Fiber optic closure with couplers and splice tray

A splice closure comprising:

• a frame;
• an end cap at one end of the frame having apertures for the passage of optical fibers;
• a main splice tray carried by the frame;
• a plurality of coupler cassettes mounted to the main splice tray in an array overlying one another, each of the coupler cassettes housing at least one coupler for connecting a single input optical fiber entering the array to multiple output optical fibers leaving the array;
• a splice organizer carried by the main splice tray adjacent the array of coupler cassettes, the splice organizer comprising a plurality of splice holders for retaining splices to and from the array;
• an optical fiber storage tray mounted to the main splice tray adjacent the splice organizer for storing optical fibers, the optical fiber storage tray being mounted to the main splice tray by a hinge and movable between a closed position overlying the splice organizer and an open position exposing the splice organizer, and
• a housing attached to the end cap.

A method for connecting a plurality of drop cable optical fibers to an express cable optical fiber in a splice closure, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) mounting at least one coupler connecting an input optical fiber to multiple output optical fibers in each of a plurality of coupler cassettes and connecting the couplers cassettes together into a subassembly so that each of the output optical fibers of one of idle coupler cassettes defines the input optical fiber of one of the other coupler cassettes;
• (b) mounting the coupler cassette to a main splice tray positioned on a frame within the splice closure;
• (c) splicing the express optical fiber to the input optical fiber and splicing the drop cable optical fibers to the output optical fibers;
• and
• (d) enclosing the frame, coupler cassette and main splice tray.

A fiber optic splice closure comprising:

• a frame;
• an end cap at one end of the frame having apertures for the passage of optical fibers;
• at least one coupler cassette carried by the frame, the coupler cassette containing at least one coupler that has an input optical fiber connected to a plurality of output optical fibers;
• a splice organizer carried by the flame and exterior of the coupler cassette, the splice organizer comprising a plurality of splice holders for retaining splices of optical fibers to and from the coupler cassette;
• an optical fiber storage tray carried by the fame adjacent the splice organizer for storing optical fibers, the optical fiber storage tray being mounted by a hinge and movable between a closed position overlying the splice organizer and an open position exposing the splice organizer;
• and
• a housing attached to the end cap.

A fiber optic splice closure comprising:

• a frame;
• an end cap at one end of the frame having apertures for the passage of optical fibers;
• at least one coupler cassette carried by the frame, the coupler cassette containing at least one coupler that has an input optical fiber connected to a plurality of output optical fibers;
• a splice organizer carried by the frame and exterior of the coupler cassette, the splice organizer comprising a plurality of splice holders for retaining splices of optical fibers to and from the coupler cassette;
• an optical fiber storage tray carried by the frame adjacent the splice organizer for storing optical fibers, the optical fiber storage tray having a lid for opening and closing the tray, the optical fiber storage tray being mounted by a hinge and movable between a closed position overlying the splice organizer and an open position exposing the splice organizer, and
• a housing attached to the end cap.

A fiber optic splice closure comprising:

• a frame defining a slot;
• an end cap at one end of the frame having apertures for the passage of optical fibers;
• at least one coupler cassette carried by the frame, the coupler cassette containing at least one coupler that has an input optical fiber connected to a plurality of output optical fibers;
• a splice organizer carried by the frame and exterior of the coupler cassette, the splice organizer comprising a plurality of splice holders for retaining splices of optical fibers to and from the coupler cassette;
• a main splice tray on which the coupler cassette and the splice organizer are mounted, the main splice tray being removably carried in the slot;
• and
• a housing attached to the end cap.