EP0331402A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Splice tray
Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
•
Filing: 1989-02-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-02-27
Abstract
Abstract An optic fibre splice tray (Figure 1A) is provided with reels (3, 4,) which can be moved towards and away from the outer walls (132, 133) of optic fibre compartments (1A, 1B) in order to hold the coiled optic fibres closely in position. This prevents kinks developing which could lead to light losses. Also, slots (58, 59, 60 and 61) are provided in the wall portions (56, 57) to enable an optic fibre (F1) to be conducted from one compartment to another and thence to be joined (X) to another fibre (F2) which approaches the splice tray from the same direction. Unnecessary bending of the optic fibres is again thereby avoided. A splice protector housing 44 is releasably attached to the lid (2) of the splice tray and removable link members (28, 29) are also provided which fit into apertures (34, 35, 36 and 37) of adjacent trays in a stack to enable the splice trays to be stacked without risk of breakage of an integral portion of any splice tray.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Henry Norris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:09
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/444; G02B6/4453; G02B6/4454; G02B6/4452; G02B6/44524
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A splice tray for optic fibres (F1, F2) comprising two spaced-apart reel means (3, 4) defining respective generally annular or part-annular spaces (1B, 1A) for locating respective coiled optic fibres (F2, F1) and a splice protector housing (44, 7) for locating a spliced joint (X) formed between such optic fibres, characterised in that at least one of said reel means (3, 4) is adjustable so as to enable the size of its generally annular or part-annular space (1A, 1B) to be varied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A splice tray for optic fibres (F1, F2) comprising two spaced-apart reel means (3, 4) defining respective generally annular or part-annular spaces (1B, 1A) for locating respective coiled optic fibres (F2, F1) and a splice protector housing (44, 7) for locating a spliced joint (X) formed between such optic fibres, characterised in that at least one of said reel means (3, 4) is adjustable so as to enable the size of its generally annular or part-annular space (1A, 1B) to be varied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A splice tray as claimed in claim 1 further characterised in that at least one member (3, 4) defining a wall of a said generally annular or part-annular space is detachable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
A splice tray as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further characterised in that said at least one reel means (3, 4) comprises a reel member around which, in use, an optic fibre (F1, F2) is coiled, said reel member being located on the body (1) of the splice tray for sliding movement towards and away from the other said reel means, separation of the reel member from said body normally being prevented by engagement of opposed surfaces (P1030) of the reel member and said body respectively, at least one of said surfaces (P) being a surface of a resilient portion (303, 304, 404) of the reel member (3,4) or said body which resilient portion is deformable to release said engagement, at least one of said surfaces (1030) being corrugated so as to tend to maintain said reel member in its adjusted position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A splice tray as claimed in claim 3 further characterised in that said reel member (3, 4) is in the form of a hollow shell and two such resilient portions (303, 304) are provided in the form of resilient legs extending within said shell either from the reel member (3) towards said body (1), or from said body towards the reel member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
133 words
A splice tray for optic fibres comprising two spaced-apart reel means (3, 4) defining respective generally annular or part-annular spaces (1B, 1A) for locating respective coiled optic fibres (F2, F1) and a splice protector housing (44, 7) for locating a spliced joint (X) formed between such optic fibres, characterised by slot means formed (58, 59, 60, 61) in adjacent respective portions (56, 57) of said reel means, said slot means being so located as to enable an optic fibre (F1) coiled round one said reel means (4) to extend via said slot means (60, 61) to the other real means (3) to coil round the other reel means and to join another optic fibre (F2) coiled round the first-mentioned reel means at a spliced joint (X) in said splice protector housing (44, 7).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
A splice tray for optic fibres comprising two spaced-apart reel means (3, 4) defining respective generally annular or part-annular spaces (1B, 1A) for locating respective coiled optic fibres (F2, F1) and a splice protector housing (44, 7) for locating a spliced joint (X) formed between such optic fibres, characterised by slot means formed (58, 59, 60, 61) in adjacent respective portions (56, 57) of said reel means, said slot means being so located as to enable an optic fibre (F1) coiled round one said reel means (4) to extend via said slot means (60, 61) to the other real means (3) to coil round the other reel means and to join another optic fibre (F2) coiled round the first-mentioned reel means at a spliced joint (X) in said splice protector housing (44, 7).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A splice tray as claimed in claim 5 further characterised in that said reel means (3, 4) are provided with respective compartments (1B, 1A) and adjacent wall portions (57, 56) of the respective compartments each have two slots (59, 61, 58, 600) formed therein so as to enable an optic fibre (F1) coiled round one reel means (4, 3) to extend via one of two pairs of said slots (60, 61/58, 59) to the other reel means (3/4) according to the sense in which it is coiled round said one reel means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
