Customizable fiber storage basket for telecommunications equipment

Abstract

Components of optical fiber management assemblies. The assemblies can include a fiber storage basket that can be customized in a variety of different ways using different accessories, modules, and / or basket features. The basket can include a universal interface for mounting differently configured accessories capable of performing different optical fiber management functions. The basket can be configured for closure type and non-closure type equipment applications. In closure type equipment applications, accessories can be mounted to the basket exterior to make more efficient use of space within the closure volume.

Description

[0001] CUSTOMIZABLE FIBER STORAGE BASKET FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

[0002] Cross-Reference To Related Application

[0003] This application is being filed as a PCT International application and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Patent Application Nos. 63 / 662,719, filed June 21, 2024; 63 / 689,070, filed August 30, 2024; and 63 / 794,548, filed April 25, 2025, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The present disclosure relates to improvements in fiber storage baskets of optical fiber management assemblies of telecommunications equipment.

[0006] Background

[0007] Optical fibers of telecommunications networks are managed at telecommunications equipment located at different network distribution locations. Such telecommunications equipment can include closures, cabinets, shelves, panels and the like. The equipment typically includes management assemblies to organize, store, route and connect optical fibers within the network. For example, optical fibers from provider side cables can be routed and optically connected to optical fibers of subscriber side cables using such assemblies. The assemblies can include features for supporting optical fiber splices, ferrules, connectors, adapters, splitters, wave division-multiplexers and so forth. In addition, the assemblies can include features for storing and protecting optical fibers. In addition, the assemblies can include features for fixing end portions of cable jackets so that optical fibers can emerge from the cable jackets and be organized on the other equipment. In addition, the assemblies can include features for securing and guiding protective tubes that hold lengths of optical fibers beyond where they have emerged from the cable jackets.

[0008] The assemblies can include fiber management trays, which can be used to, e.g., support splices and other fiber management components between incoming and outgoing optical fibers that are routed onto the trays. A typical fiber management assembly can include a support structure to which multiple fiber management trays are pivotally mounted in a stack. The pivoting permits access to a desired one of the stack of trays.

[0009] The assemblies can include baskets for storing optical fibers (e.g., in loops) on the assembly without necessarily routing them to a fiber management tray.

[0010] Summary

[0011] In general terms, the present disclosure relates to improvements in optical fiber management assemblies.

[0012] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to improvements in fiber storage baskets used in optical fiber distribution equipment.

[0013] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to improvements in customizability of fiber storage baskets used in optical fiber distribution equipment.

[0014] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, including: a basket, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, each of the walls including an interior surface and a corresponding exterior surface that face away from each other, one of the walls including a through hole defining a first mounting structure; and a fiber management accessory including a second mounting structure, the first mounting structure and the second mounting structure being configured to mate with each other to mount the basket accessory to each of the interior surface and the corresponding exterior surface of the one of the walls.

[0015] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an optical fiber management assembly of telecommunications equipment, including: a basket for managing optical fibers, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, the basket also including a fiber pick configured to be tom off a portion of the basket in order to use the fiber pick, wherein the basket is of unitary construction and constructed from a single mold of polymeric material.

[0016] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an optical fiber management assembly of telecommunications equipment, includes: a basket, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, each of the walls including an interior surface and a corresponding exterior surface that face away from each other, one of the walls including mounting structures; a first tower configured to pivotally support one or more optical fiber management trays mounted to the mounting structures at one of the interior surface or the exterior surface of the one of the walls; and a second tower configured to pivotally support one or more optical fiber management trays mounted to the mounting structures at the one of the interior surface or the exterior surface of the one of the walls such that the second tower is spaced apart from the first tower.

[0017] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, including: providing a basket, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, the plurality of walls includes a bottom wall and a side wall positioned at a perimeter of the bottom wall and extending from the bottom wall in a direction perpendicular to at least a portion of an interior surface of the bottom wall; and mounting a fiber retention tab to the side wall at a position such that the fiber retention tab: (i) extends from the side wall in a direction parallel to the portion of the interior surface of the bottom wall; and (ii) a fiber retention surface of the fiber retention tab is positioned above a top of the side wall.

[0018] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, including: providing a basket, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, the plurality of walls includes a bottom wall and a side wall positioned at a perimeter of the bottom wall and extending from the bottom wall in a direction perpendicular to at least a portion of an interior surface of the bottom wall, the basket including a hook-shaped strap guiding structure that extends from the exterior surface of one of the plurality of walls, the strap guiding structure being integral with the one of the plurality of walls; and looping and securing a strap around the basket, including inserting the strap into the strap guiding structure laterally and perpendicularly to an elongate dimension of the strap when the strap is secured around the basket.

[0019] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, including two basket modules of identical construction that are configured to be connected to each other in an inline configuration in which opposing ends of an elongate dimension of the elongate configuration are open, such that optical fibers can be fed into a basket volume defined by the inline configuration along the elongate dimension through both of the opposing ends.

[0020] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, including: connecting two basket modules of identical construction to each other in an inline configuration in which opposing ends of an elongate dimension of the elongate configuration are open.

[0021] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, comprising three basket modules of different construction one from another, the three basket modules being configured to be connected to each other in: (i) a first configuration in which a first of the basket modules is connected to a first end of a second of the basket modules and a third of the basket modules is connected to a second end of the second of the basket modules, the second end being opposite the first end, the first configuration being a first butt configuration in which one end of an elongate dimension of the first butt configuration is open and an opposing end of the elongate dimension of the first butt configuration is closed such that optical fibers can be fed into a basket volume defined by the first butt configuration along the elongate dimension through the one end of the first butt configuration but not through the opposing end of the butt configuration; and (ii) a second configuration in which the first of the basket modules is connected directly to the third of the basket modules, the second configuration being a second butt configuration in which one end of an elongate dimension of the second butt configuration is open and an opposing end of the elongate dimension of the second butt configuration is closed such that optical fibers can be fed into a basket volume defined by the second butt configuration along the elongate dimension through the one end of the second butt configuration but not through the opposing end of the second butt configuration.

[0022] In another aspect, a method for managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, includes: connecting three basket modules of different construction one from another end to end to form a basket for storing loops of optical fibers. In another aspect, an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, includes: a basket, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, each of the walls including an interior surface and a corresponding exterior surface that face away from each other, the plurality of walls including a bottom wall and a side wall positioned at a perimeter of the bottom wall and extending from the bottom wall in a direction perpendicular to at least a portion of the interior surface of the bottom wall; and a plurality of spaced apart fiber retention tabs one atop another and aligned along a vertical axis perpendicular to the bottom wall, the plurality of spaced apart fiber retention tabs being mounted to the side wall.

[0023] In another aspect, an optical fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure includes: a basket, the basket including walls having interior surfaces and corresponding exterior surfaces that oppose the interior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a basket volume in an interior of the basket, the basket volume being configured to store loops of optical fibers, the basket volume including an open first side and three closed sides, the three closed sides being formed by the walls, one of the three closed sides being opposite the open first side, the walls defining mounting structures, the mounting structures including a mounting structure on each of the three closed sides; and a fiber management accessory positioned exterior to the basket volume and mounted directly to one or more of the exterior surfaces with one of the mounting structures.

[0024] In another aspect, an optical fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure includes a basket, the basket including walls having interior surfaces and corresponding exterior surfaces that oppose the interior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a basket volume in an interior of the basket, the basket volume being configured to store loops of optical fibers, the basket volume including an open first side and three closed sides, the three closed sides being formed by the walls, one of the three closed sides being opposite the open first side, the walls defining mounting structures, the mounting structures including a mounting structure on each of the three closed sides; a first fiber management accessory mounted to a first of the mounting structures and extending from the first of the mounting structures into the interior of the basket; and a second fiber management accessory mounted to the basket and extending from the basket exteriorly to, and away from, the interior of the basket. In another aspect, an optical fiber management system for a telecommunications closure, includes: a basket, the basket including walls having interior surfaces and corresponding exterior surfaces that oppose the interior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a basket volume in an interior of the basket, the basket volume being configured to store loops of optical fibers, the walls defining mounting structures; a first fiber management accessory configured to be positioned exterior to the basket volume and mounted directly to one or more of the exterior surfaces with one of the mounting structures; and a second fiber management accessory configured to be positioned exterior to the basket volume and mounted directly to the one or more of the exterior surfaces with the one of the mounting structures, the second fiber management accessory being configured differently than the first fiber management accessory.

[0025] In another aspect, an optical fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure includes: a basket, the basket including walls having interior surfaces and corresponding exterior surfaces that oppose the interior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a basket volume in an interior of the basket, the basket volume being configured to store loops of optical fibers, the basket volume including an open first side and three closed sides, the three closed sides being formed by the walls, one of the three closed sides being opposite the open first side, the walls defining mounting structures; and a fiber management accessory positioned such that a portion of the fiber management accessory is positioned exterior to the basket volume and mounted directly to one or more of the exterior surfaces with one of the mounting structures and another portion of the fiber management accessory is positioned within or directly above the basket volume.

[0026] In another aspect, a fiber retention tab includes: a frame defining a mounting portion and a handle portion; and a coupler pivotally connected to the frame, the coupler including: an inner side facing inward directions; an outer side facing outward directions; a latch arm; a protrusion protruding in one of the outward directions from the outer side; and a trigger on the inner side, the coupler being configured such that pulling on the trigger in another of the outward directions causes the projection to move in one of the inward directions.

[0027] In another aspect, a fiber retention tab includes: a substantially L-shaped frame defining a mounting portion and a handle portion that define approximately a right angle; and a substantially L-shaped coupler pivotally connected to the handle portion, the L-shaped coupler at a junction, the substantially L-shaped coupler including: an inner side facing inward directions; an outer side facing outward directions; a protrusion protruding in one of the outward directions from the outer side; and a trigger protruding in one of the outward directions from the inner side.

[0028] In another aspect, a method for managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, includes: mounting a fiber retention tab to a structure; and pulling a trigger of the fiber retention tab upward toward a handle portion of the fiber retention tab to move the fiber retention tab upward from one mounting position on the structure to another mounting position on the structure.

[0029] A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples disclosed herein are based.

[0030] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of example telecommunications equipment including an example optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a top, perspective, exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a bottom, perspective view of the basket of the assembly of FIG. 2, and including a schematically represented strap. FIG. 4 is a perspective, exploded view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including variation of the basket of FIG. 3.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 4.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 4.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a perspective, partially exploded, view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a perspective, partially exploded, view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0039] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 8.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0041] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the accessory of the assembly of FIG. 10.

[0042] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0043] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0044] FIG. 14 is a perspective, partially exploded, view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0045] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0046] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3. FIG. 17A is a perspective, partially exploded, view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0047] FIG. 17B is a perspective view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 17A.

[0048] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 4.

[0049] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 4.

[0050] FIG. 20 is a perspective, partially exploded, view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 4.

[0051] FIG. 21 is a perspective, partially exploded, view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0052] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the basket of FIG. 3.

[0053] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of another example basket according to the present disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another example basket according to the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0056] FIG. 26 is a side view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the assembly of FIG. 25.

[0057] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of one of the fiber retention tabs of the assembly of FIG. 25.

[0058] FIG. 28 illustrates an example use application of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including the basket of FIG. 3.

[0059] FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the use application depicted in FIG. 28. FIG. 30 is a perspective, exploded, view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0060] FIG. 31 is a perspective, exploded, view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0061] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 31.

[0062] FIG. 33 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0063] FIG. 34 is a perspective, exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 33.

[0064] FIG. 35 is a perspective, exploded, view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0065] FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 35.

[0066] FIG. 37 is a schematic view of an example joining plate that can be used with the assemblies of FIGS. 30-36.

[0067] FIG. 38 is a perspective view of another example basket according to the present disclosure.

[0068] FIG. 39 is a perspective view of another example optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure and including example fiber management modules.

[0069] FIG. 40 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure, and including additional partially exploded views of some of the components.

[0070] FIG. 41 is a perspective view of another optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0071] FIG. 42 is a perspective, partially exploded view of a telecommunications closure and a further example optical fiber management assembly according to the present disclosure and including an optical fiber looped around an exterior of the basket of the assembly.

[0072] FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of the telecommunications closure of FIG. 42 including the assembly of FIG. 42 mounted within the closure volume of the closure. FIG. 44 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 42 and having exterior fiber retention brackets in a storage configuration.

[0073] FIG. 45 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 42 and having exterior fiber retention brackets in an access configuration.

[0074] FIG. 46 is a perspective, exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 42.

[0075] FIG. 47 is a perspective view of one of the fiber retention brackets of the assembly of FIG. 42, with the bracket being in a storage configuration.

[0076] FIG. 48 is a further perspective view of the fiber retention bracket of FIG. 47, with the bracket being in the storage configuration.

[0077] FIG. 49 is a further perspective view of the fiber retention bracket of FIG. 47, with the bracket being in an access configuration.

