Granted Patent B2

US 8,861,919 · App. 13/397,884 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Abstract

Claims (17)

1. A method for retrofitting a splice closure, the splice closure including a dome mounted to a base, the base defining a plurality of cable pass-through ports, the method comprising:

removing the dome from the base; and

mounting an expansion component between the dome and the base, the expansion component including a collar secured between the dome and the base, the collar extending around a central axis that extends along a length of the splice closure, the expansion component also including a first expansion housing positioned outside the collar in a radial direction relative to the central axis, the first expansion housing having an interior region in communication with an interior of the collar, the first expansion housing including a first adapter mounting wall defining a plurality of first adapter mounting openings in which a plurality of first fiber optic adapters are mounted, the first fiber optic adapters including first connector ports adapted for receiving connectors from outside the first expansion housing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base defines a first outwardly facing surface through which the cable pass-through ports are defined, and wherein the first adapter mounting wall defines a second outwardly facing surface through which the first adapter mounting openings are defined, and wherein the first and second outwardly facing surfaces face in generally the same direction.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first adapter mounting openings are spaced along a curved path that curves about a circumferential boundary defined by an outer surface of the dome.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first adapter mounting openings are spaced along a curved path that curves about the central axis.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expansion component is mounted between the base and the dome by clamping an upper end of the collar to the dome and by clamping a lower end of the collar to the base.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expansion component also includes a second expansion housing positioned outside the collar in a radial direction relative to the central axis, the second expansion housing being positioned on an opposite side of the collar as compared to the first expansion housing, the second expansion housing having an interior region in communication with the interior of the collar, the second expansion housing including a second adapter mounting wall defining a plurality of second adapter mounting openings in which a plurality of second fiber optic adapters are mounted, the second fiber optic adapters including second connector ports adapted for receiving connectors from outside the second expansion housing.

7. A method for retrofitting a splice closure, the splice closure including a dome mounted to a base, the base defining a plurality of cable pass-through ports, the method comprising:

removing the dome from the base; and

mounting an expansion component between the dome and the base, the expansion component including a structure for increasing a service capacity of the enclosure.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of an optical power splitter and a wavelength splitting/dividing structure.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the expansion component includes a splice tray.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the expansion component includes a plurality of fiber optic adapters.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fiber optic adapters have ports that are accessible from outside the splice closure.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the expansion component includes a splice tray.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the expansion component includes a flanged collar that mounts between the dome and the base.

Assignments (15)