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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An anchor block to secure an optical fiber cable to a surface, the anchor block comprising:
 a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, the body defining a central groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the body, a first side groove at one side of the central groove, and a second side groove at an opposite side of the central groove, the central groove leading to a fanout channel that tapers outwardly along the longitudinal axis of the body towards the first end of the body; and   a plurality of interlock tabs disposed at the second end of the body, each of the interlock tabs projecting outwardly away from the longitudinal axis the body, each of the interlock tabs defining an abutment surface facing towards the first end of the body.   
     
     
         3 . The anchor block of  claim 2 , wherein the interlock tabs are integral with the body. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor block of  claim 2 , wherein a cross-dimension of the body at the interlock tabs is wider than a cross-dimension of the body at any other location along the longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor block of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second side grooves extend parallel to the central groove. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor block of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second side grooves abut the central groove. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor block of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second side grooves are sized to receive strength members of the optical fiber cable. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor block of  claim 2 , wherein the central groove is sized to receive a central buffer tube of the optical fiber cable. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor block of  claim 2 , further comprising a divider that is configured to be positioned at the first end of the body, the divider being configured to individually receive a plurality of optical fibers of the optical fiber cable. 
     
     
         10 . The anchor block of  claim 9 , wherein the divider defines a plurality of holes, each hole being configured to receive one of the optical fibers of the optical fiber cable. 
     
     
         11 . The anchor block of  claim 9 , wherein a securing material is disposed in the fanout channel after the optical fibers are received by the divider. 
     
     
         12 . A mechanical interlock arrangement that secures an optical cable to a surface, the mechanical interlock arrangement comprising:
 a receptacle structure disposed at the surface, the receptacle structure defining a first receptacle and a second receptacle that are accessible along an insertion direction; and   an anchor block extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, the second end including a first interlock tab and a second interlock tab that extend outwardly from the anchor block in opposite directions, the interlock tabs being sized and configured to be received in the interlock receptacles along the insertion direction, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the anchor block, the anchor block being configured to fixedly receive strength members of the optical cable and to separate out optical fibers of the optical cable so that individual ones of the optical fibers extend out from the first end of the anchor block.   
     
     
         13 . The mechanical interlock arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the forms part of an interior surface of an enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The mechanical interlock arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the enclosure forms a drop terminal including adapters. 
     
     
         15 . The mechanical interlock arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the anchor block defines a central groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the anchor block, the central groove being sized to receive a buffer tube of the optical cable. 
     
     
         16 . The mechanical interlock arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the anchor block defines a plurality of side grooves at which the strength members can be fixed with adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The mechanical interlock arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein the central groove and side grooves are recessed inwardly from the second end of the anchor block. 
     
     
         18 . The mechanical interlock arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the anchor block defines a jacket receiving channel that extends between the second end of the anchor block and the grooves. 
     
     
         19 . The mechanical interlock arrangement of  claim 15 , further comprising a divider disposed at the first end of the anchor block, the divider defining holes that receive the individual ones of the optical fibers. 
     
     
         20 . The mechanical interlock arrangement of  claim 19 , wherein the anchor block defines a fanout channel that extends from the central groove to the divider. 
     
     
         21 . The mechanical interlock arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second receptacles align along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the anchor block.