IP Library Granted Patent US 10,247,886
Granted Patent B2
US 10,247,886 · App. 15/533,837 · Granted Apr 2, 2019

Fiber optic cable slack management module

Inventors: Paula Rudenick (Jordan, MN); Brent Campbell (Minneapolis, MN); James J. Solheid (Lakeville, MN); Duane R. Sand (Annandale, MN)
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
G02B6/3825G02B6/3874G02B6/3893G02B6/4452G02B6/4457H01R13/72G02B6/3897G02B6/4453
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,247,886
App. No.
15/533,837
Granted
Apr 2, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fiber optic cable slack management module includes a base defining a first cable management spool, an outer face of which is configured to contact cables when cables are pulled away from the base and a second cable management spool, within which the first cable management spool is located. An inner face of the second cable management spool is configured to contact cables when cables are in a relaxed, non-pulled state. The fiber optic cable slack management module defines a cable exit adjacent the first cable management spool and defined at least partially by the inner face of the second cable management spool, the cable exit defined by a channel positioned between the first and second cable management spools.

Claims (26)

1. A fiber optic cable slack management module comprising:

a base defining a first cable management spool, an outer face of which is configured to contact cables when cables are pulled away from the base;

a second cable management spool, within which the first cable management spool is located, wherein an inner face of the second cable management spool is configured to contact cables when cables are in a relaxed, non-pulled state, wherein the fiber optic cable slack management module defines a cable exit adjacent the first cable management spool and defined at least partially by the inner face of the second cable management spool, the cable exit defined by a channel positioned between the first and second cable management spools; and

a plurality of removable trays mounted to the base in a stacked configuration, each of the trays configured for managing cables, wherein an outer peripheral wall of each tray defines the second cable management spool.

2. A fiber optic cable slack management module according to claim 1 , wherein fibers entering the base along a common plane are directed to multiple different levels provided by the trays via ramps.

3. A fiber optic cable slack management module according to claim 1 , further comprising two of the trays.

4. A fiber optic cable slack management module according to claim 1 , wherein an input for the cable slack management module is defined by a fiber optic fan-out.

5. A fiber optic cable slack management module according to claim 4 , wherein the input is defined at a rear of the base and the cable exit is defined at a front of the base, wherein the input and the cable exit are generally aligned along a right to left direction.

6. A fiber optic cable slack management module according to claim 1 , wherein each tray defines a smooth, flush ceiling so as to allow unobstructed movement of the cables between the relaxed, non-pulled state and a pulled state.

7. A fiber optic cable slack management module according to claim 6 , wherein each tray defines cable retention fingers extending inwardly from the outer peripheral wall, the retention fingers fitting within notches defined by a cover for each tray so as to define the smooth, flush ceiling.

8. A fiber optic cable slack management module according to claim 7 , wherein the cover for at least one of the trays is defined by a floor of an adjacent upper tray.

9. A fiber optic cable slack management module according to claim 1 , further comprising snap-fit features for removably mounting to a telecommunications fixture.

10. A fiber optic telecommunications system comprising:

a telecommunications chassis including at least one movable adapter module mounted to the chassis;

at least one cable slack management module mounted to the chassis adjacent the at least one adapter module, the cable slack management module configured to manage cables extending from fiber optic connectors coupled to adapters of the adapter module, the at least one cable slack management module comprising:

a base defining a first cable management spool, an outer face of which is configured to contact cables when cables are pulled away from the base;

a second cable management spool, within which the first cable management spool is located, wherein an inner face of the second cable management spool is configured to contact cables when cables are in a relaxed, non-pulled state, wherein the fiber optic cable slack management module defines a cable exit adjacent the first cable management spool and defined at least partially by the inner face of the second cable management spool, the cable exit defined by a channel positioned between the first and second cable management spools; and

a plurality of removable trays mounted to the base in a stacked configuration, each of the trays configured for managing cables, wherein an outer peripheral wall of each tray defines the second cable management spool.

11. A fiber optic telecommunications system according to claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of the cable slack management modules mounted to the chassis in a stacked arrangement.

12. A fiber optic telecommunications system according to claim 10 , wherein the chassis includes one cable slack management module for every two movable adapter modules.

13. A fiber optic telecommunications system according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one movable adapter module includes LC format fiber optic adapters.

14. A fiber optic telecommunications system according to claim 10 , wherein an input for the cable slack management module is defined by a fiber optic fan-out that separates ribbonized fibers into individual cabled fibers leading to the fiber optic connectors coupled to the adapters of the adapter module.

15. A fiber optic telecommunications system according to claim 10 , wherein fibers entering the base along a common plane are directed to multiple different levels provided by the trays via ramps.

16. A fiber optic telecommunications system according claim 10 , wherein each cable slack management module includes two of the trays.

17. A fiber optic telecommunications system according to claim 10 , wherein each tray defines a smooth, flush ceiling so as to allow unobstructed movement of the cables between the relaxed, non-pulled state and a pulled state.

18. A fiber optic telecommunications system according to claim 17 , wherein each tray defines cable retention fingers extending inwardly from the outer peripheral wall, the retention fingers fitting within notches defined by a cover for each tray so as to define the smooth, flush ceiling.

Assignments (9)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2017
From: RUDENICK, PAULA; CAMPBELL, BRENT; SOLHEID, JAMES J.; SAND, DUANE R.
To: ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 042637/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2017
From: ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: TYCO ELECTRONICS SERVICES GMBH
Reel/Frame 042637/0628 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2017
From: COMMSCOPE EMEA LIMITED
To: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 042720/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2017
From: TYCO ELECTRONICS SERVICES GMBH
To: COMMSCOPE EMEA LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042717/0001 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62090203 · Dec 10, 2014
Related Publication 20170371107A1 · Dec 28, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,487,424 US 12,585,070