Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of optical fiber and, in particular, relates to a tool to remove a dust cap of a fiber connector.
BACKGROUND
[0002] With the evolution of 5G and increase of data consumption in the recent years, application of data Centre’s and Telecoms have increased drastically. In addition, large scale data centres and Telecom sectors require ultra-high fibre density cables which offers high data rate with low latency. The optical fiber cables are harnessed in an enclosure generally known as fiber enclosure. The fiber enclosure holds a number of fiber connectors for harnessing the optical fiber cables.
[0003] There are various fiber enclosures that are known in the prior art. For example, a reference US8939655B2 discloses about a fiber connector organizer that has a plurality of retention members to hold a fiber connector between two adjacent retention members. Another reference US8824850B2 that disclose about a cable manager with plurality of cut-outs. The cable manager is mounted in a fiber module housing to prevent insect infestation. Another references US2008298764A1 and US2007025674A1 that disclose about a connector holder for holding plurality of optical fiber connector at front face of an enclosure. However, the conventional connectors are not able to perform one or more functions that are required in installation of the optical fibers in an enclosure.
[0004] In light of the above stated discussion, there is a need for an efficient and effective tool for holding a fiber connector that overcomes the above stated problems.
SUMMARY
[0005] In an aspect of the present disclosure, a tool for insertion of a plurality of fiber connectors simultaneously is disclosed. The tool having one or more contours that removably engage with the plurality of fiber connectors thereby enabling simultaneous management of the plurality of fiber connectors.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0006] Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures, where:
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates an enclosure for a plurality of optical fiber connectors.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a tool of the enclosure of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of the tool of the enclosure of FIG. 1 for holding a plurality of fiber connectors.
[0010] FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective view of the tool of the enclosure of FIG. 1 for simultaneously inserting a plurality of connectors into adapters.
[0011] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate a perspective view of the tool of the enclosure of FIG. 1 for simultaneously removing a plurality of dust caps of each of the plurality of fiber connectors.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the tool of the enclosure of FIG. 1 for holding a dust cap of each of the plurality of fiber connectors.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a connector with first and second tools for removing a dust cap and for holding a connector, respectively.
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method for managing a plurality of fiber connectors using the tool of FIG. 2.
[0015] It should be noted that the accompanying figures are intended to present illustrations of exemplary aspects of the present disclosure. These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should also be noted that accompanying figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
DEFINITIONS
[0016] The term “optical fiber” as used herein refers to a light guide that provides high-speed data transmission. The optical fiber has one or more glass core regions and one or more glass cladding regions. The light moving through the glass core regions of the optical fiber relies upon the principle of total internal reflection, where the glass core regions have a higher refractive index (n1) than the refractive index (n2) of the glass cladding region of the optical fiber.
[0017] The term “optical fiber cable” as used herein refers to a cable that encloses one or more optical fibers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The detailed description of the appended drawings is intended as a description of the currently preferred aspects of the present disclosure, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different aspects that are intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
[0019] Moreover, although the following description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations and/or alterations to said details are within the scope of the present technology. Similarly, although many of the features of the present technology are described in terms of each other, or in conjunction with each other, one skilled in the art will appreciate that many of these features can be provided independently of other features. Accordingly, this description of the present technology is set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the present technology.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates an enclosure 100 for a plurality of optical fiber connectors (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the fiber connectors”). The enclosure 100 may be adapted to hold the fiber connectors. The fiber connectors may be adapted to hold or accommodate a plurality of optical fiber cables such that each optical fiber cable is provided with a plurality of optical fibers. Specifically, the enclosure 100 may be adapted to protect the fiber connectors from external factors such as environmental factors. The enclosure 100 may further facilitate easy harness of the fiber connectors.
[0021] The enclosure 100 may have a connector tray 102 and a tool 104. The connector tray 102 may be disposed within the enclosure 100. Specifically, the connector tray 102 may facilitate to form a base that may allow to mount one or more components in the enclosure 100. Further, the connector tray 102 may be adapted to hold the tool 104. In other words, the tool 104 may be disposed on the connector tray 102. Specifically, the tool 104 may be removably disposed on the connector tray 102. In some preferred aspects of the present disclosure, the tool 104 may be placed on the connector tray 102 without fixing the tool 104 on the connector tray 102. The tool 104 may be designed in a manner that that the tool 104 may be used to connect the fiber connectors to their respective adapters in one go. The tool 104 may be further designed in a manner that the tool 104 may be used to remove a dust cap 306 (as shown in Fig. 3A) of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors in one go.
