Cross-Reference To Related Application

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 62/577,536, filed on October 26, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Background

As demand for telecommunications increases, fiber optic networks are being extended in more and more areas. Ease of installation of the telecommunications devices, management of the cables extending therefrom, and ease of accessibility for later management are important concerns. As a result, there is a need for fiber optic devices which address these and other concerns.

Summary

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a telecommunications system for mounting telecommunications devices in the form of fiber optic devices and for managing cables being input and output from the fiber optic devices. According to one example embodiment, the telecommunications system is a drawer-based system defined by a rack-mountable chassis and a tray pivotally mounted thereto. According to one embodiment, the tray houses fiber optic devices or components in the form of fiber optic splitters. Input and output cables extending from the fiber optic devices are managed within the chassis so as to limit the amount of pull on the cables when the tray is pivoted between closed and open positions.

According to another example aspect, the disclosure is directed to a telecommunications system. The telecommunications system may be a drawer-based system and include a chassis defining a first side and an opposite second side. A tray is pivotally mounted to the chassis between a closed storage position and an open access position relative to the chassis. At least one telecommunications component is removably mounted to the tray. One of an input or output cable from the

telecommunications component extends out to an exterior of the chassis from the first side of the chassis, and the other of the input or output cable from the

telecommunications component follows a cable path across the chassis, positioned above the pivotable tray, and extends out to the exterior of the chassis from the opposite second side of the chassis.

According to certain embodiments, the chassis may be configured for mounting on a standard 19-inch telecommunications rack.

A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a telecommunications system having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure in a closed position;

FIG. 2 illustrates the telecommunications system of FIG. 1 with the tray of the system in a pivoted open position with respect to the chassis of the system;

FIG. 3 illustrates the telecommunications system of FIG. 1 with the cover of the chassis removed to illustrate the internal features;

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the telecommunications system of FIG. 2 illustrating the cable management trough provided on the cover of the chassis;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cover of the chassis in isolation illustrating the cable management trough at the underside of the cover;

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate the position of the input and output cables extending from the telecommunications devices mounted within the chassis of FIGS. 1-2 as the tray of the system is rotated from a closed position to an open position with respect to the chassis; and

FIGS. 10-17 illustrate the steps involved in mounting a

telecommunications device to the tray of the system of FIGS. 1-2, including the positioning of the input and output cables extending from the device on the various cable management features of the system.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure is directed generally to telecommunications systems. More specifically, referring to FIGS. 1-2, the present disclosure is directed to a telecommunications system 10 for removably mounting telecommunications devices or components 12 to a telecommunications rack and for managing input and output cables extending from such devices 12 within the system 10. According to one example embodiment, the telecommunications devices 12 are fiber optic devices, wherein such devices can include fiber optic splitters.

The system 10 may be used to mount (and provide access to) the fiber optic devices 12 on a standard 19-inch telecommunications rack. The system 10 may be modified to fit other sized racks.

According to the depicted example, the telecommunications system 10 is configured to occupy a height of one standard unit of rack space (1RU) in a standard 19-inch rack. Other configurations of the system 10 are possible depending upon the desired or allowed density.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, according to the depicted embodiment, the system 10 is a drawer-based system including a chassis 14 and a tray 16 pivotally mounted to the chassis 14 between a closed storage position and an open access position. FIG. 1 illustrates the telecommunications system 10 in the closed storage position, and FIG. 2 illustrates the telecommunications system 10 in the open access position for accessing the telecommunications devices 12 mounted within the system 10.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-2, the chassis 14 defines a first side 18 (e.g., right side) and an opposing second side 20 (e.g., left side). The chassis 14 defines rack- mount structures 22 on each of the first and second sides 18, 20 for mounting the chassis 14 to a telecommunications rack, as noted above.

At each of the first and second sides 18, 20, the system 10 includes a cable management structure 24 for managing cables coming into or going outside the chassis 14. In the depicted embodiment, the cable management structures 24 are provided in the form of split-rings that allow lateral insertion of cables thereinto.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tray 16 is pivotally mounted to the chassis 14 via a hinge structure 26 located at the first (right) side 18 of the chassis 14. It should be noted that the configuration of the system 10 can be reversed and the hinge 26 can be positioned at the second (left) side 20 of the chassis 14.

The tray 16 houses a plurality of the telecommunications devices (e.g., fiber optic splitters) 12. The devices 12 may be removably mounted to mounts 28 provided in the tray 16. Each device 12 includes one or more cables 30 extending into the device 12 that carry an input signal (e.g., input cables). Each device 12 also includes one or more cables 32 extending from the device 12 that carry an output signal (e.g., output cables). As noted above, the devices 12 may be fiber optic splitters and the input and output cables 30, 32 may be optical cables carrying optical fibers.

The devices 12 are positioned within the tray 16 in a parallel relationship where the input and output cables 30, 32 extend from the devices 12 in a back-to-front direction toward a front 34 of the tray 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, each device 12 also includes an associated cable manager 36 mounted within the tray 16. The cable managers 36 are provided in the form of spools. The cable managers 36 are positioned and shaped to lead the input and output cables 30, 32 extending from the devices 12 toward the hinge 26.

Telecommunications devices such as fiber optic splitters similar to those devices 12 discussed and illustrated herein and associated cable managers similar to those cable managers 36 discussed and illustrated herein are described in further detail in International Publication No. WO 2016/005291, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, as shown, the system 10 is designed such that one of the input or output cable(s) 30, 32 from the telecommunications devices 12 extends out to an exterior 38 of the chassis 14 from the right side 18 of the chassis 14, and the other of the input and output cable(s) 30, 32 from the telecommunications devices 12 follows a cable path 40 across the chassis 14, positioned above the pivotable tray 16, extending out to the exterior 38 of the chassis 14 from the opposite left side 20 of the chassis 14.