[0078] FIG. 50 is a further perspective view of the fiber retention bracket of FIG. 47, with the bracket being in the access configuration.

[0079] FIG. 51 is a perspective view of another example optical fiber management assembly that can be mounted within the closure volume of the closure of FIG. 42.

[0080] FIG. 52 is a perspective view of another example optical fiber management assembly that can be mounted within the closure volume of the closure of FIG. 42.

[0081] FIG. 53 is an exploded, perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 52.

[0082] FIG. 54 is an enlarged view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 52

[0083] FIG. 55 is a perspective, cross-sectional view of the portion of the assembly of

[0084] FIG. 54.

[0085] FIG. 56 is a planar, cross-sectional view of the portion of the assembly of

[0086] FIG. 54.

[0087] FIG. 57 is a perspective view of one of the fiber retention tabs of the assembly of FIG. 51 and the assembly of FIG. 52.

[0088] FIG. 58 is a further perspective view of the fiber retention tab of FIG. 57.

[0089] FIG. 59 is a perspective view of a further example fiber retention tab that can be used with the assembly of FIG. 51 and the assembly of FIG. 52. FIG. 60 is a perspective view of a further example fiber retention tab that can be used with the assembly of FIG. 51 and the assembly of FIG. 52.

[0090] FIG. 61 shows a back-to-back arrangement of two of the fiber retention tabs of FIG. 57.

[0091] FIG. 62 shows a back-to-back arrangement of two of the fiber retention tabs of FIG. 59.

[0092] FIG. 63 shows a back-to-back arrangement of two of the fiber retention tabs of FIG. 60.

[0093] FIG. 64 is a partially exploded view of a device that can be coupled to fiber retention tab of the present of the disclosure.

[0094] FIG. 65 is a perspective view of another example optical fiber management assembly that can be mounted within the closure volume of the closure of FIG. 42.

[0095] FIG. 66 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the exteriorly mounted modules of the assembly of FIG. 65.

[0096] FIG. 67 is a further perspective view of the module portion of FIG. 66.

[0097] FIG. 68 is a further perspective view of the module portion of FIG. 66.

[0098] FIG. 69 is a further perspective view of the module portion of FIG. 66.

[0099] FIG. 70 is a perspective, partially exploded view of one of the exteriorly mounted modules of the assembly of FIG. 65.

[0100] FIG. 71 is a perspective view of another example module that can be exteriorly mounted to a basket of a fiber management assembly of a telecommunications closure.

[0101] FIG. 72 is a further perspective of the module of FIG. 71.

[0102] FIG. 73 is a perspective view of another example optical fiber management assembly that can be mounted within a closure volume of a closure.

[0103] FIG. 74 is a further perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 73.

[0104] FIG. 75 is a perspective view of a fiber retention tab of the assembly of FIG. 73.

[0105] FIG. 76 is a further perspective view of the fiber retention tab of FIG. 75. FIG. 77 is a top view of the fiber retention tab of FIG. 75.

[0106] FIG. 78 is a bottom view of the fiber retention tab of FIG. 75.

[0107] FIG. 79 is a side view of the fiber retention tab of FIG. 75, with the opposing side view being a mirror image thereof.

[0108] FIG. 80 is a front view of the fiber retention tab of FIG. 75.

[0109] FIG. 81 is a back view of the fiber retention tab of FIG. 75.

[0110] FIG. 82 is a cross-sectional view of the fiber retention tab of FIG. 75 along the line 82-82 in FIG. 78.

[0111] FIG. 83 is a perspective view of another fiber retention tab of the assembly of FIG. 73.

[0112] FIG. 84 is a further perspective view of the fiber retention tab of FIG. 83.

[0113] FIG. 85 is a side view of the fiber retention tab of FIG. 83, with the opposing side view being a mirror image thereof.

[0114] Detailed Description

[0115] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

[0116] As used herein, mounting refers to direct mounting between the components. For example, as used herein, that a first component includes structures for mounting a second component means that the second component can be directly mounted to the structures of the first component without any need for an additional or intermediating component to perform the mounting.

[0117] As used herein, positioning and orientational terms such as top, bottom, up, down, upper, lower, above, below, front, back, rear, forward, backward, rearward, horizontal, vertical, and so forth, may be used to refer to relative positioning of components in an assembly or portions of a component relative to each other when positioned in an assembly. Such terminology is provided as a descriptive aid and does not limit how components or portions of components may be positioned or oriented in practice.

[0118] A typical sealable and re-enterable closure for managing optical fibers and optical fiber connections, e.g., at a signal distribution node of a telecommunication network can include fiber storage basket. Such baskets can be used to store slack of optical fibers entering the closure. Such slack can be stored in loops and / or partial loops, for example, within the storage volume defined by the basket. How the basket can be used and modified is typically limited.

[0119] The present disclosure provides several example aspects for improving the versatility and / or customizability of fiber storage baskets and / or providing additional use applications for fiber storage baskets. Modularity of the basket itself, as well as improvements in the variety of accessories that can be mounted to the basket and how and where they are mounted, can advantageously allow for end users to select the basket and package of basket parts that best suits their needs, which can, e.g., increase the compactness of the telecommunications equipment, and / or otherwise improve how optical fibers are managed at management assembly that includes the selected parts.

[0120] Referring to FIG. 1, example telecommunications equipment is shown. In this example, the equipment includes a closure 10. In other examples, the equipment can include, e.g., a panel, a cabinet, a drawer, and the like. The closure 10 defines an interior closure volume 11 that is sealable and re-enterable. The closure 10 includes a first housing piece 12 (in this case, a dome), and a second housing piece 14 (in this case, a base) configured to cooperate with the first housing piece to define a sealable and re-enterable closure volume 11 defined primarily by interior surfaces of the dome 12 for managing optical fibers. In particular, the first and second housing pieces 12, 14 define an interior closure volume in which other fiber managing equipment, including an optical fiber management assembly 100 according to the present disclosure, can be positioned. In this example, the assembly 100 is mounted to the base 14 and can be received within the closure volume 11.

[0121] A clamp ring 16 having a clamp 17 (or other securing mechanism) can be used to clamp and seal together the housing pieces 12 and 14. A sealing element, such as a strip seal or O-ring can be positioned at the junction between the housing pieces 12 and 14 and compressed by the clamp ring 16 to form a seal. Cables carrying optical fibers can enter the closure volume via sealable ports 19 defined by the base 14. Such cables can include trunk cables, feeder cables, branch cables, and distribution cables (also known as drop cables). Typically, optical fibers from one cable entering the closure are spliced or otherwise optically connected (e.g., with optical fiber connectors) to optical fibers of one or more other cables entering the closure to establish an optical signal path at the closure 10 from a provider side cable to one or more customer side cables, or an optical signal path between a branch cable and any of: another branch cable, a trunk cable, a feeder cable, or a distribution cable. Branch cables can be used to route optical signals from one telecommunications closure to multiple other telecommunications closures.

[0122] Splices, such as mechanical splices or fusion splices, can be performed at the factory or in the field, e.g., at the closure 10 positioned in the field.

[0123] In addition to splicing, other fiber management activities can be performed with a fiber management assembly housed within the closure volume. Such activities can include, without limitation, indexing fibers, storing fibers (typically in one or more loops) for later use or as slack of active fibers, splitting optical signals from one input optical fiber to multiple output optical fibers, and the like.

[0124] Instead of splices, optical fibers can be connected to each other via connectorized ends. Connector to connector optical connections can also be supported with a fiber management assembly housed within a closure volume. Connectors terminate the fibers and are installed in adapters supported on fiber management trays or other components of the assembly to establish optical continuity between the installed connectorized fibers. In some examples, the connectors can include ferrules that terminate the fibers. In other examples, the connectors do not include ferrules.

[0125] The cables entering the closure can include optical fibers of different configurations such as loose fibers and fiber ribbons. The fiber ribbons can be flat ribbons or rollable ribbons. The loose fibers can be individual fibers or bundled loose fibers protected by a common protective sheath or tube or at least along a length portion of the fibers. For fiber ribbons, the fibers of the entire ribbon can be spliced to the fibers of a corresponding fiber ribbon at the same time, e.g., using a mass fusion splicing procedure.

[0126] Splice bodies protect the splices both in the case of individual fiber splices and mass fiber splices, such as mass fusion splices. The splice bodies are held in splice holders also known as splice chips. Fiber management trays and other components of a fiber management assembly positioned in the interior sealable and re-enterable volume defined by the closure 10 (or positioned at other telecommunications equipment, such as a panel or cabinet) can support such splice holders (or chips).

[0127] One or more pieces of the assembly 100 is / are constructed of a molded polymeric material, e.g., a thermoplastic. In some examples, every piece of the assembly 100 is constructed of a molded plastic material.

[0128] The assembly 100 includes a fiber storage basket 102 and a support structure 104. The support structure 104 includes a tower 106 and a cable termination portion 108. The cable termination portion 108 supports devices for clamping end portions of jackets of cables entering the closure. Optical fibers emerging from the ends of the jackets are then routed and managed on other portions of the assembly 100. The tower 106 includes couplers 110 arranged in a stepped or staggered configuration. The couplers 110 can receive coupling components of optical fiber management trays such that the trays are pivotally mounted to the tower 106 in a stack of the trays. The stack of the trays lies flat due to the staggered nature of the couplers. The support structure 104 mounts to the basket 102 at a mounting portion 112 of the basket 102 positioned at an open end 114 of the basket 102. The support structure 104 includes coupling structures that are complementary to the mounting portion 112 and interlock therewith. Opposite the open end 114 along the elongate dimension of the basket 102, the basket 102 has a closed end 116, such that the basket 102 has a butt configuration.

[0129] The basket 102 includes a bottom wall 118 and one or more side walls 122 extending from the bottom wall 118 to define a fiber storage volume (or interior basket volume) 124. The one or more side walls 122 are generally perpendicular to the portion of the interior surface 120 of the bottom wall 118. Facing the opposite direction of the interior surface 120, the wall 118 includes an exterior surface 126 (FIG. 3). Similarly, the one or more side walls 122 include(s) oppositely facing interior surface(s) 128 and corresponding exterior surfaces 130 (FIG. 3).

[0130] The basket 102 is configured to store one or more loops of optical fibers (e.g., the looped optical fiber 2 schematically illustrated in FIG. 1).

[0131] The basket 102 includes an interface for mounting differently configured accessories. Non-limiting examples of such accessories will be described herein. The interface can be universal across all accessories that have the complementary mounting features, even though the accessories are differently configured one from another and / or perform different functions one from another.

[0132] In the example basket 102, the accessory mounting interface includes through holes 132 arranged in an array 134 of the through holes 132. The array 134 includes rows and columns of the through holes 132. The through holes 132 each define a shape of an elongated slot, in this case, a rectangular slot.

[0133] A fiber management accessory can include a second mounting structure that is complementary to the mounting structures defined by one or more through holes 132 such that the mounting structures of the accessory and the basket are configured to mate with each other to mount the basket accessory to either the interior surface or the corresponding exterior surface of the one of the walls.

[0134] That is, the through holes 132 present the same mounting structure at the interior surface and at the corresponding exterior surface of the wall of the basket through which they extend, and therefore an accessory can be mounted to any given portion of the basket 102 that includes one or more though holes 132, either to the interior surface of the basket at that portion or to the exterior surface of the basket at that portion.

[0135] Some of the through holes 132 (and corresponding mounting structures defined thereby) are arranged in a plane that is parallel to the portion of the interior surface 120 of the basket 102. The through holes 132 can also be provided in another surface of the basket 102, such as one or more side walls of the basket 102, and portions 136 of the bottom wall of the basket that are arranged obliquely to the portion 120.

[0136] The through holes 132 define different mounting locations for one or more accessories to the interior surface and / or exterior surface of the basket 102. The through holes 132 are spaced apart one from another along an elongate dimension 138 of the basket 102 and also spaced apart along a transverse dimension 140 of the basket 102, the transverse dimension 140 being perpendicular to the elongate dimension 138. The spaced apart array of the through holes or gridded nature of the through holes 132 defines different possible mounting locations or positions for accessories.

[0137] Referring to FIGS. 22, 23, 24, and 38, baskets with differently shaped through holes defining differently shaped mounting structures and universal mounting interfaces are shown.

[0138] In FIG. 22, the basket 102 with mounting through holes 132 is shown. In FIG. 23, a basket 201 with larger square or other rectangular shaped mounting through holes 232 is shown, which define correspondingly shaped mounting structures.

[0139] In FIG. 24, a basket 301 with polygonal (in this case regular hexagonal) shaped mounting through holes 332 is shown, which define correspondingly shaped mounting structures.

