US 9,791,654 B2 · Fastener free spool for optical fiber storage

Abstract

An network interface device (NID) cabinet has removably mounted or fixedly mounted cable spools. The NID cabinet is a small enclosure, typically made of plastic, which sits on the outside wall of an end user's building, such as a home or office. Pre-terminated cables are spooled around each cable spool, and the cable connector at one end of each cable is connected to a network interconnection junction within the NID cabinet. A series of interlocking mounting features are formed on both the cable spool and the mating NID cabinet back wall. Two different types of mounting features enable the cable spool to be removably or fixedly mounted within the NID cabinet. When fixedly mounted, the cable spool can still be removed from the NID cabinet, but only if the spooled cabled is completed un-spooled and removed from the cable spool.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A network interface device cabinet comprising:

a. a base having an interior cavity with a back wall, wherein the back wall comprises fixed mounting features;
b. a cable spool configured for a cable to be spooled about the cable spool, wherein the cable spool comprises a plurality of cable spool parts that assemble with and disassemble from each other, further wherein the cable spool comprises cable spool mounting features configured to mate with the fixed mounting features on the back wall of the base such that the cable spool is immovably coupled to the fixed mounting features on the back wall of the base while the plurality of cable spool parts that form the cable spool are assembled together, wherein the cable spool mounting features are configured to mate and interlock with the fixed mounting features on the back wall of the base without use of additional components;
and
c. a lid coupled to the base to cover and uncover the interior cavity.

1 more element

A network interface device cabinet comprising:

a. a base having an interior cavity with a back wall, wherein the back wall comprises fixed mounting features;
b. a cable spool configured for a cable to be spooled about the cable spool, wherein the cable spool comprises a plurality of cable spool parts that assemble with and disassemble from each other, further wherein the cable spool comprises cable spool mounting features configured to mate with the fixed mounting features on the back wall of the base such that the cable spool is immovably coupled to the fixed mounting features on the back wall of the base while the plurality of cable spool parts that form the cable spool are assembled together, wherein the cable spool further comprises a first plate and a second plate between which the cable is spooled, and the cable spool mounting features are disposed on the first plate, further wherein the first plate comprises an interior opening, wherein the cable spool mounting features comprise a first cable spool radius feature formed from a first portion of the interior opening in the first plate and a second cable spool radius feature formed from a second portion of the interior opening in the first plate;
and
c. a lid coupled to the base to cover and uncover the interior cavity.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fastener free spool for optical fiber storage

Life of this patent

Fastener free spool for optical fiber storage

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21