IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,057,860
Granted Patent B2
US 9,057,860 · App. 13/743,967 · Granted Jun 16, 2015

Fiber optic enclosure with external cable spool

Inventors: Scott C. Kowalczyk (Savage, MN); Trevor D. Smith (Eden Prairie, MN); Jonathan R. Kaml (Shakopee, MN); Thomas G. LeBlanc (Westminster, MA); Ronald A. Beck (Naples, FL)
Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
G02B6/4471G02B6/3897G02B6/4457G02B6/4466G02B6/46
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,057,860
App. No.
13/743,967
Filed
Jan 17, 2013
Granted
Jun 16, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2883
USPC
385/135
Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications device includes an enclosure defining an interior. A first fiber optic adapter is provided at the enclosure. A spool is provided at an exterior of the enclosure. A fiber optic cable, which includes a first optical fiber, is wrapped around the spool. A first fiber optic connector is mounted at a first end of the first optical fiber. The first end of the first optical fiber is positioned within the interior of the enclosure. The first fiber optic connector is inserted within the first fiber optic adapter. The enclosure and the spool are configured to rotate in unison about a common axis when the fiber optic cable is unwound from the spool.

Claims (33)

1. A fiber optic enclosure assembly comprising:

an enclosure adapted to optically connect incoming fibers to outgoing fibers, the enclosure defining a cable passage extending through a base of the enclosure from an external surface of the base to an internal surface of the base;

a cable spool carried with the base external of the enclosure;

a fiber optic cable disposed about the cable spool, the fiber optic cable including the incoming fibers, portions of the incoming fibers being routed into the enclosure through the cable passage; and

a mounting assembly rotationally engaged with the cable spool such that the cable spool selectively rotates about an axis of the mounting assembly, wherein the mounting assembly includes a bearing assembly and is adapted for engagement with a mounting location, wherein the enclosure and the cable spool selectively and unitarily rotate about the axis of the mounting assembly to deploy the fiber optic cable from the cable spool.

2. A fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cable spool is integrally formed with the enclosure.

3. A fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a cable strain relief that secures a portion of the fiber optic cable to the cable spool.

4. A fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of adapters that connect the incoming fibers to the outgoing fibers.

5. The fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of sidewalls coupled to the base.

6. The fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly includes a ring member having an inner bore and a puck member disposed within the inner bore of the ring member.

7. The fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the inner bore of the ring member includes a first surface, an oppositely disposed second surface, and a bearing surface with the bearing surface being disposed at an angle from the second surface that is less than or equal to about 90 degrees.

8. The fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the puck member includes a first end surface, an oppositely disposed second end surface, and a mating bearing surface with the mating bearing surface being disposed at an angle from the second end surface that is less than or equal to about 90 degrees.

9. The fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly includes a first plate and a second plate, each of the first and second plates defining a central hole having a central axis, the first and second plates being connectedly engaged through a bearing to allow the second plate to rotate about the central axis when the first plate is fixed.

10. The fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein one of the plates is engaged with the cable spool and the other of the plates is engaged with a mounting plate.

11. A fiber optic enclosure for enclosing optical components comprising:

an enclosure including a plurality of optical adapters to optically connect incoming fibers to outgoing fibers;

a cable spool carried with the enclosure and disposed external of the enclosure;

an optical fiber cable coiled about the cable spool, the optical fiber cable including an optical fiber routed into the enclosure; and

a mounting assembly rotationally engaged with the cable spool such that the cable spool selectively rotates about an axis of the mounting assembly, wherein the mounting assembly includes a bearing assembly and is adapted for engagement with a mounting location;

wherein the enclosure and the cable spool assembly selectively and unitarily rotate about the axis of the mounting assembly to deploy the optical fiber cable.

12. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the mounting location is an upright wall.

13. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the bearing assembly includes a ring member having an inner bore and a puck member disposed within the inner bore of the ring member.

14. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the inner bore of the ring member includes a first surface, an oppositely disposed second surface, and a bearing surface with the bearing surface being disposed at an angle from the second surface that is less than or equal to about 90 degrees.

15. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the puck member includes a first end surface, an oppositely disposed second end surface, and a mating bearing surface with the mating bearing surface being disposed at an angle from the second end surface that is less than or equal to about 90 degrees.

16. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 13 , wherein silicon grease is disposed between the puck member and the inner bore of the ring member.

17. The fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a length of the enclosure extends across at least a majority of a cross-dimension of the cable spool.

18. The fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 17 , wherein a width of the enclosure extends across at least a majority of the cross-dimension of the cable spool.

19. The fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a first axial end of the cable spool defines a closed-ended passage that aligns with the cable passage.

20. The fiber optic enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cable spool includes a drum portion extending between first and second axial ends, wherein the first axial end of the drum portion is coupled to a first flange and the second axial end of the drum portion is coupled to a second flange.

21. The fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 11 , wherein a length of the enclosure extends across at least a majority of a cross-dimension of the cable spool.

22. The fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 21 , wherein a width of the enclosure extends across at least a majority of the cross-dimension of the cable spool.

23. The fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 11 , wherein a first axial end of the cable spool defines a closed-ended passage that aligns with the cable passage.

24. The fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the cable spool includes a drum portion extending between first and second axial ends, wherein the first axial end of the drum portion is coupled to a first flange and the second axial end of the drum portion is coupled to a second flange.

Assignments (14)
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 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 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 →
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 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049892/0051 →
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 (ABL) Recorded Jan 13, 2016
From: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037514/0196 →
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 →
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.; KAML, JONATHAN; LEBLANC, THOMAS G.; BECK, RONALD A.; SMITH, TREVOR D.
To: ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 036660/0899 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 13348133 · Jan 11, 2012
Continuation 12715855 · Mar 2, 2010
Continuation 12113786 · May 1, 2008
Provisional Application 60916495 · May 7, 2007
Provisional Application 60954210 · Aug 6, 2007
Provisional Application 61037223 · Mar 17, 2008
Related Publication 20130170811A1 · Jul 4, 2013