Fiber optic cable closure and assembly

A cable splice closure apparatus comprising:

• an elongated generally cylindrical housing having an open first end, a second end, and a flange at the first end;
• an end plate releasably secured to said open end of said housing;
• a bar member having opposite terminal ends wherein one of said ends is adapted to connect with said end plate;
• at least one cable splice tray carried on said bar member;
• a rotatable collar matingly engagable with said flange, said collar being adapted to releasably connect said end plate with said housing first end, said collar further including a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs;
• said flange including a plurality of spaced apart notches, said tabs being adapted to align with and engage said notches when the collar and flanges are brought together in an intermated relationship;
• said tabs of said collar each including a body and a leg extending from said body, said collar being rotatable relative to said flange until a notch of said flange is positioned between said body and said leg of said tab, thereby locking said collar to said flange, said collar further including a plurality of ridges adapted to engage a circumferential edge of said end plate to retain said end plate to said collar.

A cable closure system comprising:

• a first generally cylindrical housing member defining a cavity having an open first end, and a closed second end;
• a second housing member having a first open end, a second open end, and a cavity extending therebetween, said second housing member first end being adapted to selectively sealingly couple with said first housing member;
• a collar adapted to engage and secure said second housing member with said first housing member;
• an end plate secured to said second housing member second end;
• a bar member having opposite terminal ends wherein one of said ends is joined to said end plate;
• and,
• at least one cable splice tray mounted on said bar member.

An end plate assembly for use with a fiber optic splice closure comprising:

• an end plate including a plurality of drop ports for use with associated cut cable and a plurality of express ports for use with associated uncut cable, said drop ports each include webbed material covering an opening of each of said ports;
• at least one ground wire port for connection with an associated grounding wire;
• a plurality of grommets selectively received into said drop and express ports to provide a seal between the associated cable and inner wall surfaces of said drop and express ports;
• a plurality of caps selectively connectable with said ports to secure said grommets into place;
• a slot formed between and connecting adjacent express ports, the slot accommodating passage of an associated looped uncut cable portion through said end plate;
• and,
• a wedge-shaped insert disposed in said slot to retain said looped uncut cable portion within said closure.

An end plate assembly for use with a fiber optic splice closure comprising:

• an end plate including a plurality of drop ports for use with associated cut cable and a plurality of express ports for use with associated uncut cable, said drop ports each include webbed material covering an opening of each of said ports;
• at least one ground wire port for connection with an associated grounding wire;
• a plurality of grommets selectively received into said drop and express ports to provide a seal between the associated cable and inner wall surfaces of said drop and express ports;
• a plurality of caps selectively connectable with said ports to secure said grommets into place;
• a slot formed between and connecting adjacent express ports, the slot accommodating passage of an associated looped uncut cable portion through said end plate;
• and,
• a wedge-shaped insert disposed in said slot to retain said looped uncut cable portion within said closure, wherein said wedge-shaped insert is keyed to facilitate locking of said wedge-shaped insert within said slot.

An end plate assembly for use with a fiber optic splice closure comprising:

• an end plate including a plurality of drop ports for use with associated cut cable and a plurality of express ports for use with associated uncut cable, said drop ports each include webbed material covering an opening of each of said ports;
• at least one around wire port for connection with an associated grounding wire;
• a plurality of grommets selectively received into said drop and express ports to provide a seal between the associated cable and inner wall surfaces of said drop and express ports;
• a plurality of caps selectively connectable with said ports to secure said grommets into place;
• a slot formed between and connecting adjacent express ports, the slot accommodating passage of an associated looped uncut cable portion through said end plate;
• and,
• a wedge-shaped insert disposed in said slot to retain said looped uncut cable portion within said closure, wherein said caps include a first and second intermatable semi-circular sections, wherein said first section includes a pair of grooves extending along a longitudinal axis of said first section, said second section includes a pair of ribs extending along a longitudinal axis of said second section, said grooves and said ribs slidingly engage each other to connect said first section to said second section and allow said cap to be installed over an associated cable.

An end plate assembly for use with a fiber optic splice closure in combination with a cap tool, the combination comprising:

• an end plate including a plurality of drop ports for use with associated cut cable and a plurality of express ports for use with associated uncut cable, said drop ports each include webbed material covering an opening of each of said ports;
• at least one ground wire port for connection with an associated grounding wire;
• a plurality of grommets selectively received into said drop and express ports to provide a seal between the associated cable and inner wall surfaces of said drop and express ports;
• a plurality of caps selectively connectable with said ports to secure said grommets into place;
• a slot formed between and connecting adjacent express ports, the slot accommodating passage of an associated looped uncut cable portion through said end plate;
• and,
• a wedge-shaped insert disposed in said slot to retain said looped uncut cable portion within said closure, the cap tool comprising a first body member and a second body member, each member having a first end and a second end, said first end having a plurality of teeth and said second end forming a handle, said first body member having at least one groove and said second body member comprising at least one rib which matingly engages said groove, said rib and said groove releasably secure said first body member to said second body member to allow said cap driver to be installed over a cable.