[0140] In FIG. 38, a basket 701 with keyhole shaped mounting through holes 732 is shown, which define correspondingly shaped mounting structures. Through hole 732 includes a central portion 734 that includes two opposing substantially round edges and two slots 736 extending from the central portion 734 in opposite directions. In this example, the slots 736 extend from the central portion 734 in directions parallel to the elongate dimension of the basket 701. In other examples, the slots 736 can extend from the central portion 734 in other directions, such as perpendicular to the elongate dimension of the basket 701. To lock an accessory to the universal mounting interface defined by the keyhole shaped mounting through holes 732, fasteners can be used. For example, a threaded or unthreaded fastener with wings extending from the shaft (e.g., forming a T-shape) can be inserted in a through hole 732 (from the external side of the basket 701 or from the internal side of the basket 701) and rotated a quarter of a turn to prevent the fastener from disengaging the basket’s mounting interface. Similarly, a threaded fastener can be inserted through the through hole 732 and its shaft mated on the other side of the basket 701 with a wing nut that is fastened in a position such that the wings of the wing nuts are not aligned with the slots 736.

[0141] Thus, depending on the universal mounting interface presented by the basket, a given accessory can be mounted directly thereto and / or with the aid of one or more fasteners.

[0142] Other than the shape of the through holes that define the accessory mounting interface, the baskets 102, 201, 301, and 701 are identical and can be used to perform the same optical fiber management functions as part of an optical fiber management assembly of telecommunications equipment as described herein.

[0143] In examples, the through holes that define the accessory mounting interface define the shape of any regular or irregular polygon.

[0144] In examples, the through holes that define the accessory mounting interface define any shape that is not round. The shapes defined by each of the through holes 132, 232, 332, 732 have edges that are parallel to, or perpendicular to, the elongate dimension of the corresponding basket 102, 201, 301.

[0145] Referring to FIG. 39, the universal mounting interface of any of the baskets herein (in this example, the basket 801) can include a recessed region 804 that defines accessory guides 806. In this example, the accessory guides 806 are semicircular receivers that complement semicircular projections 808 of a given accessory 810. In other examples, the receivers and corresponding projecting structures can be other shapes. The accessory is received in the recessed region 804 and can be properly mounted only when its projections 808 are received in the guides 806. This arrangement can facilitate proper mounting of an accessory to a basket. In alternative examples, the receivers can be provided on the accessory and the projections can be provided on the basket. In FIG. 39, a first of these accessories 810 is shown mounted to the universal mounting interface of the basket. A second one of these accessories 810 is shown not yet attached to the basket, but could be mounted to the universal mounting interface of the basket at any available position that is desired.

[0146] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 28-29, any of the baskets described herein (in this case, the basket 102) includes bosses 142 projecting in an exterior direction from one or more exterior surfaces of the basket. Each boss defines a through hole 144 configured to receive a fastener (e.g., a screw, an anchor) 146. The fasteners 146 can be inserted into the through holes 144 in the bosses 142 to secure the basket 102 to telecommunications equipment other than a closure, such as to a panel or to a cabinet. For example, in FIGS. 28-29, the basket 102 is secured with fasteners 146 to a panel 148 of a cabinet (not shown).

[0147] Referring to FIG. 3, any of the baskets described herein (in this case, the basket 102) includes a strap guiding structure 150 that extend(s) from one or more exterior surfaces of one or more of the walls. The strap guiding structures 150 are configured to receive and guide a strap 152 (e.g., a strap that fastens via hook and loops fasteners) around the basket 102. Such a strap 152 can be used, for example, to secure a stack of fiber management trays to the basket when the trays do not need to be accessed for fiber management.

[0148] Each strap guiding structure 150 is integral with one of the basket walls at one end 154 of the strap guiding structure 150. At an opposite end 156 of each strap guiding structure 150, the strap guiding structure does not contact any of the walls of the basket such that the strap 152 can be inserted into the strap guiding structure laterally and perpendicularly to an elongate dimension of the strap 152 (e.g., inserted in the direction indicated by the arrow 158), rather than having to be fed axially though the strap guiding structures. The strap guiding structures 150 are hook shaped to help retain the strap 152 therein while installing and securing the strap around the basket 102.

[0149] Referring to FIG. 4 it is illustrated how an accessory 200 can be mounted to the mounting structures defined by one or more of the through holes 132 to either an interior surface of a basket 102’ or to an exterior surface of the basket 102’ at the same portion of the corresponding wall of the basket 102’. The basket 102’ is similar to the basket 102 and differs with respect to the tabs that are used for storage of looped fibers within the basket interior. In the basket 102’ the fiber retaining tabs are integrally formed with the main body of the basket, whereas in the basket 102 the tabs are removably mounted to the basket main body and adjustable to different heights.

[0150] In this example of FIG. 4, the accessory 200 is a tower configured to pivotally support one more optical fiber management trays at staggered receivers 202 of the tower 200 that are configured to pivotally couple to complementary couplers (e.g., hinge pins or bars) of fiber management trays.

[0151] Referring to FIG. 5, an example selectable or customizable fiber management assembly using the basket 102’ and two of the towers 200 is shown. The two towers 200 are both mounted to the interior bottom surface of the basket 102’ and face the same direction as each other such that trays pivotally supported by the two towers would extend from the towers in the same direction 203 toward the closed end 160 of the basket 102’.

[0152] Referring to FIG. 6, another example selectable or customizable fiber management assembly using the basket 102’ and two of the towers 200 is shown. The two towers 200 are both mounted to the interior bottom surface of the basket 102’ and face opposite directions, facing each other such that trays pivotally supported by the two towers would extend from each of the towers 200 toward the other of the towers.

[0153] Referring to FIG. 7, another example selectable or customizable fiber management assembly using the basket 102 and three of the towers 200 is shown. Two of towers 200 are both mounted to the interior bottom surface of the basket 102 and face opposite directions, facing each other such that trays pivotally supported by these two towers would extend from each of the towers 200 toward the other of the towers. The third tower 200 faces the same direction as the middle tower. An optional fourth tower 200 is also shown and can be mounted to the universal mounting interface at either the interior surface or exterior surface of the basket for further customizability.

[0154] Referring to FIG. 8, another example selectable or customizable fiber management assembly using the basket 102 and two of the towers 200 is shown. In this example, each of the towers is pivotally supporting three optical fiber management trays 204 in a stack of the trays 204. Each optical fiber management tray 204 includes a coupler for pivotally coupling to a corresponding receiver of the tower 200. Each tray 204 includes a tray body having a fiber management surface 206, one or more side walls 208 extending perpendicularly from the fiber management surface 206 at an outer perimeter of the surface 206, and fiber retention tabs 211 that extend from tops of the walls 208 parallel to the surface 206 for retaining optical fibers in the tray volume defined between the surface 206 and bottom surfaces of the tabs 211. The surface 206 includes a component management region 212 with structures to which can be mounted optical fiber management components, such as splice holders, signal splitters, wave division multiplexers, and the like. One set of a tower 200 and trays 204 is shown mounted to the universal mounting interface of the basket at an interior surface of the bottom wall. A second set of a tower 200 and trays 204 is shown detached from the basket 102. The second set can be selectively mounted to the universal mounting interface of the basket 102 wherever it can be accommodated and is desired.

[0155] Referring to FIG. 9, another example selectable or customizable fiber management assembly using the basket 102 and one of the towers 200, and the support structure 104 is shown. The support structure 104 is mounted to the open end of the basket 102. Large fiber management trays 210 are pivotally coupled to and supported by the tower 106. In addition, the smaller tower 200 is mounted to the interior surface of the basket 102 at the universal mounting interface and three of the smaller fiber management trays 204 are pivotally coupled to and supported by the tower 200. The differently sized trays can be used for managing circuits of different numbers of optical fibers. For example, the trays 210 can be used to manage splices and the like between ribbon fibers, whereas the trays 204 can be used to manage splices and the like between individual fibers. The trays 204 are positioned entirely within the interior basket volume of the basket 102, whereas the trays 210 are positioned outside of the interior basket volume and above the basket 102.

[0156] Referring to FIGS. 10-11, another example selectable or customizable fiber management assembly using the basket 102 and a tower 300 having a different configuration than the tower 200, and fiber management trays 302 having a different configuration from the fiber management trays 204 and 210, is shown. The tower 300 is configured to pivotally couple to and support trays having the configuration of the trays 302. The tower 300 is mounted to the universal mounting interface at the interior surface of the bottom wall of the basket 102.

[0157] Referring to FIGS. 12-13, another example selectable or customizable fiber management assembly using the basket 102, the tower 300, and the fiber management trays 302, is shown. In this example, the tower 300 is mounted to a different area of the universal mounting interface than in FIGS. 10-11 such that the trays 302 extend therefrom in a direction opposite that shown in the assembly shown in FIGS. 10-11. The tower 300 is configured to pivotally couple to and support trays having the configuration of the trays 302. The tower 300 is mounted to the universal mounting interface at the interior surface of the bottom wall of the basket 102.

[0158] Referring to FIGS. 14-21, additional selectable and customizable fiber management assemblies are shown using the basket 102 (though other baskets consistent with the principles herein may be used) and accessories other than tray towers that have complementary mounting structures to the universal mounting interface of the basket 102. Additional configurations of assemblies including the illustrated accessories and basket and / or other accessories and / or other baskets are possible. In some figures, an accessory is shown in an exploded view as well as shown mounted to a basket.

[0159] In the assembly shown in FIG. 14, the accessory is a patch panel 340 that supports optical fiber adapters 342. Each adapter 342 is configured to receive two opposing optical fiber connectors (ferrulized or not ferrulized) that terminate respective optical fibers. The adapter aligns the ends of the connectorized optical fibers and enables signal propagation from one fiber to the other. The patch panel 340 includes a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of adapter receivers 344 in an array of the receivers 344, each of the rows and each of the columns including a plurality of the adapter receivers 344, the array defining a plane that is perpendicular to the interior surface 120 of the basket 102 when the patch panel 340 is mounted thereto. One patch panel 340 with adapters 342 is shown mounted to the universal mounting interface of the basket 102. A second patch panel 340 and adapters 342 are shown not yet attached to the basket 102, but could be mounted to the universal mounting interface at any available position that is desired.

[0160] Referring to FIG. 15, another example selectable or customizable fiber management assembly is shown in which a patch panel 350 having a larger array of adapter receivers and adapters is mounted to the universal mounting interface of the basket 102.

[0161] Referring to FIG. 16, another example selectable or customizable fiber management assembly is shown in which two of the patch panels 340 are mounted to different mounting locations defined by the universal mounting interface of the basket 102.

[0162] In the assembly shown in FIG. 17, the accessory 360 includes a panel 362 defining a plurality of mounting structures 366 for mounting optical fiber management components, such as a splice holder 364, which is configured to support a plurality of splice bodies that protect splices. In other examples, other fiber management components can be mounted to the structures 366, such as an optical signal splitter, a wave division multiplexer, and / or an optical fiber adapter holder. A perspective underside view of the panel 362 is shown in FIG. 17A. The panel 362 has mounting structures that complement the universal mounting interface of the basket such that the panel 362 can be mounted to any desired location on the universal mounting interface, either to the interior or to the exterior of the basket 102. The splice holder 364 (or other fiber management component) has features that mate with the structures 366 to secure the components 362 and 364 to each other. A first accessory 360 is shown mounted to the universal mounting interface of the basket. A second one of the accessories 360 is shown in exploded form not yet attached to the basket, but could be assembled and mounted to the universal mounting interface of the basket at any available position that is desired.

[0163] Referring to FIG. 18, another example selectable or customizable fiber management assembly is shown in which one of the panels 362 to which is mounted the fiber management component 364, and the patch panel 350 are mounted to customized locations of the universal mounting interface of the basket 102. In the assembly shown in FIGS. 19-20, the accessory includes a panel 370 defining a plurality of mounting structures 366 for mounting optical fiber management components, such as a splice holder 364, which is configured to support a plurality of splice bodies that protect splices. In other examples, other fiber management components can be mounted to the structures 366, such as an optical signal splitter, a wave division multiplexer, and / or an optical fiber adapter holder. The panel 370 has mounting structures that complement the universal mounting interface of the basket 102 such that the panel 370 can be mounted to any desired location of the universal mounting interface, either to the interior or to the exterior of the basket 102. The splice holder 364 (or other fiber management component) has features that mate with the structures 366 to secure the components 370 and 364 to each other. In this example, the structures 366 are arranged in a plane that is perpendicular to the interior surface 120 of the basket 102 when the panel 370 is mounted thereto.

[0164] Due to the perpendicularity of the panel 370 to the surface 120, the panel 370 can serve as a partition wall that divides the interior basket volume into two regions 372 and 374. With such a partition in place, the two regions 372 and 374 can be used for different fiber management needs, for example, providing additional organizational capabilities to the overall assembly. In FIG. 20, a first of these accessories is shown mounted to the universal mounting interface of the basket. A second one of these accessories is shown in exploded form not yet attached to the basket, but could be assembled and mounted to the universal mounting interface at any available position that is desired.

