Methods and systems for distributing fiber optic telecommunications services to local area

Abstract

A fiber optic drop terminal assembly includes a housing, a spool and a fiber optic distribution cable. The housing has a first exterior surface and an oppositely disposed second exterior surface. A plurality of ruggedized adapters is mounted on the first exterior surface of the housing. The ruggedized adapters include a first port accessible from outside the housing and a second port accessible from inside the housing. The spool is engaged with the second exterior surface and includes a drum portion. The fiber distribution cable is coiled around the drum portion. The distribution cable includes a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The second end is disposed inside the housing.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A fiber optic terminal assembly comprising:
 a spool including first and second radial flanges and a first cable storage section positioned axially between the first and second flanges;   a fiber optic cable adapted to be coiled about the first cable storage section between the first and second radial flanges;   a terminal device mounted on the spool, the terminal device including a housing that has a stepped face including a plurality of steps, the plurality of steps defining a plurality of exterior adapter ports that are accessible from outside of the housing and a plurality of interior adapter ports accessible from inside the housing; and   a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted at the plurality of exterior adapter ports, the plurality of fiber optic adapters each including a first end and a second end, the first ends of the plurality of fiber optic adapters configured to receive first fiber optic connectors from inside an interior of the housing, and the second ends of the plurality of fiber optic adapters forming connection locations configured to receive second fiber optic connectors from outside the housing;   wherein the spool rotates about a central spool axis when the fiber optic cable is dispensed from the spool, and wherein the terminal device is carried with the spool such that when the fiber optic cable is dispensed from the spool, the spool and the terminal device rotate in unison with one another.   
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic terminal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the terminal device includes first and second housing pieces. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic terminal assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising an environmental seal positioned between the first and second housing pieces of the terminal device, wherein the environmental seal extends generally about a perimeter of an interior defined by the first and second housing pieces. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic terminal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fiber optic adapters are mounted at an oblique angle relative to a plane that extends through a central longitudinal axis of the housing and across a width of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic terminal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first radial flange of the spool defines a cable transition notch located at an outer peripheral edge of the first radial flange. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic terminal assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the fiber optic cable is adapted to be routed from the housing and through the cable transition notch to the first cable storage section of the spool. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic terminal assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a central passage that extends axially through the spool, the central passage being configured to receive a mandrel about which the terminal device and the spool rotate in unison. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic terminal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the spool includes a second cable storage section coaxially aligned with the first cable storage section. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic terminal assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the terminal device mounts adjacent to the second cable storage section. 
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic terminal assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first cable storage section has a larger cable storage capacity than the second cable storage section. 
     
     
         12 . A fiber optic cable assembly comprising:
 a spool including a plurality of axially spaced-apart flanges that respectively define first and second discrete cable storage locations, the first and second discrete cable storage locations being coaxially aligned, the first discrete cable storage location having a larger cable storage capacity than the second discrete cable storage location;   a fiber optic cable coiled within each of the first and second discrete cable storage locations; and   a terminal device mounted adjacent to the second discrete cable storage location, the terminal device including a housing that has a stepped face including a plurality of steps, the plurality of steps defining a plurality of exterior adapter ports that are accessible from outside of the housing and a plurality of interior adapter ports accessible from inside the housing;   wherein one of the plurality of axially spaced-apart flanges defines a cable transition notch located at an outer peripheral edge; and   wherein the terminal device rotates in unison with the spool as the fiber optic cables are dispensed from the spool.   
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic cable assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted at the plurality of exterior adapter ports, the plurality of fiber optic adapters each including a first end and a second end. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber optic cable assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first ends of the plurality of fiber optic adapters are configured to receive first fiber optic connectors from inside an interior of the housing, and the second ends of the plurality of fiber optic adapters form connection locations configured to receive second fiber optic connectors from outside the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic cable assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the terminal device includes first and second housing pieces. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic cable assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising an environmental seal positioned between the first and second housing pieces of the terminal device, wherein the environmental seal extends generally about a perimeter of an interior defined by the first and second housing pieces. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic cable assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fiber optic adapters are mounted at an oblique angle relative to a plane that extends through a central longitudinal axis of the housing and across a width of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic cable assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a central passage that extends axially through the spool, the central passage being configured to receive a mandrel about which the terminal device and the spool rotate in unison.