IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,443,001
Granted Patent B2
US 12,443,001 · App. 17/977,609 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Extendable splice tray

Inventors: Cameron Clines (Chagrin Falls, OH); Dan Levac (Gahanna, OH); Matt Becker (Mentor, OH)
Assignee: PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO.
G02B6/4455G02B6/4454G02B6/4471
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,443,001
App. No.
17/977,609
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fiber-optic splice holder. The holder includes a first holder portion that has a first plurality of fiber-optic splice holding locations. The holder includes a second holder portion actuatable with respect to the first holder portion to provide a second plurality of fiber-optic splice holding locations. The holder includes a coupling for connecting the second holder portion to the first holder portion.

Claims (44)

1. A fiber-optic splice holder, comprising:

a first holder portion comprising a first fiber-optic splice holding location and having a first length along which the first fiber-optic splice holding location is situated;

a second holder portion actuatable with respect to the first holder portion and comprising a second fiber-optic splice holding location and having a second length along which the second fiber-optic splice holding location is situated; and

a coupling for connecting the second holder portion in an engagement to the first holder portion via cooperating contact engagement structures of the first and second holder portions to place the second length of the second holder portion in series with the first length of the first holder portion such that the second fiber-optic splice holding location is in a linear progression from the first fiber-optic splice holding location.

2. The holder as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises at least one of a first interfitting segment on the first holder portion or a second interfitting segment on the second holder portion.

3. The holder as set forth in claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first interfitting segment comprises a first snap-fit segment or the second interfitting segment comprises a second snap-fit segment.

4. The holder as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the first interfitting segment comprises a post and the second interfitting segment comprises a receptacle.

5. The holder as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the first interfitting segment comprises a projection and the second interfitting segment comprises an aperture.

6. The holder as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the aperture is defined within a resilient finger.

7. The holder as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the first interfitting segment comprises an aperture and the second interfitting segment comprises an overlapping finger.

8. The holder as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first holder portion provides a first splice capacity amount, the second holder portion provides a second splice capacity amount, and the first splice capacity amount and the second splice capacity amount providing a combined total splice capacity amount.

9. The holder as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the combined total splice capacity amount is at least double the first splice capacity amount.

10. A fiber-optic splice holder, comprising:

a first holder portion comprising a first fiber-optic splice holding location;

a second holder portion actuatable with respect to the first holder portion and comprising a second fiber-optic splice holding location; and

a coupling for connecting the second holder portion in an engagement to the first holder portion via cooperating contact engagement structures of the first and second holder portions, wherein the first holder portion and the second holder portion are slidable relative to one another, and the holder comprises at least one of a first segment on the first holder portion to guide the relative sliding or a second segment on the second holder portion to guide the relative sliding.

11. The holder as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the coupling comprises at least one of a first interfitting segment on the first holder portion or a second interfitting segment on the second holder portion.

12. The holder as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the first interfitting segment comprises a projection and the second interfitting segment comprises an aperture.

13. The holder as set forth in claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first interfitting segment comprises a first snap-fit segment or the second interfitting segment comprises a second snap-fit segment.

14. A fiber-optic splice holder, comprising:

a first holder portion comprising a first fiber-optic splice holding location and having a first length along which the first fiber-optic splice holding location is situated, wherein the first holder portion is actuatable with respect to a second holder portion comprising a second fiber-optic splice holding location and having a second length along which the second fiber-optic splice holding location is situated; and

a coupling for connecting the first holder portion in an engagement to the second holder portion via cooperating contact engagement structures of the first and second holder portions to place the second length of the second holder portion in series with the first length of the first holder portion such that the second fiber-optic splice holding location is in a linear progression from the first fiber-optic splice holding location.

15. The holder as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the coupling comprises a first interfitting segment on the first holder portion.

16. The holder as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the first holder portion provides a first splice capacity amount, the second holder portion provides a second splice capacity amount, and the first splice capacity amount and the second splice capacity amount providing a combined total splice capacity amount.

17. The holder as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the combined total splice capacity amount is at least double the first splice capacity amount.

18. A fiber-optic splice holder, comprising:

a first holder portion comprising a first fiber-optic splice holding location, wherein the first holder portion is actuatable with respect to a second holder portion comprising a second fiber-optic splice holding location; and

a coupling for connecting the first holder portion in an engagement to the second holder portion via cooperating contact engagement structures of the first and second holder portions, wherein the first holder portion is slidable relative to the second holder portion, and the holder comprises a first segment on the first holder portion to guide the relative sliding.

19. The holder as set forth in claim 18 , comprising:

the second holder portion.

20. The holder as set forth in claim 19 , comprising:

a second segment on the second holder portion to guide the relative sliding.

21. The holder as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the coupling comprises:

a first interfitting segment on the first holder portion; and

a second interfitting segment on the second holder portion.

22. A fiber-optic splice holder, comprising:

a first holder portion comprising a first fiber-optic splice holding location, wherein the first holder portion is slidingly coupled to a second holder portion via cooperating structures of the first and second holder portions so as to be telescopingly slidable with respect to the second holder portion comprising a second fiber-optic splice holding location; and

a first segment on the first holder portion engaged with the second holder portion to guide the relative sliding.

23. The holder as set forth in claim 22 , comprising:

the second holder portion.

24. The holder as set forth in claim 23 , comprising:

a second segment on the second holder portion to guide the relative sliding.

25. The holder as set forth in claim 22 , wherein the first holder portion provides a first splice capacity amount, the second holder portion provides a second splice capacity amount, and the first splice capacity amount and the second splice capacity amount providing a combined total splice capacity amount.

26. The holder as set forth in claim 25 , wherein the combined total splice capacity amount is at least double the first splice capacity amount.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2022
From: CLINES, CAMERON JOSEPH; LEVAC, DAN; BECKER, MATT
To: PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO.
Reel/Frame 061599/0965 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63274253 · Nov 1, 2021
Related Publication 20230138383A1 · May 4, 2023
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