WO2023244441A1

WO2023244441A1 - Strip for securing optical fiber management trays

Info

Publication number: WO2023244441A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/024027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bart Mattie Claessens; El Moiz Mohammed Michel Ghammam
Original assignee: Commscope Technologies Llc
Priority date: 2022-06-17
Filing date: 2023-05-31
Publication date: 2023-12-21

Abstract

Securing a stack of one or more optical fiber management trays in a pivoted down position. A strip of substrate is configured to easily engage and disengage trays in a stack to provide an easily implemented and customizable solution to secure trays at telecommunications equipment, such as in a telecommunications closure. A tray can include a strip receiver for receiving a segment of the strip.

Description

STRIP FOR SECURING OPTICAL FIBER MANAGEMENT TRAYS

Cross-Reference To Related Applications

This application is being filed on May 31, 2023, as a PCT International application and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 63/366,549, filed on June 17, 2022, and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 63/477,873 filed December 30, 2022, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to improvements in securing optical fiber management trays at telecommunications equipment.

Background

Optical fibers of telecommunications networks are managed at telecommunications equipment located at different network distribution locations. Such telecommunications equipment can include closures, cabinets, shelves, panels and so forth. The equipment typically includes management assemblies to organize, store, route and connect optical fibers within the network. For example, optical fibers from provider side cables can be routed and optically connected to optical fibers of subscriber side cables using such assemblies. The assemblies can include features for supporting optical fiber splices, ferrules, connectors, adapters, splitters, wave divisionmultiplexers and so forth. In addition, the assemblies can include features for storing and protecting optical fibers. In addition, the assemblies can include features for fixing end portions of cable jackets so that optical fibers can emerge from the cable jackets and be organized on the other equipment. In addition, the assemblies can include features for securing and guiding protective tubes that hold lengths of optical fibers beyond where they have emerged from the cable jackets.

The assemblies can include fiber management trays, which can be used to, e.g., support splices and other fiber management components between incoming and outgoing optical fibers that are routed onto the trays. A typical fiber management assembly can include a support structure to which multiple fiber management trays are pivotally mounted in a stack. The pivoting permits access to a desired one of the stack of trays.

The assemblies can include baskets for storing loops of optical fibers on the assembly without necessarily routing them to a fiber management tray.

Summary

In general terms, the present disclosure relates to improvements in optical fiber management assemblies.

In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to improvements in securing a stack of optical fiber management trays.

According to certain specific aspects, the present disclosure is directed to a system for managing optical fibers, including: a piece; a pivotally mounted fiber management tray, the tray including a strip receiver; and a strip of a substrate, the strip including: an anchoring portion configured to anchor the strip to the piece; and a segment including a securing portion and a neck portion, wherein the securing portion is dimensioned to securely engage the strip receiver to secure the segment to the fiber management tray and inhibit pivoting of the tray; and wherein the neck portion is dimensioned to disengage the strip from the strip receiver.

According to further specific aspects, the present disclosure is direct to a device for securing a fiber management tray of an optical fiber management assembly, including: a strip of a substrate, the strip including: an anchoring portion configured to anchor the strip; and a segment including a securing portion and a neck portion that is narrower than the securing portion, wherein the securing portion is dimensioned to securely engage a strip receiver of the tray; and wherein the neck portion is dimensioned to disengage the strip from the strip receiver of the tray.

According to further specific aspects, the present disclosure is directed to a method of securing a fiber management tray, including: providing a strip of a substrate, the strip including: an anchoring portion configured to anchor the strip; and a segment including a securing portion and a neck portion that is narrower than the securing portion; anchoring the anchoring portion to a piece; grasping the securing portion; pulling the securing portion in a direction away from the anchoring portion; passing the neck portion through a gap between two hooks of strip receiver of the tray; and releasing the securing portion such that the securing portion engages the strip receiver.

According to further specific aspects, a system for managing optical fibers, includes: a piece; a pivotally mounted fiber management tray, the fiber management tray including a strip receiver; and a strip of a substrate, the strip including: an anchoring portion configured to anchor the strip to the piece; and a coupler configured to securely engage the strip receiver.

According to further specific aspects, device for securing a fiber management tray of an optical fiber management assembly includes: a strip of a substrate, the strip including fully enclosed substantially round openings arranged in a row along a longitudinal dimension of the strip, each fully enclosed opening configured to securely engage an anchor of a fiber management tray, the anchor including a stem and a bulbous portion protruding from the stem.

According to further specific aspects, system for managing optical fibers, includes: a piece including a first anchor; a pivotally mounted fiber management tray, the fiber management tray including a second anchor, each of the first anchor and the second anchor including a stem and a bulbous portion protruding from the stem; and a strip of a substrate for securing the fiber management tray to the piece, the strip including fully enclosed openings arranged in a row along a longitudinal dimension of the strip, one of the fully enclosed openings being configured to securely engage the first anchor, another of the fully enclosed openings being configured to securely engage the second anchor, a largest diameter of each of the fully enclosed openings being larger than a largest dimension of the bulbous portion of each of the first anchor and the second anchor, another dimension of each of the fully enclosed openings parallel to the diameter being smaller than the largest dimension of the bulbous portion of each the first anchor and of the second anchor.