[0022] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the tool 104 may have a comb-like shape that may facilitate the tool 104 to hold the fiber connectors and to remove the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors.
[0023] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the tool 104 may be movably arranged in the enclosure 100. Specifically, the tool 104 may be movably arranged in the enclosure 100 to remove the dust cap 306 of the fiber connectors from one side of the tool 104 and to hold the fiber connectors from another side of the tool 104.
[0024] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the tool 104 may be made up of a material, including but not limited to, a plastic. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of material for the tool 104, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the tool 104 of the enclosure 100. The tool 100 may be disposed within the enclosure 100. The tool 104 may facilitate insertion of one or more fiber connectors simultaneously. The tool 104 may therefore advantageously facilitate to hold the one or more fiber connectors intact in the enclosure 100.
[0026] The tool 104 may have a body 200. The body 200 may have a first long side 202 and a second long side 204 disposed parallel to each other. Further, the tool 104 may have first and second short sides 206 and 208 connecting the first and second long sides 202 and 204 to form a rectangular shape. Further, the tool 100 may have a set of one or more contours 210 that may be adapted to removably engage with the fiber connectors 302 (as shown later in FIG. 3A) thereby enabling simultaneous management of the fiber connectors 302. It should be noted that the set of one or more contours 210 may have any numbers of one or more contours that may depend on requirement. However, to keep the explanation concise only one of the set of one or more contours 210 is discussed. It will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that other each of the one or more contours of the set of one or more contours 210 serve the same functionality as will be discussed in relation to one of the one or more contours of the set of one or more contours 210. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the one more or more contour 210 of the tool 100 has two contours i.e., a first contour 212 and a second contour 214. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the first and second contours 212 and 214 may be disposed over at-least one of the first and second long sides 202 and 204. For example, as illustrated, the first and second contours 212 and 214 of the tool 104 are disposed over the first long side 202. However, in an alternate aspect of the present disclosure, the first and second contours 212 and 214 of the tool 104 can be disposed over the second long side 204 as well, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0027] Specifically, the first contour 212 may be defined by a plurality of protrusions 216a-216n (hereinafter interchangeably referred to and designated as “the plurality of protrusions 216”) and a plurality of spaces 218a-218m (hereinafter interchangeably referred to and designated as “the plurality of spaces 218”). As illustrated, the plurality of protrusions 216a-216n and the plurality of spaces 218a-218m are arranged alternatively. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the first contour 212 may be configured to removably and simultaneously engage with a plurality of dust caps 306 (as shown later in FIG. 3A) of the fiber connectors 302 thereby enabling simultaneous disengagement and/or engagement of the plurality of dust caps 306 by application of an external force.
[0028] In some aspects of the present disclosure, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions 216a-216n may have proximal ends 216aa-216na and distal ends 216ab-216nb, respectively. Specifically, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions 216a-216n may have a variable thickness between the proximal ends 216aa-216na and distal ends 216ab-216nb. Specifically, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions 216a-216n may have one flat surface and one inclined surface that may be defined by the variable thickness between the 216aa-216na and distal ends 216ab-216nb of the plurality of protrusions 216a-216n, respectively.
[0029] In some aspects of the present disclosure, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions 216 may have a width in a range of 0.105 inches to 0.50 inches. In other words, each of the protrusions of the plurality of protrusions 216 may have a width in the range of 0.105 inches to 0.50 inches. In some aspects of the present disclosure, each space of the plurality of spaces 218 may have a width in a range of 0.105 inches to 0.130 inches. In other words, each of the spaces of the plurality of spaces 218 may have a width in the range of 0.105 inches to 0.130 inches.
[0030] The second contour 214 may be defined by a plurality of relief openings 220a-220n (hereinafter interchangeably referred to and designated as “the openings 220”). The openings 220 may be configured to removably and simultaneously engage with a plurality of rear tails (not shown) of the fiber connectors 302 thereby enabling simultaneous insertion of the fiber connectors 302 in the adapters 308 by application of an external force.
[0031] In other words, the first long side 204 may have the openings 220 such that the openings 220 may be adapted to hold one or more rear tails of the fiber connectors. Specifically, each opening of the openings 220 may be adapted to hold a rear tail of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302. Each opening of the openings 220 may be adapted to hold the rear tail of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 220 to simultaneously insert the fiber connectors in the enclosure 100.
