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 . An anchor block assembly for fanning out optical fibers of a fiber optic cable comprising:
 an anchor block having:
 a main body including a first end and a second end, the main body defining a central groove, a first side groove and a second side groove, the first and second side grooves being disposed on opposite sides of the central groove, the main body defining a fan-out channel that extends from the central groove to the first end, the fan-out channel having a width that widens as the fan-out channel extends from the central groove to the first end; 
 a divider disposed in the fan-out channel at the first end, the divider defining a plurality of openings; 
   a fiber optic cable secured to the anchor block, the fiber optic cable including:
 a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the central groove and the fan-out channel of the main body, the plurality of optical fibers being routed through the openings of the divider, the plurality of optical fibers being secured to the central groove by a securing material; and 
 strength members disposed in the first and second side grooves of the main body, the strength members being secured to the first and second grooves by the securing material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the main body includes first and second interlock tabs that project outwardly from the main body in opposite directions. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the optical fibers are contained within a central buffer tube of the fiber optic cable and extend from an end of the central buffer tube through the fan-out channel to the divider. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the central buffer tube is disposed in the central groove. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the central buffer tube and the strength members are disposed within an outer jacket of the fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second grooves of the main body of the anchor block are parallel to the central groove of the main body. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the strength members are epoxy reinforced glass roving. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the main body is adapted to be mechanically retained to a main housing of an enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the main body is adapted to receive fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . An anchor block assembly for fanning out optical fibers of a fiber optic cable comprising:
 an anchor block having:
 a main body including a first end and a second end, the second end including first and second interlock tabs that project outwardly from the main body in opposite directions; 
 the main body defining a central groove, a first side groove and a second side groove, the first and second side grooves being disposed on opposite sides of the central groove; 
 the main body defining a fan-out channel that extends from the central groove to the first end, the fan-out channel having a width that widens as the fan-out channel extends from the central groove to the first end; 
 a divider disposed in the fan-out channel at the first end, the divider defining a plurality of openings; 
   a fiber optic cable secured to the anchor block, the fiber optic cable including:
 a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the central groove and the fan-out channel of the main body, the plurality of optical fibers being routed through the openings of the divider, the plurality of optical fibers being secured to the central groove by a securing material; and 
 strength members disposed in the first and second side grooves of the main body, the strength members being secured to the first and second grooves by a securing material. 
   
     
     
         11 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the optical fibers are contained within a central buffer tube of the fiber optic cable and extend from an end of the central buffer tube through the fan-out channel to the divider. 
     
     
         12 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the central buffer tube is disposed in the central groove. 
     
     
         13 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the central buffer tube and the strength members are disposed within an outer jacket of the fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         14 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the strength members are epoxy reinforced glass roving. 
     
     
         15 . The anchor block assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the strength members are aramid yarns. 
     
     
         16 . A method for securing a fiber optic cable to an enclosure, the method comprising:
 routing optical fibers of a fiber optic cable from a central groove of a main body of an anchor block through a fan-out channel of the main body and through openings defined by a divider disposed in the fan-out channel of the main body, wherein a width of the fan-out channel gradually widens as the fan-out channel extends from the central groove;   positioning strength members of the fiber optic cable in first and second grooves of the main body of the anchor block, the first and second grooves being parallel to the central groove;   securing the strength members in the first and second grooves with an adhesive;   securing the optical fibers in the fan-out channel with an adhesive; and   mechanically securing the main body of the anchor block to an enclosure.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the main body includes first and second interlock tabs that project outwardly from the main body in opposite directions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the strength members are epoxy reinforced glass roving. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the optical fibers are contained within a central buffer tube of the fiber optic cable and extend from an end of the central buffer tube through the fan-out channel to the divider. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the central buffer tube is disposed in the central groove.