Telecommunications connection device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications connection device. The device including a housing, a plurality of single-fiber connectorized pigtails that extend outwardly from the housing and a multi-fiber connectorized pigtail that extends outwardly from the housing. The multi-fiber connectorized pigtail can be optically coupled with the single fiber connectorized pigtails. The device can include optical fibers routed from the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail through the housing to the single-fiber connectorized pigtails. The single-fiber connectorized pigtails can be more flexible than the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A telecommunications connection device comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of single-fiber connectorized pigtails that extend outwardly from the housing;   a multi-fiber connectorized pigtail that extends outwardly from the housing, the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail being optically coupled with the single fiber connectorized pigtails; and   the housing having a planform defining a planform area, the housing defining a through-hole that extends through the housing in a direction transverse to the planform area, the through-hole defining a through-hole area that is at least 5 percent as large as the planform area.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the single fiber connectorized pigtails project outwardly from the housing in a first direction, and wherein the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail projects outwardly from the housing in the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the single fiber connectorized pigtails include ruggedized single fiber optical connectors and the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail includes a ruggedized multi-fiber optical connector. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the ruggedized single fiber optical connectors include coupling nuts and dust caps that attach to the coupling nuts by threaded connections, the dust caps covering interface ends of the ruggedized single fiber optical connectors, the interface ends including ferrules supporting end portions of optical fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the coupling nuts are rotatably mounted on main bodies of the ruggedized single fiber optical connectors, and wherein seals are mounted around the main bodies that engage the dust caps when the dust caps are covering the interface ends of the ruggedized single fiber optical connectors. 
     
     
         6 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail includes a first cable and a multi-fiber optical connector secured to a free end of the first cable, wherein the single-fiber connectorized pigtails include second cables and single-fiber optical connectors secured to free ends of the second cables, and wherein the second cables are each more flexible than the first cable. 
     
     
         7 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 6 , wherein the second cables have round transverse cross-sectional profiles and the first cable has an elongated transverse cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         8 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 7 , wherein the second cable have strength members including aramid yarn, and wherein the first cable includes two strength members each including an epoxy rod reinforced by fiber rovings. 
     
     
         9 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 8 , wherein the strength members of the first cable and the strength members of the second cable are anchored to the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 6 , wherein the multi-fiber optical connector includes a threaded coupler adapted mechanically to couple the multi-fiber optical connector to a structure selected from the group consisting of: a mating connector; a fiber optic adapter; and a dust cap. 
     
     
         11 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 6 , wherein the single-fiber optical connectors include threaded coupler adapted mechanically to couple the single-fiber optical connectors to structures selected from the group consisting of: mating connectors; fiber optic adapters; and dust caps. 
     
     
         12 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 6 , wherein the multi-fiber optical connector and the single-fiber optical connectors include environmental seals. 
     
     
         13 . The telecommunications device of  claim 1 , further comprising a boot attached to the housing that projects outwardly from the housing, the boot providing bend radius protection to the single-fiber connectorized pigtails, the boot being more flexible than the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The telecommunications device of  claim 13 , wherein all of the single-fiber connectorized pigtails are routed through the boot. 
     
     
         15 . The telecommunications device of  claim 14 , wherein the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail is not routed through the boot. 
     
     
         16 . The telecommunications device of  claim 1 , wherein optical fibers are routed from the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail through the housing to the single-fiber connectorized pigtails. 
     
     
         17 . The telecommunications device of  claim 16 , wherein the optical fibers include optical splices within the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The telecommunications device of  claim 16 , wherein the optical fibers are routed at least partially around the through-hole. 
     
     
         19 . The telecommunications device of  claim 18 , wherein the optical fibers are routed at least 90 degrees around the through-hole. 
     
     
         20 . The telecommunications device of  claim 18 , wherein the optical fibers are routed at least 180 degrees about the through-hole. 
     
     
         21 . The telecommunications device of  claim 18 , wherein the optical fibers are routed at least 270 degrees about the through-hole. 
     
     
         22 . The telecommunications device of  claim 18 , wherein the optical fibers are routed at least 360 degrees about the through-hole. 
     
     
         23 . The telecommunications device of  claim 18 , wherein the optical fibers are routed between an interior side wall defining the through-hole and an exterior side wall of the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The telecommunications device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a major front side, a major back side, an exterior side wall that extends between the major front and back sides and along an exterior boundary defining the planform of the housing, and an interior side wall that defines the through-hole and extends between the major front and back sides. 
     
     
         25 . The telecommunications device of  claim 24 , wherein the exterior side wall defines a pigtail opening through which the single-fiber connectorized pigtails are routed, and wherein a flexible boot provides fiber bend radius protection to the single-fiber connectorized pigtails adjacent the pigtail opening. 
     
     
         26 . The telecommunications device of  claim 25 , further comprising a cable anchoring panel positioned adjacent to the pigtail opening for anchoring strength members of the single-fiber connectorized pigtails to the housing. 
     
     
         27 . The telecommunications device of  claim 1 , wherein the through-hole area is at least 10 percent as large as the planform area. 
     
     
         28 . The telecommunications device of  claim 1 , wherein the through-hole area is at least 20 percent as large as the planform area. 
     
     
         29 . The telecommunications device of  claim 1 , wherein the single-fiber connectorized pigtails are longer than the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail. 
     
     
         30 . The telecommunications device of  claim 1 , wherein the single-fiber connectorized pigtails have connectorized ends that are staggered relative to one another. 
     
