustrates a further step in the method following the step illustrated in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a further example telecommunications closure according to the present disclosure, including cables entering the closure.

FIG. 22 is a further perspective view of the closure of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an assembly of a housing piece of the closure of FIG. 21 and a further example optical fiber organizer assembly positioned in the housing piece.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the main body of the organizer assembly of FIG.

23 and including a splice body holder mounted to the main body.

FIG. 25 is a further perspective view of the main body of the organizer assembly of FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of a portion of the main body of the organizer assembly of FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged view of a further portion of the main body of the organizer assembly of FIG. 23.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged further view of the portion of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the main body of the organizer assembly of FIG. 23, and showing example fiber routing schemes on the main body and a splice body holder mounted to the main body.

5 FIG. 30 is a further perspective view of the main body of the organizer assembly of

FIG. 23.

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.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a telecommunications closure 10 extends along a longitudinal axis 12 between a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. The closure 10 extends along a transverse axis 18 between a first side 20 and a second side 22. The closure 10 extends along a vertical axis 24 between a top 26 and a bottom 28. The axes 12, 18 and 24 are mutually perpendicular, with the axes 12 and 18 defining a horizontal plane.

As used herein, terms such as proximal, distal, top, bottom, upper, lower, vertical, horizontal and so forth will be used with reference to the axes 12, 18, and 24 of FIG. 1 and in relating the positions of one component to another with respect to the full closure assembly of FIG. 1. These relative terms are for ease of description only, and do not limit how the closure 10 or any individual component or combination of components, may be oriented in practice. The closure 10 includes a first upper housing piece 30 and a second lower housing piece 32 that cooperate (e.g., with hinges, clamps, etc.) to form a sealable and re-enterable closure volume 40. A perimeter seal element 31 forms a seal about three sides of the closure volume 40 when the closure 10 is in a sealed and closed configuration.

The closure volume 40 is configured to house a fiber management assembly 34. Cables enter the closure volume 40 via the opening 36 and sealed cable ports defined by the internal portion of the assembly 34.

The assembly 34 is configured to accommodate relatively thick cables (such as feeder cables and branch cables) entering the closure 10 via a lower region 38 of the assembly 34, and relatively thin cables (such as drop cables) entering the closure via an upper region 42 of the assembly 34.

6 Referring now to FIGS. 3-11, a fiber management assembly (or, simply, “assembly”) 100 in accordance with the present disclosure will be described. The assembly 100 can cooperate with housing pieces of a closure such as the closure described above. For example, the assembly 100 can cooperate with the housing pieces 30, 32 as described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. An internal portion of the assembly 100 can be positioned in the closure volume 40.

The assembly 100 extends along a longitudinal axis 102 from a proximal end 106 to a distal end 108, along a transverse axis 104 from a first side 110 to a second side 112, and along a vertical axis 114 from a top 116 to a bottom 118. The axes 102, 104 and 114 are mutually perpendicular, with the axes 102 and 104 defining a horizontal plane. The axes 102, 104 and 114 are parallel, respectively, to the axes 12, 18, and 24 (FIG 1) when the assembly 100 is positioned in the closure volume 40 of the closure 10 and the closure 10 is in the closed configuration.

The assembly 100 defines sealable cable ports 120, 122. Relatively thick cables, such as feeder cables can enter the closure via the ports 120, while relatively small cables, such as drop cables, can enter the closure via the ports 122.

The assembly 100 includes a main body 124. The main body 124 is, in some examples, of unitary (e.g., seamless) construction. In some examples, the main body 124 is formed entirely in a single mold of, e.g., a polymeric material. In some examples, the main body 124 can include metallic material, e.g., sheet metal. The main body 124 includes various plates and walls that define cable and fiber management regions of the main body 124. For example, drop cables can be fixed in upper cable fixation region 126, and feeder cables can be fixed in lower cable fixation region 128. From the fixation regions 126, 128, fibers extend from the ends of their stripped cable jackets.

From the fixation region 126, optical fibers can be routed to the fiber management region 130 in an upper portion of the main body 124. From the fixation region 128, fibers can be routed to the basket 132 defined by the main body 124 in a lower portion of the main body 124. In addition, fibers can be routed between the upper and lower portions via passageways 134 defined by the main body 124.

