WO2002018991A1

WO2002018991A1 - Fiber transition trough coupling system

Info

Publication number: WO2002018991A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/026430
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven W. Ellison; Terry T. Thom
Original assignee: Telect, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-08-28
Filing date: 2001-08-24
Publication date: 2002-03-07
Also published as: CA2417742C; CA2417742A1; MXPA03001354A; AU2001288376A1

Abstract

A fiber optic transition trough coupling system consists of one-piece transition trough (130) with latches (131,132) and a one-piece recipient trough (120) with corresponding complementary latches (121,122) which can be attached to one another with any tools and without any additional fasteners or screws.

Description

DESCRIPTION FIBER TRANSITION TROUGH COUPLING SYSTEM

Technical Field This invention pertains to a system for the management and routing of fiber optic cables, more particularly to system for coupling transition elements or transition troughs, to other troughs and junctions.

Background Art In the telecommunications industry there are numerous locations where a significant amount of fiber optic cable must be routed within a facility or from one facility to another. The routing within a facility may be from one piece of equipment to another, or from outside lines coming into a central office and to fiber optic connectors where they are connected to equipment within the facility. The number of fibers may be great and the fibers must all be handled with great care to avoid damage to the fiber cable, which hinders its performance.

In a typical facility, fiber optic troughs are normally used to carry or route the fiber optic cables. Although not necessarily, in most facilities the troughs are located overhead and over the location of the fiber optic distribution frames, bays and equipment.

In certain types of facilities, a significant trough network is needed to contain and route the fiber cables. The installation time and expense can be substantial for said trough systems. The installation time and expense is further increased when the troughs, trough supports and junctions are not readily adaptable to the configuration desired in the facility and when the troughs, couplings, junctions, downfalls and other equipment do not readily or easily assemble, or when tools such as screwdrivers are required for installation. The typical prior art system requires numerous screws to secure the covers and other components together.

The design, layout and assembly of these trough systems are further complicated because of the unique nature of fiber cables and how the fiber cable must be placed, routed and managed. In the management of fiber optic cables, it is important to maintain a minimum bend radius to protect the fiber optic cables. One typical standard minimum bend radius is one and one-half inches, while another standard minimum bend radius is thirty millimeters (30mm). It is also desirable to minimize the number and size of bumps, cracks, holes and other deviations from a smooth surface to which the fibers are exposed, or on which the fibers are supported.

For many years there has been an unsatisfied need to reduce the assembly time and/or expense by providing a trough system which minimizes or eliminates the need for the use of screws and other time consuming fasteners and holders, while still providing a trough system which protects the integrity of the fiber cables.

In the typical prior art system numerous screws are utilized to attach the various components to one another. As anyone who has assembled children's toys can attest, it can be tedious to screw in a lot of screws to put something together. While such screw based systems are easier to design, they burden the facility owner with the unnecessarily high expense of assembly with screws for example, and with attempting to make the system fit the particular facility.

Some embodiments of this invention provide a new transition trough coupling system which reduces the assembly and installation time and expense significantly and requires no tools to accomplish the assembly. Other embodiments of this invention allow transition troughs to be moved together with recipient troughs in a pre-determined way to assemble the two together without any further tools, screws or hardware.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing embodiments of this invention with multiple transition troughs and recipient troughs, in an application;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a transition trough sometimes referred to as a trumpet; Figure 3 is a side view of the trumpet trough shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a transition trough in the process of being attached to an embodiment of a recipient trough; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a transition trough as contemplated by this invention, referred to as a downward elbow or sometimes a downspout; Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a transition trough as contemplated by this invention, only with two latches being located on the side walls of the transition trough;

Figure 7 is a bottom perspective exploded view of an embodiment of a transition trough as contemplated by this invention, showing its relation to a junction recipient trough, illustrating the tab latches on the recipient trough which complement and correspond to the latch on the bottom wall of the transition trough;

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention and Disclosure of Invention

Many of the fastening, connection, manufacturing and other means and components utilized in this invention are widely known and used in the field of the invention described, and their exact nature or type is not necessary for an understanding and use of the invention by a person skilled in the art or science; therefore, they will not be discussed in significant detail. Furthermore, the various components shown or described herein for any specific application of this invention can be varied or altered

■ as anticipated by this invention and the practice of a specific application or embodiment of any element may already be widely known or used in the art or by persons skilled in the art or science; therefore, each will not be discussed in significant detail. The terms "a", "an", and "the" as used in the claims herein are used in conformance with long-standing claim drafting practice and not in a limiting way. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms "a", "an", and "the" are not limited to one of such elements, but instead mean "at least one".

