IP Library Granted Patent US 8,494,334
Granted Patent B2
US 8,494,334 · App. 13/554,607 · Granted Jul 23, 2013

Fiber optic enclosure with tear-away spool

Inventors: Scott C. Kowalczyk (Savage, MN); Trevor D. Smith (Eden Prairie, MN); Jonathan R. Kaml (Shakopee, MN); Thomas G. LeBlanc (Westminster, MA)
Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,494,334
App. No.
13/554,607
Filed
Jul 20, 2012
Granted
Jul 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2874
USPC
385/135
Abstract

A fiber optic enclosure includes a housing and a cable spool assembly disposed on an exterior surface of the housing. The cable spool assembly has a first tear-away end and a second tear-away end. The first and second tear-away ends include at least one area of weakness extending from an inner diameter of the cable spool assembly to an outer diameter of the cable spool assembly. A mounting plate is rotationally engaged with the cable spool assembly such that the cable spool assembly and the housing selectively and unitarily rotate about an axis of the mounting plate.

Claims (25)

1. A fiber optic enclosure for enclosing optical fiber connections comprising:

a housing;

a cable spool assembly disposed at an exterior of the housing, the cable spool assembly being rotationally fixed relative to the housing, the cable spool assembly having a drum portion, a first flange projecting radially outwardly from the drum portion, and a second flange projecting radially outwardly from the drum portion at a location spaced from the first flange, the drum portion defining a bore, each flange including at least one area of weakness for allowing at least part of the flange to be torn away from a remainder of the cable spool assembly;

a mounting plate; and

rotation means for coupling the cable spool assembly and the housing to the mounting plate and for allowing the cable spool assembly and the housing to rotate in unison relative to the mounting plate.

2. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the area of weakness is a perforation.

3. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the area of weakness is a reduced thickness of material.

4. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first flange of the cable spool assembly is in fastened engagement with the external surface of the housing.

5. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a termination module.

6. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the termination module includes a plurality of sliding adapter modules.

7. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the area of weakness of each flange includes a radial area of weakness and a circular area of weakness.

8. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 7 , wherein each flange includes two radial areas of weakness.

9. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second flanges are formed from a plastic material.

10. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein portions of the first and second flanges project radially outwardly from the drum portion beyond an outer perimeter of the housing.

11. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the remainder of the cable spool assembly has an outer diameter that fits within the outer perimeter of the housing.

12. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the areas of weakness enable an entirety of the first flange and an entirety of the second flange to be torn away from the remainder of the cable spool assembly.

13. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a fiber optic cable wrapped about the drum portion of the cable spool assembly.

14. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 13 , wherein a first end of the fiber optic cable is disposed within the housing and a second end of the fiber optic cable is disposed outside of the housing, and wherein at least a portion of the cable extends through an aperture defined in the housing to transition onto the cable spool assembly.

15. A fiber optic enclosure for enclosing optical fiber connections comprising:

a housing holding the optical fiber connections; and

a cable spool assembly disposed at an exterior of the housing, the cable spool assembly being configured to rotate in unison with the optical fiber connections to dispense an optical fiber cable from the cable spool assembly, the cable spool assembly being configured to enable at least part of the cable spool assembly to be removed from the housing.

16. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the optical fiber cable is contained within the housing and terminated at the optical fiber connections.

17. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the cable spool assembly includes a drum portion and a flange projecting outwardly from the drum portion, wherein the area of weakness is located on the flange.

18. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotation means include a spindle assembly.

19. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotation means include a bearing assembly.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 049905/0504 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; RUCKUS WIRELESS, LLC (F/K/A RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 071477/0255 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049892/0051 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049905/0504 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049892/0396 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: REDWOOD SYSTEMS, INC.; ALLEN TELECOM LLC; ANDREW LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 048840/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: REDWOOD SYSTEMS, INC.; ALLEN TELECOM LLC; ANDREW LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 049260/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM) Recorded Jan 13, 2016
From: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037513/0709 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 13, 2016
From: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037514/0196 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2015
From: COMMSCOPE EMEA LIMITED
To: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 037012/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2015
From: TYCO ELECTRONICS SERVICES GMBH
To: COMMSCOPE EMEA LIMITED
Reel/Frame 036956/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2015
From: ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH
To: TYCO ELECTRONICS SERVICES GMBH
Reel/Frame 036908/0443 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2015
From: KOWALCZYK, SCOTT C.; SMITH, TREVOR D.; KAML, JONATHAN R.; LEBLANC, THOMAS G.
To: ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 036660/0930 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 12973154 · Dec 20, 2010
Continuation 12199923 · Aug 28, 2008
Provisional Application 60970185 · Sep 5, 2007
Related Publication 20130044991A1 · Feb 21, 2013