According to further specific aspects, a method of securing a fiber management tray to a piece, includes: providing a strip of a substrate, the strip including fully enclosed openings arranged in a row along a longitudinal dimension of the strip; anchoring a first of the fully enclosed openings to a first anchor of the piece by passing a portion of the first anchor through the first of the fully enclosed openings and then shifting the strip so that the strip securely engages the first anchor; and anchoring a second of the fully enclosed openings to a second anchor of the fiber management tray by passing a portion of the second anchor through the second of the fully enclosed and then shifting the strip so that the strip securely engages the second anchor.

According to further specific aspects, a system for managing optical fibers, includes: a piece including a first anchor; a pivotally mounted fiber management tray, the fiber management tray including a second anchor, each of the first anchor and the second anchor including a stem and a bulbous portion protruding from the stem; and a strip of a substrate for securing the fiber management tray to the piece, the strip including fully enclosed openings arranged in a row along a longitudinal dimension of the strip, one of the fully enclosed openings being configured to securely engage the first anchor, another of the fully enclosed openings being configured to securely engage the second anchor, a diameter of each of the fully enclosed openings being stretchable to be larger than a largest dimension of the bulbous portion of each of the first anchor and the second anchor, another dimension of each of the fully enclosed openings parallel to the diameter being smaller than the largest dimension of the bulbous portion of each the first anchor and of the second anchor.

According to further specific aspects, a method of securing a fiber management tray to a piece, includes: providing a strip of a substrate, the strip including fully enclosed openings arranged in a row along a longitudinal dimension of the strip; anchoring a first of the fully enclosed openings to a first anchor of the piece by passing a portion of the first anchor through the first of the fully enclosed openings by stretching the first of the fully enclosed openings and then releasing the strip so that the first of the fully enclosed openings resiliently contracts causing the strip to securely engage the first anchor; and anchoring a second of the fully enclosed openings to a second anchor of the fiber management tray by passing a portion of the second anchor through the second of the fully enclosed openings by stretching the second of the fully enclosed openings and then releasing the strip so that the second of the fully enclosed openings resiliently contracts causing the strip to securely engage the second anchor.

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 forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples 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. 1 is a perspective view of example telecommunications equipment that can support an optical fiber management assembly including optical fiber management trays according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base piece of the equipment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the base piece of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, with a tray stack securing strip in a first position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of claim 4, with the tray stack securing strip in a second position.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the assembly of claim 4, without the tray stack securing strip.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one of the fiber management trays of the assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the tray of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 6, with the tray cover removed.

FIG. 10 is a planar, schematic view of the tray stack securing strip of the assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a further optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a further perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a further perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the fiber loop storage basket of the assembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one of the fiber management trays of the assembly of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a planar view of the tray securing strip of the assembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a further optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure.

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. 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. 1 shows example telecommunications equipment in accordance with the present disclosure. In this example, the equipment is a sealable and re-enterable closure 20. In other examples, the equipment can include other components at a distribution location of an optical fiber network. Such equipment can include, for example, a cabinet, a drawer, a shelf, or a panel for organizing and routing optical fibers.

The closure 20 includes a housing 22 defining an interior volume (or closure 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 the 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 management assembly (such as will be described below), which supports fiber optic components (e.g., optical fiber management trays, fiber loop storage baskets, etc.) can be carried with the sealing unit. In one example, the cable sealing unit includes sealant (e.g., a sealant arrangement such as the seal blocks 131, 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 closure 20 in the field. As examples, the closure 20 can be positioned on the ground, underground or it can be aerially suspended. Other applications are also possible.

Cables carrying optical fibers can enter the closure volume defined by the closure 20 via sealable ports. Such cables can include trunk cables, feeder cables, branch cables, and distribution cables (also known as drop cables). Typically, optical fibers from one cable entering the closure are spliced to optical fibers of one or more other cables entering the closure to establish an optical signal path at the closure 20 (or other signal distribution equipment) from a provider side cable to one or more customer side cables, or an optical signal between a branch cable and any of: another branch cable, a trunk cable, a feeder cable, or a distribution cable. Branch cables can be used to route optical signals from one telecommunications closure to another telecommunications closure.

In addition to splicing, other fiber management activities can be performed with telecommunications equipment housed within the closure volume. Such activities can include, without limitation, indexing fibers, storing fibers (typically in one or more loops), and splitting fibers.

Splices, such as mechanical splices or fusion splices, can be performed at the factory or in the field, e.g., at the closure 20 positioned in the field. The cables entering the closure can include optical fibers of different configurations such as loose fibers and fiber ribbons. The fiber ribbons can be flat ribbons or rollable ribbons. The loose fibers can be individual fibers or bundled loose fibers protected by a common protective sheath or tube. For fiber ribbons, the fibers of the entire ribbon can be spliced to the fibers of a corresponding fiber ribbon at the same time, e.g., using a mass fusion splicing procedure.

Splice bodies protect the splices both in the case of individual fiber splices and mass fiber splices, such as mass fusion splices. The splice bodies are held in splice holders also known as splice chips. Fiber management trays of a fiber management assembly positioned in the interior sealable and re-enterable volume defined by the closure 20 can support such splice holders (or chips).

As used herein, positioning and orientational terms such as up, down, upper, lower, above, below, front, back, rear, forward, backward, rearward, horizontal, vertical, and so forth, may be used to refer to relative positioning of components in an assembly or portions of a component relative to each other when positioned in an assembly. Such terminology is provided as a descriptive aid and does not limit how components or portions of components may be positioned or oriented in practice.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the base 32 of the closure 20 can include a base piece 164. The base piece 164 can be of seamless, unitary construction (e.g., formed in a single molding operation). The piece 164 defines first pockets 180 and second pockets 182. The second pockets 182 are above the first pockets 180. The first pockets 180 are configured to receive seal blocks (e.g., gel blocks) that can be pressurized to seal around cables entering the closure, as described above. For example, the seal blocks can be pressurized against surfaces 184 of the pockets 180.