The fiber management region 130 is configured to mount fiber management components, such as fiber routing components, fiber splicing components, fiber splitting components, and so forth. In the example shown, the fiber management region 130 includes fiber retaining lips 136 that define pathways for fibers to be routed in the region 130 while being retained in the region 130 and not bending beyond their minimum bend

7 radius. Also depicted are splice body holding blocks 138 (also referred to as splice chips). The blocks 138 are mounted to the main body 124 in the region 130. The blocks 138 define receivers that securely hold splice bodies, where each splice body protects at least one splice between at least one pair of optical fibers. For example, the splice can be between a fiber of a feeder cable on a provider side of a fiber optic network entering the closure via one of the ports 120 and a drop cable entering on a subscriber side of the fiber optic network entering the closure via one of the ports 122.

The basket 132 is configured to store portions of optical fibers. For example, loops of fibers entering the assembly 100 via cables can be stored in the basket 132. In some examples, the fibers can be individual, loose fibers. In other examples, groups of fibers can be bundled into protective sheaths (e.g., plastic tubes), and the sheaths can be looped and stored as one or more loops or partial loops in the basket 132. Storage of fibers in the basket 132 can be desirable for fibers that are not presently needed for active transmission of optical signals, and/or for extra slack of fibers that are presently being used for active signal transmission routed via the assembly 100.

Sheaths of fibers stored in loops in the basket 132 can be routed to the fiber management region 130 via passageways 134. Sheath holders 140 can be positioned adjacent the passageways 134. The sheath holders 140 each receive and secure an end portion of a sheath to minimize unwanted movement of sheaths and fibers. Lengths of fibers then extend from the secured sheaths to the fiber management region 130.

The main body 124 includes a plate 142. The plate includes a major upper surface 144 and a major lower surface 146. The surfaces 144 and 146 face in opposite directions, with the surface 144 facing upwards parallel to the axis 114, and the surface 146 facing downwards parallel to the axis 114.

The main body 124 includes a wall 148. The wall 148 extends above and below the plate 142, and partially defines an outer perimeter of the surface 144 and an outer perimeter of the surface 146. More specifically, an inner surface 150 of the wall 148 meets the plate 142 at portions of an outer perimeter of the surface 146. The wall defines loop retainer mounts 152 that project inwardly. The surface 146 of the plate 142 and the surface 150 of the wall 148 together define the basket 132.

Fiber management assemblies according to the present disclosure include a loop retainer arrangement for the basket 132. The loop retainer arrangement consists of one or more loop retainer mounts and one or more loop retainers that can mount to the one or more mounts. In the example assembly 100 depicted, the loop retainer arrangement

8 includes three loop retainer mounts 152 and three loop retainers 200, one retainer 200 per retainer mount 152. In other examples, more or fewer (e.g., one two, three, four, or more) loop retainer mounts and a corresponding number of loop retainers can be provided.

In some examples the loop retainer mounts do not project inwardly. In the example shown, two of the loop retainer mounts 152 project inwardly towards each other and parallel to the axis 104, and the other loop retainer mount 152 projects inwardly parallel to the axis 102 and perpendicular to the axis 104.

Each loop retainer mount 152 includes openings 154 defined by the wall 148. The openings 154 can be fully enclosed as shown, but need not be. Each opening 154 defines a shoulder 156, with each shoulder 156 being a portion of the wall 148.

Tie wraps, such as zip ties, can be used to retain loops of optical fibers (e.g., looped sheaths containing optical fibers) in the basket 132. To do so, the optical fibers or sheath(s) are placed in the basket 132 and, for each loop retainer mount 152 a tie wrap is fed outwardly through one of the openings 154 and inwardly through another of the openings 154 and then looped and, optionally, tightened around the fibers or sheath of fibers in the basket 132. Securing fibers in the basket 132 using tie wraps in this fashion can be cumbersome and time consuming, as typically two hands are required to manipulate the tie wrap as it is being fed through the openings in the wall 148 and around the fibers.

The loop retainer 200 can alleviate one or more of these drawbacks. For example, the loop retainer 200 is more easily manipulated than a tie wrap. For example, the loop retainer 200 is easily mounted to the basket 132, and can be mounted with, e.g., a single hand and a single mounting motion. In addition, no tightening is required to retain a fiber loops in the basket 132 using the loop retainer 200. In addition, while tie wraps generally must be discarded after removal (i.e., are cut to remove and then discarded after one use), the loop retainer 200 can be removed and reinstalled multiple times, thereby reducing cost and waste.

