Drop terminal with anchor block for retaining a stub cable

Abstract

The drop terminal includes a plurality of fiber optic adapters having outer connector ports that are accessible from outside the drop terminal. The drop terminal receives a fiber optic cable having a plurality of optical fibers. Fiber optic connectors are positioned at the ends of the optical fibers. The fiber optic connectors are inserted into inner connector ports of the fiber optic adapters. The drop terminal also includes an anchor block for securing the fiber optic cable to a main housing of the drop terminal. The anchor block can be secured to the main housing of the drop terminal by a mechanical interlock. The drop terminal may also include a transparent interior shield or liner that retains fibers in position within the drop terminal during assembly of the drop terminal.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A drop terminal comprising:
 a main housing having a first piece and a second piece, the first and second pieces cooperatively defining an interior of the main housing, the main housing defining a cable port that is adapted to allow a fiber optic cable to enter/exit the interior of the main housing;   a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the first piece of the main housing, the fiber optic adapters including inner ports that are accessible from within the interior of the main housing and outer ports that are accessible from outside the main housing; and   an inner liner disposed in the first piece of the main housing, the inner liner covering a majority of the interior defined by the first piece, wherein the inner liner is adapted to retain optical fibers of the fiber optic cable in the first piece during attachment of the second piece.   
   
   
       22 . The drop terminal of  claim 21 , wherein the inner liner is transparent. 
   
   
       23 . The drop terminal of  claim 21 , wherein the inner liner is plastic. 
   
   
       24 . The drop terminal of  claim 21 , wherein the inner liner includes a main wall having a width that is sized to extend generally across a width of the main housing and a length sized to extend along a majority of a length of the main housing. 
   
   
       25 . The drop terminal of  claim 24 , wherein the inner liner includes two opposing sidewalls positioned at opposite sides of the width of the main wall. 
   
   
       26 . The drop terminal of  claim 25 , wherein the inner liner includes an end wall that projects outwardly from an end of the main wall. 
   
   
       27 . The drop terminal of  claim 26 , wherein the inner liner includes a tab that extends outwardly from the end wall, the tab being generally parallel to the main wall. 
   
   
       28 . The drop terminal of  claim 26 , wherein the inner liner includes corner notches disposed on opposite sides of the end wall. 
   
   
       29 . A drop terminal comprising:
 a main housing having a front piece and a back piece, the front and back pieces cooperatively defining an interior of the main housing, the main housing defining a cable port;   a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the front piece of the main housing, the fiber optic adapters including inner ports that are accessible from within the interior of the main housing and outer ports that are accessible from outside the main housing;   a fiber optic cable that enters/exits the interior of the main housing through the cable port, the fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers and at least one strength member;   an anchor block to which the at least one strength member of the fiber optic cable is secured, the anchor block being positioned within the interior of the main housing, the anchor block mechanically interlocking with the main housing to secure the fiber optic cable to the main housing; and   an inner liner disposed in the front piece of the main housing, the inner liner covering a majority of the interior defined by the front piece, wherein the inner liner is adapted to retain optical fibers of the fiber optic cable in the front piece during attachment of the back piece.   
   
   
       30 . The drop terminal of  claim 29 , wherein the anchor block includes interlock tabs that fit within a receptacle defined by the front piece of the main housing. 
   
   
       31 . The drop terminal of  claim 29 , wherein the inner liner includes a main wall having a width that is sized to extend generally across a width of the main housing and a length sized to extend along a majority of a length of the main housing. 
   
   
       32 . The drop terminal of  claim 29 , wherein the inner liner is transparent. 
   
   
       33 . The drop terminal of  claim 29 , wherein the inner liner is plastic. 
   
   
       34 . A method for assembling a drop terminal, the method comprising:
 routing optical fibers of a fiber optic cable in an interior of a front piece of a main housing of a drop terminal;   inserting an inner fiber optic connector into an inner port of a fiber optic adapter mounted to the front piece of the main housing;   inserting an inner liner into the interior of the front piece to contain the optical fibers within the interior of the front piece, wherein the inner liner covers a majority of the interior of the front piece; and   mounting a back piece of the main housing to the front piece.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising stripping an end portion of an outer jacket of the fiber optic cable to expose the optical fibers. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising inserting the fiber optic cable within a clamping portion of a cable port defined by the front piece. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising bonding a strength member of the fiber optic cable to an anchor block. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising engaging the anchor block to the front piece of the housing. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the inner liner is transparent. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising inserting a gasket into a recess or groove provided about a perimeter of the front piece.