Fiber optic cable distribution box

Abstract

A fiber optic cable distribution box has an interface compartment for interfacing a first set of fibers when routed inside the compartment, with a second set of fibers associated with a fiber optic cable that is routed to the box. A drum region is disposed beneath the interface compartment. The drum region includes a cylindrical wall for supporting a fiber optic cable wound about the wall. The drum region is formed so that the box can turn about the axis of the cylindrical wall when a cable is paid out from the drum region. The interface compartment and the drum region are constructed so that the first set of fibers inside the interface compartment, originate from an inside end portion of the cable wound on the drum region.

We claim: 
     
       1. A fiber optic cable distribution box, comprising:
 an interface compartment constructed and arranged for interfacing a first set of fibers when routed inside the compartment, with a second set of fibers associated with a fiber optic cable that is routed to the box;   a drum region extending beneath the interface compartment, wherein the drum region includes a first cylindrical wall having an axis, the wall is dimensioned to support a length of a first fiber optic cable wound about the wall, and the drum region is constructed and arranged so that the distribution box can turn about the axis of the cylindrical wall when a cable is paid out from the drum region; and   the interface compartment and the drum region are constructed and arranged so that the first set of fibers inside the interface compartment, originate from an inside end portion of the cable wound about the first cylindrical wall of the drum region.   
     
     
       2. A cable distribution box according to  claim 1 , including a tube arranged to extend coaxially through the drum region, and the tube has a central passage through which an outside shaft or spindle is insertable. 
     
     
       3. A cable distribution box according to  claim 1 , wherein a first cable entry port is formed in the first cylindrical wall of the drum region for receiving the inside end portion of the first fiber optic cable. 
     
     
       4. A cable distribution box according to  claim 1 , wherein the drum region includes a second cylindrical wall arranged radially inward and coaxially with the first cylindrical wall, and an annular fiber routing region is defined between the first and the second walls. 
     
     
       5. A cable distribution box according to  claim 3 , including a strain relief device arranged at the first cable entry port for guiding the inside end portion of the first fiber optic cable through the first cylindrical wall over a path tangential to the circumference of the wall. 
     
     
       6. A cable distribution box according to  claim 5 , wherein the strain relief device is constructed and arranged to transfer a pull force applied externally to the first fiber optic cable, to the first cylindrical wall of the drum region when the cable is wound on or off the drum region. 
     
     
       7. A cable distribution box according to  claim 5 , wherein the strain relief device includes one or more guides for securing a strength material beneath an outer jacket of the cable. 
     
     
       8. A cable distribution box according to  claim 1 , wherein the interface compartment includes a connector panel, and a number of connector adapters mounted in the panel for coupling fiber optic connectors at an externally facing side of the panel, with corresponding fiber optic connectors at an internally facing side of the panel. 
     
     
       9. A cable distribution box according to  claim 8 , wherein the interface compartment is constructed and arranged to support the connector panel so that a first connector panel can be removed and exchanged with a second connector panel having connector adapters of a type different from a type of adapters mounted in the first connector panel. 
     
     
       10. A cable distribution box according to  claim 1 , wherein the interface compartment has a side wall, and a number of fingers or tabs that project outward from the side wall for confining the length of the first fiber optic cable when wound about the first cylindrical wall of the drum region. 
     
     
       11. A cable distribution box according to  claim 1 , including a disk flange that extends radially outward beneath the interface compartment for confining the length of the first fiber optic cable when wound on the first cylindrical wall of the drum region. 
     
     
       12. A cable distribution box according to  claim 1 , wherein the interface compartment has a side wall, and the side wall has a second cable entry port for receiving a fiber optic cable or cable assembly having a third set of fibers to be coupled via the connector panel with the second set of fibers of the second fiber optic cable routed to the box. 
     
     
       13. A cable distribution box according to  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the adapters mounted in the connector panel of the interface compartment are constructed and arranged to couple multi-fiber type connectors with one another. 
     
     
       14. A cable distribution box according to  claim 1 , including a length of the first fiber optic cable wound about the first cylindrical wall of the drum region, and a fiber optic connector for terminating an outside end of the cable. 
     
     
       15. A cable distribution box according to  claim 14 , wherein the fiber optic connector at the outside end of the cable is a multi-fiber type of connector. 
     
     
       16. A method for installing a fiber optic cable distribution device at an installation location, the fiber optic cable distribution device including a housing defining an interface compartment, the fiber optic cable distribution device also including a fiber optic connector adapter having first and second ports, at least the first port being accessible from inside the interface compartment, the fiber optic cable distribution device further including a drum coupled to the housing and a fiber optic cable coiled about the drum, the drum being located outside the interface compartment, the fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers, at least one of the optical fibers being terminated by a fiber optic connector that is inserted within the first port of the fiber optic connector adapter, the method comprising:
 paying out the fiber optic cable from the drum by rotating the fiber optic cable distribution device about an axis of rotation, wherein the housing, the drum, the fiber optic adapter and the fiber optic connector are rotated together about the axis of rotation as the fiber optic cable is paid out from the drum; and   installing the fiber optic cable distribution device at the installation location, wherein the drum remains coupled to the housing during and after installation of the fiber optic cable distribution device.    
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, wherein the installation location is a wall.  
     