In some examples, both tie wraps and the loop retainer 200 can be used together. In such examples, the loop retainers 200 can be used to initially place and limit movement of the fiber loops, making it easier to secure the fiber loops to the wall 148 with tie wraps. In addition or alternatively, tie wraps can be used to bundle sheaths of fibers together to facilitate retaining of multiple sheaths in the basket 132 using the loop retainers 200.

Each loop retainer 200 can be of unitary (e.g., seamless) construction. In some examples, each loop retainer 200 can be formed in a single mold of polymeric material. In

9 some examples, each loop retainer 200 is constructed of a flexibly resilient polymeric material. In some examples, the loop retainer can be constructed of metal.

Referring to FIGS. 12-17, the loop retainer 200 includes a retainer body 202. The retainer body 202 includes a first leg, or lower leg, 204 and a second leg, or upper leg 206. The retainer body 202 includes a connector 208 which is a portion of the retainer body 202 that connects the legs 204 and 206 together.

Each of the first leg 204 and the second leg 206 includes, respectively, a coupler 210, 212. In some examples, the couplers 210 and 212 are identical to each other. In other examples, the couplers of the legs are not identical.

The connector 208 can define a living hinge. For example, as shown, the connector 208 defines a neck portion 214 of the retainer body 202 that is tapered relative to (e.g., narrower than a corresponding dimension of) the legs 204 and 206. Thus, the connector 208 encourages flexing of the leg 204 about a living hinge axis 216 defined by the connector 208. For example, the loop retainer 200 is shown in a relaxed, unflexed configuration in FIG. 12, while it is shown in a flexed configuration in FIG. 7, in which the leg 204 has been pivoted or flexed away from the leg 206 about the axis 216. In FIG.

7, the amount of flex of the leg 204 is larger than typically required. In practice, a smaller magnitude of flex of the leg 204 may be needed than is shown in FIG. 7 to insert sheaths between the legs of the retainer 200 once the other leg 206 has been mounted to the basket, as further described below in connection with FIGS. 18-20.

Each coupler 210, 212 includes a latch arm 218 having a catch 220. The latch arms 218 are resiliently flexible about their fixed ends 222. The catches 220 each have a ramp 224 to facilitate sliding engagement between the ramp and the basket 132, following by snapping engagement once the ramp has cleared the basket 132.

Each coupler 210, 212 also includes one or more (in this example, two) stabilizing projections 226. The stabilizing projections 226 are positioned on opposite sides of the latch arm 218 of each coupler 210, 212. The stabilizing projections 226 can be tapered, as shown to facilitate insertion into the openings 154 and/or to match the contour of the opening’s 154 perimeter to thereby provide a frictional fit or interference fit with the wall 148.

In addition, the body 202, on each leg 204, 206, defines insertion stops 280 on opposite sides of each coupler 210, 212 that engage the surface 150 of the wall 148 (FIGS. 5-6) and minimize or prevent further insertion or over insertion of the retainer 200 into the openings 154 when mounting the retainer 200 to the wall 148.

10 The leg 204 includes an elbow portion 228 extending from the coupler 210, and as it extends therefrom, also extending away from the leg 206. The elbow portion 228 is configured to allow the retainer 200 to accommodate large amounts of looped fibers (or sheaths) while maintaining the couplers 210 and 210 sufficiently close together to be properly mounted to one of the loop retainer mounts 152.

To mount a loop retainer 200 to a loop retainer mount 152, the loop retainer 200 is moved horizontally within the basket 132 toward a loop retainer mount 152 such that the couplers 210, 212 are inserted into openings 154 of the mount 152, causing the couplers 210, 212 to snappingly engage the wall 148. In particular, as the insertion takes place, the stabilizing projections 226 frictionally engage the perimeter of the openings 154 (FIG. 11). In addition, the ramps 224 of the catches 220 also engage the perimeter of the openings 154, causing the latch arms 218 to flex until the catches 220 clear the shoulders 156. Once the catches 220 clear the shoulders 156, the latch arms 218 resiliently return to their unflexed positions such that the catches 220 snappingly engage the shoulders 156, thereby locking the loop retainer 200 to the retainer mount 152 (FIG. 10). The insertion stops 280 can prevent further insertion or prevent at least substantial further insertion once the latch arms 218 have snappingly engaged the shoulders 156.