[0032] In some aspects of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of openings 220 may be circular in shape. Further, a distance between a pair of adjacent openings of the plurality of openings 220 may be in a range of 0.250 inches to 0.50 inches. In some aspects of the present disclosure, each opening of the plurality of openings 220a-220n may have may have first ends 220aa-220na and second ends 220ab-220nb such that each opening of the plurality of openings 220 has a variable inner diameter between first ends 220aa-220na and second ends 220ab-220nb to grasp the one or more rear tails of the fiber connectors 302. Specifically, by virtue of the variable inner diameter between the first ends 220aa-220na and second ends 220ab-220nb of each of the plurality of openings 220, each opening of the plurality of openings 220 may have a conical shape. In some aspects of the present disclosure, each opening of the plurality of openings 220 may have one or more tabs 324 (as shown in Fig. 3A) at one end to prevent twisting of the fiber connectors 302. Specifically, each of the fiber connectors 302 may have a pull tab (not shown) such that the pull tab is retained between two adjacent tabs of the one or more tabs 324 to fixedly hold the fiber connectors 302 therein.
[0033] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the tool 104 further has first and second alignment flanges 226a and 226b disposed at the first and second short sides 206 and 208, respectively. Specifically, the first and second alignment flanges 226a and 226b may extend from the first and second short sides 206 and 208, respectively. The first and second alignment flanges 226a and 226b may be adapted to align the tool 104 inside the enclosure 100 for removal of one or more dust caps 306 and/or insertion of the fiber connectors 302.
[0034] FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of the tool 104 of the enclosure 100 of FIG. 1 for holding a plurality of fiber connectors 302a-302n (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the fiber connectors 302”). Each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 may have a rear tail 304 and a dust cap 306.
[0035] The tool 104 may hold the fiber connectors 302. Specifically, the tool 104 may be adapted to hold the rear tail 304 of the fiber connectors 302. Each opening of the openings 220 may hold the rear tail 304 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302. To hold the fiber connectors 302 simultaneously, the rear tail 304 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 may be inserted in each opening of the openings 220. In some aspects of the present disclosure, each opening of the plurality of openings 220 may have one or more tabs 324 at one end to prevent twisting of the fiber connectors 302. Specifically, each of the fiber connectors 302 may have a pull tab (not shown) such that the pull tab is retained between two adjacent tabs of the one or more tabs 324 (as shown in FIG. 3A) to fixedly hold the fiber connectors 302 therein. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the plurality of protrusions 216 and the plurality of spaces 218 are configured to removably and simultaneously engage with the plurality of dust caps 306 of the fiber connectors 302 thereby enabling simultaneous disengagement and/or engagement of the plurality of dust caps 306 by application of an external force.
[0036] FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective view of the tool 104 of the enclosure 100 of FIG. 1 for simultaneously inserting the fiber connectors 302 into a plurality of adapters 308a-308n (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the adapters 308”). The adapters 308 may be fixed on the connector tray 102. The fiber connectors 302 may be simultaneously inserted into the adapters 308. The tool 104 may advantageously facilitate to insert the fiber connectors 302 in the adapters 308.
[0037] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the first long side 202 (as shown in FIG. 2) of the tool 104 may be adapted to hold the fiber connectors 302 to insert each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 in corresponding adapter of the adapters 308.
[0038] In some aspects of the present disclosure, each adapter of the adapters 308 may be mounted on the connector tray 102 inside the enclosure 100.
[0039] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the tool 104 may hold the rear tail 304 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 into the openings 220 (as shown in FIG. 2). Specifically, the tool 104 may hold the rear tail 304 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 into the openings 220 by moving in a perpendicular direction to the connector tray 102.
[0040] In some aspects of the present disclosure, each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 may be inserted in corresponding adapter of the adapters 308. Specifically, each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 may be inserted in corresponding adapter of the adapters 308 by lateral movement of the corresponding adapter of the adapters 308 parallel to the connector tray 102. In some aspects of the present disclosure, each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 may be a Lucent connector (LC) and a square connector (SC).
[0041] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate perspective views 400 and 402, respectively, of the tool 104 of the enclosure 100 of FIG. 1 for removing the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302. The dust cap 306 may be a component that may be adapted to cover all the contact surfaces of a fiber connector of the fiber connectors 306 and an adapter of the adapters 308.
[0042] The dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 may be held at the second long side 206. Specifically, the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 may be removed in the protrusions 210. To remove the dust cap 306, the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 may be inserted in the protrusions 216 (as shown in FIG. 2). Specifically, the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 may be inserted in a pair of adjacent protrusions of the protrusions 216. In other words, the pair of adjacent protrusions of the protrusions 216 may be adapted to remove the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302.