     
       18. The method of claim 16, wherein in the installation location is a wall of a multi-dwelling unit.  
     
     
       19. The method of claim 16, wherein an outer end of the fiber optic cable is terminated by a multi-fiber connector, and wherein the method further comprises plugging the multi-fiber connector into an adapter at an aggregation box.  
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19, wherein the fiber optic cable distribution device and the aggregation box are on different floors of a building.  
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20, wherein the fiber optic cable of the fiber optic cable distribution device is a first fiber optic cable, wherein the first fiber optic cable is connected to a second finer optic cable at the aggregation box, and wherein the second fiber optic cable is routed to a cable entry box provided at a different floor of the building from the floors at which the aggregation box and the fiber optic cable distribution device are mounted.  
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21, wherein the building is a multi-dwelling unit.  
     
     
       23. A fiber optic cable distribution device comprising:
 an enclosure defining an interface compartment, the interface compartment having an interior region, the enclosure having a front side and a back side, the front side having a front cover that can be opened to access the interior region of the interface compartment;   a cable storage drum coupled to the back side of the enclosure, the cable storage drum being located outside the interior region of the interface compartment, the cable storage drum including a cable storage region;   a first fiber optic cable coiled about the drum in a direction extending from an inside of the cable storage region toward an outside of the cable storage region, wherein at least a first set of optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable extend from the inside of the cable storage region into the interface compartment through the back wall of the enclosure; and   the cable distribution device defining an axis of rotation about which the enclosure and the drum rotate together in unison as the first fiber optic cable is paid off from the drum.    
     
     
       24. The fiber optic cable distribution device of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of fiber optic adapters carried by the enclosure, the fiber optic adapters including first ports that receive fiber optic connectors associated with the first set of optical fibers.  
     
     
       25. The fiber optic cable distribution device of claim 24, wherein at least the first set of fibers extend from directly the inside of the cable storage region into the interface compartment.  
     
     
       26. The cable distribution device of claim 23, wherein at least the first set of fibers extend from the inside of the cable storage region into the interface compartment without any intermediate coiling of the first set of fibers.  
     
     
       27. A fiber optic cable distribution device comprising:
 an enclosure defining an interface compartment, the interface compartment having an interior region;   a cable storage drum coupled to the enclosure, the cable storage drum being located outside the interior region of the interface compartment, the cable storage drum including a cable storage region;   a first fiber optic cable coiled about the drum in a direction extending from an inside of the cable storage region toward an outside of the cable storage region, wherein at least a first set of optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable extend from the inside of the cable storage region directly into the interface compartment; and   the cable distribution device defining an axis of rotation about which the enclosure and the drum rotate together in unison as the first fiber optic cable is paid off from the drum.    
     
     
       28. The fiber optic cable distribution device of claim 27, further comprising a plurality of fiber optic adapters carried by the enclosure, the fiber optic adapters including first ports that receive fiber optic connectors associated with the first set of optical fibers.  
     
     
       29. A fiber optic cable distribution device comprising:
 an enclosure defining an interface compartment, the interface compartment having an interior region;   a cable storage drum coupled to the enclosure, the cable storage drum being located outside the interior region of the interface compartment, the cable storage drum including a cable storage region;   a first fiber optic cable coiled about the drum in a direction extending from an inside of the cable storage region toward an outside of the cable storage region, wherein at least a first set of optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable extend from the inside of the cable storage region into the interface compartment without any intermediate coiling of the first set of optical fibers; and   the cable distribution device defining an axis of rotation about which the enclosure and the drum rotate together in unison as the first fiber optic cable is paid off from the drum.    
     
     
       30. The fiber optic cable distribution device of claim 29, further comprising a plurality of fiber optic adapters carried by the enclosure, the fiber optic adapters including first ports that receive fiber optic connectors associated with the first set of optical fibers.  
     
     
       31. A fiber optic cable distribution device comprising:
 an enclosure defining an interface compartment, the interface compartment having an interior region;   a cable storage drum associated with the enclosure, the cable storage drum including a cable storage region surrounding a drum wall, the drum wall having at least one outer cross-dimension of 3 inches or less;   a first fiber optic cable coiled within the cable storage region about the drum, the fiber optic cable including optical fibers;   a plurality of fiber optic adapters positioned at least partially within the interior region of the interface compartment, the fiber optic adapters including first ports that receive fiber optic connectors associated with the optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable; and   the cable distribution device defining an axis of rotation about which the fiber optic adapters and the drum rotate together in unison as the first fiber optic cable is paid off from the drum.    
     