The tapered construction of the stabilizing projections 226 complements the shape of the openings 154. This complementary shaping can serve as a keying mechanism for guiding the loop retainer 200 into locking engagement with the main body 124 in the proper orientation with the elbow portion 228 and leg 204 being farther from the major lower surface 146 than the leg 206.

To remove a mounted loop retainer 200, a finger or tool can be used to flex each latch arm so that the catch 220 clears the opening 154, allowing the coupler 210, 212 to be removed from engagement with the wall 148. For removal, the legs 204, 206 can be disengaged from the wall 148 individually and sequentially. For installation, in some examples, a single motion can cause both couplers 210, 212 to snappingly and lockingly engage the wall 148 to thereby mount the loop retainer 200 to the wall 148. In other installation examples, insertion of the couplers 210, 212 can be performed individually and sequentially, as further described below.

Different and advantageous orders of operations can be used to retain fiber loops or sheath loops in the basket 132 using one or more of the loop retainers 200.

11 In one example method, the loop or loops are placed in the basket, following which each retainer 200 is fully installed in the basket in one motion per retainer 200 that snappingly locks both legs 204 and 206 of the retainer 200 to the wall 148.

In another example method, the retainers are first fully installed in the basket, following which the loop or loops of fiber/sheath are guided through the loop retainer space 240 defined between the retainer body 202 and the wall 148.

A further advantageous method of retaining looped fiber in a basket of a fiber management assembly that is facilitated by the loop retainer arrangements of the present disclosure is illustrated in FIGS. 18-20.

Referring to FIG. 18, the coupler 200a (of identical construction to a coupler 200 described above) of the coupler arrangement has been installed about the looped sheath 300. The coupler of the upper leg 206 (the leg closer to the plate of the main body 124) of the retainer 200b (of identical construction to a coupler 200 described above) is snappingly mounted to the basket 132, leaving the lower leg 204 disengaged from the wall 148 and flexed about its connector. Then, the looped sheath 300 of fibers (or, simply fibers) to be stored in the basket 132 is positioned below the leg 206 and above the leg 204, following which lower leg is unflexed (FIG. 19) and the coupler of the lower leg 204 is snappingly mounted to the basket 132 (FIG. 20) to form the loop retainer space 240 about the sheath 300 to thereby retain the sheath 300 in the basket 132 with the retainer 200b. The order of operations described with respect to the retainer 200b can be applied to any retainer 200 that forms part of the sheath retainer arrangement for the fiber management assembly.

Further alternative methods of retaining looped sheaths of fibers in baskets of optical fiber management assemblies are possible with one or more retainers 200. For example, for each retainer 200 used in a given loop retention arrangement for a basket, zero, one, or both couplers of the legs of the retainer can be snappingly mounted to the basket 132 before or after positioning the looped sheath in the basket and/or before or after positioning the looped sheath within the retainer.

Referring to FIGS. 21-22, a further example telecommunications closure 500 will be described. The closure 500 includes housing pieces 302 and 304 that sealingly cooperate to define an interior volume that holds an optical fiber organizer assembly for optical fibers of telecommunications cables 301, 303 that sealingly enter the interior volume through cable ports.

Referring to FIG. 23, an optical fiber organizer assembly 306 is positioned in the interior volume defined by the housing piece 304, the assembly 306 and the housing piece

12 304 being lockable to each other with clamps, and a perimeter sealing element (e.g., a perimeter gel seal) being positioned around the perimeter of the interior volume and compressible between the housing pieces. The assembly 306 extends from a proximal end 308 to a distal end 310 along an axis 312. The assembly 306 extends from a first side 314 to a second side 316 along an axis 318. The assembly 306 extends from a bottom 320 to a top 322 along a vertical axis 324.

The assembly 306 includes a main body 330. Depending on a particular fiber management scheme desired, the main body 330 can be used in various ways. For example, the main body 330 can support a subassembly that includes fiber management trays 332. The main body 330 can support adapter banks 335 that receive connectorized optical fibers 336. The main body 330 supports plates 338 that are configured to mount cable fixation subassemblies that fix end portions of cables entering the closure.