The second pockets 182 are configured to receive by snap-connection portions of the other pieces of an assembly, such as plates 220 of the assembly 200 (FIG. 5). The plates 220 are configured to support cable jacket fixation subassemblies. The plates 220 are slid into snap-connection with the pockets 182, with recesses of the plates 220 mating with projections 186 of the base piece 164, and projections of the plates 220 mating with receivers 198 of the base piece 164.

The base piece 164 includes dividers 188 and 190. Each of the dividers 188 and 190 is positioned between two of the pockets 182. The dividers 188, 190 thus partially define the four pockets 182. In some examples, extending from a divider is a body 192 that defines an interface 194. The interface 194 can serve as a location to mount an electrical grounding component that can provide an electrical ground to cables fixed to the plates 220 in both pockets 182 on either side of each divider 188, 190.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, the assembly 200 will be described. The assembly 200 can mount to the base piece 164 as described above. The assembly 200 can be positioned in a closure volume such as the closure volume of the closure 20.

The assembly 200 extends along a first axis 201 from a front end 207 to a back end 209 of the assembly. The assembly 200 extends along a second axis 203 from a top 211 to a bottom 213 of the assembly. The assembly 200 extends along a third axis 205 from a left side 215 to a right side 217 of the assembly. The axes 201, 203 and 205 are mutually perpendicular.

The assembly 200 includes pieces 202 and 204. Each piece 202 and 204 can be of seamless, unitary construction. The pieces 202 and 204 can snap-connect to each other. Each of the pieces 202 and 204 includes two of the plates 220, which can snapconnect to the base piece 164.

The assembly 200 includes a fiber loop storage basket 206. The basket 206 can be integrally formed (e.g., as a seamless, unitary construction) with the piece 204. Alternatively, the basket 206 can be separately formed and snap-connected to the piece 204. The basket 206 includes a main surface 231 and walls 210 that define a basket volume 212 for storing loops and/or partial loops of optical fibers. Fibers stored in the basket 206 can be used for future optical connections. In addition, or alternatively, the basket 206 can store slack of fibers of current optical connections. Fibers can enter the basket volume 212 via one or more entryways 239 defined by the walls 210 and a mounting portion 235. Fiber retainers 227 are adjustably mounted to the walls 210 to help retain looped optical fibers within basket volume 212. The retainers 221 can be adjusted up or down depending on the volume and/or number of fibers in the basket volume 212.

The assembly 200 also includes support structure that pivotally supports fiber management trays. In this example, the support structure is a tower 214. The support structure can be mounted to another structure of the assembly. In this example, the tower 214 can snap-connect to a stem portion 237 of the piece 204 at one side of the stem portion 237, while the mounting portion 235 of the basket 206 can snap-connect to the stem portion 237 at the opposite side thereof. The tower 214 includes a body 229 that defines receivers 216 configured to pivotally support coupling elements of fiber management trays 208. The receivers 216 are arranged along an axis 241 that is oblique to the axis 201 in the assembly 200, which allows the trays 208 to stack flat upon one another in a stack 222 when the trays 208 are pivoted down, as shown in FIGS. 4-5. Thus, the stack 222 defines a stacking axis for the trays 208 that is parallel to the axis 203.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, each tray 208 includes a mounting portion 224 and a tray portion 226. The mounting portion 224 includes one or more coupling elements, such as a rod 228, that can be pivotally received in a receiver 216 of the tower 214.

The tray portion 226 includes a main surface 230 and one or more walls 232, 233 extending from a perimeter of the main surface 230 to define an interior tray volume 234. The interior tray volume 234 includes a fiber management region 236, which can include structures 238 for mounting fiber management components, such as splice chips, signal splitters, and adapters that receive connectors of connectorized optical fibers to optically connect the optical fibers. Surrounding the fiber management region 236 is a fiber routing region 240 defined between the surface 230 and fiber retaining lips 242. Optical fibers can be routed via the fiber routing region 240 to their splice location in the fiber management region 236. The fiber routing region 240 can also be used to store slack of optical fibers that are managed in the fiber management region 236.

Optical fibers can enter the tray volume via fiber entryways 219. The entryways 219 can be positioned adjacent the mounting portion 224, or in another location of the tray.

The trays 208 are pivotally coupled to the tower 214. Thus, for example, each tray 208, when not locked in the pivoted down configuration, can be pivoted up along the direction of the arrow 244 about the pivot axis defined by the longitudinal dimension of the coupling element 228. By pivoting up a tray 208, access can be provided to the tray 208 below it in the stack. Then, to access the tray volume of the tray being accessed (e.g., to perform fiber management on the tray), the tray cover 246 is removed. The tray cover 246 includes tabs that allow the cover 246 to removably snap connect to the walls 232, 233 of the tray 208. The tray cover 246, when installed on a tray 208, can protect the optical fibers managed on the tray 208. In addition, the tray cover 246 can help retain fibers within the tray volume. The number and size of the trays in a given stack can vary from closure to closure, and from fiber management application to fiber management application.

