High density optical fiber splice holder module with stackability

Abstract

Splice holder modules of optical fiber management assemblies. The splice holder modules are sized and configured to enable increased splice density per unit of volume occupied by the module. The modules can be mounted on various different optical fiber management equipment, allowing fewer splice modules to be mounted to the equipment while still accommodating at least the same number of splices. The splice holder modules allow for stackability of the modules to provide additional flexibility in creating splice module arrangements for different fiber management assemblies.

Description

[0001] HIGH DENSITY OPTICAL FIBER SPLICE HOLDER MODULE WITH STACKABILITY

[0002] Cross-Reference To Related Applications

[0003] This application is being filed on July 25, 2025, as a PCT International application and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 63 / 675,440, filed July 25, 2024; 63 / 681,486, filed August 9, 2024; and 63 / 849,429, filed July 23, 2025, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The present disclosure relates to improvements in optical fiber splice management at 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] Splices between optical fibers (e.g., between a provider side fiber and a customer side fiber) are protected in splice bodies that are held in splice holders. The splice holders can be mounted to other telecommunications equipment as modules or integrally formed with other telecommunications equipment.

[0011] Summary

[0012] In general terms, the present disclosure relates to improvements in optical fiber splice management.

[0013] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to splice holder modules with increased splice holding capacity per unit volume, and / or per unit cross-sectional area.

[0014] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to high density splice holder modules configured with mounting interfaces for mounting the splice holder modules to certain types of optical fiber management equipment that has a complementary mounting interface.

[0015] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to splice holder modules that are stackable with a stacking adapter to enable greater versatility in creating optical fiber management assemblies.

[0016] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to a fiber management module that can be mounted to a fiber management support structure by rotation while the module and the support structure are face-to-face.

[0017] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to optical fiber organizing equipment that allows for stacking or non-stacking of splice holder modules in different configurations to accommodate different fiber management requirements.

[0018] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to a stacking adapter for stacking together a splice holder module and another fiber management module, wherein the stacking adapter mounts to fiber retention fingers of the splice holder module. In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to a stacking adapter for stacking together a splice holder module and another fiber management module, wherein the stacking adapter and the another fiber management module have structurally complementary coupling features.

[0019] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to a stacking adapter for stacking together a splice holder module and another fiber management module, wherein the stacking adapter includes a plurality of structurally different interfaces for mounting differently configured coupling features of different fiber management modules.

[0020] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a splice holder module, including: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; and walls defining channels, the walls being integrally formed with the base and extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis, the channels including a first outer channel adjacent a first outermost of the walls, a second outer channel adjacent a second outermost of the walls of the body, and a plurality of inner channels positioned between the first outer channel and the second outer channel, the channels being configured to lockingly hold at least 24 splice bodies protecting splices between 24 pairs of optical fibers, wherein a rectangular area defined by a first side corresponding to a first distance perpendicular to the elongate dimensions from a center of the first outer channel to a center of the second outer channel at bottoms of the first outer channel and the second outer channel, a second side corresponding to a second distance perpendicular to the elongate dimensions from the center of the first outer channel to the center of the second outer channel at the top of the body, and third and fourth sides that are perpendicular to the first side and the second side, parallel to the axis, and that extend between pairs of ends of the first side and the second side, is less than 250 square millimeters.

[0021] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to splice holder module, including: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; and walls defining channels, the walls being integrally formed with the base and extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis, the channels including a first outer channel adjacent a first outermost of the walls, a second outer channel adjacent a second outermost of the walls of the module, and a plurality of inner channels positioned between the first outer channel and the second outer channel, the channels being configured to lockingly hold at least 24 splice bodies protecting splices between 24 pairs of optical fibers, wherein a rectangular area defined by a first side corresponding to a first distance perpendicular to the elongate dimensions from a center of the first outer channel to a center of the second outer channel at bottoms of the first channel and the second channel, a second side corresponding to a second distance perpendicular to the elongate dimensions from a center of the first outer channel to a center of the second outer channel at the top of the body, and third and fourth sides that are perpendicular to the first side and the second side, parallel to the axis, and that extend between pairs of ends of the first side and the second side, is less than 250 square millimeters; wherein each of the channels is configured to lockingly hold at least 3 of the 24 splice bodies with the at least 3 of the 24 splice bodies being arrange one atop another parallel to the axis; wherein the body includes flexibly resilient mounting members integrally formed with the base and extending from the base parallel to the elongate dimension of the channels; wherein the body includes semi-circular tabs integrally formed with the base and extending from the flexibly resilient mounting members parallel to the elongate dimensions of the channels; wherein fully enclosed material voids defined by the body and positioned between the base and the flexibly resilient mounting members are configured to allow the flexibly resilient mounting members to resiliently flex; and wherein the body includes two pairs of latch arms integrally formed with the base and positioned at each of the channels, the latch arms being configured to lockingly hold the splice bodies in the channels.