A cable sealing region 340 is positioned at the proximal end of the main body 330. The cable sealing region 340 is configured to providing sealing around cables entering the interior volume of the closure for fiber management on the main body 330 or on structures supported by the main body 330. The cable sealing region 340 includes seal block support structures 342 configured to support seal blocks 344 for sealing around cables entering the closure volume from an exterior of the closure. Some of the seal block support structures 342 are integrally formed with the main body 330, as shown in FIG. 39. The main body 330 includes press surfaces 350 having grip portions 352. The press surfaces 350 are positioned to facilitate interlocking the main body 330 and the base piece 304.

Referring to FIGS. 24-30, the main body 330 includes a plate 359. The plate 359 includes a major upper surface 360 facing upward and a major lower surface 369 facing downward (opposite the direction that the upper surface 360 faces).

The upper surface 360 defines a fiber organizing region 361 positioned distally from the cable fixation region 363. The cable fixation region 363 is positioned distally from the cable sealing region 340 described above. The fiber organizing region 361 includes an outer region 362, or fiber storage region, closer to the outer perimeter wall 334 that can be used for storing loops of optical fibers in the fiber organizing region 361, and an inner region 365, or fiber management region, farther from the wall 334 that can be used for managing pairs of fibers at fiber management components (e.g., splices holders, signal splitters, adapter banks, and so forth). Such fiber management components can be mounted to component mounting structures 366, at least some of which are in the fiber management region 365. For example, a splice body holder 400 (or splice chip) is

13 configured to support protective bodies surrounding splices of fiber pairs and can be securely mounted to one or more of the structures 366. Pairs of fibers can be routed to the splice body holder 400 and their splices supported therein. In some examples, one of the pairs of fibers spliced to each other is routed to the splice body holder 400 from a feeder cable entering the closure, and the other fiber in the pair is routed to the splice body holder from a drop cable entering the closure.

The cable fixation region 363 is configured to mount assemblies for fixing optical cables to the main body 330.

The main body 330 defines passages 370 through gaps in the perimeter wall 334. The passages 370 are positioned on opposite sides of the main body 330. The passages 370 are configured to guide optical fibers from below the plate 359 to above the plate 359 (and vice versa). For example, fibers in a protective sheath are routed from a feeder cable on the lower side of the plate 359 through a passage 370 to the upper side of the plate 359, where the fiber can be stored, or connected, or spliced to another fiber. The another fiber could be a fiber of, e.g., a drop cable entering the same closure.

A lip 372 projects upward from the upper surface 360 and surrounds at least a portion of the fiber management region 365. In this example, the lip includes portions 374a, 374b, 374c that extend along at least three reference lines, two of the reference lines (corresponding to the portions 374a and 374b) being parallel to the axis 312 (FIG. 23), and another of the reference lines (corresponding to the portion 374c) being perpendicular to the axis 312 and parallel to the axis 318 (FIG. 23). The portion 376 of the surface 360 within the lip 372 is recessed relative to the lip 372. Each portion 374a, 374b, 374c includes a chamfer 391 that slopes upward toward the recessed portion 376.

The lip 372 can serve to lift fibers slightly upward and away from the surface 360 as they are routed to a fiber management component, such as the splice body holder 400. The chamfers 391 can ensure that the fibers are lifted gently (e.g., along a gentle slope provided by a chamfer 391) and thereby minimize over-bending or breakage of the fibers as they are routed up and over the lip 372. By so lifting the fibers away from the surface 360, the likelihood that the fibers are caught between the bottom surface of the fiber management component and the surface 360 during a routing process can be advantageously reduced. A fiber caught between a fiber management component and the surface 360 can be disadvantageously damaged or broken as a result.

14 The main body 330 includes a pair of fiber guide tabs 380 and a pair of fiber guide tabs 382. Each pair projects upwardly away from the upper surface 360, with the fiber guide tabs 382 projecting upward from the upper surface 360.

The tabs 380 and 382 are positioned to guide optical fibers (such as an optical fiber 399) along a space efficient looped path that can advantageously reduce fiber density, particularly of stored optical fibers, in the fiber organizer region 361. The looped path can be spiraling, beginning with a larger outer loop 390 or partial loop (e.g., a portion of a full 360 degree loop) guided by one of the tabs 380 as fibers come through the passages 370 from below the plate 359, and then continuing into a smaller inner loop 392 (or portion of a loop) guided by the tabs 382, the inner loop 392 being at least partially within the outer loop 390, thereby reducing bunching of fibers together on the surface 360. The tabs 380 and 382 have convex outward facing surfaces 395, 397 that guide the fibers in their looped path. The surfaces 395 and 397 can be perpendicular to the upper surface 360 of the plate 359.