[0165] Referring to FIG. 21, the accessory includes a panel 380 defining a plurality of other mounting structures 382 for mounting optical fiber management components, such as a splice holder, which is configured to support a plurality of splice bodies that protect splices. In other examples, other fiber management components can be mounted to the structures 382, such as an optical signal splitter, a wave division multiplexer, and / or an optical fiber adapter holder. The panel 380 has mounting structures that complement the universal mounting interface of the basket 102 such that the panel 380 can be mounted to any desired location of the universal mounting interface, either to the interior or to the exterior of the basket 102. In this example, the structures 382 are arranged in a plane that is perpendicular to the interior surface 120 of the basket 102 when the panel 380 is mounted thereto. Due to the perpendicularity of the panel 380 to the surface 120, the panel 380 can serve as a partition wall that divides the interior basket volume into two regions 384 and 386. With such a partition in place, the two regions 384 and 386 can be used for different fiber management needs, for example, providing additional organizational capabilities to the overall assembly. The panel 380 can serve the same function as the panel 370 described above, except that the panel 380 presents differently configured mounting structures for mounting fiber management components.

[0166] The panel 380 also includes flexible latching tabs that define a fiber pick holder 388 for a fiber pick 381. That is, the fiber pick 381 can be removably secured to the fiber pick holder of the panel 380.

[0167] In FIG. 21, a first of these accessories is shown mounted to the universal mounting interface of the basket. A second one of these accessories is shown in exploded form not yet attached to the basket, but could be assembled and mounted to the universal mounting interface at any available position that is desired.

[0168] In examples, the basket includes a fiber pick 390 that is integrally formed (e.g., in the same mold) with the rest of the basket 102. The pick 390 is configured to be tom off another portion 392 of the basket 102 by tearing one or more molded connections between the fiber pick and the basket portion 392. Once the fiber pick 390 is tom off it can be placed, for example, in the holder 388 so that it can be easily found again when needed for fiber management at the assembly.

[0169] Referring to FIGS. 4, 11 , 14, 15, 17, 20 and 21 , each of the accessories 200, 300, 340, 350, 362, 370 and 380 includes the same mounting structure 190, which is configured to complement and mate with the universal mounting interface (e.g., the mounting structure formed by a set of three through holes 132) of the basket 102. It should be appreciated that other kinds of accessories may be provided that can include the same mounting structure 190 for mounting to the universal mounting interface of the basket 102. Similarly, it should be appreciated that any of the accessories described herein may be provided with a differently configured mounting structure to complement a differently configured universal mounting interface of a basket, such as one of the other baskets described herein.

[0170] Referring to FIG. 17, the example mounting structure 190 includes two pairs 192 of flexibly resilient latch arms 194 with a stabilizer fin 196 positioned between the two pairs 192. Each pair 192 of latch arms is configured to enter one of the through holes 132 and catch on the opposite surface of the basket wall. A stop structure 198 defined by the given accessory limits insertion of the latch arms too far into the through holes. Each latch arm 194 includes a catch configured to snappingly engage the corresponding wall of the basket 102 once the mounting structure 190 has been properly inserted in the through holes 132. The stabilizer fin 196 enters a through hole 132 positioned between the through holes 132 in which the pairs 192 of latch arms 194 enter. Once in place, the stabilizer fin 196 can stabilize the accessory relative to the basket, e.g., by minimizing lateral movement or pivoting of the accessory relative to the basket.

[0171] Alternative mounting structures can be provided on an accessory to securely mate with one or more through holes 132 (or other universal mounting interface presented by a basket). For example, the latch arms (e.g., the latch arms 194) can be configured to snap on to the elongate end edges of a through hole 132 (as shown) or to side edges of the through hole 132. The latching mechanism that latches an accessory to the universal mounting interface presented by the basket can be designed to be demountable in some examples, e.g., by flexing the latch arms to release them. In other examples, the accessories are designed to permanently affix the accessory to the universal mounting interface. In other examples, one or more detents are provided in the mounting interface to help hold the latch arms in place.

[0172] In some examples, the latching mechanism of a given accessory can be configured such that latching of the accessory to the universal mounting interface is accomplished by a push-in motion of the accessory followed by a slide down motion of the accessory to lock the accessory to the basket.

[0173] In some examples, the latching mechanism can be configured as a cam lock design that rotates down into a through hole (e.g., a slot 132) and latches at one end. Other latching mechanisms of accessory to basket are possible.

[0174] Referring to FIGS. 25-27, fiber retention tabs 400 will be described. The tabs 400 are configured to be adjustably mounted to receivers 402 defined by the side wall(s) of the basket 102, or any other basket described herein.

[0175] Each tab 400 includes a mounting portion 404 and a fiber retention portion 406 that together form an L-shape. The mounting portion 404 includes tracks 408 that engage corresponding channels 410 defined be a receiver 402 to enable the mounting portion 404 to slidably engage up and down within the receiver 402 to a desired lock position defined by holes 412 of the receiver 402. The mounting portion 404 includes a flexibly resilient latch arm 414 from which one or more projection 416 project. Once a desired lock position is reached, the latch arm 414 can be release to resiliently cause the projection(s) 416 to enter hole(s) 412 at the desired locked position to thereby secure the tab 400 to the basket at the desired lock position with the retention portion of the tab extending from the side wall in a direction parallel to a portion of the interior surface of the bottom wall of the basket.

[0176] The projections 416 are positioned below the fiber retention portion 406 of the tab 400. As a result, advantageously a lock position on the basket can be selected in which the fiber retention portion 406 is above a top 420 of the side wall of the basket. In this manner, the fiber management interior volume of the basket can effectively be expanded above the top of the side wall(s) of the basket, allowing, e.g., for additional fiber loop storage under the trays 210, with the stack of trays 210 resting on and being supported by the tops of the tabs 400.

[0177] Referring to FIG. 40, a further example use of fiber retention tabs selectively mounted to a basket (e.g., the basket 102) is illustrated with reference to a further example assembly 900 that includes the basket 102 (or another basket described herein). In this example, multiple (e.g., two or more) fiber retention tabs are mounted one atop another to the same receiver 402 of the basket.

[0178] Depending on the desired vertical spacing 920, 922, 924 between the tabs in each receiver 402, different configurations of tabs can be selected. In this example, tabs 400 and 902 are shown. The tabs 902 have shorter mounting portions than the mounting portions 404 of the tabs 400. That is, the tabs 902 (unlike the tabs 400) may not be suitable for extending the vertical height of the interior basket volume. However, due to the reduced vertical length of the mounting portions of the tabs 902, greater variability in adjustability of the relative heights of the tabs 902 within the basket volume is possible. In addition, the mounting portions of the tabs 902 can be oriented extending upward or oriented extending downward, as shown in FIG. 40, for further customizability of the relative vertical spacing between the pairs of fiber retention tabs.

[0179] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 40, the fiber retention tabs are adjustably mounted to different height positions within a given receiver 402. In some examples, one of the tabs 400 can be positioned such that a portion of the tab is above a top of the sidewall of the basket. As shown in FIG. 40, stacking multiple vertically spaced apart fiber retention tabs 902, 400 spaced apart from each other and along a vertical axis perpendicular to the bottom wall of the basket and within the same basket receiver can allow for further fiber organization capabilities within the basket. For instance, the configuration allows certain fibers 912 (or tubes of fibers) to be segregated from other fibers 910 (or tubes of fibers). In this example, the fibers 910 are routed in storage loops vertically between the vertically stacked tabs 902 and 400, whereas the fibers 912 are routed in storage loops between the lower of the tabs 902 and the bottom interior surface of the basket 102. The fibers 910 and 912, respectively, can be associated with different signal distribution circuits or different sets of signal distribution circuits.

[0180] In further examples, three or more tabs can be mounted to basket receivers for even further customizability of fiber loop storage organization at different vertical levels within the basket volume. Additional tabs 902 and 400 are shown in FIG. 40 that are not mounted to the basket 102. Optionally, one or more of these additional tabs 902 and 400 could be mounted to one more of the receivers 402.

[0181] Referring to FIG. 41, a further example assembly 1000 is shown. In this example, different vertical loop storage volumes 1001 and 1003 are provided for the basket 102 (or another basket described herein), with the volumes 1001 and 1003 being segregated by a panel 1002. In some examples, the panel 1002 is configured to mount the receivers 402. In this example, the volume 1001 is bounded at the bottom by the bottom wall of the basket and at the top by the panel 1002, and the volume 1003 is bounded at the bottom by the panel 1002 and at the top by the fiber retaining tabs 400, 902. Certain fibers can be looped and stored in the volume 1001 while others can be looped and stored in the volume 1003.

[0182] Referring to FIGS. 30-36, different basket assemblies each having the same universal mounting interface for mounting accessories, but consisting of differently configured basket modules are illustrated. The basket modules for a given assembly can be selected based on the fiber management needs for the particular assembly configuration. Any two basket modules shown in FIGS. 30-36 can be joined to each other according to any suitable mechanism. For example, a joining plate 600 (FIG. 37) can be provided to join two or more basket modules together. In other examples, any two basket modules can be joined together via hermaphroditic snap latches formed integrally with the two basket modules. The various selectable and customizable basket configurations shown in FIGS. 30-36 are made up of some number of differently configured modules 500, 502, 504 and 506. Any pair of the modules 500, 502, 504, 506 are configured to connect to each other end to end, e.g., by a joining mechanism as described above.

[0183] Referring to FIGS. 35-36, an assembly of two basket modules 506 of identical construction is shown. The modules 506 are connected to each other in an inline configuration in which opposing ends 520, 522 of an elongate dimension of the elongate configuration are open such that optical fibers can be fed into the interior volume defined by the inline configuration along the elongate dimension of the basket through both of the opposing ends 520, 522.

[0184] Referring to FIG. 34, an assembly of two basket modules 502 and 506 of different construction is shown. The modules 502 and 506 are connected to each other in a butt configuration in which one end 524 of an elongate dimension of the butt configuration is open and an opposing end 526 of the elongate dimension of the butt configuration is closed. When the modules 502 and 506 are joined together, the butt configuration can look like the basket 550 shown in FIG. 33.

[0185] Referring to FIGS. 31 and 32, an assembly of two basket modules 500 and 504 of different construction is shown. The modules 500 and 504 are connected to each other in a butt configuration in which one end 530 of an elongate dimension of the butt configuration is open and an opposing end 532 is closed. The resulting basket is smaller than the basket 550, which may be desirable for certain fiber management needs and spaces.

[0186] Referring to FIG. 30, an assembly of three basket modules 500, 502 and 504 of mutually different construction is shown. The modules 500 and 502 are connected to each other end to end, and the modules 504 and 502 are connected to each other end to end, such that the overall configuration of the basket is a butt configuration in which one end 540 of an elongate dimension of the butt configuration is open and an opposing end 542 is closed. When the modules 500, 502 and 504 are joined together, the butt configuration can look like the basket 550 shown in FIG. 33.

[0187] In any of the butt configurations of baskets described above, optical fibers can be fed into the basket volume defined by the butt configuration along the elongate dimension of the basket through the open end of the butt configuration but not through the opposing closed end of the butt configuration. Each of the modules 504 and 506, though of different configurations, includes the mounting portion 112 positioned at the open end, the mounting portion 112 being configured to mount to the support structure 104.

[0188] Additional basket modules and basket configurations formed from different combinations of basket modules are possible.

[0189] As described herein, baskets can be used for closure-type telecommunications equipment and non-closure type telecommunications equipment (such as a cabinet, a panel, a drawer, and the like).

[0190] In certain closure type-telecommunications equipment, the closure volume is substantially cylindrical or frustoconical, whereas the basket is substantially rectangular. The interplay between these shapes within the closure volume can result in significant amounts of unused or wasted space within the closure volume. Underutilized or unused space within a closure volume can disadvantageous^ result in extra closures being required for given signal distribution needs, which can come at high cost or be simply prohibitive.

[0191] The following describes example solutions in which a loop storage basket of an optical fiber management assembly is accessorized for minimizing underutilized spaced within a closure volume.

[0192] Referring to FIGS. 42-43, an example optical fiber management system 1100 is shown.

[0193] The system 1100 includes a dome 1102 configured to form a sealable and reenterable closure volume 1103 when sealingly secured to another housing piece such as the base 14 of FIG. 1. An optical fiber management assembly 1104 is configured to be sealingly housed within the closure volume 1103. The closure can be configured to be environmentally sealed.

[0194] Cables carrying optical fibers enter the closure volume 1103 through ports that seal around the cables. The optical fibers are then routed and managed on an organizer that includes the assembly 1104.

[0195] The assembly 1104 includes a basket 1106. The basket 1106 is configured to store loops of optical fibers for active or future connectivity. The basket 1106 can be of unitary (e.g., single mold) plastic construction, including all of the structural features of the basket 1106. The assembly 1104 includes a structure 1108 configured to pivotally receive and hold optical fiber management trays in a stack of the trays. The structure 1108 is attached to the basket 1106.