When the trays 208 are not being worked on by a technician, it can be important to lock or otherwise secure the stack 222 of trays 208 in the pivoted down position to protect the optical fibers and other delicate components of the assembly. For example, the stack of trays should be locked or otherwise secured to the basket 206 (or to another component of the assembly) when storing the assembly in a closure such that, for example, when the assembly is removed from the closure, a tray does not accidentally pivot and thereby encounter an object that can damage the tray or cause the tray to disengage from the tower and fall. Likewise, it can be important to keep the trays in a locked or otherwise secured stacked configuration when moving the closure around with the assembly inside, as pivoting of a tray in that scenario can cause the tray to damage optical fibers routed in the closure volume.

Securing a stack of pivotable trays can include wrapping a strap, e.g., a strap having interlocking hook and loop fasteners, around the stack and the object to which the stack is being secured, such as a loop storage basket. This procedure, however, is cumbersome because it requires wrapping a full loop around the entire stack and around the other object. In addition, the strap may be too large or too small, depending on the number and size of the trays in a given stack, as well as other dimensions of the assembly that can vary from assembly to assembly.

The present disclosure includes an improved device and system for securing a stack of fiber management trays in a pivoted down position. Referring to FIGS. 7-10, the system includes a strip 300 and a strip receiver 250. The strip receiver 250 is included on at least the top tray of the stack. However, each of the trays of the stack can be provided with a strip receiver 250. The strip receiver 250 can be provided at the front of the tray, e.g., at the front wall 233 of the tray 208. In some examples, the strip receiver 250 can be integrally formed with the front wall 233 of the tray. The strip receiver 250 can be positioned at a farthest point of the tray from the pivot axis of that tray. That is, the strip receiver 250 can be positioned at a location on the tray that defines the longest or substantially longest moment arm of the tray about its pivot axis with the tray support structure. This positioning of the strip receiver 250 can maximize the securing system’s ability to counteract torque generated by the tray when tending to pivot. The strip receiver 250, in the example shown, includes two hooks 260, that are aligned with each other and extend towards each other to their free ends 262. The free ends 262 are spaced apart from each other by a gap or material void 264. The hooks 260 can extend from the wall 233 or a rib or other feature of the wall 233 substantially along a line parallel to the axis 205. The hooks 260 define a slot 266 immediately behind the hooks.

The strip 300 is formed from a substrate. The strip 300 can be a stamped part, for example, from a pre-formed substate. Alternatively, the strip 300 can be a molded part.

The strip 300 can be more flexible in certain dimensions than others. For example, the strip can be more flexible when it rotates about the axis 303 than when it rotates about another axis.

The strip 300 can be constructed of a thermoplastic polymer or a metal. In some examples, the strip can be constructed of polycarbonate.

The strip 300 has an elongate dimension extending along a longitudinal axis 302 of the strip 300 from a top 304 of the strip 300 to a bottom 306 of the strip 300. In some examples, the strip 300 can be a seamless, unitary piece of substrate.

In some examples, the strip 300 can be of uniform thickness, with the thickness being the dimension of the strip 300 into the page in FIG. 10.

The strip 300 includes an anchoring portion 308 and one or more substrate segments 310, 312, 314, 316. If there is more than one segment, the segments can extend in a row of the segments away from the anchoring portion 308. In some examples, the segments are of identical construction. Each segment, such as the segment 312, includes a securing portion 318 and a neck portion 320. The neck portion 320 is narrower than the securing portion 318 parallel to the axis 303. The axis 303 is perpendicular to the axis 302 and perpendicular to the thickness dimension of the strip 300.

In some examples, each neck portion 320 includes one or more steps 322 that can define one or more notches 324, 326.

The anchoring portion 308 is configured to anchor a bottom portion of the strip 300 to a portion of the assembly 200 to which the trays 208 are to be secured. Thus, for example, the anchoring portion 308 is configured to anchor the strip 300 to the basket 206. In this example, the anchoring portion 308 includes one or more holes 330. The holes 330 can receive anchors, such as tie wraps, which can be wrapped around a portion of the basket 206 (e.g., through slots in a wall of the basket) to anchor the strip 300 to the basket 206. Other ways of anchoring the strip to the basket or another assembly piece are possible.

In some examples, the number of segments can match the number of trays in the stack. Thus, for example, the longitudinal length of the strip 300 along the axis 302 can be selected according to the number of trays to be secured. In some examples, the strip can include more segments than trays. In some examples, there is only one segment that is positioned on the strip to interface with the strip receiver 250 of the uppermost tray 208 of the stack.

As shown in FIGS. 4-5, once the anchoring portion 308 of the strip is anchored, e.g., to the basket 206, the top segment (in this example, the segment 316) can be grasped (e.g., the securing portion of the segment 316 can be grasped) and made to engage with the strip receiver 250 of the uppermost tray 208 of the stack 222.

To engage the strip receiver 250, the neck portion of the segment 316 is passed through the gap 264 between the hooks 260 into the slot 266, and the strip 300 is released, causing the strip to resiliently recoil slightly until surfaces 340 or 342 of the segment 316 that are defined by the neck portion of the segment 316 abut and engage the hooks 260 or other solid portions of the strip receiver 250 that define extremes of the slot 266.

The width parallel to the axis 303 of the strip 300 at the surfaces 340 or at the surface 352 can be wider than the corresponding width of the slot 266, which stops the securing portion of the segment 316 from passing through the slot 266 and thereby disengaging from the strip receiver 250. Thus, by having the stepped configuration in the neck portion, strip receivers of different dimensions can be accommodated, with, e.g., the surfaces 342 engaging a strip receiver with a relatively narrow slot, and the surfaces 340 engaging a strip receiver with a relatively wide slot.

