Fiber optic management device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic closure which comprises a tray, a fiber optic adapter arranged on the tray, an output fiber optic connector and an input fiber optic connector inserted into both sides of the fiber optic adapter, and a fiber optic management device configured to accommodate an overlength portion of an output fiber optic connected to the output fiber optic connector. The fiber optic management device comprises a closure fixing part and a fiber optic storage which are mutually connected, the closure fixing part being provided for fixing the fiber optic storage into the fiber optic closure and the fiber optic storage being provided for accommodating the overlength portion of the output fiber optic. The present fiber optic management device can individually store the overlength portion of each of the internal optical fibers, thereby preventing the problem of stacking and entanglement of a plurality of internal optical fibers. In addition, the present fiber optic management device can be placed inside the fiber optic closure and no change needs to be made to the internal structure of the existing fiber optic closure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fiber optic assembly comprising:
 a fiber optic management device including a connector fixing portion and a spool portion, the connector fixing portion having a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall, wherein the first and second walls form a channel-shaped opening with a back wall extending therebetween, the first wall, the second wall, and the back wall each having a proximal end and a distal end;   wherein the first and second walls each include an inner surface with an inwardly inclined slope at the distal end thereof, and wherein the first and second walls each include a snap-fit connection arrangement adjacent the inwardly inclined slope for removably mounting a fiber optic connector within the connector fixing portion.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the snap-fit connection arrangement includes first and second projections that extend outwardly from the inner surface of the first and second walls, respectively, and wherein a recess is respectively defined in the inner surface of the first and second walls between the first and second projections. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spool portion is configured to accommodate an overlength portion of a fiber optic cable of the fiber optic connector. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the spool portion includes an outer circumferential wall and a drum positioned on an interior surface of the spool portion for coiling the overlength portion of the fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the outer circumferential wall of the spool portion is connected with only the first wall of the connector fixing portion, the outer circumferential wall being integrally formed at the proximal end of the first wall. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the interior surface of the spool portion is integrally formed with the back wall of the connector fixing portion and extends therefrom such that the spool portion is not positioned within the channel-shaped opening of the connector fixing portion. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a closure plate provided at the distal end of one of the first and second walls and opposite to the back wall. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the drum and the closure plate generally extend in opposite directions relative to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the connector fixing portion, the spool portion, and the closure plate are integrally formed as one piece. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the snap-fit connection arrangement is configured to prevent transverse and vertical movement of the fiber optic connector relative to the fiber optic management device. 
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the spool portion includes a handle on the outer circumferential wall. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber optic assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the spool portion includes tabs integrally formed on the outer circumferential wall and the drum to prevent removal of the overlength portion of the fiber optic cable from the spool. 
     
     
         13 . A storage element comprising:
 a connector fixing portion and a spool portion;   wherein the connector fixing portion has a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall, wherein the first and second walls form a channel-shaped opening with a back wall extending therebetween, the first wall, the second wall, and the back wall each having a proximal end and a distal end;   wherein the first and second walls each include an inner surface with an inwardly inclined slope at the distal end thereof, and a recess respectively defined in the inner surface of the first and second walls adjacent the inwardly inclined slope;   wherein the first and second walls each include first and second projections that extend outwardly from the inner surface of the first and second walls, respectively, and wherein the first and second projections of the first and second walls are respectively positioned on opposite sides of the recess; and   wherein the first and second projections and the recess together define a snap-fit connection arrangement configured for removably mounting a fiber optic connector within the connector fixing portion.   
     
     
         14 . The storage element of  claim 13 , wherein the spool portion is configured to accommodate an overlength portion of a fiber optic cable of the fiber optic connector and wherein the spool portion includes an outer circumferential wall and a drum positioned on an interior surface of the spool portion for coiling the overlength portion of the fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         15 . The storage element of  claim 14 , wherein the interior surface of the spool portion is integrally formed with the back wall of the connector fixing portion and extends therefrom such that the spool portion is not positioned within the channel-shaped opening of the connector fixing portion. 
     
     
         16 . The storage element of  claim 13 , wherein the connector fixing portion and the spool portion are integrally formed as one piece. 
     
     
         17 . The storage element of  claim 13 , wherein the snap-fit connection arrangement is configured to prevent transverse and vertical movement of the fiber optic connector relative to the storage element. 
     
     
         18 . The storage element of  claim 14 , wherein the spool portion includes a handle on the outer circumferential wall. 
     
     
         19 . The storage element of  claim 14 , wherein the spool portion includes tabs integrally formed on the outer circumferential wall and the drum to prevent removal of the overlength portion of the fiber optic cable from the spool. 
     
     
         20 . A fiber optic management device comprising:
 a closure fixing portion and a spool portion;   the closure fixing portion being arranged on an outer circumferential wall of the spool portion, the closure fixing portion including a tray engaging part that protrudes outwardly from an outer surface of the outer circumferential wall;   wherein the tray engaging part includes an engaging body and a protruding portion that protrudes transversely from a lower part of the engaging body, the protruding portion being configured to engage a groove of a tray surface of a fiber optic closure so as to fix the fiber optic management device to the fiber optic closure.