[0196] The assembly 1104 includes one or more accessories mounted to the basket’s exterior. Many different types of fiber management accessories and / or device support accessories with different configurations are possible to be mounted to the exterior (and interior) of a basket, such as a basket 1106, e.g., by providing the same mounting structure on the different accessories. The accessories herein, such as the bracket 1110, can be constructed of plastic. In this example, the assembly 1104 includes multiple accessories that are fiber retention brackets 1110. The fiber retention brackets 1110 are mounted to exterior surfaces of the basket 1106.

[0197] The system 1100 extends in an elongate dimension along an axis 1101. The axis

[0198] 1105 of the system 1100 is transverse to the elongate dimension and perpendicular to the axis 1101.

[0199] The interior closure volume 1103 of the dome 1102 is cylindrical or slightly frustoconical with a round cross-section as shown in FIG. 43. The basket 1106 is substantially oblong or rectangular. As a result, as shown in FIG. 43, with the basket

[0200] 1106 positioned in the interior volume 1103, there is the potential for unused space between the basket 1106 and the surface 1113 that defines the interior volume 1103.

[0201] For example, as shown in FIG. 43, the basket 1106 has a maximum width W2 along a reference line RL that is parallel to the axis 1105. Collinear with the reference line RL, the interior volume 1103 of the dome 1102 has a width W1. The width W1 is larger than the width W2. For example, the width W1 can be greater than 5 percent, greater than 10 percent, greater than 15 percent, greater than 20 percent, or greater than 25 percent the width W2.

[0202] The difference between the magnitudes of the widths W1 and W2 typically results in unused space within the closure. In this example, however, the accessories 1110 are mounted to the exterior of the basket 1106. Each accessory 1110 (regardless of the type of accessory and with the fiber retaining bracket being provided as merely one example) extends in an exterior direction from an exterior side of a wall of the basket 1106 by an extension distance EDI, ED2. In this example, accessories 1110 are mounted opposite each other on opposite sides of the basket 1106. In other examples, any appropriate number of accessories greater than zero can be mounted to the exterior of the basket 1106.

[0203] In FIG. 43, the width of the basket 1106 plus the widths of the accessories 1110 collinear with the reference line RL is equal to the sum of the width W2, the extension distance EDI and the extension distance ED2. In some examples, this sum is at least 99 percent of the width W1 , or at least 95 percent of the width W1 or at least 90 percent of the width Wl, or at least 85 percent of the width Wl. In some examples, this sum is at least 1 percent greater than the width W2, or at least 5 percent greater than the width W2, or at least 10 percent greater than the width W2, or at least 15 percent greater than the width W2, or at least 20 percent greater than the width W2, or at least 25 percent greater than the width W2, or at least 30 percent greater than the width W2, or at least 35 percent greater than the width W2, or at least 40 percent greater than the width W2.

[0204] Referring to FIGS. 44-50, further details of the assembly 1104 will be described. The basket 1106 defines an interior volume 1120. The basket 1106 includes a main support surface 1121. Extending from the main support surface 1121 are walls, including side walls 1122 and 1124 and an end wall 1126. Due to the walls 1122, 1124, 1126, the interior volume 1120 is closed at the end 1128 of the basket 1106 and is open at the opposite end 1130 of the basket 1106. Each wall has an exterior surface and an interior surface. For example, the wall 1124 has an exterior surface 1132 and an interior surface 1134.

[0205] Both the interior surfaces and the exterior surfaces of all of the walls 1122, 1124 and 1126 include receivers 402. The receivers 402 are described above. Each receiver 402 includes mounting structures. The mounting structures include channels 410 configured to slidingly receive complementary mounting structures (e.g., rails) of an accessory, and through holes 412 extending through the corresponding walls 1122, 1124, 1126 configured to receive complementary mounting structures (e.g., one or more projections) of an accessory, where the desired position for the accessory can be selected by inserting the projection or projections in the holes 412 corresponding to the desired position.

[0206] The accessories 1110 are brackets configured to retain loops and / or partial loops of optical fibers around the exterior sides of the walls of the basket 1106, as shown, e.g., by the example fiber 9 in FIG. 42. In this manner, additional loop storage of optical fibers can be provided in otherwise unused spaced within the closure volume. Each bracket 1110 includes a base 1140 and an arm 1142. The arm 1142 can be pivotally coupled to the base 1140 with a hinge mechanism 1146, e.g., one or more hinge pins that couple with one or more hinge sockets defined by the arm 1142 and the base 1140. With the base 1140 attached to a receiver 402, the arm 1142 can be pivot between an access or loading configuration that facilitates loading of fibers between the exterior of the basket 1106 and the bracket 1110, and a storage configuration for allowing the assembly to be positioned in the closure volume 1103 (FIG. 45). As shown in FIG. 45, in some examples, the arm 1142 can be pivoted away from the basket 1106 in the direction of the arrow 1150 to any of a number of possible positions for loading optical fibers. Various such positions are depicted in FIG. 45, with some of these positions depicted in phantom. Detents and / or stop surfaces can be provided for the bracket 1110 to allow the arm 1142 to stay and resist further pivoting at one or more predefined pivoted positions.

[0207] The bracket 1110 includes a flange 1143 extending from the arm (or pair of arms) 1142 and a fiber retaining tab 1144 extending from the flange 1143 to facilitate retention of fibers by the bracket 1110 and between the bracket 1110 and the exterior of the basket 1106.

[0208] The base 1140 of each bracket 1110 includes a mounting structure 1160. The mounting structure is configured to lockingly secure the bracket 1110 to a receiver 402 at a desired position on the receiver, as well as to adjust the position of the bracket 1110 relative to the receiver and to remove the bracket 1110 from the receiver 402.

[0209] In this example, the mounting structure 1160 includes opposing rails 1162 that face away from each other and are configured to be slidingly received in the channels 410 of a receiver 402. In this example, the mounting structure 1160 also includes a flexibly resilient arm 1164. One or more projections 1166 project from the flexibly resilient arm 1164. In this example, the mounting structure 1160 also includes a pair of opposing stabilizers 1168 that are configured to abut the exterior surface of the receiver 402 that defines the channels 420.

[0210] To directly mount the mounting structure 1160 to a receiver 402, whether the receiver is defined by an interior surface of a wall of the basket or an exterior surface of a wall of the basket, the rails 1162 are slid into the channels 420 and the flexibly resilient arm 1164 can be flexed outwardly away from the basket 1106 until the protrusion(s) 1166 align with the desired through holes 412 corresponding to the desired position of the bracket 1110 relative to the basket 1106. At that point, the flexibly resilient arm 1164 can be released, causing the protrusion(s) 1166 to enter the through holes 412 at the desired position and locking the bracket 1110 to the basket 1106 at that position.

[0211] To adjust the position or to remove the bracket 1110 from the basket 1106, the flexibly resilient arm can be flexed outward again to remove the protrusion(s) 1166 from the holes 412, allowing the bracket 1110 to be slid up and down within the channels 420 for position adjustment or removal.

[0212] The configuration of the mounting structure 1160 allows the bracket 1110 to be handled and the mounting structure 1160 to be manipulated for mounting the bracket 1110 to the basket 1106 or adjusting it or removing it therefrom using just one hand.

[0213] Referring to FIG. 51, another example optical fiber management assembly 1200 is shown. The assembly 1200 includes the basket 1106 and accessories that are tabs 1202 mounted to exterior receivers 402. The tabs 1202 can be used to help retain loops of optical fibers and / or for another purpose, such as to mount a device exterior to the basket 1106. The tabs 1202 are amounted to each of the walls of the basket 1106 on three different sides of the basket 1106. The tabs 1202 can be mounted to receivers 402 on the interior (similarly to the tabs 400 described above) and the exterior of a basket.

[0214] Referring to FIGS. 52-56, another example optical fiber management assembly 1300 is shown. The assembly 1300 includes a basket 1306 and tabs 1202 mounted to exterior receivers 402 of the basket 1306. The basket 1306 is structurally similar to the basket 1106, except that the basket 1306 has pairs of interior and exterior receivers 402 in each of the three walls of the basket 1306 that are back-to-back with each other, rather than offset from each other as in the basket 1106. In some examples, the side and end walls of the basket 1306, or portions of those walls, can be thickened relative to the corresponding walls of the basket 1106 to accommodate back-to-back receivers 402 in the walls. With the exterior and interior receivers 402 being back-to-back, interior and exterior accessories can be mounted, effectively, to the same mounting structures of the basket 1306 as each other, as shown, e.g., in FIGS. 54-56.

[0215] Referring to FIGS. 57-58, the tab 1202 includes a mounting portion 1204 and a support portion 1206. The mounting portion 1204 includes a flexibly resilient arm 1208 with projections 1210. The mounting portion 1204 also includes opposing rails 1212. The mounting portion 1204 is configured to lockingly secure the tab to a receiver 402 at a desired position on the receiver, as well as to adjust the position of the tab 1202 relative to the receiver and to remove the tab 1202 from the receiver 402.

[0216] The rails 1212 are configured to be sliding received in the channels 410 of a receiver 402. To directly mount the mounting portion 1204 to a receiver 402, whether the receiver is defined by an interior surface of a wall of the basket or an exterior surface of a wall of the basket, the rails 1212 are slid into the channels 420 and the flexibly resilient arm 1208 can be flexed (e.g., by pressing with a thumb) in the direction 1211 through a window 1213 defined by the tab 1202 until the protrusion(s) 1210 align with the desired through holes 412 corresponding to the desired position of the tab 1202 relative to the basket 1106, 1306. At that point, the flexibly resilient arm 1208 can be released, causing the projections 1210 to enter the through holes 412 at the desired position and locking the tab 1202 to the basket 1106, 1306 at that position.

[0217] To adjust the position or to remove the tab 1202 from the basket 1106, 1306 the flexibly resilient arm can be flexed again in the direction 1211 to remove the projections 1210 from the holes 412, allowing the tab 1202 to be slid up and down within the channels 420 for adjustment or removal.

[0218] The configuration of the mounting portion 1204 allows the tab 1202 to be handled and the mounting portion 1204 to be manipulated for mounting the tab to the basket 1106, 1306 or adjusting it or removing it therefrom using just one hand.

[0219] The support portion 1206 can include a structure (e.g., that forms a hole 1220) that can receive a device. For example, referring to FIG. 64, a device 1250 can be removably mounted (e.g., by frictional fit or a latch) in the hole 1220 of the support portion 1206 of the tab 1202, with the tab 1202 being mountable to an exterior receiver 402 of the basket 1106, 1306. The device 1250 can be any suitable device that can, e.g., assist in optical fiber management at the fiber management assembly. In this example, the device 1250 is a light emitting device (e.g., with a battery, a light emitter such as a LED) and a flexible support arm that extends from the light emitter and attaches to the tab 1202. A technician can attach the device 1250 to the tab 1202 at any suitable time, e.g., when the technician is working on fiber management at the assembly. In some examples, the device 1250 can be stored in the closure volume together with the rest of the assembly. Referring to FIGS. 55-56 and 61 it is shown how back-to-back tabs 1202 can mount to back-to-back receivers 402. The projections 1210 are sized to be less than or equal to half the depth of the through holes 412 such that the back-to back projections can both be accommodated in the same through holes without interfering with the other tab’s locking attachment to the basket. In this example, the projections 1210 are sized to abut each other in back-to-back fashion within the through holes 412.

[0220] A further example tab 1402 is shown in FIGS. 59 and 62. The tab 1402 is of identical construction to the tab 1202, except that the tab 1402 has just one projection 1410 instead of the two centrally arranged projections 1210 of the tab 1202. Because there is just one non-centralized projection 1410, two tabs 1402 (FIG. 62) can be attached back-to-back to back-to-back receivers 402 of a basket 1306 and the projections can be up to as long as the through holes 412 are deep (or longer) without interfering with the other tab’s locking attachment to the basket.

[0221] A further example tab 1502 is shown in FIGS. 60 and 63. The tab 1502 is of identical construction to the tab 1202, except that the tab 1502 has two offset from center projections 1510 instead of the two centrally arranged projections 1210 of the tab 1202. Because the projections 1510 are offset from center, two tabs 1502 (FIG. 63) can be attached back-to-back to back-to-back receivers 402 of a basket 1306 and the projections can be as long as the through holes 412 are deep without interfering with the other tab’s locking attachment to the basket.

[0222] Referring to FIGS. 65-70, a further example optical fiber management assembly 1600 is shown.

[0223] The assembly 1600 includes a structure 1108 mounted to a basket 1306. One or more trays 1602 (which can correspond to the trays 204, e.g., or any other fiber management trays) are pivotally received and held by the structure 1108. Mounted exteriorly to side walls of the basket 1306 are accessories of different construction. In this example, the accessories include two of the brackets 1110 and two fiber management modules 1610 and 1612.

