IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,573,390
Granted Patent B2
US 11,573,390 · App. 17/238,375 · Granted Feb 7, 2023

Fiber optic enclosure with internal cable spool

Inventors: Scott C. Kowalczyk (Savage, MN); Jonathan Walter Coan (Mayer, MN); Jonathan R. Kaml (Shakopee, MN)
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
G02B6/4457G02B6/3897G02B6/445G02B6/4441G02B6/4446G02B6/4452G02B6/4453G02B6/4454G02B6/4471G02B6/46
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,573,390
App. No.
17/238,375
Filed
Apr 23, 2021
Granted
Feb 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2874
USPC
385/135
Abstract

A fiber optic enclosure assembly includes a housing having an interior region and a bearing mount disposed in the interior region of the housing. A cable spool is connectedly engaged with the bearing mount such that the cable spool selectively rotates within the housing. A termination module disposed on the cable spool so that the termination module rotates in unison with the cable spool. A method of paying out a fiber optic cable from a fiber optic enclosure includes rotating a cable spool, which has a subscriber cable coiled around a spooling portion of the cable spool, about an axis of a housing of the fiber optic enclosure until a desired length of subscriber cable is paid out. A termination module is disposed on the cable spool.

Claims (23)

1. A fiber optic enclosure comprising:

a housing extending along a length between opposite first and second ends, extending along a cross-dimension between opposite first and second sides, and extending along a depth, the housing including a body and a cover, the body defining a rear wall and a peripheral sidewall extending forwardly from the rear wall to define an open side, the cover mounted to the body at the first end of the housing by a hinge defining a pivot axis extending parallel with the cross-dimension of the housing, the cover being movable between a closed position in which the cover extends across the open side and an open position in which the cover provides access to the open side, the housing defining a first sealed cable port at the second end of the housing and facing outwardly from the housing in a first direction;

a spool mounted to the rear wall of the body, the spool being rotatable relative to the housing, the spool being selectively lockable relative to the housing; and

a row of optical adapters mounted to the spool to rotate in unison with the spool relative to the housing.

2. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first sealed cable port defines a plurality of slots to separate optical cables extending into the housing through the first sealed cable port.

3. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the first sealed cable port includes a slotted foam member.

4. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 2 , wherein one of the slots is configured to receive a plurality of optical cables.

5. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the slots extend along the cross-dimension of the housing.

6. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the row of optical adapters is mounted to a round axial flange of the spool.

7. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 2 , further comprising an optical cable wound around the spool, the optical cable extending from a first end terminated at a multi-fiber connector to a second end terminated by a plurality of single-fiber connectors.

8. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 7 , wherein the multi-fiber connector is disposed external of the housing.

9. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 7 , wherein the single-fiber connectors are plugged into ports defined by the row of optical adapters even when the spool is not locked relative to the housing.

10. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 7 , wherein the optical cable includes a fanout at which optical fibers of the optical cable are separated from each other, the fanout being mounted to the spool to rotate in unison with the spool.

11. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 10 , wherein the row of optical adapters and the fanout are mounted to an axial end of the spool.

12. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 7 , wherein the optical cable is wound around a drum of the spool; and wherein a cable management spool is mounted to the spool at a location offset from the drum, the cable management spool being configured to rotate in unison with the spool.

13. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the cable management spool extends upwardly from an axial end of the spool.

14. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 13 , wherein a guide wall extends upwardly from the axial end of the spool to define a channel between the guide wall and the cable management spool.

15. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the spool defines an opening through which the optical cable passes from the drum of the spool to the cable management spool, the opening being located radially closer to a rotation axis of the spool than the cable management spool is located.

16. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the spool defines an opening through which the optical cable passes from the drum of the spool to the row of optical adapters.

17. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the housing also defines a second cable port at the first side of the housing and facing outwardly from the housing in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction.

18. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 17 , wherein the second cable port is fully defined by the body.

19. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the row of optical adapters is retained at an adapter plate mounted to the spool.

20. The fiber optic enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the housing is elongate along the length, wherein the spool is offset along the length of the housing so that the spool is disposed closer to the first end than to the second end.

Assignments (6)
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Continuity (13)
Continuation 15875564 · Jan 19, 2018
Continuation 15470311 · Mar 27, 2017
Continuation 14979870 · Dec 28, 2015
Continuation 14539459 · Nov 12, 2014
Continuation 14132691 · Dec 18, 2013
Continuation 13924191 · Jun 21, 2013
Continuation 13479015 · May 23, 2012
Continuation 13032337 · Feb 22, 2011
Continuation 12793556 · Jun 3, 2010
Continuation 12182705 · Jul 30, 2008
Provisional Application 61029248 · Feb 15, 2008
Provisional Application 60954214 · Aug 6, 2007
Related Publication 20210302681A1 · Sep 30, 2021
Cited By (2)
US 12,235,506 US 12,253,734