The tabs 380 and 382 are shaped and positioned relative to the fiber management region and the fiber storage region to define a loop radius for the loop or partial loop of stored fiber while providing bend radius protection to the fiber for both the inner loop and the outer loop. Bend radius protection refers to preventing fibers from bending beyond their predefined minimum bend radii, which bending can cause signal loss and/or fiber breakage.

Thus, each of the fiber guide tabs 380, 382 is positioned to guide optical fibers extending from the passage along a looped path 390, 392 in the fiber storage region 362, the looped path 390, 392 fully surrounding and not overlapping the fiber management region 365. After a time, stored fibers, such as the fiber 399, can be needed for an active fiber connection. When that occurs, the fiber 399 can be rerouted from its storage looping path to another path that ends at a fiber management component (e.g., the splice body holder 400) in the fiber management region 365.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that modifications and variations can be made in the devices of the disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

15

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a main body extending from a top to a bottom, the main body including: a plate including an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface facing opposite directions; a wall projecting downwardly relative to the plate, and at least partially defining an outer perimeter of the lower surface, the wall and the lower surface defining a basket for holding loops of optical fibers; and a loop retainer having a retainer body, the retainer body including a first leg, a second leg, and a connector connecting the first leg and the second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg including a coupler, the couplers being configured to mount the loop retainer to the wall by inserting the couplers into openings defined by the wall such that the couplers snappingly engage the wall.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the wall includes shoulders that partially define the openings of the wall.

3. The assembly of any of claims 1-2, wherein the connector defines a living hinge.

4. The assembly of any of claims 1-3, wherein the connector defines a neck portion of the retainer body of the loop retainer that is tapered relative to the first leg and the second leg.

5. The assembly of any of claims 1-4, wherein each coupler includes a latch arm having a catch configured to catch one of the shoulders.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein each coupler includes stabilizing projections positioned on opposite sides of the latch arm, the stabilizing projections being configured to be inserted into one of the openings.

7. The assembly of any of claims 1-6, wherein one of the first leg and the second leg defines an elbow portion extending from a corresponding one of the couplers and, as the

16 elbow extends therefrom the elbow also extends away from the other of the first leg and the second leg.

8. The assembly of any of claims 1-7, wherein the loop retainer is of unitary construction.

9. A telecommunications closure, comprising: housing pieces configured to cooperate to define a sealable and re-enterable closure volume; cables carrying optical fibers entering the closure volume; and a fiber management assembly according to any of claims 1-8 positioned in the closure volume.

10. The telecommunications closure of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of loop retainers retaining loops of the optical fibers in the basket, each of the loop retainers having a retainer body, the retainer body including a first leg, a second leg, and a connector connecting the first leg and the second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg including a coupler, the couplers being snappingly received by the wall of the basket.

11. The closure of claim 10, comprising three of the loop retainers, one of the loop retainers projecting away from the wall in a first direction, another of the loop retainers projecting away from the wall in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being perpendicular to each other.

12. A loop retainer for retaining loops of optical fibers in a basket of a fiber management assembly of a telecommunications closure, comprising: a body, the body including a first leg, a second leg, and a connector connecting the first leg and the second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg including a coupler, the couplers being configured to mount the loop retainer to the basket by inserting the couplers into openings defined by the basket such that the couplers snappingly engage the basket.

13. A method, comprising:

(a) forming a portion of a loop of an optical fiber;

17 (b) positioning the portion of the loop in a basket for holding loops of optical fibers, the basket being a part of a fiber management assembly of a telecommunications closure; and

(c) subsequent to (b), snappingly engaging a loop retainer to the basket and about the portion of a loop to retain the portion of a loop in the basket.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

(d) prior to (b), snappingly engaging one of a plurality of legs of a retainer body of the loop retainer to the basket, wherein (c) includes snappingly engaging another of the legs of the retainer body to the basket.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising,

(e) prior to (b) and subsequent to (d), flexing the another of the legs away from the one of the legs about a connector connecting the legs together.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the connector defines a neck portion of the loop retainer body that is tapered relative to the legs.

