FIELD

The disclosure is directed to assemblies having a cable input device with an integrated locking feature for securing the cable input device in a port of a terminal, multiport or the like. More specifically, the disclosure is directed to assemblies having cable input devices with the housing having an integrated locking feature that can be held in a port of a terminal or the like along with methods of securing the same.

BACKGROUND

Optical fiber is increasingly being used for a variety of applications, including but not limited to broadband voice, video, and data transmission. As bandwidth demands increase optical fiber is migrating deeper into communication networks such as in fiber to the premises applications such as FTTx, 5G and the like. As optical fiber extended deeper into communication networks the need for making robust optical connections in outdoor applications in a quick and easy manner was apparent. To address this need for making quick, reliable, and robust optical connections in communication networks hardened fiber optic connectors such as the OptiTap® plug connector were developed.

Terminals such as multiports or closures were also developed for making one or more optical connections with hardened connectors such as the OptiTap plug connector. Prior art multiports have an input cable or input port with a plurality of receptacles mounted through a wall of the housing for protecting an indoor connector inside the housing that makes an optical connection to the external hardened connector of the branch or drop cable.

Illustratively,FIG. 1shows a conventional fiber optic multiport1having an input fiber optic cable4carrying one or more optical fibers to indoor-type connectors inside a housing3. The multiport1receives the optical fibers into housing3and distributes the optical fibers to receptacles7for connection with a hardened connector. The receptacles7are separate assemblies attached through a wall of housing3of the multiport1. The receptacles7allow mating with hardened connectors attached to drop or branching cables (not shown) such as drop cables for “fiber-to-the-home” applications. During use, optical signals pass through the branch cables, to and from the fiber optic cable4by way of the optical connections at the receptacles7of multiport1. Fiber optic cable4may also be terminated with a fiber optic connector5.

Multiports1allowed quick and easy deployment for the optical networks by service providers; however, they may be difficult and time consuming to manufacture. By way of explanation, the input fiber optic cable may require structure or components for securing the input cable to the housing along with additional structure for sealing the input cable to the housing such as adhesives or heat shrinks. Consequently, the manufacture of the prior art multiports can be time consuming and expensive.

Further, the housing3of the prior art multiport1is ruggedized for outdoor deployments, but the housings3of multiport1are relatively bulky for mounting multiple receptacles7for the hardened connector on the housing3. Receptacles7allow an optical connection between the hardened connector such as the OptiTap male plug connector on the branch cable with a non-hardened connector such as the SC connector disposed within the housing3, which provides a suitable transition from an outdoor space to a protected space inside the housing3. However, this construction requires a relatively large form-factor where routing space may be at a premium.

Consequently, there exists an unresolved need for small form-factor assemblies that improve manufacturing for quickly and easily attaching a cable input or cable output to a terminal while also addressing concerns related to limited space, organization, or aesthetics of prior art terminals.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is directed to cable input devices along assemblies that use the cable input device such as fiber optic terminals (hereinafter “terminals”). For instance, the cable input device is a portion of a tether cable for a multiport, terminal or the like. Terminals that may use the concepts disclosed herein include multiports, closures, network interface devices, wireless devices or the like. Assemblies having cable input devices along with methods of attaching a portion of the cable input device to the terminal are also disclosed. Although the concepts are disclosed with respect to multiports, the terminals can have any suitable construction or configuration that cooperates with the cable input devices.

One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a cable input device for being received into an input port. The cable input device comprises at least one optical fiber, a jacket, and a housing. The jacket comprises a longitudinal passageway and a portion of the optical fiber is disposed in the longitudinal passageway of the jacket. The housing comprises an outer surface having a locking feature integrally formed in the outer surface, a rear opening, a front opening and a passageway from the rear opening to the front opening. A portion of the optical fiber passes through the passageway and extends beyond the front opening of the housing. The housing may further comprise other features such as a keying portion. The keying portion may be disposed on the outer surface of the housing such as about 180 degrees from the locking feature or the keying portion may be disposed less than 180 degrees from the locking feature on the outer surface of the housing.

Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to an assembly comprising a cable input device and a terminal where a portion of the cable input device is received in the terminal. The cable input device comprises at least one optical fiber, a jacket, and a housing. The jacket comprises a longitudinal passageway and a portion of the optical fiber is disposed in the longitudinal passageway of the jacket. The housing comprises an outer surface having a locking feature integrally formed in the outer surface, a rear opening, a front opening and a passageway from the rear opening to the front opening. A portion of the optical fiber passes through the passageway and extends beyond the front opening of the housing. The terminal comprises a shell having a cavity, at least one input connection port and a securing member associated with the port passageway of the input connection port. The input connection port comprising a port opening extending from an outer surface of the terminal into the cavity and defining a port passageway along a longitudinal axis. The securing member comprises a bore that receives a portion of the housing of the cable input device, and the at least one optical fiber of the cable input device extends into the cavity of the terminal. The securing member may engage the locking feature of the housing to hold the cable input device to the terminal.

The present disclosure is also directed to a method of attaching a portion of a cable input device to a terminal for forming an assembly. The cable input device comprises at least one optical fiber, a jacket, and a housing. The jacket comprises a longitudinal passageway and a portion of the optical fiber is disposed in the longitudinal passageway of the jacket. The housing comprises an outer surface having a locking feature integrally formed in the outer surface, a rear opening, a front opening and a passageway from the rear opening to the front opening. A portion of the optical fiber passes through the passageway and extends beyond the front opening of the housing. The terminal comprises a shell having a cavity, at least one input connection port and a securing member associated with the port passageway of the input connection port. The input connection port comprising a port opening extending from an outer surface of the terminal into the cavity and defining a port passageway along a longitudinal axis. The securing member comprises a bore. The method comprising inserting a portion of the housing of the cable input device into the port opening so that the housing enters the bore of the securing member, and the locking feature of the housing cooperates with the securing member to hold the housing within the input connection port with a portion of the at least one optical fiber of the cable input device disposed within the cavity of the terminal.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the same as described herein, including the detailed description that follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments that are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claims. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation.

