IP Library Granted Patent US 11,726,287
Granted Patent B2
US 11,726,287 · App. 17/533,900 · Granted Aug 15, 2023

Fiber optic splice closure and assemblies

Inventors: Roy Keller Thompson (Apex, NC); Mark Alan Harvell (Lillington, NC); William Alan Carrico (Raleigh, NC)
Assignee: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
G02B6/4455G02B6/4444G02B6/4452
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,726,287
App. No.
17/533,900
Filed
Nov 23, 2021
Granted
Aug 15, 2023
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2874
USPC
385/135
Abstract

Fiber optic splice closures adapted to house a large number of fiber splices. The closure holds a splice assembly including a support frame that supports two stacks of splice trays. The splice assembly can be inverted to access the second stack of splice trays. The support frame can also define one or more fiber organizing areas within the splice closure.

Claims (30)

1. An assembly for a fiber optic splice closure, the assembly extending along an axis from a bottom of the assembly to a top of the assembly, the assembly comprising:

a support frame, the support frame including a plate having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface being perpendicular to the axis, the support frame defining a first fiber organization volume entirely above the upper surface and a second fiber organization volume entirely below the lower surface, the support frame including feet positioned above the upper surface and extending parallel to the upper surface, the first fiber organization volume being partially defined by the feet;

a spine connected to the support frame, the spine defining a plurality of sockets; and

splice trays configured to pivotally mount to the sockets in a stack of the splice trays above the first fiber organization volume and above the second fiber organization volume such that when the splice trays are mounted to the sockets and in pivoted down positions, the stack of the splice trays abuts upward facing surfaces of the feet.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spine is connected to the support frame with an attachment subassembly.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the attachment subassembly includes a platform that attaches to the support frame, and a stem that extends through a through-slot defined by the platform.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second fiber organization volume is partially defined by the lower surface.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the support frame includes other feet positioned below the lower surface and extending parallel to the lower surface.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:

another spine connected to the support frame, the another spine defining a plurality of sockets; and

other splice trays configured to pivotally mount to the sockets of the another spine in a stack of the other splice trays below the second fiber organization volume such that when the other splice trays are mounted to the sockets of the another spine and in pivoted up positions, the stack of the other splice trays abuts downward facing surfaces of the other feet.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the splice trays and the other splice trays are configured to support at least 6,000 optical fiber splices.

8. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the support frame includes first legs extending upward from the upper surface, and a second legs extending downward from the lower surface, the upper surface, the first legs and the feet defining the first fiber organization volume, and the lower surface, the second legs, and the other feet defining the second fiber organization volume.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first fiber organization volume and the second fiber organization volume are back-to-back.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the splice trays include pins that are pivotally received in the sockets.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sockets are not aligned parallel to the axis.

12. A cable closure, comprising:

shell pieces defining an interior volume; and

the assembly of claim 1 positioned in the interior volume.

13. The closure of claim 12 , including at least one optical cable extending into the interior volume, the at least one optical cable including optical fibers, one of the optical fibers being looped and stored in the first fiber organization volume, and another of the optical fibers being looped and stored in the second fiber organization volume.

14. The closure of claim 13 , wherein the at least one optical cable is mounted to the support frame.

15. An assembly for a fiber optic splice closure, the assembly extending along an axis from a bottom of the assembly to a top of the assembly, the assembly comprising:

a support frame, the support frame including a plate having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface being perpendicular to the axis, the support frame defining a first fiber organization volume entirely above the upper surface and a second fiber organization volume entirely below the lower surface, the support frame including feet positioned above the upper surface and extending parallel to the upper surface, the first fiber organization volume being partially defined by the feet;

a spine connected to the support frame, the spine defining a plurality of sockets; and

splice trays having pins pivotally mounted to the sockets in a stack of the splice trays above the first fiber organization volume and above the second fiber organization volume such that when the splice trays are in pivoted down positions, the stack of the splice trays abuts upward facing surfaces of the feet,

wherein the spine is connected to the support frame with an attachment subassembly; and

wherein the sockets are not aligned parallel to the axis.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:

a first optical fiber looped and stored in the first fiber organization volume; and

a second optical fiber looped and stored in the second fiber organization volume.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 059350/0743 Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074594/0156 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 59710/0506 Recorded Jan 9, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074282/0522 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 059350/0921 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 069743/0704 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 059710/0506 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059350/0743 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059350/0921 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16621166
Provisional Application 62520209 · Jun 15, 2017
Related Publication 20220146771A1 · May 12, 2022