[0043] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the second long side 204 (as shown in FIG. 2) may remove the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302. Specifically, the pair of adjacent protrusions of the protrusions 216 may remove the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 by moving each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 in a perpendicular direction to the connector tray 102.
[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view 500 of the tool 104 of the enclosure 100 for removing the dust cap 306 of one fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302. Specifically, FIG. 5 illustrates movement of the tool 104 in a direction that facilitates to remove the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302. To remove the dust cap 306 of each connector of the fiber connectors 302, each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 may be moved in a first direction 502. To remove the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302, the tool 104 may be moved in a lateral direction that may be parallel to the connector tray 102. Specifically, to remove the dust cap 306 of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302, the tool 104 may be moved in a second direction 504.
[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a connector 602 with first and second tools 604 and 606 for removing the dust cap 306 and for holding the connector 602, respectively. Specifically, FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the connector 602 that may be held within in the first tool 604 and the second tool 606. The first and second tools 604 and 606 may be same or substantially similar to the tool 104. Specifically, the first and second tools 604 and 606 may be same or substantially similar to the tool 104 in terms of structural and functional aspects. For sake of brevity, like elements of the first and second tools 604 and 606 that are similar to the elements of the tool 104 are referenced with the like reference numerals as referred for the tool 104. The connector 602 may be same or substantially similar to each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302. Specifically, the connector 602 may be same or substantially similar to each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 in terms of structural and functional aspects. For sake of brevity, like elements of the connector 602 that are similar to the elements of each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302 are referenced with the like reference numerals as referred for each fiber connector of the fiber connectors 302. The first tool 604 may be adapted to hold the dust cap 306 of the connector 602. Specifically, the pair of adjacent protrusions of the protrusions 210 may be adapted to hold the dust cap 306 of the connector 602. The second tool 606 may be adapted to hold the connector 602. Specifically, the second tool 606 may be adapted to hold the rear tail 304 of the connector 602.
[0046] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method 700 for managing the plurality of fiber connectors 302 using the tool 104.
[0047] At step 702, one or more fiber connectors of the plurality of fiber connectors 302 may be engaged with the tool 104 by applying an external force.
[0048] At step 704, exactly one function may be selected from a fist function and a second function. Specifically, when the fist function is selected, the method 700 may proceed to a step 706, otherwise, when the second function is selected, the method 700 may proceed to a step 708.
[0049] At step 706, the one or more dust caps 306 coupled to the one or more connectors 302 may be removed. Specifically, to remove the one or more dust caps 306 coupled to the one or more connectors 302, the one or more dust caps 306 may be grasped with the first contour 212 created between two adjacent protrusions of the plurality of protrusions 216 of the tool 104 and the one or more dust caps 306 may be pulled out by applying an external force.
[0050] At step 708, the one or more fiber connectors 302 may be engaged to the one or more adapters 308. Specifically, to engage the one or more connectors 302 to one or more adapters 308, the rear tails of the one or more connectors 302 may be received within the second contour 214 formed by the plurality of openings 220 of the tool 104 and the one or more connectors 302 may be pushed inside the one or more adapters 308 by applying an external force.
[0051] Thus, the tool 104 may advantageously facilitate to simultaneously remove the dust cap 306 from all the fiber connectors 302. Since, the tool 104 facilitates simultaneous removal of the dust cap 306 from all the fiber connectors 302, therefore, effort of removing the dust cap 306 individually from all the fiber connectors 302 is drastically reduced. The tool 104 may advantageously facilitate simultaneous insertion of the rear tail 304 of all the fiber connectors 302 and hence reduces installation time for the fiber connectors 302. Since, the tool 104 facilitates simultaneous insertion of the adapters 308, therefore, effort of inserting the adapters 308 individually is drastically reduced. The tool 104 may facilitate to maintain the fiber connectors 302 in an organized manner on the connector tray 102.
[0052] The foregoing descriptions of specific aspects of the present technology have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present technology to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The aspects were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present technology and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present technology and various aspects with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present technology.
[0053] While several possible aspects of the invention have been described above and illustrated in some cases, it should be interpreted and understood as to have been presented only by way of illustration and example, but not by limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred aspect should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary aspects. , Claims:We claim(s)
1. A tool (104) for use with a plurality of fiber connectors (302), the tool (104) comprising:
one or more contours (210) that removably engage with the plurality of fiber connectors (302) thereby enabling simultaneous management of the plurality of fiber connectors (302).

