Fiber drop terminal

Abstract

A drop terminal mounting system includes a fiber drop terminal having a housing and a base attached to the housing. The housing includes an outer surface containing a plurality of receptacles and cooperatively defines an inner cavity with the base. The drop terminal mounting system further includes a bracket having a first fastening region and a second fastening region adapted to secure the drop terminal to the bracket.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A drop terminal comprising:
 a housing having a front side and an oppositely disposed back side;   a base attached to the back side of the housing to form an enclosure defining an interior cavity, the enclosure extending along a length between a first end and a second end, the enclosure extending along a width between a first side and a second side, the enclosure defining a   a weather tight seal disposed between the housing and the base to environmentally seal the interior cavity of the enclosure;   a splitter incorporated in the drop terminal to split incoming optical signals into a plurality of outgoing optical signals;   a cable input defined by the enclosure at the first end, the cable input providing an input cable with sealed access to the interior cavity of the enclosure;   at least four ruggedized outputs disposed in sealing engagement with the enclosure, each of the ruggedized outputs defining an interior port accessible from within the interior cavity of the enclosure and an exterior port accessible from an exterior of the enclosure, the exterior port of each ruggedized output being configured to seal an interface between the ruggedized output and a respective mating connector, the exterior port of each ruggedized output also being configured to mechanically secure the respective mating connector to the ruggedized output with a twist-to-lock fastener, and the exterior ports facing at least partially towards any input cable received at the cable input; and   a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the interior cavity of the enclosure, each of the optical fibers having a connectorized end received at a respective one of the interior ports of the ruggedized outputs.   
     
     
         3 . The drop terminal of  claim 2 , further comprising an input cable including an optical fiber extending into the interior cavity of the enclosure through the cable input. 
     
     
         4 . The drop terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the optical fiber of the input cable is optically coupled to the interior port of a first of the ruggedized outputs. 
     
     
         5 . The drop terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the optical fiber of the input cable is the plurality of optical fibers disposed within the interior cavity of the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The drop terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the twist-to-lock fastener of each ruggedized output port includes threading. 
     
     
         7 . The drop terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the at least four ruggedized outputs are disposed in sealing engagement with the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The drop terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the housing defines a stepped face facing at least partially towards the cable input. 
     
     
         9 . The drop terminal of  claim 8 , wherein at least some of the ruggedized outputs is disposed on the stepped face. 
     
     
         10 . The drop terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the housing defines a plurality of stepped faces that each face at least partially towards the cable input. 
     
     
         11 . The drop terminal of  claim 10 , wherein the ruggedized outputs are disposed at the stepped faces. 
     
     
         12 . The drop terminal of  claim 11 , wherein each stepped face receives two ruggedized outputs. 
     
     
         13 . The drop terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the stepped face in angled at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the first end of the enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The drop terminal of  claim 14 , wherein the at least four ruggedized outputs include at least eight ruggedized outputs. 
     
     
         15 . The drop terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the at least four ruggedized outputs include twelve ruggedized outputs. 
     
     
         16 . The drop terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the splitter is a passive splitter. 
     
     
         17 . The drop terminal of  claim 2 , further comprising plugs disposed at the exterior ports of the ruggedized outputs when the ruggedized outputs are not in use, the plugs preventing dirt and moisture from accumulating on the connectorized ends received at the corresponding interior ports. 
     
     
         18 . The drop terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the splitter is selected from the group consisting of a 1×2 splitter, a 1×4 splitter, and a 1×8 splitter. 
     
     
         19 . The drop terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the exterior port of each ruggedized output includes a radial seal adapted to seal the interface between the ruggedized output and the respective mating connector. 
     
     
         20 . The drop terminal of  claim 2 , wherein an o-ring is disposed at an interface between each of the ruggedized outputs and the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The drop terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the cable input is defined by the housing.