The term latch is used herein in a broad sense, and covers numerous different mechanisms of attachment/detachment, including each component of a latch such as corresponding and complementary components which interact with one another. The term latch as used herein is in no way to be limited to the configuration(s) shown in the drawings or described herein. The term latch as used herein, by way of example but not limitation, would therefore include structures which fasten or retain, such as a flexible member with a detent or a tab contained thereon, which would then interact with a corresponding and complementary component (also referred to as a latch), which may be a detent or a tab. Latch is intended to cover each of the configurations or structures that attach or fasten to one another in a complementary way, or would for example allow a component to attach to the side wall of the trough. Further the term latch is intended to cover each of the two complementary components which interact or complement each other. Consistent with this definition and in the case of transition troughs, the retention pegs and the lateral support structure are considered and defined as latches.

The term trough as used herein means any straight, transition, curved or junction trough. The term junction trough or junction as used herein means any junction point or area, such as without limitation, horizontal elbows, tees, four way junctions or intersections, and others.

The term transition trough as used herein, means any trough component that facilitates the vertical routing of fiber optic cables, including without limitation, what are referred to as a downspout, downspout converter, down elbow, up elbow and as a trumpet, and others.

The term recipient trough as used herein means any trough component that is to be coupled with the transition trough, such as straight troughs, junction troughs or junctions, and even including other transition troughs. For instance a downspout or down elbow may be a recipient trough at its lower end for a trumpet trough element, as shown in the figures.

The term lateral support stop as used herein means any structure which has a stop element to engage the retention peg and prevent the movement of the transition trough away from the recipient trough (lateral movement), including without limitation, an aperture into which the retention peg may be placed. Additionally, the term lateral support stop as used herein is considered to be a latch as defined herein.

The term retainer peg as used herein means a peg or other structure which has a vertically oriented support structure. Depending on the orientation of the trough, the vertically oriented structure may actually be horizontal within the contemplation of this invention, if the movement apart of the transition trough from the recipient trough would necessarily be in the vertical direction. Additionally, the term retainer peg is considered to be a latch as defined above.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing embodiments of this invention with multiple transition troughs and recipient troughs, in a possible application of embodiments of this invention. Figure 1 shows elbow trough 110 (a junction trough), with fiber support surface 110a, first side wall 110b, second side all 110c, retention peg 111, retention peg 112, acting as a recipient trough to trumpet transition trough 100, and coupled by trough coupler 140 to junction trough 120, a four way junction trough.

Trumpet transition trough 100 is shown with fiber support surface 100a (or bottom wall), a latch represented by a lateral support stop 102 or structure on first side wall 100b, and a latch represented by a lateral support stop 101 on second side wall 100c.

Junction recipient trough 120 has fiber support surface 120a (bottom wall), first side wall 120b, second side wall 120c, and acting as a recipient trough for downspout transition trough 130. Junction recipient trough 120 has retention pegs 121 and 122 which are latches as that term is used herein, to allow transition trough 130 to be attached to it.

Transition trough 130 with fiber support surface 130a, first side wall 130b, second side wall 130c, lateral support stops 131 and 132 (latches), and retention pegs 133 & 134. Transition trough 130 also acts as a recipient trough via retention pegs 133

& 134 and through one or more tabs (not visible from this drawing), to trumpet transition trough 140.