[0224] Each fiber management module 1610, 1612 is configured to receive one or more input fibers and route them to one or more output fibers. For example, each module 1610, 1612 can include one or more fiber optic adapter arrays 1630. Each adapter of an adapter array 1630 is configured to receive connectorized ends of optical fibers to establish optical connectivity between the fibers. An example input optical fiber 1620 with connector 1622 is received in an adapter of the module 1610 shown in FIG. 65. Within the module 1610, 1612, the signals carried by the fiber 1620 can be routed via any of a number of different fiber management components (e.g., a splice, a signal splitter, a wave division multiplexer, a patch panel, a breakout, and the like) to one or more output fibers that are further managed on the components of the assembly 1600. In addition to the adapters of the adapter arrays 1630, other fiber input options for the modules 1610, 1612 are possible.

[0225] The fiber 1620 is retained exterior and close to the basket 1306 by one of the brackets 1110.

[0226] The module 1610 is a mirror image of the module 1612.

[0227] Each module 1610, 1612 includes the mounting structure 1160, which allows the module 1610, 1612 to be easily mounted and locked (e.g., with one hand) to an exterior (or interior) receiver 402 of the basket 1106, 1306 in the manner described above in connection with the same mounting structure 1160 of the bracket 1110, as well as to adjust and remove the module 1610, 1612 relative to the basket 1106, 1306.

[0228] Each module 1610, 1612 includes a housing 1640 that defines an interior volume of the module 1610, 1612 where optical fibers can be managed using one or more fiber management components as described above. The housing 1640 defines slots 1646 for receiving and holding adapter arrays 1630. The interior volume and interior components and contents of the housing 1640 can be protected and prevented from accessing by a cover 1642. The cover 1642 can be permanently attached to the housing 1640 in some examples, or configured to be removable only by authorized personnel.

[0229] As shown in FIG. 65, an accessory, such as, but not limited to the accessory 1610, 1612 can be mounted to a basket such that portion of the accessory is exterior to the basket and a portion of the accessory is interior the basket. In some examples, an accessory can be mounted to a basket such that a portion of the accessory is positioned above the interior volume of the basket and another portion of the accessory is positioned above an exterior of the basket.

[0230] Referring to FIGS. 71-72, another example accessory 1700 that can be mounted exteriorly (or interiorly) to a basket (1106, 1306) is shown. The accessory 1700 includes adapter arrays 1630. The accessory 1700 includes the mounting structure 1160, which allows the accessory 1700 to be easily mounted and locked (e.g., with one hand) to an exterior (or interior) receiver 402 of the basket 1106, 1306 in the manner described above in connection with the same mounting structure 1160 of the bracket 1110, as well as to adjust and remove the accessory 1700 relative to the basket 1106, 1306.

[0231] Referring to FIGS. 73-82, an assembly 1800 includes the basket 102. The assembly 1800 includes further embodiments of fiber retention tabs 1802 and 1902 are shown. The assembly 1800 can be housed in a telecommunications closure.

[0232] The fiber retention tabs 1802 and 1902 can mount to the receivers of the basket 102 similarly to the manner described above. In addition, each of the fiber retention tabs 1802 and 1902 can be mounted to any suitable structure, and / or function in any of the ways described above with respect to the fiber retention tab 400 described above. In addition, each of the fiber retention tabs 1802, 1902 can be mounted to an exterior of a structure, such as an exterior of a basket 1306, as described above with respect to the fiber retention tab 1202. In addition, each of the fiber retention tabs 1802, 1902 can be used in combination with at least one fiber retention tab 1202 positioned in the same receiver.

[0233] Each fiber retention tab 1802, 1902 can provide one or more advantages over other fiber retention tabs. For example, as will be described in more detail below, each fiber retention tab 1802, 1902, has a trigger grip design that allows for one-handed unlocking of the fiber retention tab 1802, 1902 from a locked position with respect to a basket (or other structure) such that the fiber retention tab 1802, 1902 can then be moved up (along the upward direction 1803) or down (along the downward direction 1805) within the receiver with just the one-handed grasp and without requiring any other tools or a second hand.

[0234] Referring to FIGS. 75-82, the fiber retention tab 1802 includes a frame 1804. The frame 1804 includes a mounting portion 1808 and a handle portion 1806. The mounting portion 1808 and the handle portion 1806 define an L-shape of the frame 1804, with outer surfaces 1810 and 1812 of the handle portion 1806 and the mounting portion 1808, respectively, forming an angle 1814. The angle 1814 is in some examples 90 degrees. In some examples the angle 1814 is between about 75 degrees and about 115 degrees, or between about 80 degrees and about 100 degrees, or between about 85 degrees and 95 about degrees. The mounting portion 1808 can include a recessed area 1807 and / or an opening 1809 to which can be mounted a device (e.g., a lighting device), as described above. The opening 1809 can be within the recessed area 1807. In addition, the recessed area 1807 can serve as a grip for a technician’s thumb that is grasping the handle portion 1806 in order to pull the trigger with another finger (e.g., index finger).

[0235] When locked in a desired position in a receiver of a basket or other structure, the handle portion 1806 serves as a fiber retainer, e.g., helping to retain loops of fibers above a surface of the basket or other structure, and below the inner surface of the handle portion 1806.

[0236] The fiber retention tab 1802 has outer surfaces that face outward directions, such as directions 1816 and 1818, and inward surfaces that face inward directions, such as directions 1820 and 1822.

[0237] The fiber retention tab 1802 includes a coupler 1824 pivotally connected to the frame 1804 at a junction 1826. The junction 1826 is a fixed end of the coupler 1824, and the coupler 1824 extends from the junction 1826 to a free end 1828 of the coupler 1824.

[0238] The coupler 1824 has a rest configuration, which is depicted in FIGS. 75 - 82, and a triggered configuration.

[0239] The coupler 1824 includes an inner side 1830 facing inward directions and an outer side 1832 facing outward directions.

[0240] The coupler 1824 includes a latch arm 1834 and one or more protrusions (in this example, two protrusions) 1836 protruding in an outward direction from the outer side 1832.

[0241] The coupler 1824 also includes a trigger 1840 on the inner side and protruding inward from the inner outside 1831 of the coupler 1824 and inward from the inner side 1830.

[0242] The coupler 1824 is configured to move from the rest configuration to the triggered configuration by grasping the handle portion 1806 on an outer surface and an inner surface and pulling the trigger 1840 upward (e.g., in an outward direction) toward the outer surface 1810. This causes the trigger 1840 to pivot around the junction 1826 in a pivot direction 1842. Thus, pulling the trigger 1840 in this manner causes the protrusions 1836 to move in an inward direction and the trigger 1840 to move in an outward direction. Pulling the trigger 1840 in this manner causes the protrusions 1836 to at least partially enter openings defined by the frame 1804. Pulling the trigger 1840 in this manner causes the fiber retention tab to move from its rest configuration to its triggered configuration.

[0243] The junction 1826 between the coupler 1824 and the frame 1804 is resilient. Thus, when the trigger 1840 is released, the coupler 1824 is configured to resiliently return to the rest configuration.

[0244] The fiber retention tab 1802 can be a molded plastic part with all features integrally molded therewith.

[0245] In some examples, in the rest configuration, each protrusion 1836 protrudes from the latch arm 1834 in a direction that forms a non-zero angle 1844 with a reference line that is parallel to the outer surface 1810. Similarly, in the rest configuration the latch arm 1834 is tilted relative the outer surface 1812 by an angle that can be similar to, or equal to, the angle 1844. In some examples, the angle 1844 is between about 2 degrees and about 8 degrees, or between about 4 degrees and about 6 degrees. In some examples, the angle 1844 is about 5 degrees. The corresponding tilt of the trigger mechanism can provide the leverage needed to trigger the trigger 1840 by pulling it.

[0246] Due to the tilt, when the fiber retention tab 1802 is in the rest configuration, a portion of the coupler 1824 is positioned outward of the frame 1804, another portion of the coupler 1824 is positioned inward of the frame 1804, and yet another portion of the coupler 1824 is positioned within the frame 1804.

[0247] In addition, the tilt can facilitate biasing the protrusions 1836 into corresponding holes 1811 of a receiver 402 to lock the fiber retention tab 1802 to a basket or other fiber management structure (having such a receiver) at a desired position. Pulling on the trigger 1840 as described above causes the trigger 1840 to move into one or more openings 1866 defined by the frame 1804, while also causing the protrusions 1836 to leave the corresponding holes 1811, thereby unlocking the fiber retention tab from its locked position. Once unlocked, the fiber retention tab 1802 can be slid single handedly up and down with the receiver 402 to a different desired mounting position at which the trigger is released, causing the fiber retention tab 1802 to return to its rest configuration with the protrusions 1836 entering the holes at the new desired mounting position to lock the fiber retention tab 1802 at the new desired locking position. Each protrusion 1836 can include a rounded nose 1850 to facilitate its finding and entering hole 1811 at a desired mounting location.

[0248] The coupler 1824 can include one or more outer surface ribs 1852 to provide robustness and resilience to the trigger mechanism, e.g., to enable the trigger mechanism to survive many cycles of use.

[0249] The mounting portion 1808 includes rails 1860 configured to slide in the channels of the receiver of the basket or other structure, in a manner similar to the rails described above.

[0250] The trigger 1840 includes two beams 1870, 1872 each defining its own finger receiver. The junction 1826 is positioned between the two beams 1870 and 1872 on the coupler 1824. Each of the beams 1870, 1872 includes a free end and a fixed end, with the fixed end being fixed to the latch arm 1834.

[0251] Referring now to FIGS. 83-85, the fiber retention tab 1902 will be described. The fiber retention tab 1902 is functionally similar to the fiber retention tab 1802, and includes many of the same structural features of the fiber retention tab 1802. In the interest of brevity, the following discussion will focus primarily on the differences of the fiber retention tab 1902 from the fiber retention tab 1802.

[0252] The latch arm 1934 and the protrusions 1936 of the fiber retention tab 1902 operate the same way as the corresponding components 1834 and 1836 of the fiber retention tab 1902.

[0253] The fiber retention tab 1902 includes a single, centralized, beam 1970 defining a finger receiver. The beam 1970 is positioned between a pair of junctions 1926 of the coupler and the frame. The beam 1970 includes a free end and a fixed end, with the fixed end being fixed to the latch arm 1934.

[0254] Pulling on the trigger 1940 as described above causes the trigger 1940 to move into the opening 1966 defined by the frame between the junctions 1926, while also causing the protrusions 1936 to leave the corresponding holes 1811, thereby unlocking the fiber retention tab 1902 from its locked position. Once unlocked, the fiber retention tab 1902 can be slid single handedly up and down with the receiver 402 to a different desired mounting position at which the trigger is released, causing the fiber retention tab 1902 to return to its rest configuration with the protrusions 1936 entering the holes at the new desired mounting position to lock the fiber retention tab 1902 at the new desired locking position. Various modifications and alterations of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure, and it should be understood that the scope of this disclosure is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative examples set forth herein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, comprising: a basket, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, each of the walls including an interior surface and a corresponding exterior surface that face away from each other, one of the walls including a through hole defining a first mounting structure; and a fiber management accessory including a second mounting structure, the first mounting structure and the second mounting structure being configured to mate with each other to mount the basket accessory to each of the interior surface and the corresponding exterior surface of the one of the walls.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory includes a tower configured to pivotally support one or more optical fiber management trays.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory includes a patch panel configured to support a plurality of optical fiber adapters.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the patch panel includes a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns in an array, each of the rows and each of the columns including a plurality of adapter holders, the array defining a plane that is perpendicular to the interior surface of the one of the walls when the accessory is mounted to the interior surface of the one of the walls.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory includes a panel defining a plurality of mounting structures for mounting optical fiber management components.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of mounting structures are arranged in a plane that is perpendicular to the interior surface of the one of the walls when the accessory is mounted to the interior surface of the one of the walls.

7. The assembly of any of claims 5-6, further comprising one of the fiber management components, wherein the one of the fiber management components is one of a splice holder configured to hold an optical fiber splice body containing an optical fiber splice between two optical fibers, an optical signal splitter, a wave division multiplexer, and an optical fiber adapter holder.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory includes a partition wall configured to divide the basket volume when the accessory is mounted to the interior surface of the one of the walls.

9. The assembly of any of claims 1-8, wherein the plurality of walls includes a bottom wall and a side wall positioned at a perimeter of the bottom wall and extending from the bottom wall in a direction perpendicular to at least a portion of the interior surface of the bottom wall.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a fiber retention tab extending from the side wall in a direction parallel to the portion of the interior surface of the bottom wall.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the fiber retention tab is configured to be adjustably mounted to the side wall at each of a plurality of positions.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of positions includes a position at which the fiber retention tab is above a top of the side wall.