     
       32. A fiber optic cable distribution device comprising:
 an enclosure defining an interface compartment, the interface compartment having an interior region;   a cable storage drum coupled to the enclosure, the cable storage drum being located outside the interior region of the interface compartment, the cable storage drum including a cable storage region;   a first fiber optic cable coiled about the drum, wherein at least a first set of optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable extend into the interface compartment;   a plurality of fiber optic adapters carried by the enclosure, the fiber optic adapters including first ports that receive fiber optic connectors associated with the first set of optical fibers, the fiber optic adapters also including second ports accessible from outside the interior region of the enclosure; and   the cable distribution device defining an axis of rotation about which the enclosure, the fiber optic adapters and the drum rotate together in unison as the first fiber optic cable is paid off from the drum.    
     
     
       33. A fiber distribution system comprising:
 A) a fiber optic cable distribution device including:
 an enclosure defining an interface compartment, the interface compartment having an interior region; 
 a cable storage drum associated with the enclosure, the cable storage drum including a cable storage region surrounding a drum wall; 
 a first fiber optic cable coiled within the cable storage region about the drum, the fiber optic cable including at least one set of optical fibers; 
 a plurality of first fiber optic adapters positioned at least partially within the interior region of the interface compartment, the first fiber optic adapters including first ports; 
 single fiber optical connectors associated with the set of optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable at a first end of the first fiber optic cable, the single fiber optical connectors being inserted within the first ports of the first fiber optic adapters; and 
 a multi-fiber fiber optic connector associated with the set of optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable at a second end of the first fiber optic cable; 
 the fiber optic cable distribution device defining an axis of rotation about which the first fiber optic adapters and the drum rotate together in unison as the first fiber optic cable is paid off from the drum; and 
   B) an aggregation box including at least a second fiber optic adapter that receives the multi-fiber fiber optic connector of the fiber distribution device.    
     
     
       34. The fiber distribution system of claim 33, wherein the second fiber optic adapter connects the first fiber optic cable to a second fiber optic cable having a plurality of optical fibers, the second fiber optic cable being routed from the aggregation box to a cable entry box.  
     
     
       35. The fiber distribution system of claim 33, wherein the cable distribution device and the aggregation box are mounted on different floors of a building.  
     
     
       36. The fiber distribution system of claim 35, wherein the building is a multi-dwelling unit.  
     
     
       37. The fiber distribution system of claim 34, wherein the cable distribution device, the cable entry box and the aggregation box are mounted on different floors of a building.  
     
     
       38. The fiber distribution system of claim 37, wherein the cable entry box is in a basement of the building.  
     
     
       39. The fiber distribution system of claim 38, wherein the building is a multi-dwelling unit.  
     
     
       40. A method for installing a fiber optic distribution system, the fiber optic distribution system including a fiber optic cable distribution device including an enclosure defining an interface compartment, the interface compartment having an interior region; a cable storage drum associated with the enclosure, the cable storage drum including a cable storage region surrounding a drum wall; a first fiber optic cable coiled within the cable storage region about the drum, the fiber optic cable including at least one set of optical fibers; a plurality of first fiber optic adapters positioned at least partially within the interior region of the interface compartment, the first fiber optic adapters including first ports; single fiber optical connectors associated with the set of optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable at a first end of the first fiber optic cable, the single fiber optical connectors being inserted within the first ports of the first fiber optic adapters; and a multi-fiber fiber optic connector associated with the set of optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable at a second end of the first fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable distribution device defining an axis of rotation about which the first fiber optic adapters and the drum rotate together in unison as the first fiber optic cable is paid off from the drum, the method comprising:
 paying in the first fiber optic cable off of the drum by rotating the drum and the first fiber optic adapters in unison with one another about the axis of rotation of the fiber optic cable distribution device;   installing the fiber optic cable distribution device at an installation location, wherein the enclosure, the drum and the first fiber optic adapters are installed as a unit at the installation location;   routing the second end of the first fiber optic cable to an aggregation box at a location remote from the installation location of the fiber optic cable distribution device; and   inserting the multi-fiber fiber optic connector at the second end of the first fiber optic cable into a second fiber optic adapter provided at the aggregation box.    
     
     
       41. The method of claim 40, wherein the second fiber optic adapter connects the first fiber optic cable to a second fiber optic cable having a plurality of optical fibers, the second fiber optic cable being routed from the aggregation box to a cable entry box.  
     
     
       42. The method of claim 40, wherein the cable distribution device and the aggregation box are mounted on different floors of a building.  
     
     
       43. The method of claim 42, wherein the building is a multi-dwelling unit.  
     
     
       44. The method of claim 41, wherein the cable distribution device, the cable entry box and the aggregation box are mounted on different floors of a building.  
     
     
       45. The method of claim 44, wherein the cable entry box is in a basement of the building.  
     
     
       46. The method of claim 45, wherein the building is a multi-dwelling unit.