Trumpet transition trough 140 is shown with fiber support surface 140a, first side wall 140b, second side wall 140c, lateral support stop 141 (latch) on second side wall 140c and lateral support stop 142 on first side wall 140b.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a transition trough sometimes referred to as a trumpet 100, illustrating a bottom wall 100a, a first side wall 100b and a second side wall 101c. Figure 2 also illustrates two of the numerous possible transition trough latches which may be used within the contemplation of this invention. The first two latches are the combination of lateral support structure 101 combined with latch aperture 103, and the combination of lateral support structure 102 combined with latch aperture 104. The apertures 103 and 104 may be lifted above corresponding and complementary latches on a recipient trough, and lowered onto a retention peg as shown in later figures. The combination of the lateral support structure 102 combined with latch aperture 104 provides lateral support and vertical support, thereby retaining transition trough 100 adjacent a recipient trough.

Figure 2 also shows a another embodiment of a latch as contemplated by this invention, a flexible member 105 with detents 106. As the transition trough 100 is moved together with a recipient trough after the upper latches have been placed on corresponding retention pegs, the flexible member flexes to allow flexible member 105 to move over two tabs (latches) on the recipient trough which complement the detents 106. Once the transition trough 100 is in the desired location relative to the recipient trough, the detents 106 will match up to the tabs and the flex member 105 will return toward its non-flexed position. It should be noted that two detents 106 are shown, and in that case, the spacer between the two detents 106 provides some lateral support. However, there may be any number of detents 106 within the contemplation of this invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of the trumpet trough shown in Figure 2, and shows second side wall 100c, latch 101, flexible member 105 of the lower latch and detent 106. The lower latch is the combination of flexible member 105 and detent 106.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a transition trough in the process of being attached to an embodiment of a recipient trough. The apertures 103 and 104 are lifted above corresponding and complementary latches on a recipient trough, which in Figure 4 are retention pegs 111 & 112, which are located in a recess from the top of the side walls of the recipient trough 110. Moving the transition trough and the recipient trough together in a pre-determined way involves lowering the lateral support structures 101 & 102 down such that apertures 103 and 104 are lowered over and engage retention pegs 111 & 112. This provides lateral and vertical support. The retention pegs provide lateral support in all lateral directions when the peg corresponds to and complements the aperture in the other of the recipient trough or the transition trough. The recess around the peg also provides in a direction perpendicular to the lateral support, which would typically (but need not be) in the vertical direction.

Once the top two latches are engaged on the recipient trough 110, the lower portion of the transition trough is moved together with the lower portion of the recipient trough, causing flexible member 105 to flex to initially allow it to pass over corresponding tabs on the bottom of recipient trough 110. The tabs or latches on the bottom of recipient trough are corresponded to the transition trough latch such that when the troughs are in the desired location, the detent 106 engages and surrounds the corresponding tabs on the recipient trough, thereby preventing the bottom walls 110a and 100a from moving apart.

The movement described above is merely one embodiment or example of a predetermined movement together of the transition trough with the recipient trough as contemplated by this invention. Figure 4 also shows first side wall 100b, second side wall 100c, and bottom wall

100a (also fiber support surface) of transition trough 100, as well as first side wall 110b, second side wall 110c, and bottom wall 100a or fiber support surface of recipient trough 110.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a transition trough 130 as contemplated by this invention, referred to as a downward elbow or sometimes a downspout. Figure 5 illustrates bottom wall 130a, first side wall 130b, second side wall 130c, a latch comprised of flexible member 135 and detent 136 at a first end of transition trough 130. At the first end of first side wall 130b is a latch, the latch being comprised of lateral support structure stop 132 and aperture 134. At the first end of second side wall 130c is a latch, the latch being comprised of lateral support structure stop 131 and aperture 133.

Figure 5 also illustrates how an embodiment of a transition trough may also be a recipient trough to another transition trough, in that the transition trough 130 has a second end which further comprises a first recipient trough latch 138 on the first side wall 130b; a second recipient trough latch 137 on the second side wall 130c; and a third recipient trough latch of a flexible member 135 with detent 136 thereon, attached to the bottom wall 130a.

Therefore when the term lowered is used herein in connection with a lateral support aperture being lowered onto a retention peg for example, it is not required that this be only in a vertical direction, but instead means placing or sliding the latch aperture in the lateral support stop or lateral support structure, over and onto the retention peg. Also, when the term bottom wall is used herein, it refers to a fiber support surface which does not necessarily have to be vertically lower than the side walls, depending on the orientation of the trough being described.