With the strip 300 so engaged with the strip receiver 250 of the uppermost tray 208 of the stack 222, the stack 222 is secured to the basket 206, minimizing unwanted pivoting of a tray relative to the basket.

To release the trays and allow them to pivot, the strip 300 is grasped (e.g., at the segment 316) and pulled along its longitudinal axis 302 until a narrow enough portion of the neck portion of the segment 316 finds the gap 264, allowing the strip 300 to be pulled through the gap 264 to release the tray and allow it to pivot.

As shown in FIG. 5, securing only the uppermost tray 208 with the strip 300 by engaging the strip receiver 250 of the uppermost tray only with the strip 300 can be sufficient to secure the entire stack 222. Alternatively, the uppermost tray and one or more other trays of the stack can be secured, as shown in FIG. 4, with different segments of the strip engaging the strip receivers of the different trays in the same manner as just described for the uppermost tray.

It should be appreciated that the tray securing principles described herein can be applied to a stack of any number of trays, including a stack of one tray, or more than one tray.

Because the strip 300 does not to need to wrap fully around the trays in order to secure them, the strip 300 can be, advantageously, a relatively short, small component that is also easier to install and remove than a wrap-around strap. In addition, the strip 300 can be cut to length easily due to its segmented structure. For example, the number of segments needed may be only as many as the number of trays being stacked in a given application.

Referring to FIGS. 11-17, the assembly 400 will be described. The assembly 400 can mount to the base piece 164 as described above. The assembly 400 can be positioned in a closure volume such as the closure volume of the closure 20.

The assembly 400 extends along a first axis 401 from a front end 407 to a back end 409 of the assembly. The assembly 400 extends along a second axis 403 from a top 411 to a bottom 413 of the assembly. The assembly 400 extends along a third axis 405 from a left side 415 to a right side 417 of the assembly. The axes 401, 403 and 405 are mutually perpendicular.

The assembly 400 includes the pieces 202 and 204 as described above.

The assembly 400 includes a fiber loop storage basket 406. The basket 406 can be integrally formed (e.g., as a seamless, unitary construction) with the piece 204. Alternatively, the basket 406 can be separately formed and snap-connected to the piece 204. Features of the basket 406 are similar or identical to that of the basket 206, except for the portion of the basket that receives the securing strip. For example, the basket 406 includes a main surface and walls 410 that define a basket volume for storing loops and/or partial loops of optical fibers. Fibers stored in the basket 406 can be used for future optical connections. In addition, or alternatively, the basket 406 can store slack of fibers of current optical connections. Fibers can enter the basket volume via one or more entryways defined by the walls 410. Fiber retainers are adjustably mounted to the walls 410 to help retain looped optical fibers within the basket volume. The retainers can be adjusted up or down depending on the volume and/or number of fibers in the basket volume.

The assembly 400 also include a support structure that pivotally supports fiber management trays. In this example, the support structure is a tower 214. The support structure can be mounted to another structure of the assembly. The receivers of the tower 214 are arranged along an axis that is oblique to the axis 401 in the assembly 400, which allows the fiber management trays 408 to stack flat upon one another in a stack 422 when the trays 408 are pivoted down, as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, the stack 422 defines a stacking axis for the trays 408 that is parallel to the axis 403.

Each tray 408 has features identical or similar to those of the tray 208 described above, except for the portion of the tray that receives the securing strip.

The trays 408 are pivotally coupled to the tower 214. Thus, for example, each tray 408, when not locked in the pivoted down configuration by the securing strip, can be pivoted up along the direction of the arrow 444 about the pivot axis defined by the longitudinal dimension of the coupling element. By pivoting up a tray 408, access can be provided to the tray 408 below it in the stack. Then, to access the tray volume of the tray being accessed (e.g., to perform fiber management on the tray), the tray cover 446 is removed.

The number and size of the trays in a given stack can vary from closure to closure, and from fiber management application to fiber management application.

When the trays 408 are not being worked on by a technician, it can be important to lock or otherwise secure the stack 422 of trays 408 in the pivoted down position to protect the optical fibers and other delicate components of the assembly. For example, the stack of trays should be locked or otherwise secured to the basket 406 (or to another component (also referred to herein as piece) of the assembly) when storing the assembly in a closure such that, for example, when the assembly is removed from the closure, a tray does not accidentally pivot and thereby encounter an object that can damage the tray or cause the tray to disengage from the tower and fall. Likewise, it can be important to keep the trays in a locked or otherwise secured stacked configuration when moving the closure around with the assembly inside, as pivoting of a tray in that scenario can cause the tray to damage optical fibers routed in the closure volume.

The assembly 400 includes an improved device and system for securing a stack of fiber management trays in a pivoted down position. The system includes a strip 500 and pieces of the assembly that includes anchors 502 to which the strip 500 is anchored to secure the pieces (e.g., a tray and basket, two trays, etc.) to one another.

The strip 500 is formed from a substrate. The strip 500 can be a stamped part, for example, from a pre-formed substate. Alternatively, the strip 500 can be a molded part.

The strip 500 can be more flexible in certain dimensions than others. For example, the strip can be more flexible when it rotates about the axis 503 than when it rotates about another axis.

The strip 500 can be constructed of a thermoplastic polymer or a metal. In some examples, the strip can be constructed of polycarbonate. In other examples, the strip 500 can be constructed of an elastomeric material, such as rubber, silicone, or a material containing rubber and/or silicone.

