Integrated Fiber Optic Cable Fan-Out Connector

Abstract

An integral fan-out connector assembly for fiber optic cables includes a connector housing that provides an integrated fan-out housing and connection adapter. The fan-out connector housing may be configured with a variety of cable adapters, and may be installed as a ‘plug and play’ type solution where it will be ready to accept a feed cable for use when needed. A bracket may support the fan-out system on a support structure as a pole. The bracket can facilitate plug-and-play use of the fan-out system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mounting bracket for supporting a fiber optic fan-out system, the mounting bracket comprising;
 a pigtail connector holder configured to hold a plurality of pigtail connectors of the fiber optic fan-out system at spaced apart locations along the pigtail connector holder; and   a fan-out housing holder configured to hold a fan-out housing of the fiber optic fan-out system, the fan-out housing holder defining a keyhole slot that extends generally in plane, the keyhole slot having a longitudinal axis located on the plane and having a first portion and a second portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the first portion having a first maximum inner dimension along a transverse axis located on the plane and oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis, the second portion having a second maximum inner dimension along the transverse axis, the first inner dimension being greater than the second inner dimension such that an enlarged portion of the fan-out housing is passable through the first portion of the keyhole slot by movement of the fan-out housing relative to the fan-out housing holder along an insertion axis transverse to the plane of the keyhole slot, the fan-out housing being slidable along the longitudinal axis from the first portion of the keyhole slot to the second portion of the keyhole slot after the enlarged portion passes through the first portion of the key hole slot along the insertion axis, wherein the fan-out housing holder is sized and arranged to seat the enlarged portion of the fan-out housing and thereby hold the fan-out housing on the mounting bracket when the fan-out housing slides along the longitudinal axis to the second portion of the keyhole slot.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a first clamp and a second clamp, the pigtail connector holder being supported on the first clamp and the fan-out housing holder being supported on the second clamp. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second clamps comprises a strap configured to extend around a pole. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the pigtail connector holder comprises a plurality of mounting plates at spaced apart locations along the strap of the first clamp. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein each mounting plate comprises a hole for receiving one of (i) one of the pigtail connectors, (ii) an adapter for mating with one of the pigtail connectors, and (iii) an in-line connector for mating with one of the pigtail connectors. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises a holder part formed from a single monolithic piece of material, the holder part including the pigtail connector holder and the fan-out housing holder. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the holder part has opposite first and second longitudinal edge margins and a plurality of bends extending along parallel bend lines extending from the first longitudinal edge margin to the second longitudinal edge margin. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of bends define a plurality of offset pigtail connection facets along the pigtail connector holder, each offset pigtail connection facet extending in a different plane and defining at least one hole for receiving one of (i) one of the pigtail connectors, (ii) an adapter for mating with one of the pigtail connectors, and (iii) an in-line connector for mating with one of the pigtail connectors. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the planes of each of the plurality of offset pigtail connection facets are generally parallel. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the fan-out housing holder forms a lower end wall of the holder part and the holder part further comprises an upper end wall generally parallel to the lower end wall, wherein the pigtail connector holder is located between the upper end wall and the lower end wall, wherein one of the plurality of bends comprises a lower outboard bend that connects the lower end wall to the pigtail connector holder and another of the plurality of bends comprises an upper outboard bend that connects the upper end wall to the pigtail connector holder. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the holder part further comprises an upper flange and a lower flange, wherein the plurality of bends further comprise an upper inboard bend and a lower inboard bend, the upper inboard bend connecting the upper end wall to the upper flange, the lower inboard bend connecting the lower end wall to the lower flange. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising an upper pole clamp and a lower pole clamp, the upper and lower pole clamps configured to couple to the upper and lower flanges, respectively, to clamp the mounting bracket onto a pole. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the holder part further comprises an upper pole grip and a lower pole grip, wherein the plurality of bends further comprises a top bend and a bottom bend, the top bend connecting the upper flange to the upper pole grip and the bottom bend connecting the lower flange to the lower pole grip. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the holder part has a first end margin and an opposite second end margin, each of the first and second edge margins having a concave recess, the upper pole grip defining the first end margin and the lower pole grip defining the second end margin. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a holder part including the pigtail connector holder, the fan-out housing holder, and a support arm connecting the pigtail connector holder to the fan-out housing holder in spaced apart relation therewith. 
     
     
         16 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the support arm has an inverted J-shaped configuration including a first segment that extends from the fan-out housing holder in a first direction, a second segment extending from the first segment in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and a third segment extending from the second segment in a third direction generally opposite the first direction, the pigtail connector holder being affixed to the third segment of the support arm in an orientation that is generally parallel to the first segment of the support arm. 
     
     
         17 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the holder part is formed from a single monolithic piece of material. 
     
     
         18 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising a back plate and at least one strut connecting the support arm to the back plate such that support arm is spaced apart from the back plate in a direction perpendicular to the back plate. 
     
     
         19 . The mounting bracket as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising a cable hanger extending from one of the back plate and the support arm toward the other of the back plate and the support arm, the cable hanger configured such that cabling of the fiber optic fan-out system can be looped around the cable hanger whereby the cable hanger is configured to support the looped cabling on the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         20 . A plug and play mounting assembly comprising:
 a fan-out adapter configured to accept an optical fiber at first end,   the fan-out adapter having a break-out gland to plural fiber optic cables with a fiber optic connector attached thereto at a distal end of each cable;   an outdoor connector securing within it the fiber optic connector,   a connector mounting panel including spaced apart connector mounting holes,   the outdoor connector being secured within one of the connector mounting holes,   wherein the connector mounting panels are offset from one another to allow access to the outdoor connector.   
     
     
         21 . A cell-tower cable management system, comprising:
 a fan-out assembly with a multi-feeder fiber optic cable secured to first end of a plug frame housing;   a cable gland at a second end with a plural of fiber optic cable extending from the cable gland, each fiber optic cable having an optical fiber therein;   the optical fiber spliced to one of the multi-feeder fiber optic cable optical fiber at a first end,   an outdoor rated connector is terminated at a second end of the optical fiber forming a pigtail assembly,   outdoor rated connector has a locking ring that secures the pigtail assembly to a port formed within in bracket, and wherein the bracket is formed of a plural of folded plate sections, the plate sections are compact to maximize space usage on a cell-tower.