17. The method of any of claims 13-16, wherein (c) includes inserting a coupler of the loop retainer into an opening defined by a wall of the basket such that a catch of a latch arm of the coupler snappingly engages the wall.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

(d) subsequent to (b), snappingly engaging one of a plurality of legs of a retainer body of the loop retainer to the basket, wherein (c) includes snappingly engaging another of the legs of the retainer body to the basket.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method does not include flexing any of the legs away from another of the legs about a connector connecting the legs together.

18

20. The method of any of claims 18-19, wherein each of (c) and (d) includes inserting a coupler of the loop retainer body into an opening defined by a wall of the basket such that a catch of a latch arm of the coupler snappingly engages the wall.

21. The method of any of claims 18-20, wherein (c) and (d) are performed simultaneously.

22. A fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a basket for storing loops of optical fibers; and a loop retainer having a retainer body, the retainer body including a first leg, a second leg, and a connector connecting the first leg and the second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg including a coupler, the couplers being configured to mount the loop retainer to the basket by inserting the couplers into openings defined by the basket such that the couplers snappingly engage the basket.

23. The fiber management assembly of claim 22, comprising a plurality of loop retainers for retaining loops of optical fibers in the basket, each of the loop retainers having a retainer body, the retainer body including a first leg, a second leg, and a connector connecting the first leg and the second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg including a coupler, the couplers of each loop retainer being snappingly received by the basket.

24. The fiber management assembly of claim 23, comprising three of the loop retainers, a first of the loop retainers projecting relative to the basket in a first direction, a second of the loop retainers projecting relative to the basket in a second direction, a third of the loop retainer projecting relative to the basket in a third direction, the first direction the second direction, and the third direction being mutually perpendicular to one another.

25. A fiber management organizer for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a main body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and extending along a vertical axis from a top to a bottom, the vertical axis and the longitudinal axis being perpendicular to each other, the main body including:

19 a cable fixation region configured to mount assemblies for fixing optical cables to the main body, the main body further defining a fiber management region positioned distally from the cable fixation region; a plate having an outer perimeter and including an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface facing opposite directions; a passage for guiding optical fibers from below the plate to above the plate; and a lip positioned interiorly to the outer perimeter, projecting upward from the upper surface and surrounding at least a portion of the fiber management region.

26. The organizer of claim 25, wherein the lip extends along at least three reference lines, two of the reference lines being parallel to the longitudinal axis, and another of the reference lines being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

27. The organizer of claim 25, wherein the fiber management region includes a structure defined by the plate for mounting a fiber management component.

28. The organizer of claim 27, further comprising a splice body holder mounted to the structure.

29. The organizer of claim 25, wherein the lip includes a chamfer.

30. The organizer of claim 29, wherein the chamfer includes a surface that is sloped upward toward the at least a portion of the fiber management region surrounded by the lip.

31. A fiber management organizer for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a main body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and extending along a vertical axis from a top to a bottom, the vertical axis and the longitudinal axis being perpendicular to each other, the main body including: a cable fixation region configured to mount assemblies for fixing optical cables to the main body, the main body further defining a fiber management region positioned distally from the cable fixation region, the fiber management region including structures configured to mount fiber management components;

20 a plate including an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface facing opposite directions; a passage for guiding optical fibers from below the plate to above the plate; and at least one fiber guide tab projecting upwardly away from the upper surface, the at least one fiber guide tab being positioned to guide an optical fiber extending from the passage along a looped path, the looped path fully surrounding and not overlapping the fiber management region.

32. The organizer of claim 31, including a plurality of fiber guide tabs positioned to guide an optical fiber along a first looped path followed by a second looped path, at least a portion of the second looped path being within the first looped path, the first looped path and the second looped path both fully surrounding and not overlapping the fiber management region.

33. The organizer of any of claims 31-32, wherein each fiber guide tab includes a convex outer surface for guiding an optical fiber.

34. The organizer of claim 33, wherein each convex outer surface is perpendicular to the upper surface of the plate.

35. A telecommunications closure, comprising : housing pieces configured to cooperate to define a sealable and re-enterable closure volume; cables carrying optical fibers entering the closure volume; and the fiber management organizer according to any of claims 25-34 positioned in the closure volume, the cables being fixed to the main body at the cable fixation region.

21