The strip 500 has an elongate dimension extending along a longitudinal axis 501 of the strip 500 from a top 504 of the strip 500 to a bottom 506 of the strip 500. In some examples, the strip 500 can be a seamless, unitary piece of substrate.

In some examples, the strip 500 can be of uniform thickness, with the thickness being the dimension of the strip 500 into the page in FIG. 17.

The strip 500 includes through holes extending through the substrate, which are fully enclosed openings 510 arranged in a row along the longitudinal dimension of the strip (i.e., along the axis 501). Each opening 510 can be substantially round, or oval (with major and minor diameters), or racetrack shaped (with major and minor diameters).

Each opening 510 has a diameter 512 perpendicular to the axis 501.

Towards each end 504 and 506 of the strip 500 and between the last opening 510 and the corresponding end 504, 506, the strip 500 includes a gripping portion 514. Each gripping portion 514 can include one or more ribs 516 to facilitate gripping of the gripping portion 514.

Each anchor 502 includes a stem 520 and a bulbous portion 522 extending from the stem 520. Each bulbous portion 522 has a largest dimension 524. In some examples, the largest dimension 524 is smaller than the diameter 512. Thus, to secure an opening 510 to an anchor 502, the anchor 502 is passed through the opening 510 at the diameter 512 approximately, and then the strip 500 is shifted along the axis 501 such that the dimension 524 aligns with a dimension of the opening 510 parallel to the diameter 512 but smaller than the diameter 512 and smaller than the dimension 524, such that the bulbous portion 522 anchors the opening 510 of the strip 500. In some examples, upon gripping the strip 500 (e.g., at the gripping portions 514), the strip 500 can be resiliently stretched slightly along the axis 501 until the dimensions 524 of the bulbous portions 522 of the anchors 502 are aligned with the diameters 512, allowing the bulbous portions to enter the openings. Then, the strip 500 is released, causing the strip to shift and/or resiliently shrink along the axis 501 such that the dimensions 524 align with dimensions of the openings 510 parallel to the diameters 512 but smaller than the diameters 512 and smaller than the dimensions 524, such that the bulbous portions 522 anchor the openings 510 of the strip 500.

To unlock the trays from another piece (e.g., a basket or another tray), the strip can be grasped again and pulled along the axis 501 until the dimensions 524 of the bulbous portions 522 of the anchors 502 are again aligned with the diameters 512, allowing the bulbous portions to pass through the openings to remove the strip 500 from the anchors 502.

In some examples the anchor 502 of a tray 408 can be integrally formed with the front wall 433 of the tray. The anchor 502 of the tray 408 can be positioned at a farthest point of the tray from the pivot axis of that tray. That is, the anchor 502 of the tray 408 can be positioned at a location on the tray that defines the longest or substantially longest moment arm of the tray about its pivot axis with the tray support structure. This positioning of the anchor 502 can maximize the securing system’s ability to counteract torque generated by the tray when tending to pivot.

In the example assembly 400, the piece to which the trays 408 are secured is a basket 406. In addition to including anchors 502 for anchoring the strip 500 to the basket 406, the basket 406 also includes a recessed channel 530 and retaining tabs 532. The basket’s anchors 502 extend from a surface 540 of the recessed channel 530. The tabs 532 are positioned to retain a portion of the strip 500 above the tabs 532 and within the recessed channel 530. Together, the recessed channel 530, the tabs 532, and the anchors 502 form a strip anchoring arrangement of the basket 406. The strip 500 is inserted in the channel 530 (e.g., by sliding it above both tabs 532, or above one tab and then the other tab via the gap between the tabs 532). In addition, the strip 500 is anchored to the anchors 502 of the basket 406 (in the manner already described) and flexed around the wall 410 of the basket 406 to engage the anchors 502 of one or more of the trays 408, to thereby inhibit pivoting of the trays relative to the basket. That is, with the strip 500 engaged with one or more trays 408 and the basket 406, at least a portion of the stack 422 is secured to the basket 406, minimizing unwanted pivoting of a tray relative to the basket.

One or more trays can be allowed to pivot while others are not allowed to pivot, depending on which tray’s or trays’ anchors are engaged by the strip 500. For example, if the outermost tray in the stack is not anchored by the strip 500, but the adjacent tray is anchored by the strip, then the outermost tray will be free to pivot relative to the basket 406, whereas the remaining trays will be inhibited from pivoting relative to the basket 406.

The outermost tray that is anchored can dictate how many of the trays can pivot relative to the basket 406 (or other piece) regardless of whether any other trays are anchored. For example, anchoring a single tray can effectively stop pivoting of the anchored tray as well as all other trays between the anchored tray and the basket 406. In other examples, more than one of the trays in the stack can be anchored by the strip.

Because the strip 500 does not to need to wrap fully around the trays in order to secure them, the strip 500 can be, advantageously, a relatively short, small component that is also easier to install and remove than a wrap-around strap. In addition, the strip 500 can be cut to length easily depending on the number of trays or size of the assembly being secured.