Figure 5 shows retention peg 137 (latch) on the second end of second side wall * 130c, and retention peg 138 on the second end of first side wall 130b. In the application shown in Figure 5, a trumpet may be the transition trough attached to the second end of transition trough 130.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a transition trough 200 as contemplated by this invention, only with two latches being located on the side walls of the transition trough instead or in replacement of the latch represented by flexible member 135 combined with detent 136 (shown in Figure 5).

On the first side wall 200b of transition trough 200 is a first latch represented by flexible member 205 and detent 206, in addition to the latch represented by lateral support structure 202 and aperture 203. Also, on the second side wall 200c is a latch represented by flexible member 207 and detent 208, in addition to the latch represented by lateral support member 201 combined with aperture 204. Figure 6 also shows transition trough bottom wall 200a or fiber support surface.

Figure 7 is a bottom perspective exploded view of an embodiment of a transition trough 130 as contemplated by this invention, showing its relation to a junction recipient trough 120, illustrating the tab latches 139 on the recipient trough 120 which complement and correspond to the latch on the bottom wall of the transition trough 130 which is represented by flexible member 135 and detent 136.

Figure 7 also shows the bottom wall 130a or fiber support surface of transition trough 130, first side wall 130b, second side wall 130c, retention posts 137 and 138 at a second end of the trough, and which would be latches to render transition trough 130 a recipient trough if desired.

Figure 7 also shows recipient trough bottom wall 120a or fiber support surface, first side wall 120b and second side wall 120c.

It should also be noted that while the retention peg latches shown and described herein are preferably at or near a top of side wall, they need not be and can be located anywhere thereon within the contemplation of this invention.

As will be appreciated by those of reasonable skill in the art, there are numerous embodiments to this invention, and variations of elements and components which may be used, all within the scope of this invention. One embodiment of this invention for example for the fiber optic cable transition trough coupling system for coupling a transition trough to a recipient trough, the coupling system is comprised of: a recipient trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall, and further comprising: a first recipient trough latch on the first side wall; a second recipient trough latch on the second side wall; a third recipient trough latch; a transition trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall corresponding to the recipient trough, the transition trough comprised of: a first and a second transition trough latch which correspond to and engage the first and second recipient trough latches, the first and second transition trough latches being disposed to provide lateral support to retain the transition trough at a position adjacent the recipient trough; and a third transition trough latch corresponding and complementary to the third recipient trough latch, and disposed to engage the recipient trough latch.

In related embodiments the first transition latch may be a lateral support stop, and the first recipient trough latch may be a retention peg, and combinations of the different types of latches may be used.

There are also embodiments of this invention in which one trough is both a transition trough and a recipient trough, such as the trough shown in Figure 5.

In another embodiment of the invention, a fiber optic transition trough coupling system for coupling a transition trough to a recipient trough is provided, wherein the coupling system comprises: a recipient trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall and at least two recipient trough latches; and a transition trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall corresponding to the recipient trough, and at least two transition trough latches corresponding and complementary to the transition trough latches; wherein the recipient trough and the transition trough are disposed to operatively attach to one another by movement together in a predetermined way. Further embodiments of this would be when the recipient trough is one piece, and/or the transition trough is one piece.

Process embodiments are also disclosed, such as a process for the assembly of a fiber optic transition trough to a recipient trough, the process comprising the following steps: providing a recipient trough which includes a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall, and at least two recipient trough latches; providing a transition trough which includes a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall corresponding to the recipient trough, and at least two transition trough latches which correspond and are complementary to the at least two recipient trough latches, the at least two transition trough latches further being one piece with the transition trough; and moving the transition trough and the recipient trough together in a predetermined way to form an operative attachment, wherein moving the transition trough and the recipient trough together in the predetermined way is the only step required to form the operative attachment. Similar to the apparatus embodiments, further process embodiments of this would be when the recipient trough is one piece, and/or the transition trough is one piece.

Another process embodiment disclosed is one wherein the transition trough and the recipient trough are moved together in a predetermined way to attach the two and no tools are required and no additional components need be added, to form the operative attachment.