In the depicted embodiment, the output cables 32 extend from the devices 12, around the spools 36, toward the hinge 26, and out of the tray 16 to the cable management structure 24 in the form of a split-ring provided at the right side 18 of the chassis 14. As noted above, the positioning of the split-ring 24 adjacent the hinge 26 allows pivotability of the tray 16 without extensive pulling on the output cables 32 as the tray 16 is moved between closed and open positions.

And, in the depicted embodiment, the input cables 30 of the devices 12 are the cables that extend across the chassis 14 and to the exterior 38 of the chassis 14 from the opposite left side 20 of the chassis 14.

FIG. 3 illustrates the telecommunications system 10 with a cover 42 of the chassis 14 removed to illustrate the cable path 40 for the input cables 30. As shown and as noted above, the cable path 40 is positioned above the pivotable tray 16 so as to not interfere with the motion of the tray 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-5, the input cables 30 extending across the chassis 14 are positioned within a trough 44 defined by the cover 42 of the chassis 14. An underside 46 of the cover 42 is shown in FIG. 5 to illustrate the trough 44 for placement of the input cables 30 that extend across the chassis 14. The trough 44 provides a way to fix the input cables 30 as the cables 30 extend from the first side 18 of the chassis 14 to the second side 20 and keeps the input cables 30 out of the way of the tray 16 during pivotal movement of the tray 16. Even though the depicted embodiment of the system 10 provides a fixation method in the form of a trough 44 positioned underneath the cover 42 of the chassis 14, other fixation methods such as cable loops, ties, clamps, etc. may be used to fix the input cables 30 and keep them from interfering with the movement of the tray 16.

Now referring to FIGS. 6-9, a cable manager 48 that is mounted to the tray 16 adjacent the hinge 26 is illustrated in detail. The cable manager 48 is positioned and configured to limit pulling or snag on the input cables 30 during pivotal movement of the tray 16. The cable manager 48 provides a cable holding or retention point for the input cables 30 extending from the devices 12 before these cables 30 are led across the chassis 14. Due to the positioning of the cable manager 48 close to the hinge 26 of the tray 16, a portion of the input cables 30 extending from the devices 12 are kept close to the pivot point of the tray 16 for reducing snag on those cables 30, similar to the positioning of the output cables 32 that are led out of the tray 16.

Still referring to FIGS. 6-9, the cable manager 48 is provided such that it pivots with the tray 16. The cable manager 48 defines two bend radius limiting portions 50, 52 disposed perpendicularly to each other so as to define an L-shaped structure. As shown in FIGS. 6-9, a first bend radius limiting portion 50 of the two portions is configured to contact the input cables 30 when the tray 16 is in the closed position and a second bend radius limiting portion 52 of the two portions is configured to contact the input cables 30 when the tray 16 is in the open position. Thus, during pivotal movement of the tray 16, the L-shaped configuration of the cable manager 48 allows the input cables 30 to stay in contact with at least one of the two bend radius limiting portions 50, 52.

As shown, the cable manager 48 also defines a cable retention portion 54 for keeping the input cables 30 in contact with at least one of the two bend radius limiting portions 50, 52 after the input cables 30 have been routed onto the cable manager 48.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-17, the steps involved in mounting an example telecommunications device 12 to the tray 16 including the positioning of the input and output cables 30, 32 extending from the device 12 on the various cable management features of the system 10 is illustrated in detail.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 10 and 11, first, the device 12 is mounted to a respective mount 28 provided in the tray 16. The device 12 may be removably mounted to the mount 28 via a dovetail locking arrangement as described in further detail in International Publication No. WO 2016/005291, previously incorporated herein by reference.

Now referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, one of the input cables 30 extending from the device 12 is routed under the output cables 32 and looped onto the cable manager 48. The cable retention portion 54 of the cable manager 48 keeps the input cable 30 on the cable manager 48. Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the input cable 30 is then led across the chassis 14 to the second side 20 of the chassis 14, positioning and fixing a portion of the input cable 30 within the trough 44 defined by the cover 42 of the chassis 14.

Referring to FIG. 16, the input cable 30 is then directed out of the chassis 14 and inserted into the split-ring cable management structure 24 provided at the second side 20 of the chassis 14.

FIG. 17 illustrates the output cables 32 being directed from the device 12, around the respective cable manager 36 within the tray 16, and out of the tray 16 from the first side 18 of the chassis 14. Once the output cables 32 are outside the chassis 14, the output cables 32 are inserted into the split-ring cable management structure 24 provided at the first side 18 of the chassis 14.

A similar procedure may be followed for each of the devices 12 to be housed by the system 10 and for each of the respective input and output cables 30, 32 extending from the devices 12.

As noted above, the system 10 is designed to limit pulling or snag on the cables 30, 32 around the chassis 14 during pivotal movement of the tray 16 and keep cables 30, 32 out of the pivotal path of the tray 16.

Although in the foregoing description, terms such as "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "right," "left," "upper," and "lower" were used for ease of description and illustration, no restriction is intended by such use of the terms. The

telecommunications systems described herein can be used in any orientation, depending upon the desired application.

Having described the preferred aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND CORRESPONDING FEATURES: - Telecommunications system

- Fiber optic devices/components

- Chassis

- Tray

- First (right) side of the chassis

- Second (left) side of the chassis

- Rack mount structure

- Cable management structure

- Hinge

- Mount

- Input cable

- Output cable

- Front of the tray

- Cable manager

- Exterior of the chassis

- Cable path

- Cover of chassis

- Trough

- Underside of cover

- Cable manager

- First bend radius limiting portion of cable manager - Second bend radius limiting portion of cable manager - Cable retention portion of cable manager