Fiber management assemblies and network interface devices incorporating such assemblies

Abstract

Fiber management assembly comprises an optical fiber splitter, a splice holding section having a fiber splice device mounted therein, and a slack storage system. The optical fiber splitter, splice holding section and slack storage system are disposed on one of a tray and an interior surface of an enclosure body. In addition, patch panel tray having a patch panel comprising a plurality of adapters mounted thereon is provided, wherein a bare end of a splitter input fiber is routed via the slack storage system to a first end of the splice device, and wherein pre-connectorized splitter output fibers are routed to different adapters of the plurality of adapters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fiber management assembly, comprising:
 an optical fiber splitter;   a splice holding section having a fiber splice device mounted therein, the fiber splice device configured to splice fibers;   a slack storage system, wherein the optical fiber splitter, splice holding section, and slack storage system are disposed on one of a tray and an interior surface of an enclosure body; and   a patch panel tray having a patch panel comprising a plurality of adapters mounted thereon,   wherein a bare end of a splitter input fiber is routed via the slack storage system to a first end of the fiber splice device, and wherein pre-connectorized splitter output fibers are routed to different adapters of the plurality of adapters.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber management assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fiber splice actuation mechanism disposed in the splice holding section, wherein the fiber splice actuation mechanism is capable of actuating the fiber splice device by pressing on the actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber management assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an end of an optical fiber from a drop cable is routed around the slack storage system to a second end of the fiber splice device. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber management assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slack storage system includes at least one fiber stay that is positioned to ensure that a fiber will remain positioned within an unactuated fiber splice device. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber management assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of protective tabs positioned over the slack storage system. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber management assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fiber splice actuation mechanism comprises a flexible cantilevered arm that is integral to the tray. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber management assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a strain relief device that provides strain relief to a drop cable or subscriber cable. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber management tray assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second fiber splice device, wherein the second fiber splice device is securely mounted in the splice holding section. 
     
     
         9 . A network interface device, comprising the fiber management assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A network interface device, comprising:
 an enclosure body; and   a fiber management assembly disposed in the enclosure body, the fiber management assembly comprising:   an optical fiber splitter;   a splice holding section having a fiber splice device mounted therein, the fiber splice device configured to splice fibers;   a slack storage system, wherein the optical fiber splitter, splice holding section and slack storage system are disposed on one of a tray and an interior surface of the enclosure body; and   a patch panel tray having a patch panel comprising a plurality of adapters mounted thereon;   wherein a bare end of a splitter input fiber is routed via the slack storage system to a first end of the fiber splice device, and wherein pre-connectorized splitter output fibers are routed to different adapters of the plurality of adapters.   
     
     
         11 . The network interface device of  claim 10 , further comprising a strain relief device positioned proximate to an entry port of the enclosure body into which a drop cable or subscriber cable can enter the enclosure body. 
     
     
         12 . The network interface device of  claim 10 , further comprising a fiber splice actuation mechanism disposed in the splice holding section, wherein the fiber splice actuation mechanism is capable of actuating the fiber splice device by pressing on the actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The network interface device of  claim 10 , wherein an end of an optical fiber from a drop cable is routed around the slack storage system to a second end of the fiber splice device. 
     
     
         14 . The network interface device of  claim 10 , wherein the slack storage system includes at least one fiber stay that is positioned to ensure that a fiber will remain positioned within an unactuated fiber splice device. 
     
     
         15 . The network interface device of  claim 11 , further comprising a second strain relief device positioned proximate a second entry port into the enclosure body. 
     
     
         16 . The network interface device of  claim 10 , wherein the splice holding section, splitter, and slack storage system are mounted on a tray. 
     
     
         17 . The network interface device of  claim 10 , wherein the splice holding section and slack storage system are formed on an interior surface of the enclosure body. 
     
     
         18 . The network interface device of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber management assembly comprises a first tray, wherein an adapter mounting section, the splice holding section, and slack storage system are mounted on the first tray, and a second tray, wherein a second adapter mounting section, a second splice holding section, and a second slack storage system are mounted on the second tray.