An optical fibre junction arrangement comprising a splice tray as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, a first optic fibre (F1) coiled round one reel means (4), extending via said slot means (58, 60) to the other reel means (3), coiled round the other reel means and joined within said housing (44, 7) to another optic fibre (F2) which is coiled round the first-mentioned reel means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical fibre junction arrangement as claimed in claim 7 further characterised in that both said optic fibres (F1, F2) enter said splice tray through a common aperture (16).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
A splice tray for optic fibres comprising two spaced-apart reel means (3, 4) defining respective spaces (1B, 1A) for locating respective coiled optic fibres, a splice protector housing (44, 7) for locating a spliced joint (X) formed between such optic fibres, and means (28, 29, 64, 65, 45, 46) for locating another such splice tray thereon, characterised in that said locating means (28, 29, 64, 65, 45, 46) comprises at least one detachable link member (28, 29) one end of which fits to a co-operating part (36, 34) of the splice tray body (1) and the other end of which (281, 291) is adapted to fit a co-operating part of a similar splice tray body (1).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A splice tray for optic fibres comprising two spaced-apart reel means (3, 4) defining respective spaces (1B, 1A) for locating respective coiled optic fibres, a splice protector housing (44, 7) for locating a spliced joint (X) formed between such optic fibres, and means (28, 29, 64, 65, 45, 46) for locating another such splice tray thereon, characterised in that said locating means (28, 29, 64, 65, 45, 46) comprises at least one detachable link member (28, 29) one end of which fits to a co-operating part (36, 34) of the splice tray body (1) and the other end of which (281, 291) is adapted to fit a co-operating part of a similar splice tray body (1).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A splice tray as claimed in claim 9 further characterised in that said link member (28, 29) carries two pin portions (281, 291) at its respective ends, said pin portions extending orthogonally to the link member on one side thereof, said co-operating parts being locating apertures (34, 35, 36, 37) shaped and dimensioned to receive said pin portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A splice tray as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 further characterised in that the or each link member (28, 29) hinges with its associated said co-operating part (36, 34) and can be swung so as to prop a lid (2) of the splice tray in a partially open position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A splice tray as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 further characterised in that said pin portions (281, 291) are split and are expanded at their tips to enable them to clip into said apertures (34, 35, 36, 37).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A splice tray for optic fibres comprising a box portion (1) having two spaced-apart reel means (3, 4) defining respective spaces (1B, 1A) for locating respective coiled optic fibres, a lid portion (2) hinged to said box portion, and a splice protector housing (44, 7) located on said lid portion for locating a spliced joint (X) formed between such optic fibres, said splice protector housing comprising a base (44) and a lid (7) mounted on said base characterised in that said base (44) is detachable from said lid portion (2) of the splice tray.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
A splice tray for optic fibres comprising a box portion (1) having two spaced-apart reel means (3, 4) defining respective spaces (1B, 1A) for locating respective coiled optic fibres, a lid portion (2) hinged to said box portion, and a splice protector housing (44, 7) located on said lid portion for locating a spliced joint (X) formed between such optic fibres, said splice protector housing comprising a base (44) and a lid (7) mounted on said base characterised in that said base (44) is detachable from said lid portion (2) of the splice tray.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A splice tray as claimed in claim 13 further characterised in that said lid (7) of the splice protector housing (44, 7) is detachable from said base (44).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A splice tray as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 further characterised in that said base (44) is releasably attached to said lid portion (2) by one or more resilient clips (8, 9, 10, 11).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
123 words
A splice tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 or claims 9 to 15 further characterised by one or more locating clips, (45, 46) each comprising a resilient member (45) extending substantially parallel to a wall of the splice tray from a projection (451) therefrom and carrying a hook portion (452) at its distal end, said hook portion being adapted in use to engage a similar said projection of another such splice tray (7) in a stack of such splice trays (Figure 3) and the region of said resilient member around said projection being cut away to enable said projection to be engaged in use by a similar hook portion of a further such splice tray in a stack.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
A splice tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 or claims 9 to 16 further characterised in that at least one of said reel means (3, 4) includes an extension portion (311, 312) sloped to provide a path which, in use, causes an optic fibre (F1, F2) to follow an acceptable route from a point towards a storage area (1B, 1A) of the tray to a point towards a splice protection area (44, 7) of the tray.
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