Referring to FIG. 18, the assembly 600 includes the piece 204 to which two towers are mounted on opposite sides. To each tower is mounted one or more fiber management trays 408. Thus, the assembly 600 does not include a fiber loop storage basket, and does include multiple stacks of pivoting trays, each stack having at least one pivoting tray. The two stacks of trays are pivotally mounted to their respective towers to pivot in opposite directions relative to their stacked configurations. For example, the trays of the stack 602 are configured to pivot in the direction of the arrow 604 and the trays of the stack 606 are configured to pivot in the direction of the arrow 608, which is opposite the direction of the arrow 604. In this configuration, the fully enclosed openings of the strip 500 are used to engage the anchor 502 of at least one of the trays 408 of the stack 602 and the anchor 502 of at least one of the trays 408 of the stack 606, to inhibit pivoting of the trays in each stack away from the trays of the other stack, and thereby secure the trays together. Thus, in this example, the piece to which a tray is secured against pivoting is another tray, rather than a basket.

According to further examples, the strip 500 can be constructed of flexibly resilient (e.g., elastomeric material). In such examples, the diameter of each fully enclosed opening, when the strip 500 is in a relaxed state, need not be larger than the largest dimension of the bulbous portion of the anchor. Rather, the strip 500 can be stretched from its relaxed state to cause the opening to resiliently stretch and expand sufficiently to pass over the bulbous portion. Once the strip 500 is released, the opening then resiliently contracts to engage the anchor. In some examples, the surface of the bulbous portion itself can be used to cause the opening to stretch. Removal of the strip can be performed in a similar manner.

Various modifications and alterations of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure, and it should be understood that the scope of this disclosure is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative examples set forth herein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a piece; a pivotally mounted fiber management tray, the tray including a strip receiver; and a strip of a substrate, the strip including: an anchoring portion configured to anchor the strip to the piece; and a segment including a securing portion and a neck portion, wherein the securing portion is dimensioned to securely engage the strip receiver to secure the segment to the fiber management tray and inhibit pivoting of the tray; and wherein the neck portion is dimensioned to disengage the strip from the strip receiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the strip includes a plurality of the segments extending in a row of the segments away from the anchoring portion.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the segments are of identical construction.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of the pivotally mounted trays.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each segment securely engages the strip receiver of a different one of the trays.

6. The system of any of claims 4-5, wherein a total number of the trays is equal to a total number of the segments.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the trays are arranged in a stack; and wherein only the strip receiver of an uppermost of the trays of the stack is securely engaged by the strip.

8. The system of any of claims 1-7, wherein the strip receiver is located at a location that defines a longest moment arm of the tray.

9. The system of claim any of claims 1-8, wherein the strip receiver includes a pair of hooks defining a gap between free ends of the hooks, the hooks further defining a slot between the hooks and a portion of a wall of the tray.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a dimension of the securing portion is wider than a largest dimension of the slot, and wherein a corresponding dimension of the neck portion is narrower than the widest dimension of the slot.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the corresponding dimension of the neck portion is narrower than the gap.

12. The system of any of claims 1-11, wherein the neck portion includes steps that define notches.

13. The system of any of claims 1-12, wherein the anchoring portion includes a hole configured to receive an anchor.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising the anchor, wherein the anchor includes a tie wrap.

15. The system of any of claims 1-14, wherein the piece includes a fiber loop storage basket.

16. The system of any of claims 1-15, wherein the support structure includes a tower.

17. A telecommunications closure, comprising: housing pieces defining a sealable and re-enterable closure volume; the system of any of claims 1-16 positioned in the closure volume; and fiber optic cables entering the closure volume and including optical fibers managed on the fiber management tray.

18. A device for securing a fiber management tray of an optical fiber management assembly, comprising: a strip of a substrate, the strip including: an anchoring portion configured to anchor the strip; and a segment including a securing portion and a neck portion that is narrower than the securing portion, wherein the securing portion is dimensioned to securely engage a strip receiver of the tray; and wherein the neck portion is dimensioned to disengage the strip from the strip receiver of the tray.

19. A method of securing a fiber management tray, comprising: providing a strip of a substrate, the strip including: an anchoring portion configured to anchor the strip; and a segment including a securing portion and a neck portion that is narrower than the securing portion; anchoring the anchoring portion to a piece; grasping the securing portion; pulling the securing portion in a direction away from the anchoring portion; passing the neck portion through a gap between two hooks of a strip receiver of the tray; and releasing the securing portion such that the securing portion engages the strip receiver.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising; disengaging the strip from the tray by: grasping the securing portion again; pulling the securing portion again in a direction away from the anchoring portion; and passing the neck portion through the gap again.

21. The system of any of claims 1-14, wherein the piece includes another fiber management tray.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the another fiber management tray is mounted to pivot in an opposite direction of the fiber management tray relative to a stacked configuration of the fiber management tray and the another fiber management tray.

23. A system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a piece; a pivotally mounted fiber management tray, the fiber management tray including a strip receiver; and a strip of a substrate, the strip including: an anchoring portion configured to anchor the strip to the piece; and a coupler configured to securely engage the strip receiver.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the strip receiver is located at a location that defines a longest moment arm of the fiber management tray.

25. The system of any of claims 23-24, wherein the coupler includes a fully enclosed opening and the strip receiver includes a structure having a stem and a bulbous portion protruding from the stem, the bulbous portion passing through the fully enclosed opening to securely engage the strip receiver to the fiber management tray.

26. The system of any of claims 23-25, wherein the anchoring portion includes a hole configured to couple to an anchor.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the hole is a fully enclosed opening, and wherein the anchor includes a structure having a stem and a bulbous portion protruding from the stem, the structure being configured to receive the fully enclosed opening.

28. The system of any of claims 23-27, wherein the piece is a fiber loop storage basket.

29. The system of any of claims 23-27, wherein the piece includes another fiber management tray mounted to pivot in an opposite direction of the fiber management tray relative to a stacked configuration of the fiber management tray and the another fiber management tray.

