Fiber optic adapter module and tray

Abstract

A fiber optic adapter module and tray. The fiber optic adapter module supports fiber optic adapters for fiber optic connections. The fiber optic adapter module may be included on an extendible tray portion of a fiber optic equipment tray and selectively configured to be tilted when extended for providing enhanced access to the fiber optic adapter module. In one embodiment, an adapter module panel of the fiber optic adapter module that supports fiber optic adapters contains at least two forward facing panel surfaces angled to one another to provide more surface area for supporting a higher density of fiber optic adapters and/or for neat routing and organizing of fiber optic connections. One or more fourth flared panel surfaces may also be included on an end(s) of the adapter module panel to provide sufficient interior space for fiber optic connections adjacent or proximate to sides of the fiber optic equipment tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fiber optic adapter module tray, comprising:
 at least one fixed receiver;   an extendible tray coupled to the at least one fixed receiver and selectively extendible from an interior position within the at least one fixed receiver to an exterior position generally external to the at least one fixed receiver;   wherein the extendible tray further includes a pivot mechanism configured to selectively tilt the extendible tray about a pivot plane at a tilt angle relative to the at least one fixed receiver; and   a fiber optic adapter module coupled to the extendible tray, wherein the fiber optic adapter module comprises:
 a housing including a cover spanning a first and second side walls and an adapter module panel supporting a plurality of fiber optic adapters; and 
 wherein the adapter module panel comprises a first and second forward facing surfaces angled to one another. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 1 , wherein the first forward facing surface is aligned along a first longitudinal axis, and the second forward facing surface is aligned along a second longitudinal axis intersecting with the first longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 2 , wherein the first longitudinal axis intersects with the second longitudinal axis proximate a centerline of the housing parallel to the first and second side walls. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 2 , wherein the adapter module panel further includes a third flared surface angled relative to the first forward facing surface and extending between the first forward facing surface and the first side wall. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 4 , wherein the third flared surface is aligned along a third longitudinal axis intersecting with the first longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 5 , wherein the adapter module panel further includes a fourth flared surface aligned along a fourth longitudinal axis intersecting with the second longitudinal axis and extending between the second forward facing surface and the second side wall. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 6 , wherein the adapter module panel further includes a fifth surface aligned along a fifth longitudinal axis intersecting with the first and second longitudinal axes and connected between first forward facing surface and the second forward facing surface. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixed receiver supports a first sliding rail configured to extend traversely from the at least one fixed receiver;
 wherein the extendible tray is coupled to the at least one fixed receiver via coupling to the first sliding rail.   
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt angle is an angle between approximately one (1) and ninety (90) degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 8 , wherein the extendible tray is connected to a second sliding rail which is connected to and extendible from the first sliding rail such that the extendible tray is selectively extendible from the at least one fixed receiver and the first sliding rail. 
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 10 , wherein the extendible tray is selectively and independently extendible from the at least one fixed receiver and the first sliding rail. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 10 , wherein the extendible tray includes a locking mechanism located a distance adjacent to the pivot mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is comprised of a plunger attached to the extendible tray that is configured to engage the second sliding rail. 
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 1 , wherein the extendible tray includes a locking mechanism located a distance adjacent to the pivot mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 13 , wherein the extendible tray is configured to be selectively titled about the pivot plane at the tilt angle when the locking mechanism is released. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 1 , wherein the extendible tray further comprises a bottom surface connected across the first and second side walls and a front surface connected to the bottom surface and connected to the first and second side walls at a substantially perpendicular plane thereby defining an interior tray space between the first and second side walls and the front surface. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one optical spool disposed within the interior tray space between the front surface and the fiber optic adapter module and extending a height above the bottom surface. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one optical spool is retractable down to a plane substantially co-planar with the bottom surface of the extendible tray. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 17 , wherein the front surface comprises a door adapted to lower to a plane substantially co-planar with the bottom surface. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one multi-fiber adapter disposed in the housing and optically coupled to the plurality of fiber optic adapters via a plurality of optical paths formed by a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The fiber optic adapter module tray of  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of fiber pairs are formed by the plurality of optical fibers disposed within the housing, wherein at least one of the plurality of fiber pairs are interconnected with at least two of the plurality of optical paths, the at least two of the plurality of optical paths selected from the plurality of optical paths not being immediately adjacent to each other.