13. The assembly of any of claims 1-12, wherein the through hole defines a shape of an elongated slot.

14. The assembly of any of claims 1-12, wherein the through hole defines a shape of a regular polygon.

15. The assembly of any of claim 1-12, wherein the through hole does not define a round shape.

16. The assembly of any of claims 1-15, wherein a shape defined by the through hole has an edge that is parallel to, or perpendicular to, an elongate dimension of the basket.

17. The assembly of any of claims 1-16, wherein the basket includes a plurality of the through holes at different positions in the one of the walls basket, the plurality of through holes defining a plurality of the first mounting structures configured to mount the basket at any of a plurality of locations to the one of the walls.

18. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the plurality of locations are spaced apart one from another along an elongate dimension of the basket.

19. The assembly of any of claims 1-18, wherein the second mounting structure includes a latch arm configured to enter the through hole, a stop structure configured to limit insertion of the latch arm into the through hole, and a catch configured to snappingly engage the one of the walls.

20. The assembly of any of claims 1-19, wherein the basket is of unitary construction and constructed from a single mold of polymeric material.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the basket includes a fiber pick configured to be tom off another portion of the basket in order to use the fiber pick.

22. The assembly of any of claims 20-21, wherein the basket includes bosses projecting from the exterior surface of at least one of the plurality of walls, the bosses defining through holes configured to receive fasteners for mounting the basket to a surface of the telecommunications equipment.

23. The assembly of any of claims 1-22, wherein the basket comprises a plurality of basket modules configured to connect to one another end to end.

24. The assembly of claim 23, further comprising a joining plate connecting the basket modules to each other end to end.

25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the basket modules are configured to connect to each other end to end via hermaphroditic snap latches formed integrally with the basket modules.

26. The assembly of any of claims 23-25, wherein the plurality of basket modules include two basket modules of identical construction that are configured to be connected to each other in an inline configuration in which opposing ends of an elongate dimension of the elongate configuration are open.

27. The assembly of any of claims 23-25, wherein the plurality of basket modules include two basket modules of different construction that are configured to be connected to each other in a butt configuration in which one end of an elongate dimension of the butt configuration is open and an opposing end of the elongate dimension of the butt configuration is closed.

28. The assembly of any of claims 1-27, wherein the basket includes a strap guiding structure that extends from the exterior surface of one of the plurality of walls, the strap guiding structure being configured to receive and guide a strap around the basket.

29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the strap guiding structure is integral with the one of the plurality of walls at one end of the strap guiding structure and an opposite end of the strap guiding structure does not contact the one of the plurality of walls such that the strap can be inserted into the strap guiding structure laterally and perpendicularly to an elongate dimension of the strap when the strap is secured around the basket.

30. The assembly of any of claims 1-29, further comprising the telecommunications equipment.

31. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the telecommunications equipment includes a sealable and re-enterable closure.

32. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the telecommunications equipment includes a cabinet.

33. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the telecommunications equipment includes an optical fiber distribution panel.

34. The assembly of any of claims 1-33, further comprising one or more optical fiber management trays.

35. The assembly of any of claims 1 -34, further comprising one or more optical fibers routed through the basket volume.

36. The assembly of any of claims 1-35, further comprising housing pieces coupled to each other that define an interior volume that houses the basket and the accessory.

37. An optical fiber management assembly of telecommunications equipment, comprising: a basket for managing optical fibers, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, the basket also including a fiber pick configured to be tom off a portion of the basket in order to use the fiber pick, wherein the basket is of unitary construction and constructed from a single mold of polymeric material.

38. A method of using the optical fiber management assembly of claim 37, comprising tearing the fiber pick off the portion of the basket.

39. An optical fiber management assembly of telecommunications equipment, comprising: a basket, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, each of the walls including an interiorsurface and a corresponding exterior surface that face away from each other, one of the walls including mounting structures; a first tower configured to pivotally support one or more optical fiber management trays mounted to the mounting structures at one of the interior surface or the exterior surface of the one of the walls; and a second tower configured to pivotally support one or more optical fiber management trays mounted to the mounting structures at the one of the interior surface or the exterior surface of the one of the walls such that the second tower is spaced apart from the first tower.

40. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the first tower and the second tower are positioned in the basket volume such that an optical fiber management tray pivotally supported by the first tower extends from the first tower toward the second tower and an optical fiber management tray pivotally supported by the second tower extends from the second tower toward the second tower.

41. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the first tower and the second tower are positioned in the basket volume such that an optical fiber management tray pivotally supported by the first tower extends from the first tower toward the second tower and an optical fiber management tray pivotally supported by the second tower extends from the second tower away from the first tower.

42. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the first tower and the second tower are positioned in the basket volume such that an optical fiber management tray pivotally supported by the first tower extends from the first tower away from the second tower and an optical fiber management tray pivotally supported by the second tower extends from the second tower away from the first tower.

43. The assembly of any of claims 39-42, further comprising a third tower configured to pivotally support one or more optical fiber management trays mounted to the basket.

44. The assembly of claim 43, wherein the third tower is mounted to an exterior surface of the basket.

45. The assembly of claim 43, wherein the third tower is mounted to an interior surface of the basket.

46. A method of managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, comprising: providing a basket, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, the plurality of walls includes a bottom wall and a side wall positioned at a perimeter of the bottom wall and extending from the bottom wall in a direction perpendicular to at least a portion of an interior surface of the bottom wall; and mounting a fiber retention tab to the side wall at a position such that the fiber retention tab:(i) extends from the side wall in a direction parallel to the portion of the interior surface of the bottom wall; and(ii) a fiber retention surface of the fiber retention tab is positioned above a top of the side wall.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising adjusting the fiber retention tab by removing the fiber retention tab from the side wall and mounting the fiber retention tab to the side wall at another position such that the fiber retention surface is positioned at or below the top of the side wall.

48. A method of managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, comprising: providing a basket, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, the plurality of walls includes a bottom wall and a side wall positioned at a perimeter of the bottom wall and extending from the bottom wall in a direction perpendicular to at least a portion of an interior surface of the bottom wall, the basket including a hook-shaped strap guiding structurethat extends from the exterior surface of one of the plurality of walls, the strap guiding structure being integral with the one of the plurality of walls; and looping and securing a strap around the basket, including inserting the strap into the strap guiding structure laterally and perpendicularly to an elongate dimension of the strap when the strap is secured around the basket.

49. A system for managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, comprising two basket modules of identical construction that are configured to be connected to each other in an inline configuration in which opposing ends of an elongate dimension of the elongate configuration are open, such that optical fibers can be fed into a basket volume defined by the inline configuration along the elongate dimension through both of the opposing ends.

50. The system of claim 49, further comprising a third basket module of different construction than each of the two basket modules, the third basket module being configured to be connected to any of the two basket modules in a butt configuration in which one end of an elongate dimension of the butt configuration is open and an opposing end of the elongate dimension of the butt configuration is closed, such that optical fibers can be fed into a basket volume defined by the butt configuration along the elongate dimension through the one end of the butt configuration but not through the opposing end of the butt configuration.

51. The system of any of claims 49-50, further comprising a joining plate for connecting the two basket modules to each other end to end and for connecting each of the two basket modules and the third basket module end to end.

52. The system of any of claims 50-51 , wherein the two basket modules are configured to connect to each other end to end via hermaphroditic snap latches formed integrally with the two basket modules, and wherein each of the two basket modules and the third basket module are configured to connect to each other via hermaphroditic snap latches formed integrally with each of the two basket modules and with the third basket module.

53. A method of using the system of claim 49, comprising feeding optical fibers having portions stored in the basket volume through the opposing ends.

54. A method for managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, comprising: connecting two basket modules of identical construction to each other in an inline configuration in which opposing ends of an elongate dimension of the elongate configuration are open.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising feeding optical fibers having portions stored in the basket volume through the opposing ends.

56. A system for managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, comprising three basket modules of different construction one from another, the three basket modules being configured to be connected to each other in:(i) a first configuration in which a first of the basket modules is connected to a first end of a second of the basket modules and a third of the basket modules is connected to a second end of the second of the basket modules, the second end being opposite the first end, the first configuration being a first butt configuration in which one end of an elongate dimension of the first butt configuration is open and an opposing end of the elongate dimension of the first butt configuration is closed such that optical fibers can be fed into a basket volume defined by the first butt configuration along the elongate dimension through the one end of the first butt configuration but not through the opposing end of the butt configuration; and(ii) a second configuration in which the first of the basket modules is connected directly to the third of the basket modules, the second configuration being a second butt configuration in which one end of an elongate dimension of the second butt configuration is open and an opposing end of the elongate dimension of the second butt configuration is closed such that optical fibers can be fed into a basket volume defined by the second butt configuration along the elongate dimension through the one end of the second butt configuration but not through the opposing end of the second butt configuration.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the third of the basket modules includes a mounting portion positioned at the one end of the elongate dimension of the first butt configuration and of the second butt configuration, the mounting portion being configured to mount a tower that pivotally supports optical fiber management trays.

58. The system of any of claims 56-57, further comprising at least one joining plate for connecting the first of the basket modules to the second of the basket modules, the first of the basket modules to the third of the basket modules, and the second of the basket modules to the third of the basket modules.

59. The system of any of claims 56-57, wherein the first of the basket modules and the second of the basket modules are configured to connect to each other end to end via hermaphroditic snap latches formed integrally with the first of the basket modules and the second of the basket modules; wherein the first of the basket modules and the third of the basket modules are configured to connect to each other end to end via hermaphroditic snap latches formed integrally with the first of the basket modules and the third of the basket modules; and wherein the second of the basket modules and the third of the basket modules are configured to connect to each other end to end via hermaphroditic snap latches formed integrally with the second of the basket modules and the third of the basket modules.

60. A method for managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, comprising: connecting three basket modules of different construction one from another end to end to form a basket for storing loops of optical fibers.

61. The assembly of any of claims 1-12, wherein the through hole defines a keyhole shape.

62. The assembly of any claims 1-12 or 61, wherein the second mounting structure includes a fastener configured to enter the through hole to secure the accessory to the basket.

63. The assembly of any of claims 1-36, wherein at least one of the interior surface and the exterior surface of the basket defines a recessed region in the plurality of the walls, the recessed region defining guides for receiving complementary structures of the accessory.

64. The assembly of claim 63, wherein the guides and the complementary structures have semicircular shapes.

65. The assembly of any of claims 1 -8, wherein the plurality of walls includes a bottom wall and a side wall positioned at a perimeter of the bottom wall and extending from the bottom wall in a direction perpendicular to at least a portion of the interior surface of the bottom wall; and wherein the assembly further comprises a plurality of spaced apart fiber retention tabs one atop another and aligned along a vertical axis perpendicular to the bottom wall, the plurality of spaced apart fiber retention tabs being mounted to the side wall.

66. The assembly of claim 65, wherein each of the plurality of fiber retention tabs is configured to be adjustably mounted to the side wall at each of a plurality of positions.

67. The assembly of claim 66, wherein one of the plurality of positions is above a top of the side wall.

68. An optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, comprising: a basket, the basket including a plurality of walls defining a basket volume configured to store loops of optical fibers, each of the walls including an interior surface and a corresponding exterior surface that face away from each other, the plurality of walls including a bottom wall and a side wall positioned at a perimeter ofthe bottom wall and extending from the bottom wall in a direction perpendicular to at least a portion of the interior surface of the bottom wall; and a plurality of spaced apart fiber retention tabs one atop another and aligned along a vertical axis perpendicular to the bottom wall, the plurality of spaced apart fiber retention tabs being mounted to the side wall.

69. The assembly of claim 68, wherein each of the plurality of fiber retention tabs is configured to be adjustably mounted to the side wall at each of a plurality of positions.

70. The assembly of claim 69, wherein one of the plurality of positions is above a top of the side wall.

71. An optical fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a basket, the basket including walls having interior surfaces and corresponding exterior surfaces that oppose the interior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a basket volume in an interior of the basket, the basket volume being configured to store loops of optical fibers, the basket volume including an open first side and three closed sides, the three closed sides being formed by the walls, one of the three closed sides being opposite the open first side, the walls defining mounting structures, the mounting structures including a mounting structure on each of the three closed sides; and a fiber management accessory positioned exterior to the basket volume and mounted directly to one or more of the exterior surfaces with one of the mounting structures.

72. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 71 , wherein the basket has a maximum basket width; and wherein the fiber management accessory extends from the basket an extension distance in a direction parallel to the basket width, the extension distance being greater than 2 percent of the maximum basket width and less than 15 percent of the maximum basket width.

73. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 72, wherein the extension distance is less than 10 percent of the maximum basket width.

74. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 71-73, wherein the accessory includes a patch panel having adapters configured to receive and optically align pairs of optical fiber connectors terminating optical fibers.

75. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 71-73, wherein the accessory includes a bracket that receives and retains an optical fiber looped around an exterior of the basket.

76. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 71-73, wherein the accessory includes a base for mounting a device.

77. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 76, further comprising the device, wherein the device includes a power source and a light emitting component operatively coupled to the power source.

78. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 71-73, wherein the accessory is configured to pivot relative to the basket while the accessory is mounted to the basket between a storage position of the accessory in which the accessory is pivoted toward the basket and an access position of the accessory in which the accessory is pivoted away from the basket.

79. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 78, wherein the accessory includes a bracket that receives and retains an optical fiber looped around an exterior of the basket.

80. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 71-79, wherein the accessory and the basket are configured such that the accessory can be removed from the basket and mounted with one of the mounting structures to one of the walls of the basket such that the accessory is positioned within the basket volume.

81. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 71-80, wherein the mounting structures include pairs of channels and through holes extending through one or more of the walls between the channels of each of the pairs of channels.

82. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 81, wherein the fiber management accessory includes rails configured to be slidingly received in one of the pairs of channels and a flexibly resilient latch arm with one or more projections configured to be received in one or more of the through holes.

83. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 71-80, wherein the fiber management accessory includes rails and a flexibly resilient latch arm with one or more projections.

84. A telecommunications closure, comprising: a first housing piece that defines an interior closure volume, the interior closure volume having an interior width; a second housing piece configured to mate with the first housing piece to environmentally seal the interior closure volume; and the optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 71 - 80 positioned in the interior volume, wherein a maximum width of the basket collinear with the interior width of the interior closure volume is less than 70 percent of the interior width of the interior closure volume; and wherein the fiber management accessory extends from the basket an extension distance colinear with the interior width of the interior closure volume, the extension distance being greater than 2 percent of the interior width of the interior closure volume and less than 15 percent of the interior width of the interior closure volume.

85. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 84, wherein the extension distance is less than 10 percent of the maximum basket width of the interior width of the interior closure volume.

86. An optical fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a basket, the basket including walls having interior surfaces and corresponding exterior surfaces that oppose the interior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a basket volume in an interior of the basket, the basket volume being configured to store loops of optical fibers, the basket volume including an open first side and three closed sides, the three closed sides being formed by the walls, one of the three closed sides being opposite the open first side, the walls defining mounting structures, the mounting structures including a mounting structure on each of the three closed sides; a first fiber management accessory mounted to a first of the mounting structures and extending from the first of the mounting structures into the interior of the basket; and a second fiber management accessory mounted to the basket and extending from the basket exteriorly to, and away from, the interior of the basket.

87. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 86, wherein the first fiber management accessory and the second fiber management accessory are of identical construction.

88. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 86-87, wherein the second fiber management accessory is mounted to the first of the mounting structures.

89. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 86-88, wherein the first fiber management accessory and the second fiber management accessory abut each other.

90. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 86-89, wherein the first fiber management accessory and the second fiber management accessory are fiber retention tabs.

91. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 86, wherein the first fiber management accessory and the second fiber management accessory are differently constructed.

92. An optical fiber management system for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a basket, the basket including walls having interior surfaces and corresponding exterior surfaces that oppose the interior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a basket volume in an interior of the basket, the basket volume being configured to store loops of optical fibers, the walls defining mounting structures; a first fiber management accessory configured to be positioned exterior to the basket volume and mounted directly to one or more of the exterior surfaces with one of the mounting structures; and a second fiber management accessory configured to be positioned exterior to the basket volume and mounted directly to the one or more of the exterior surfaces with the one of the mounting structures, the second fiber management accessory being configured differently than the first fiber management accessory.

93. The optical fiber management system of claim 92, wherein the first fiber management accessory includes one of a tab for mounting a device, a patch panel, or a fiber loop retaining bracket; and wherein the second fiber management accessory includes another of the tab for mounting the device, the patch panel, or the fiber loop retaining bracket.

94. The optical fiber management system of any of claims 92-93, wherein the mounting structures include pairs of channels and through holes extending through holes extending through one or more of the walls between the channels of each of the pairs of channels; and wherein each of the first fiber management accessory and the second fiber management accessory includes rails configured to be slidingly received in one of the pairs of channels and a flexibly resilient latch arm with one or more projections configured to be received in one or more of the through holes.

95. The optical fiber management system of any of claims 92-94, wherein the basket volume includes an open first side and three closed sides, the three closed sides being formed by the walls, one of the three closed sides being opposite the open firstside, and wherein the mounting structures include a mounting structure on each of the three closed sides.

96. The optical fiber management system of any of claims 92-95, wherein the basket is of unitary construction and constructed of plastic.

97. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 71-83, wherein the basket is of unitary construction and constructed of plastic.

98. An optical fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a basket, the basket including walls having interior surfaces and corresponding exterior surfaces that oppose the interior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a basket volume in an interior of the basket, the basket volume being configured to store loops of optical fibers, the basket volume including an open first side and three closed sides, the three closed sides being formed by the walls, one of the three closed sides being opposite the open first side, the walls defining mounting structures; and a fiber management accessory positioned such that a portion of the fiber management accessory is positioned exterior to the basket volume and mounted directly to one or more of the exterior surfaces with one of the mounting structures and another portion of the fiber management accessory is positioned within or directly above the basket volume.

99. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 71-83, wherein a portion of the fiber management accessory is positioned within the basket volume.

100. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 71-83 or 99, wherein a portion of the fiber management accessory is positioned directly above the basket volume and another portion of the fiber management accessory is positioned directly above an exterior of the basket.

101. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the basket is mounted to the exterior surface of the one of the walls;wherein the basket has a maximum basket width; and wherein the fiber management accessory extends from the basket an extension distance in a direction parallel to the basket width, the extension distance being greater than 2 percent of the maximum basket width and less than 15 percent of the maximum basket width.

102. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 101, wherein the extension distance is less than 10 percent of the maximum basket width.

103. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 101-102, wherein the accessory includes a patch panel having adapters configured to receive and optically align pairs of optical fiber connectors terminating optical fibers.

104. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 101-102, wherein the accessory includes a bracket that receives and retains an optical fiber looped around an exterior of the basket.

105. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 101-102, wherein the accessory includes a base for mounting a device.

106. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 105, further comprising the device, wherein the device includes a power source and a light emitting component operatively coupled to the power source.

107. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 101-102, wherein the accessory is configured to pivot relative to the basket while the accessory is mounted to the basket between a storage position of the accessory in which the accessory is pivoted toward the basket and an access position of the accessory in which the accessory is pivoted away from the basket.

108. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 107, wherein the accessory includes a bracket that receives and retains an optical fiber looped around an exterior of the basket.

109. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 101-108, wherein the accessory and the basket are configured such that the accessory can be removed from the basket and mounted to one of the walls of the basket such that the accessory is positioned within the basket volume.

110. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 101-109, wherein the first mounting structure includes a pair of channels and through holes extending through one or more of the walls between the channels.

111. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 110, wherein the second mounting structure includes rails configured to be slidingly received in the pair of channels and a flexibly resilient latch arm with one or more projections configured to be received in one or more of the through holes.

112. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 101-109, wherein the second mounting structure includes rails and a flexibly resilient latch arm with one or more projections.

113. The optical fiber management assembly of any of claims 101-112, wherein a portion of the fiber management accessory is positioned within the basket volume.

114. A fiber retention tab, comprising: a frame defining a mounting portion and a handle portion; and a coupler pivotally connected to the frame, the coupler including: an inner side facing inward directions; an outer side facing outward directions; a latch arm; a protrusion protruding in one of the outward directions from the outer side; and a trigger on the inner side, the coupler being configured such that pulling on the trigger in another of the outward directions causes the projection to move in one of the inward directions.

115. The fiber retention tab of claim 114, wherein the mounting portion includes rails configured to slide in channels of a receiver.

116. The fiber retention tab of claim 115, wherein the protrusion is configured to enter a hole defined by the receiver to lock the fiber retention tab to the receiver.

117. The fiber retention tab of claim 116, wherein the coupler is configured such that the pulling on the trigger enables the fiber retention tab to be moved in each of two opposite directions within the receiver.

118. The fiber retention tab of any of claims 114-117, wherein the coupler includes a plurality of protrusions protruding in the one of the outward directions from the outer side.

119. The fiber retention tab of any of claims 114-118, wherein the trigger includes a single beam.

120. The fiber retention tab of claim 119, wherein the single beam includes a free end and a fixed end.

121. The fiber retention tab of any of claims 114-118, wherein the trigger includes a plurality of beams.

122. The fiber retention tab of claim 121 wherein each of the plurality of beams includes a free end and a fixed end.

123. A fiber retention tab, comprising: a substantially L-shaped frame defining a mounting portion and a handle portion that define approximately a right angle; and a substantially L-shaped coupler pivotally connected to the handle portion, the L-shaped coupler at a junction, the substantially L-shaped coupler including: an inner side facing inward directions;an outer side facing outward directions; a protrusion protruding in one of the outward directions from the outer side; and a trigger protruding in one of the inner directions from the inner side.

124. The fiber retention tab of claim 123, wherein the substantially L-shaped coupler includes a single beam.

125. The fiber retention tab of claim 123, wherein the substantially L-shaped coupler includes a pair of beams.

126. The fiber retention tab of any of claims 123-125, wherein the mounting portion includes rails configured to slide in channels of a receiver.

127. The fiber retention tab of any of claims 123-126, wherein the substantially L- shaped coupler includes a plurality of protrusions protruding in the one of the outward directions from the outer side.

128. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the fiber retention tab includes: a substantially L-shaped frame defining a mounting portion and a handle portion that define approximately a right angle; and a substantially L-shaped coupler pivotally connected to the handle portion, the L-shaped coupler at a junction, the substantially L-shaped coupler including: an inner side facing inward directions; an outer side facing outward directions; a protrusion protruding in one of the outward directions from the outer side; and a trigger protruding in one of the inner directions from the inner side.

129. The assembly of claim 68, wherein one of the fiber retention tabs includes: a substantially L-shaped frame defining a mounting portion and a handle portion that define approximately a right angle; anda substantially L-shaped coupler pivotally connected to the handle portion, the L-shaped coupler at a junction, the substantially L-shaped coupler including: an inner side facing inward directions; an outer side facing outward directions; a protrusion protruding in one of the outward directions from the outer side; and a trigger protruding in one of the inner directions from the inner side.

130. The assembly of claim 90, wherein one of the fiber retention tabs includes: a substantially L-shaped frame defining a mounting portion and a handle portion that define approximately a right angle; and a substantially L-shaped coupler pivotally connected to the handle portion, the L-shaped coupler at a junction, the substantially L-shaped coupler including: an inner side facing inward directions; an outer side facing outward directions; a protrusion protruding in one of the outward directions from the outer side; and a trigger protruding in one of the inner directions from the inner side.

131. The assembly of claim 98, wherein the fiber management accessory includes a fiber retention tab, the fiber retention tab including: a substantially L-shaped frame defining a mounting portion and a handle portion that define approximately a right angle; and a substantially L-shaped coupler pivotally connected to the handle portion, the L-shaped coupler at a junction, the substantially L-shaped coupler including: an inner side facing inward directions; an outer side facing outward directions; a protrusion protruding in one of the outward directions from the outer side; and a trigger protruding in one of the inner directions from the inner side.

132. The assembly of claim 37, further comprising a fiber retention tab, the fiber retention tab including:a substantially L-shaped frame defining a mounting portion and a handle portion that define approximately a right angle; and a substantially L-shaped coupler pivotally connected to the handle portion, the L-shaped coupler at a junction, the substantially L-shaped coupler including: an inner side facing inward directions; an outer side facing outward directions; a protrusion protruding in one of the outward directions from the outer side; and a trigger protruding in one of the inner directions from the inner side.

133. The system of claim 49, further comprising fiber retention tab, the fiber retention tab including: a substantially L-shaped frame defining a mounting portion and a handle portion that define approximately a right angle; and a substantially L-shaped coupler pivotally connected to the handle portion, the L-shaped coupler at a junction, the substantially L-shaped coupler including: an inner side facing inward directions; an outer side facing outward directions; a protrusion protruding in one of the outward directions from the outer side; and a trigger protruding in one of the inner directions from the outer side.

134. A telecommunications closure, comprising: a first housing piece that defines an interior closure volume, the interior closure volume having an interior width; a second housing piece configured to mate with the first housing piece to environmentally seal the interior closure volume; a structure positioned in the interior closure volume; and the fiber retention tab of any of claims 114-127 mounted to the structure.

135. The telecommunications closure of claim 134, wherein the structure is a basket.

136. An optical fiber management assembly for a telecommunications closure, comprising: a structure; and the fiber retention tab of any of claims 114-127 mounted to the structure.

137. The assembly of claim 136, wherein the structure is a basket.

138. A method for managing optical fibers at an optical fiber management assembly for telecommunications equipment, comprising: mounting a fiber retention tab to a structure; and pulling a trigger of the fiber retention tab upward toward a handle portion of the fiber retention tab to move the fiber retention tab upward from one mounting position on the structure to another mounting position on the structure.

139. The method of claim 138, wherein the structure is a basket.

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