30. A device for securing a fiber management tray of an optical fiber management assembly, comprising: a strip of a substrate, the strip including fully enclosed substantially round openings arranged in a row along a longitudinal dimension of the strip, each fully enclosed opening configured to securely engage an anchor of a fiber management tray, the anchor including a stem and a bulbous portion protruding from the stem.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the strip is stamped from a preformed substrate.

32. The device of any of claims 30-31, wherein the strip includes a finger grip between one of the fully enclosed openings and a longitudinal end of the strip, the finger grip including a rib.

33. A system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a piece including a first anchor; a pivotally mounted fiber management tray, the fiber management tray including a second anchor, each of the first anchor and the second anchor including a stem and a bulbous portion protruding from the stem; and a strip of a substrate for securing the fiber management tray to the piece, the strip including fully enclosed openings arranged in a row along a longitudinal dimension of the strip, one of the fully enclosed openings being configured to securely engage the first anchor, another of the fully enclosed openings being configured to securely engage the second anchor, a diameter of each of the fully enclosed openings being larger than a largest dimension of the bulbous portion of each of the first anchor and the second anchor, another dimension of each of the fully enclosed openings parallel to the diameter being smaller than the largest dimension of the bulbous portion of each the first anchor and of the second anchor.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the second anchor is located at a location that defines a longest moment arm of the fiber management tray.

35. The system of any of claims 33-34, wherein the piece is a fiber loop storage basket.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the fiber loop storage basket includes a recessed channel that receives a portion of the strip and at least one retention tab that retains the portion of the strip in the recessed channel.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first anchor extends from a surface of the recessed channel.

38. The system of any of claims 33-34, wherein the piece includes another fiber management tray mounted to pivot in an opposite direction of the fiber management tray relative to a stacked configuration of the fiber management tray and the another fiber management tray.

39. The system of any of claims 33-38, wherein the fully enclosed openings are substantially round.

40. A method of securing a fiber management tray to a piece, comprising: providing a strip of a substrate, the strip including fully enclosed openings arranged in a row along a longitudinal dimension of the strip; anchoring a first of the fully enclosed openings to a first anchor of the piece by passing a portion of the first anchor through the first of the fully enclosed openings and then shifting the strip so that the strip securely engages the first anchor; and anchoring a second of the fully enclosed openings to a second anchor of the fiber management tray by passing a portion of the second anchor through the second of the fully enclosed and then shifting the strip so that the strip securely engages the second anchor.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein each shifting is performed by releasing the strip.

42. The method of any of claims 40-41, further comprising; disengaging the strip from the fiber management tray by: grasping the strip; pulling the strip such that a largest dimension of the second anchor aligns with a diameter of the second of the fully enclosed openings; and passing the second anchor through the second of the fully enclosed openings again.

43. A system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a piece including a first anchor; a pivotally mounted fiber management tray, the fiber management tray including a second anchor, each of the first anchor and the second anchor including a stem and a bulbous portion protruding from the stem; and a strip of a substrate for securing the fiber management tray to the piece, the strip including fully enclosed openings arranged in a row along a longitudinal dimension of the strip, one of the fully enclosed openings being configured to securely engage the first anchor, another of the fully enclosed openings being configured to securely engage the second anchor, a diameter of each of the fully enclosed openings being stretchable to be larger than a largest dimension of the bulbous portion of each of the first anchor and the second anchor, another dimension of each of the fully enclosed openings parallel to the diameter being smaller than the largest dimension of the bulbous portion of each the first anchor and of the second anchor.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the second anchor is located at a location that defines a longest moment arm of the fiber management tray.

45. The system of any of claims 43-44, wherein the piece is a fiber loop storage basket.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the fiber loop storage basket includes a recessed channel that receives a portion of the strip and at least one retention tab that retains the portion of the strip in the recessed channel.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the first anchor extends from a surface of the recessed channel.

48. The system of any of claims 43-44, wherein the piece includes another fiber management tray mounted to pivot in an opposite direction of the fiber management tray relative to a stacked configuration of the fiber management tray and the another fiber management tray.

49. The system of any of claims 43-48, wherein the fully enclosed openings are substantially round.

50. A method of securing a fiber management tray to a piece, comprising: providing a strip of a substrate, the strip including fully enclosed openings arranged in a row along a longitudinal dimension of the strip; anchoring a first of the fully enclosed openings to a first anchor of the piece by passing a portion of the first anchor through the first of the fully enclosed openings by stretching the first of the fully enclosed openings and then releasing the strip so that the first of the fully enclosed openings resiliently contracts causing the strip to securely engage the first anchor; and anchoring a second of the fully enclosed openings to a second anchor of the fiber management tray by passing a portion of the second anchor through the second of the fully enclosed openings by stretching the second of the fully enclosed openings and then releasing the strip so that the second of the fully enclosed openings resiliently contracts causing the strip to securely engage the second anchor.

51. A fiber loop storage basket, comprising: a basket body defining a basket interior and a basket exterior, the basket interior defining a basket volume for storing loops of optical fibers, the basket exterior including a recessed channel recessed towards the basket volume and configured to receive a portion of a strip, and at least one retention tab positioned at the recessed channel and configured to retain the portion of the strip in the recessed channel to secure the strip to the fiber loop storage basket.

52. The fiber loop storage basket of claim 51, including two of the at least one tab having free ends spaced apart from each other.