IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,073,672
Granted Patent B2
US 11,073,672 · App. 16/935,907 · Granted Jul 27, 2021

Slidable telecommunications tray with cable slack management

Inventors: Brent Campbell (Minneapolis, MN); Ryan Kostecka (Waconia, MN); Paula Lockhart (New Prague, MN); Scott C. Sievers (Jordan, MN); Dustin Tichy (Otsego, MN); Gregory J. Schaible (Lakeville, MN); Jonathan T. Lawson (Cottage Grove, MN); Oscar Fernando Bran de León (Belle Plaine, MN)
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
G02B6/4452G02B6/428G02B6/4453G02B6/4455G02B6/4478G02B6/00G02B6/3897G02B6/4461
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,073,672
App. No.
16/935,907
Filed
Jul 22, 2020
Granted
Jul 27, 2021
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2874
USPC
385/135
Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications device includes a rack for mounting a plurality of chassis, each chassis including a plurality of trays slidably mounted thereon and arranged in a vertically stacked arrangement. Each tray includes fiber optic connection locations and a cable manager coupled to the tray and also coupled to the chassis, the cable manager for routing cables to and from the fiber optic connection locations and defining a plurality of link arms pivotally connected such that the manager retracts and extends with a corresponding movement of the tray, wherein the link arms pivot relative to each other to prevent cables managed therein from being bent in an arc having a radius of curvature less than a predetermined value, each link arm defining a top wall, a bottom wall, and two oppositely positioned sidewalls, each link arm defining an open portion along at least one of the sidewalls and an open portion along the top wall for receiving cables therein, the open portions along the top wall and the at least one of the sidewalls communicating with each other.

Claims (16)

1. A fiber optic telecommunications device comprising:

a telecommunications frame;

a plurality of fiber optic trays slidably mounted to the telecommunications frame in a vertically stacked arrangement, wherein the plurality of fiber optic trays includes at least three slidable fiber optic trays arranged on a right side of the telecommunications frame and at least three slidable fiber optic trays arranged on a left side of the frame that are horizontally aligned with the at least three fiber optic trays on the right side of the frame, wherein the at least three slidable fiber optic trays arranged in the vertically stacked arrangement on both the right and left sides of the frame fit within a 1RU of standard telecommunications rack space, each fiber optic tray slidable between a closed storage position and an open access position, each fiber optic tray including:

fiber optic connection locations for connecting cables to be routed through the telecommunications frame; and

a cable manager coupled at a first end to the fiber optic tray and fixed with respect to the telecommunications frame at a second end, the cable manager configured for routing cables to and from the fiber optic connection locations, the cable manager configured to move with the fiber optic tray to prevent fiber optic cables managed therein from being bent in an arc having a radius of curvature that is less than a predetermined value during the movement of the tray.

2. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1 , wherein each fiber optic tray is mounted with respect to the telecommunications frame via a slide assembly that includes a gear mechanism.

3. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 2 , wherein the slide assembly houses a flexible printed circuit board that flexes as the fiber optic tray moves back and forth, the flexible printed circuit board configured to relay information from the fiber optic connection locations on the fiber optic tray.

4. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 3 , wherein the flexible printed circuit board relays information from the fiber optic connection locations on the fiber optic tray to a central printed circuit board, wherein the connection from the flexible printed circuit board to the central printed circuit board is made through a removable micro printed circuit board that is removably mounted within the slide assembly.

5. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 4 , wherein the micro printed circuit board includes at least one light-emitting diode to identify a particular tray.

6. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications frame includes at least twelve slidable fiber optic trays arranged in a vertically stacked arrangement on each of the right and left sides of the telecommunications frame, the at least twelve slidable fiber optic trays arranged in the vertically stacked arrangement on both the right and left sides of the frame fitting within a 4RU of standard telecommunications rack space.

7. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection locations are defined by fiber optic adapters.

8. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 7 , wherein each adapter includes electrical contacts that are configured to make an electrical connection with a fiber optic connector inserted into the adapter, the electrical contacts communicating with a controller that is configured to electrically communicate with a connector mounted on the telecommunications frame.

9. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 7 , wherein the fiber optic adapters are mounted to the trays with a snap-fit interlock.

10. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 7 , wherein the fiber optic adapters are LC-format adapters.

11. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one pivot door with a spring-loaded latching mechanism for allowing and limiting access to the plurality of fiber optic trays slidably mounted to the telecommunications frame.

12. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fiber optic trays are removable from the telecommunications frame via a flexible lever.

Assignments (12)
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 058843/0712 Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA); COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 074591/0389 →
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 058875/0449 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 069743/0057 →
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 →
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 Nov 15, 2021
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058875/0449 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058843/0712 →
Continuity (10)
Continuation 16273691 · Feb 12, 2019
Continuation 15802083 · Nov 2, 2017
Continuation 15363016 · Nov 29, 2016
Continuation 14830009 · Aug 19, 2015
Continuation 14169941 · Jan 31, 2014
Provisional Application 61843977 · Jul 9, 2013
Provisional Application 61843744 · Jul 8, 2013
Provisional Application 61763347 · Feb 11, 2013
Provisional Application 61761009 · Feb 5, 2013
Related Publication 20210003799A1 · Jan 7, 2021