The present invention relates generally to optical fiber distribution boxes. More particularly, the present invention relates to optical fiber distribution boxes having a waterproof or water resistant secure closure mechanism and improved capacity.
Examples of conventional optical fiber distribution boxes (OBDs) have complex water-resistant closure mechanisms and have limited capacity for a given size. ODBs can have complicated input and output glands, no particular way to route cables inside the box, and no scalability of splice trays and splitters. Inline closures and dome closures are heavy and rugged. These closures are very difficult to handle and rework. The rugged and complex outside configuration of many ODBs catches a lot of mud when buried and, as a result, these boxes often have to be washed off in order to work on these boxes comfortably.
There is a need for an optical distribution box that has a simple and secure waterproof or water resistant closure mechanism, has more efficient use of interior space so as to provide more capacity, has an outside design that is less prone to catch mud, and is light weight and simple to handle.
The present disclosure provides a much needed waterproof ODB that provides increased module/tray density in a compact form.
Embodiments are IP68 rated. Embodiments can be used as an inline closure or a dome closure. Embodiments feature standard gland cables which are IP68 rated and commonly used in standard ODBs, inline closures and dome closures, and custom-made pass-through cable gland as in inline closures and Dome closures. Embodiments have predefined routing paths, and plug and play lockable modules for splitters and splices. Embodiments are scalable and can take more density than existing configurations. Embodiments feature sliding clip locks for IP55 protection and have sliding ramps with tool free winged bolts to achieve an IP68 rating. Embodiments feature a 216 B lock, when the clip lock is not required. Embodiments feature a simple screw 216 C lock, clip lock, clip sliding lock, and screw tightening for waterproof IP68 rating. Embodiments use standard glands that are easily available and interchangeable, have specific routing paths for easy routing, lockable and scalable splitter/splicing module for plug and play type operation, and have provision for splitters, splice trays and adapter panels.
Embodiments provide a slide body that when in a fully engaged position presses the cover onto the base to provide a watertight seal between the cover and the base, and an angled mounting bracket that enables connector modules and/or splice trays to be positioned such that the connector modules and/or splice trays are accessible and enables a high module/tray density.
Embodiments provide an optical distribution box having a slide body portion that may be configured to urge a cover portion toward a base portion in a location of a seal portion so as to enhance a watertight seal between the cover portion and the base portion in a fully engaged position of the slide body portion.
Embodiments provide an optical distribution box, comprising: a base portion; a cover portion configured to be attached to the base portion; an engaging portion configured to be slidingly attached to a first one of the base portion and the cover portion; and a securing portion configured to secure the engaging portion to one of the base portion and the cover portion in a fully engaged position. A seal portion may be configured to be located between the cover portion and the base portion; a second one of the base portion and the cover portion may comprise an angled pathway portion; at least a portion of the seal portion may be located between the angled pathway portion and the first one of the base portion and the cover portion; the cover portion may be configured to be hingedly attached to the base portion; the cover portion may be structurally configured to provide access to the interior of the base portion when the cover portion is in an open position; the cover portion may be structurally configured to prevent access to the interior of the base portion when the cover portion is in a closed position; the angled pathway portion may comprise a first portion and a second portion; the angled pathway portion may transition from the first portion to the second portion; the engaging portion may comprise a slide body portion that may be configured to slide from the first portion to the second portion; the slide body portion may comprise an edge portion that may be configured to engage the first portion and the second portion of the angled pathway portion; the slide body portion may be configured to urge the cover portion toward the base portion when the slide body portion is moved from the first portion to the second portion; and the slide body portion may be configured to urge the cover portion toward the base portion in a location of the seal portion so as to enhance a watertight seal between the cover portion and the base portion in the fully engaged position of the slide body portion.
In embodiments, the securing portion may be fixed to the engaging portion.
In embodiments, the securing portion may be configured as an integral part of the engaging portion.
In embodiments, the edge portion of the slide body portion may comprise a first edge portion, and the slide body portion may comprise a second edge portion.
In embodiments, the first one of the base portion and the cover portion may comprise a second edge portion receiving portion that may be configured to receive the second edge portion of the slide body portion.
In embodiments, the second edge portion receiving portion may be configured to permit the second edge portion to rotate relative to the first one of the base portion and the cover portion so as to alternatively position the angled pathway portion between the first edge portion and the second edge portion.
In embodiments, movement of the slide body portion from the first portion to the second portion of the angled pathway portion may compress the seal portion between the cover portion and the base portion.
In embodiments, the optical distribution box may further comprise an angled mounting bracket configured to be attached to an interior of the base portion.
In embodiments, the angled mounting bracket may comprise a base plate configured to be attached to an interior wall of the base, the angled mounting bracket may comprise an angled extension that extends from the base plate at an angle between zero degrees and ninety degrees, and the angled extension may be configured to receive a mount that is configured to receive a plurality of modules and/or trays.