2. The tool (104) of claim 1, where the one or more contours (210) has a first contour (212), where the first contour (212) is defined by a plurality of protrusions (216) and a plurality of spaces (218) such that the plurality of protrusions (216) and the plurality of spaces (218) are arranged alternatively, where the first contour (212) is configured to removably and simultaneously engage with a plurality of dust caps (306) of the plurality of fiber connectors (302) thereby enabling simultaneous disengagement and/or engagement of the plurality of dust caps (306) by application of an external force..

3. The tool (104) of claim 2, where each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions (216) has a width in a range of 0.105 inches to 0.50 inches.

4. The tool (104) of claim 2, where each space of the plurality of spaces (218) has a width in a range of 0.105 inches to 0.130 inches.

5. The tool (104) of claim 1, where the plurality of protrusions (216) has proximal and distal ends (216aa-216na, 216ab-216nb) such that each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions (216) has a variable thickness between the proximal and distal ends (216aa-216na, 216ab-216nb).

6. The tool (104) of claim 1, where the one more or more contours (210) has a second contour (214), where the second contour (214) is defined by a plurality of openings (220) configured to removably and simultaneously engage with a plurality of rear tails of the fiber connectors (302) thereby enabling simultaneous insertion of the fiber connectors (302) in one or more adapters (308) by application of an external force.

7. The tool (104) of claim 6, where each of the plurality of openings (220) are circular in shape and a distance between a pair of adjacent openings of the plurality of openings (220) is in a range of 0.250 inches to 0.50 inches.

8. The tool (104) of claim 1, further comprising first and second long sides (202, 204) parallel to each other and first and second short sides (206, 208) connecting the first and second long sides (202, 204) to form a rectangular shape.

9. The tool (104) of claim 1, where the first and second contours (212, 214) are disposed over at least one of the first and second long sides (202, 204).

10. The tool (104) of claim 1, further comprising first and second alignment flanges (226a, 226b) disposed at the first and second short sides (206, 208), respectively, and adapted to align the tool (104) inside an enclosure (100) for removal of the one or more dust caps (306) and/or insertion of the fiber connectors (302).

11. The tool (104) of claim 6, where the plurality of openings (220) has first and second ends (220aa-220na, 220ab-220nb) such that each opening of the plurality of openings (220) has a variable inner diameter between the first and second ends (220aa-220na, 220ab-220nb) to grasp the one or more rear tails of the fiber connectors (302).

12. The tool (104) of claim 6, where the plurality of openings (220) has one or more tabs (324) at the one end to prevent twisting of the one or more connectors (302) as each of the connectors include a pull tab such that the pull tab is retained between two adjacent tabs of the one or more tabs (324).

13. A method (700) for managing a plurality of fiber connectors (302) using a tool (104), the method (700) comprising:
engaging one or more fiber connectors of the plurality of fiber connectors (302) with the tool (104) by applying an external force; and
performing exactly one of the functions where the functions include:
(i) removing one or more dust caps (306) coupled to the one or more connectors (302) and (ii) engaging the one or more fiber connectors (302) to one or more adapters (308).

14. The method (700) of claim 14, where for the removing of the one or more dust caps (306) coupled to the one or more connectors (302), the method (700) includes (i) grasping the one or more dust caps (306) with a first contour (212) created between two adjacent protrusions of the plurality of protrusions (216) of the tool (104) and (ii) pulling out the one or more dust caps (306) by applying an external force.

15. The method (700) of claim 14, where for the engaging of the one or more connectors (302) to one or more adapters (308), the method (700) includes receiving rear tails of the one or more connectors (302) with a second contour (214) formed by the plurality of openings (220) of the tool (104) and pushing the one or more connectors (302) inside the one or more adapters (308) by applying an external force.