# US 10,310,207 B2 · Fiber management for pivotable trays having fiber guides spaced apart from hinges > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,207 B2 - Document ID: US10310207B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/779,016 - Filed: 2016-11-24 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-25 - Assignees: CommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA - Applicants: Commscope Connectivity Belgium Bvba - Inventors: Johan Geens; Roger Alaerts; Pieter Vermeulen; Eric Marcel M. Keustermans - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310207B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/4455: {characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding} - G02B 6/4453: {Cassettes} - G02B 6/4454: {with splices} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An optical fiber management system (10) includes a telecommunications fixture (14) and a telecommunications tray (16) pivotally mounted to the telecommunications fixture (14) via a hinge structure (18) positioned at an edge (22) of the tray (16). At least one end (24) of the tray edge (22) that is spaced from the hinge structure (18) defines a fiber guide (26) having a generally cylindrical configuration with open ends (28) for guiding fibers in and/or out of the tray (16). The fiber guide (26) is nested within a reinforcement channel (46) defined by a generally U-shaped wall (48) of the telecommunications fixture (14), the U-shaped wall (48) defining opposing vertical wall portions (50) for abutting the cable guide (26) of the tray (16) for retaining the cable guide (26) within the reinforcement channel (46) during pivotal movement of the tray (16). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical fiber management system comprising: a telecommunications fixture; a telecommunications tray pivotally mounted to the telecommunications fixture via a hinge structure positioned at an edge of the tray, wherein at least one end of the tray edge that is spaced from the hinge structure defines a fiber guide having a generally cylindrical configuration with open ends for guiding fibers in and/or out of the tray, wherein the fiber guide is nested within a reinforcement channel defined by a generally U-shaped wall of the telecommunications fixture, the U-shaped wall defining opposing vertical wall portions for abutting the fiber guide of the tray for retaining the fiber guide within the reinforcement channel during pivotal movement of the tray. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein two ends of the tray edge that are spaced from the hinge structure both define a fiber guide, wherein each fiber guide is nested within a reinforcement channel defined by a generally U-shaped wall of the telecommunications fixture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A system according to claim 2, wherein the hinge structure is generally positioned at a center point along the tray edge in between the two fiber guides. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the fiber guide defines a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to a pivotal axis of the hinge structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A system according to claim 4, wherein the longitudinal axis defined by the fiber guide is generally aligned with the pivotal axis of the hinge structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein both fiber guides define longitudinal axes that are generally parallel to a pivotal axis of the hinge structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A system according to claim 6, wherein the longitudinal axes defined by the fiber guides are generally aligned with the pivotal axis of the hinge structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the fiber guide generally defines a split-ring configuration defining a slit for receiving fibers along a direction transverse to the open ends. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunications fixture is configured to house a plurality of the trays. ### Claim 10 A flip tray for pivotal mounting in a telecommunications fixture, the flip tray configured for housing optical fibers, the tray comprising: a hinge structure positioned along an edge of the tray for pivotal mounting to the fixture; a pair of fiber guides positioned at outer ends of the tray edge spaced from the hinge structure, each fiber guide defining a generally cylindrical configuration with open ends for guiding fibers in and/or out of the tray, wherein longitudinal axes defined by the fiber guides are generally parallel to a pivotal axis defined by the hinge structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A tray according to claim 10, wherein the hinge structure is generally positioned at a center point along the tray edge in between the two fiber guides such that the fiber guides are generally equally spaced from the hinge structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A tray according to claim 10, wherein the longitudinal axes defined by the fiber guides are generally aligned with the pivotal axis of the hinge structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A tray according to claim 10, wherein each fiber guide generally defines a split-ring configuration defining a slit for receiving fibers along a direction transverse to the open ends. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A tray according to claim 10, wherein the tray is configured to contain fiber optic splices. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A tray according to claim 10, wherein the tray defines a neck portion extending from a main body of the tray to each fiber guide, each neck portion configured to cooperatively form a positive stop with a portion of the telecommunications fixture during pivotal movement of the tray.