Claims

CLAIMSI claim:

1. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system for coupling a transition trough to a recipient trough, the coupling system comprising: (a) a recipient trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall, and at a first end, the recipient trough further comprising: (i) a first recipient trough latch on the first side wall; (ii) a second recipient trough latch on the second side wall; (iii) a third recipient trough latch; (b) a transition trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall corresponding to the recipient trough, the transition trough comprised of: (i) a first and a second transition trough latch which correspond to and engage the first and second recipient trough latches, the first and second transition trough latches being disposed to provide lateral support to retain the transition trough at a position adjacent the recipient trough; and (ii) a third transition trough latch corresponding and complementary to the third recipient trough latch, and disposed to engage the recipient trough latch.

2. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system as recited in claim 1, and wherein the first transition latch is a lateral support stop.

3. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system as recited in claim 1, and wherein the first recipient trough latch is a retention peg.

4. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system as recited in claim 1, and wherein the first and second retention trough latches are retention pegs and further wherein the first transition latch and the second transition latches are lateral support stops.

5. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system as recited in claim 1, and wherein the lateral support stop includes an aperture disposed to receive the retention peg and disposed to prevent lateral movement of the transition trough away from the recipient trough.

6. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system as recited in claim 1, and wherein the transition trough has a second end which further comprises a first recipient trough latch on the first side wall; a second recipient trough latch on the second side wall; and a third recipient trough latch, thereby adapting the transition trough additionally as a recipient trough.

7. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system for coupling a transition trough to a recipient trough, the coupling system comprising:

(a) a recipient trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall and at least two recipient trough latches; and

(b) a transition trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall corresponding to the recipient trough, and at least two transition trough latches corresponding and complementary to the transition trough latches; wherein the recipient trough and the transition trough are disposed to operatively attach to one another by movement together in a predetermined way.

8. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system as recited in claim 7, and wherein the recipient trough is one piece.

9. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system as recited in claim 7, and wherein the transition trough is one piece.

10. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system as recited in claim 7, and wherein at least one of the recipient trough latches or the transition trough latches is flexible and includes a detent, and the corresponding complementary latch is a tab.

11. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system as recited in claim 7, and wherein at least one of the recipient trough latches or the transition trough latches is flexible and includes a tab, and the corresponding complementary latch is a detent.

12. A fiber optic transition trough coupling system as recited in claim 7, and wherein at least one of the transition trough latches is a lateral support stop and further wherein the corresponding and complementary recipient trough latch is a retention peg at or near a top of the first side wall of the recipient trough.

13. A process for the assembly of a fiber optic transition trough to a recipient trough, the process comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a recipient trough which includes a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall, and at least two recipient trough latches; (b) providing a transition trough which includes a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall corresponding to the recipient trough, and at least two transition trough latches which correspond and are complementary to the at least two recipient trough latches, the at least two transition trough latches further being one piece with the transition trough; and (c) moving the transition trough and the recipient trough together in a predetermined way to form an operative attachment, wherein moving the transition trough and the recipient trough together in the predetermined way is the only step required to form the operative attachment.

14. A process for the assembly of a fiber optic transition trough to a recipient trough as recited in claim 13, and wherein the recipient trough is one piece.

15. A process for the assembly of a fiber optic transition trough to a recipient trough as recited in claim 13, and wherein the transition trough is one piece.

16. A process for the assembly of a fiber optic transition trough to a recipient trough as recited in claim 13, and further when moving the transition trough and the recipient trough together in the predetermined way, no tools are required to form the operative attachment.

17. A process for the assembly of a fiber optic transition trough to a recipient trough, the process comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a recipient trough which includes a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall, and at least two recipient trough latches; (b) providing a transition trough which includes a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall corresponding to the recipient trough, and at least two transition trough latches which correspond and are complementary to the at least two recipient trough latches, the at least two transition trough latches further being one piece with the transition trough; and (c) moving the transition trough and the recipient trough together to attach to at least one of the at least two transition trough latches to a recipient trough latch; and i

(d) pivoting the transition trough to move at least one of the two transition trough latches to attach to a recipient trough latch.