Fiber optic termination system with retention mechanism

1. A modular fiber optic system comprising:

(a) a plurality of fiber optic modules, each fiber optic module including:

(1) a module housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, the major sides interconnected by two spaced-apart minor sides, extending parallel to one another, the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing, the front end being open and defined by edges of the two major sides;

(2) a front flange on opposite sides of the front end;

(3) two side flanges;

(4) a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the front end of the module housing;

(5) a fiber optic coupler mounted within the module housing;

(6) cables connecting the fiber optic adapters and the fiber optic coupler;

(b) a chassis housing including:

(1) first and second spaced apart ends, and first and second spaced apart sides extending between the ends to define an interior, the chassis housing defining an open front, the first and second ends extending generally horizontally, the first and second sides extending generally vertically;

(2) a plurality of longitudinal guides positioned in the interior of the chassis housing for slideably receiving the side flanges of the fiber optic modules through the open front; and

(c) a retention mechanism for retaining each fiber optic module with the chassis housing when each fiber optic module is partially removed from the interior of the chassis housing through the open front, the retention mechanism including at least a first spring-biased ball plunger, the first spring-biased ball plunger being configured to exert a retention force on one of the fiber optic modules to retain the fiber optic module in a partially removed position with respect to the chassis housing against a force sufficient to remove a fiber optic connector from one of the adapters mounted to the front end of the module housing of the fiber optic module.

2. The modular fiber optic system of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the chassis housing includes a vertical array of extensions for supporting cables extending toward the open front.

3. The modular fiber optic system of claim 1 , further comprising a lock for locking the front flanges of the fiber optic modules to the chassis housing when the fiber optic modules are fully inserted in the chassis housing.

4. The modular fiber optic system of claim 3 , wherein the chassis housing defines a corresponding opening for each fiber optic module, each opening being sized and configured to receive the lock for locking each fiber optic module to the chassis housing.

5. The modular fiber optic system of claim 1 , wherein one of the minor sides of each of the fiber optic modules includes first and second round openings, the first opening positioned further from the rear end than the second opening, each of the first and second openings sized to receive a ball end of the spring-biased ball plunger.

6. The modular fiber optic system of claim 5 , wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening.

7. The modular fiber optic system of claim 1 , wherein each of the major sides includes a plurality of apertures at the front end; and wherein each adapter includes two projections, each projection received in one of the apertures in each of the major sides.

8. The modular fiber optic system of claim 1 , wherein a first one of the major sides of each of the module housings includes a cover portion defining the two side flanges, wherein the first major side further includes a front extension separate from the cover portion which defines the plurality of apertures at the front end, wherein a second one of the major sides and the two minor sides are formed of a single housing construction, and further comprising fasteners for connecting the front extension and the cover portion to the single housing construction.

9. The modular fiber optic system of claim 8 , wherein the front extension is adjustably mounted by the fasteners to the single housing construction, wherein a spacing between the front extension and the second major side is variable.

10. The modular fiber optic system of claim 1 , wherein the open front of the chassis housing is positioned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a rear of the chassis housing.