Coreless wound coil dispenser with optional cable storage for an optical terminal network

Abstract

Packaged dispensers mountable to optical network terminals (ONT) are disclosed. In some examples, the dispensers include coreless wound coils and excess storage areas. Additionally, fiber optic cable distribution systems and methods thereof utilizing the disclosed coreless wound coils are further disclosed. In one example, a length of telecommunications cable is wound into a coreless coil that includes a plurality of winding separators at least partially embedded within the coil, wherein the length of telecommunications cable alternately passes on one of the first and second sides of one winding separator and on the other of the first and second sides of an adjacent winding separator. In one example, an initially cylindrically shaped coreless wound coil, with or without winding separators, can be placed into a non-round package in which the wound coil is deformed and compressed by the sidewalls of the package such that the coreless wound coil conforms to the interior perimeter of the package to have a non-cylindrical shape.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for making a ageless wound coil of telecommunications cable, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a mandrel assembly having a longitudinal axis about which the mandrel is rotatable;   b. providing an odd number of at least three winding separators, each of the winding separators having a first side and an opposite second side;   c. securing the winding separators to the mandrel assembly;   d. securing an end of the telecommunications cable to the mandrel;   e. rotating the mandrel assembly to cause the telecommunications cable to be wound about the mandrel to form a wound coil of telecommunications cable; and   f. weaving the telecommunications cable between the winding, separators as the telecommunications cable is being wound onto the mandrel such that the telecommunications cable alternately passes on one of the first and second sides of one winding separator and on the other of the first and second sides of an adjacent winding separator.   
     
     
         12 . The method for making a wound coil of telecommunications cable of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of removing the wound coil of telecommunications cable from the mandrel assembly with the winding separators embedded at least partially within the wound coil of telecommunications cable. 
     
     
         13 . The method of making a wound coil of telecommunications cable of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of placing the wound coil of telecommunications cable into a package to form a packaged coil dispenser. 
     
     
         14 . The method for making a wound coil of telecommunications cable of  claim 11 , wherein the step of providing an odd number of at least three winding separators includes providing one of the winding separators as a payout tube. 
     
     
         15 . The method the making a wound coil of telecommunications cable of  claim 11 , wherein the step of providing an odd number of at least three winding separators includes providing five winding separators. 
     
     
         16 . The method for making a wound coil of telecommunications cable of  claim 11 , further comprising installing a connector onto an end of the telecommunications cable. 
     
     
         17 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for installing a telecommunications distribution system within a building structure, the method including the steps of:
 a. installing a conduit assembly extending through at least two floors of the building structure;   b. providing a wound coil including:
 i. a length of telecommunications cable wound into a coreless coil; and 
 ii. a plurality of winding separators at least partially embedded within the coil wherein the length of telecommunications cable alternately passes on one of the first and second sides of one winding separator and on the other of the first and second sides of an adjacent winding separator; and 
   c. installing the length of telecommunications within the conduit assembly.   
     
     
         20 . A telecommunications distribution system for a building, structure, the telecommunications distribution system comprising:
 a. a conduit assembly extending through at least two floors of the building structure; and   b. a telecommunications cable extending through the conduit assembly, the telecommunications cable being pulled from a wound coil including:
 i. a length of telecommunications cable wound into a coreless coil; and 
 ii. a plurality of winding separators at least partially embedded within the coil wherein the length of telecommunications cable alternately passes on one of the first and second sides of one winding separator and on the other of the first and second sides of an adjacent winding separator. 
   
     
     
         21 .- 29 . (canceled)