     
         31 . The telecommunications device of  claim 30 , wherein the connectorized ends of the single-fiber connectorized pigtails include single fiber connectors having connector lengths, and wherein a stagger length of the single-fiber connectorized pigtails is at least 50 percent of the connector length. 
     
     
         32 . The telecommunications device of  claim 30 , wherein the connectorized ends of the single-fiber connectorized pigtails include single fiber connectors having connector lengths, and wherein a stagger length of the single-fiber connectorized pigtails is at least 75 percent of the connector length. 
     
     
         33 . The telecommunications device of  claim 30 , wherein the connectorized ends of the single-fiber connectorized pigtails include single fiber connectors having connector lengths, and wherein a stagger length of the single-fiber connectorized pigtails is equal to at least the connector length. 
     
     
         34 . A telecommunications connection device comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of single-fiber connectorized pigtails that extend outwardly from the housing;   a multi-fiber connectorized pigtail that extends outwardly from the housing, the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail being optically coupled with the single fiber connectorized pigtails;   optical fibers routed from the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail through the housing to the single-fiber connectorized pigtails; and   the single-fiber connectorized pigtails being more flexible than the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail.   
     
     
         35 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 34 , wherein the single-fiber connectorized pigtails include strength members which provide tensile reinforcement without providing compressive reinforcement, and the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail includes a strength member that provides both tensile and compressive reinforcement. 
     
     
         36 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 35 , wherein the strength members of the single fiber connectorized pigtails include aramid yarn, and wherein the strength member of the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail includes a reinforcing rod. 
     
     
         37 . A telecommunications connection device comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of single-fiber connectorized pigtails that extend outwardly from the housing;   a multi-fiber connectorized pigtail that extends outwardly from the housing, the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail being optically coupled with the single fiber connectorized pigtails;   the housing defining a through-hole that extends through the housing; and   optical fibers routed from the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail through the housing to the single-fiber connectorized pigtails, the optical fibers being routed at least partially around the through-hole.   
     
     
         38 . The telecommunications device of  claim 37 , wherein the optical fibers are routed at least 90 degrees around the through-hole. 
     
     
         39 . The telecommunications device of  claim 37 , wherein the optical fibers are routed at least 180 degrees about the through-hole. 
     
     
         40 . The telecommunications device of  claim 37 , wherein the optical fibers are routed at least 270 degrees around the through-hole. 
     
     
         41 . The telecommunications device of  claim 37 , wherein the optical fibers are routed at least 360 degrees about the through-hole. 
     
     
         42 . A telecommunications connection device comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of single-fiber connectorized pigtails that extend outwardly from the housing;   a multi-fiber connectorized pigtail that extends outwardly from the housing, the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail being optically coupled with the single fiber connectorized pigtails;   the housing defining a through-hole that extends through the housing;   the housing having a major front side, a major back side, an exterior side wall that extends between the major front and back sides and along an exterior boundary defining a planform of the housing, and an interior side wall that defines the through-hole and extends between the major front and back sides; and   optical fibers routed from the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail through the housing to the single-fiber connectorized pigtails, the optical fibers being routed between the exterior side wall and the interior side wall.   
     
     
         43 . A telecommunications connection device comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of single-fiber connectorized pigtails that extend outwardly from the housing; wherein the single-fiber connectorized pigtails include cables and single-fiber optical connectors are secured to free ends of the cables;   a multi-fiber connectorized pigtail that extends outwardly from the housing, the multi-fiber connectorized pigtail being optically coupled with the single fiber connectorized pigtails;   the single-fiber connectorized pigtails have connectorized ends that are staggered adjacent to one another such that a stagger length is achieved relative to an adjacent connectorized end; the stagger length being defined as a distance measured from a boot tail of a single-fiber connectorized end having a first stagger length to a boot tail of an adjacent single-fiber connectorized end having a second stagger length;   the connectorized ends of the single-fiber connectorized pigtails include single-fiber optical connectors, wherein the single-fiber optical connectors include threaded couplers adapted mechanically to couple the single-fiber optical connectors to another connector to form mating connectors; the mating connectors including a male connector and a female connector; and   the mating connectors having a coupled length defined by a distance measured from a boot tail of the male mating connector to a boot tail of the female mating connector;   wherein the stagger length of the single-fiber connectorized ends is greater than or equal to the coupled length of the mating connectors.   
     
     
         44 . A telecommunications connection device comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of multi-fiber connectorized output pigtails that extend outwardly from the housing, the multi-fiber connectorized output pigtails including output cables and multi-fiber output connectors that are secured to the free ends of the output cables; and   multi-fiber input connectors that are optically coupled to the plurality of multi-fiber connectorized pigtails.   
     
     
         45 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 44 , wherein the multi-fiber input connectors each terminate an end of a multi-fiber connectorized input pigtail that extends from the housing. 
     
     
         46 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 45 , wherein the multi-fiber output connectors and the multi-fiber input connectors have ruggedized, outdoor constructions with coupling elements including threaded couplers or bayonet-style couplers. 
     
     
         47 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 46 , wherein the multi-fiber input connectors and the multi-fiber output connectors are environmentally sealed when coupled to corresponding connectors and/or ports. 
     
     
         48 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 46 , wherein the telecommunications connection device is incorporated into a fiber-to-the-antenna network. 
     
     
         49 . The telecommunications connection device of  claim 44 , wherein the multi-fiber output connectors include ODC connectors.