Optical fiber splicing and connecting assembly with coupler cassette

A fiber management assembly for use within a fiber optic closure, the fiber management assembly comprising:

• at least one sleeve connector array, the sleeve connector array configured to receive at least a pair of opposed fiber optic connectors therein to establish an optical connection between optical fibers;
• at least one coupler cassette operatively associated with the sleeve connector array, the coupler cassette configured to split a signal from an input optical fiber into a plurality of output optical fibers;
• and
• a storage bay operatively associated with at least one of the sleeve connector array and the coupler cassette for retaining and organizing at least one length of slack fiber optic cable, the storage bay defining a plane and a longitudinal axis parallel to the plane, the fiber optic connectors received in the sleeve connector array with the fiber optic connectors parallel to the plane defined by the storage bay and the coupler cassette defining plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the storage bay.

A fiber optic closure comprising:

• a first fiber management and connection panel assembly positioned within the closure and configured to establish at least one sleeve connection between a first pair of opposing fiber optic connectors and to split a signal from an input optical fiber into a plurality of output optical fibers, the first fiber management and connection panel assembly defining a first plane with the first pair of fiber optic connectors parallel to the first plane;
• and
• a second fiber management and connection panel assembly positioned within the closure and configured to establish at least one sleeve connection between a second pair of opposing fiber optic connectors and to split a signal from an input optical fiber into a plurality of output optical fibers, the second fiber management and connection panel assembly defining a second plane parallel to the first plane with the second pair of fiber optic connectors parallel to the second plane;
• wherein the first fiber management and connection panel assembly and the second fiber management and connection panel assembly are spaced apart and define a storage bay therebetween for retaining and organizing a length of slack fiber optic cable, the storage bay defining a third plane parallel to the first plane and the second plane.