IP Library Granted Patent US 10,732,374
Granted Patent B2
US 10,732,374 · App. 16/249,862 · Granted Aug 4, 2020

Pivotable cover for sliding tray and sliding tray including the cover

Inventor: Gil Ruiz (McKinney, TX)
Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
G02B6/4455G02B6/4452H04Q1/02H04Q1/021H04Q1/023
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,732,374
App. No.
16/249,862
Granted
Aug 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sliding tray is configured to support one or more optical communications modules and includes a body portion having one or more mounting locations for the one or more optical communications modules. A trough projects from the body portion and is configured to support optical fibers connected to the one or more optical communications modules. A cover is pivotably connected to the tray for selectively covering the trough. A front wall of the cover may include a labeling surface, with a removable lens covering the labeling surface. A stop to limit the sliding direction of said sliding tray in the rearward direction may also be provided.

Claims (47)

1. A sliding tray configured to support one or more optical communications modules comprising:

a body portion having one or more mounting locations for the one or more optical communications modules;

a trough projecting from a front of said body portion and configured to support optical fibers connected to the one or more optical communications modules; and

a cover pivotably connected to said tray and selectively pivotable between an open position providing access to said trough and a closed position covering said trough,

wherein said cover includes a main panel having a front edge, a rear edge and first and second side edges with a front wall depending from said front edge of said main panel,

wherein in the closed position, said main panel covers at least a portion of said top of said trough,

wherein said front wall includes a labeling surface, and

wherein a lens covers said labeling surface.

2. The sliding tray of claim 1 , wherein said lens is removably secured to said front wall.

3. The sliding tray of claim 2 , wherein said lens includes at least one tab, and said front wall includes at least one opening to receive said at least one tab.

4. The sliding tray of claim 2 , wherein said lens includes two rows of tabs and said front wall includes two rows of openings, with each opening receiving one of said tabs.

5. The sliding tray of claim 1 , wherein said lens is a first lens and said labeling surface is a first labeling surface, and further comprising:

a second labeling surface provided on said front wall and a second lens covering said second labeling surface.

6. The sliding tray of claim 5 , wherein said first lens includes a first plurality of tabs and said front wall includes a first plurality of openings, and wherein said first plurality of tabs of said first lens are removably engaged within said first plurality of openings, and

wherein said second lens includes a second plurality of tabs and said front wall includes a second plurality of openings, and wherein said second plurality of tabs of said second lens are removably engaged within said second plurality of openings.

7. The sliding tray of claim 2 , further comprising:

an end cap attached to said front wall.

8. The sliding tray of claim 7 , wherein said end cap is attached to a slot formed in an end of said front wall and resides adjacent to said lens on said front wall.

9. The sliding tray of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more optical communications modules mounted to said one or more mounting locations and optical fibers connected to said one or more optical communications modules, with said optical fibers lying on said trough.

10. A sliding tray configured to support one or more optical communications modules comprising:

a body portion having one or more mounting locations for the one or more optical communications modules;

a trough projecting from a front of said body portion and configured to support optical fibers connected to the one or more optical communications modules;

a cover pivotably connected to said tray and selectively pivotable between an open position providing access to said trough and a closed position covering said trough;

a shelf having first and second side walls supporting said body portion and allowing said body portion to slide forward out of said shelf and rearward into said shelf; and

at least one stop to limit the sliding direction of said sliding tray in the rearward direction into said shelf, wherein said at least one stop may be displaced to allow said sliding tray to be pushed further into said shelf.

11. The sliding tray of claim 10 , wherein said body portion of said sliding tray is accessible from a rear of said shelf when said at least one stop is displaced and said sliding tray is pushed further into said shelf.

12. The sliding tray of claim 10 , wherein said at least one stop is a spring-biased plunger.

13. The sliding tray of claim 12 , wherein said spring-biased plunger may be displaced to allow said sliding tray to be pushed further into said shelf.

14. The sliding tray of claim 13 , wherein said body portion of said sliding tray is accessible from a rear of said shelf when said spring-biased plunger is displaced and said sliding tray is pushed further into said shelf.

15. The sliding tray of claim 10 , further comprising:

one or more optical communications modules mounted to said one or more mounting locations and optical fibers connected to said one or more optical communications modules, with said optical fibers lying on said trough.

16. A sliding tray configured to support one or more optical communications modules comprising:

a body portion having one or more mounting locations for the one or more optical communications modules;

a trough projecting from a front of said body portion and configured to support optical fibers connected to the one or more optical communications modules;

a cover pivotably connected to said tray and selectively pivotable between an open position providing access to said trough and a closed position covering said trough;

a shelf having first and second side walls supporting said body portion and allowing said body portion to slide forward out of said shelf and rearward into said shelf; and

at least one stop to limit the sliding direction of said sliding tray in the rearward direction into said shelf, wherein said at least one stop may be displaced to allow said sliding tray to be pushed further into said shelf,

wherein said cover includes a main panel having a front edge, a rear edge and first and second side edges with a front wall depending from said front edge of said main panel,

wherein in the closed position, said main panel covers at least a portion of said top of said trough,

wherein said front wall includes a labeling surface, and

wherein a lens covers said labeling surface.

17. The sliding tray of claim 16 , wherein said lens is removably secured to said front wall.

18. The sliding tray of claim 16 , further comprising:

one or more optical communications modules mounted to said one or more mounting locations and optical fibers connected to said one or more optical communications modules, with said optical fibers lying on said trough.

19. The sliding tray of claim 16 , wherein said body portion of said sliding tray is accessible from a rear of said shelf when said at least one stop is displaced and said sliding tray is pushed further into said shelf.

20. The sliding tray of claim 16 , wherein said at least one stop is a spring-biased plunger.

Assignments (9)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 49678/0577 Recorded Jan 9, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074473/0264 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 10, 2025
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC
Reel/Frame 073888/0404 →
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 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049678/0577 →
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2019
From: RUIZ, GIL
To: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
Reel/Frame 048038/0729 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 15894898 · Feb 12, 2018
Continuation 15436970 · Feb 20, 2017
Continuation 15143486 · Apr 29, 2016
Continuation 14745281 · Jun 19, 2015
Continuation 13468138 · May 10, 2012
Provisional Application 61485670 · May 13, 2011
Related Publication 20190146172A1 · May 16, 2019