Embodiments provide an optical distribution box, comprising: a base portion; a cover portion configured to be attached to the base portion; an engaging portion configured to be attached to a first one of the base portion and the cover portion; and a seal portion configured to be located between the cover portion and the base portion. A second one of the base portion and the cover portion may comprise an angled pathway portion; at least a portion of the seal portion may be located between the angled pathway portion and the first one of the base portion and the cover portion; the angled pathway portion may transition from a first portion to a second portion; an edge portion of the engaging portion may be configured to engage the first portion and the second portion of the angled pathway portion; the engaging portion may be configured to urge the cover portion toward the base portion when the engaging portion is moved from the first portion to the second portion; and the engaging portion may be configured to urge the cover portion toward the base portion in a location of the seal portion so as to enhance a watertight seal between the cover portion and the base portion in a fully engaged position of the engaging portion.
In embodiments, the optical distribution box may further comprise a securing portion that may be configured to secure the engaging portion to one of the base portion and the cover portion in the fully engaged position.
In embodiments, the cover portion may be configured to be hingedly attached to the base portion.
In embodiments, the cover portion may be structurally configured to provide access to the interior of the base portion when the cover portion is in an open position, and the cover portion may be structurally configured to prevent access to the interior of the base portion when the cover portion is in a closed position.
In embodiments, the engaging portion may comprise a slide body portion configured to slide from the first portion to the second portion of the angled pathway portion.
In embodiments, the slide body portion may comprise an edge portion configured to engage the first portion and the second portion of the angled pathway portion.
In embodiments, the edge portion of the slide body portion may comprise a first edge portion, and the slide body portion may comprise a second edge portion.
In embodiments, the first one of the base portion and the cover portion may comprise a second edge portion receiving portion that may be configured to receive the second edge portion of the slide body portion, and the second edge portion receiving portion may be configured to permit the second edge portion to rotate relative to the first one of the base portion and the cover portion so as to alternatively position the angled pathway portion between the first edge portion and the second edge portion.
Embodiments provide an optical distribution box, comprising: a base portion; a cover portion configured to be attached to the base portion; and an engaging portion configured to be attached to a first one of the base portion and the cover portion. A second one of the base portion and the cover portion may comprise an angled pathway portion; the base portion and the cover portion may be configured to receive a seal portion so that at least a portion of the seal portion is located between the angled pathway portion and the first one of the base portion and the cover portion; the angled pathway portion may transition from a first portion to a second portion; an edge portion of the engaging portion may be configured to engage the first portion and the second portion of the angled pathway portion; and the slide body portion may be configured to urge the cover portion toward the base portion in a location of the seal portion so as to enhance a watertight seal between the cover portion and the base portion.
In embodiments, the first portion is thinner in a first direction than the second portion.
In embodiments, the engaging portion may comprise a slide body portion.
In embodiments, the slide body portion may be configured to urge the cover portion toward the base portion when the slide body portion is moved from the first portion to the second portion.
In embodiments, the optical distribution box further comprises a securing portion that may be configured to secure the engaging portion to one of the base portion and the cover portion in a fully engaged position.
In embodiments, the securing portion may comprise a winged bolt and a nut, the nut is fixed to the slide body portion, and the slide body portion is pulled toward the thick portion of the angled pathway by the securing portion engaging the nut.
In embodiments, the slide body portion may comprise a first edge portion that may be configured to engage the first portion and the second portion of the angled pathway portion, and the slide body portion comprises a second edge portion.
In embodiments, the first one of the base portion and the cover portion may comprise a second edge portion receiving portion that may be configured to receive the second edge portion of the slide body portion, and the second edge portion receiving portion may be configured to permit the second edge portion to rotate relative to the first one of the base portion and the cover portion so as to alternatively position the angled pathway portion between the first edge portion and the second edge portion.
Various aspects of the system, as well as other embodiments, objects, features and advantages of this disclosure, will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments provide an optical distribution box having a slide body portion that may be configured to urge a cover portion toward a base portion in a location of a seal portion so as to enhance a watertight seal between the cover portion and the base portion in a fully engaged position of the slide body portion.
Embodiments provide a slide body that when in a fully engaged position presses the cover onto the base to provide a watertight seal between the cover and the base, and an angled mounting bracket that enables connector modules and/or splice trays to be positioned such that the connector modules and/or splice trays are accessible and enables a high module/tray density.
In this example, the slide clip 210 is symmetrically formed so that the same slide clip 210 can be used regardless of the direction in which is slides to tighten the slide clip 200.
The end plate 230 being configured to be directly secured to the lock plate 260 provides a secure direct locking of the slide body 210 to, in this example, the base 100. This can avoid the need for additional parts, and prevents the sealing mechanism (the slide body 210) from moving relative to the base 100.
Although the illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures will now be evident to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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202321012607 | Feb 2023 | IN | national |
This application claims the benefit of India Provisional Patent Application No. 202321012607, filed Feb. 24, 2023, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/463,585 filed May 3, 2023, which are currently pending, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63463585 | May 2023 | US |