An end plate assembly for use with a fiber optic splice closure comprising:

• an end plate including a plurality of drop ports for use with associated cut cable and a plurality of express ports for use with associated uncut cable, said drop ports each include webbed material covering an opening of each of said ports;
• at least one around wire port for connection with an associated grounding wire;
• a plurality of grommets selectively received into said drop and express ports to provide a seal between the associated cable and inner wall surfaces of said drop and express ports;
• a plurality of caps selectively connectable with said ports to secure said grommets into place;
• a slot formed between and connecting adjacent express ports, the slot accommodating passage of an associated looped uncut cable portion through said end plate;
• a wedge-shaped insert disposed in said slot to retain said looped uncut cable portion within said closure;
• a grommet driver having a first half and a second half, said first half having at least one groove and said second half having at least one corresponding rib, said groove and rib being selectively matingly engaged to releasably secure said grommet driver first half to said grommet driver second half to install said grommet driver over an associated cable.

A splice tray and splice tray support system comprising:

• an elongate rigid bar member;
• a post extending substantially perpendicularly from the bar member;
• a set of tray support brackets upon which the rigid bar member is mounted;
• at least one splice tray supported on the bar member, said tray having a first end with a slot adapted to selectively receive said post;
• a first support member mounted to said rigid bar member;
• a second support member adapted to selectively receive a second end of said at least one splice tray, said second support member being pivotably connected to said first support member;
• wherein said first support member includes a body with a pair of spaced arms extending therefrom, said arms being generally parallel to each other, each of said arms including a first groove and a second groove, said first groove extending along a longitudinal axis of one of said arms, said second groove extending from said first groove at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis;
• a circular cutout formed at an intersection of said first and second grooves;
• said second support member including a body and first and second arms extending from said body generally parallel to each other;
• each of said second support member arms including a tab extending from a side wall of said arm, said tabs being selectively received by one of said first and second grooves in a corresponding one of said first member first and second arms;
• and,
• wherein said second support member is selectively pivotable from a first, horizontal rest position to a second, angled locked position.

A splice tray and splice tray support system comprising:

• an elongate rigid bar member;
• a post extending from the bar member;
• a set of tray support brackets upon which the rigid bar member is mounted;
• at least one splice tray supported on the bar member, the at least one tray having a first end with a slot for selectively receiving said post;
• a bracket having an opening for receiving one end of said rigid bar member;
• said bracket having first and second walls generally parallel to each other, wherein said second wall forms a base for said bracket;
• a third substantially vertical wall connecting said first wall to said second wall;
• at least one prong extending downwardly from said first wall;
• and,
• at least one prong extending upwardly from said second wall.

A cable closure comprising:

• a first generally cylindrical housing member having an opening at a first end, a closed second end, and a cavity extending therebetween;
• an end plate secured to said housing member first end;
• a bar member having opposite terminal ends wherein one of said ends is joined to said end plate;
• a bracket for securing an associated strength member to said closure;
• and,
• an extender selectively connectable with said bracket to allow said bracket to accommodate various lengths of strength members.

A cable closure comprising:

• a first generally cylindrical housing member having an opening at a first end, a closed second end, and a cavity extending therebetween;
• an end plate secured to said housing member first end;
• a bar member having opposite terminal ends wherein one of said ends is joined to said end plate;
• a bracket for securing an associated strength member to said closure;
• and,
• an extender selectively connectable with said bracket to allow said bracket to accommodate various lengths of strength members, wherein said extender is adapted for installation on said strength member bracket in one of a first position and a second position, wherein said first and second positions are substantially 180° apart.

An end plate assembly to be used with a fiber optic splice closure comprising:

• an end plate including a plurality of drop ports for use with associated cut cable and a plurality of express ports for use with associated uncut cable;
• at least one ground wire port for receiving associated grounding wire;
• a gel wrap carried around associated cables to provide a seal between said express ports, drop ports and ground wire port;
• and,
• a slot formed between and connecting adjacent express ports adapted to receive an associated looped uncut cable portion through said end plate.