[0022] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a splice holder module, including: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; and walls defining channels, the walls extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis, the channels being configured to lockingly hold splice bodies protecting splices between pairs of optical fibers, wherein the base defines a groove positioned at the bottom of the body, the groove being configured to accommodate a stacking adapter configured to lockingly stack another splice holder module to the splice holder module.

[0023] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a splice management assembly, including: a first splice holder module configured to lockingly hold a first plurality of splice bodies protecting first pairs of optical fibers; a second splice holder module configured to lockingly hold a second plurality of splice bodies protecting second pairs of optical fibers; and a stacking adapter, the stacking adapter configured to lock the first splice holder and the second splice holder together in a stack.

[0024] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to splice management assembly, including: N splice module holders configured to lockingly hold pluralities of splice bodies protecting pairs of optical fibers; and N-l stacking adapters configured to lock the N splice module holders together in a single stack of the splice module holders, wherein N is an integer greater than 2.

[0025] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a splice management assembly, including: N splice module holders of identical construction to one another, each of the N splice module holders being configured to lockingly hold pluralities of splice bodies protecting pairs of optical fibers; and N-l stacking adapters configured to lock the N splice module holders together in a single stack of the splice module holders, wherein N is an integer greater than 1.

[0026] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a stacking adapter for stacking together two splice holder modules, including: a frame, including: a base frame member; a first pair of frame members extending from a first end of an elongate dimension of the base frame member; and a second pair of frame member extending from a second end of the elongate dimension of the base frame member, the second end being opposite the first end.

[0027] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a splice holder module, including: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; walls defining channels, the walls extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis, the channels being configured to lockingly hold splice bodies protecting ribbon splices between pairs of optical fiber ribbons; and pairs of posts integrally formed with the body, the pairs of posts being positioned at opposite ends, respectively, of the elongate dimensions of the channels, each pair of the posts having flat stop surfaces that face each other.

[0028] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a splice holder module, including: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; and walls defining channels, the walls extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis, wherein in each of the channels at least two splice bodies each protecting a ribbon splice between a pair of optical fiber ribbons are lockingly held.

[0029] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a stacking adapter for stacking together two splice holder modules, including: a frame, the frame defining an upper cradle and a lower cradle on opposite sides of a base member of the frame that spans an entire dimension of the frame, wherein the stacking adapter is configured to lockingly receive one of the two splice holder modules in the upper cradle and to lockingly receive the other of the two splice holder modules in the lower cradle.

[0030] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of organizing optical fiber splice holders, including: securing a first splice holder module and a second splice holder module of identical construction to the first splice holder module in a stack of the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module by mounting each of the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module to a stacking adapter.

[0031] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to splice management assembly, including: a first splice holder module configured to lockingly hold a first plurality of splice bodies protecting first pairs of optical fibers; a second splice holder module configured to lockingly hold a second plurality of splice bodies protecting second pairs of optical fibers; and a stacking adapter, the stacking adapter configured to lock the first splice holder and the second splice holder together in a stack by mounting each of the first splice holder and the second splice holder directly to the stacking adapter, wherein the stacking adapter is configured to allow another stacking adapter of identical construction to the stacking adapter to mount to the second splice holder when the first splice holder and the second splice holder are locked together in the stack with the stacking adapter. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a splice management assembly, including: N splice module holders of identical construction to one another, each of the N splice module holders being configured to lockingly hold pluralities of splice bodies protecting pairs of optical fibers; and N-l stacking adapters configured to lock the N splice module holders together in a single stack of the splice module holders, wherein N is an integer greater than 2.

[0032] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of organizing optical fiber splice holders, including: seeming a first splice holder module and a second splice holder module of identical construction to the first splice holder module in a stack of the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module by mounting each of the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module to a stacking adapter such that a portion of the stacking adapter covers an opening to a channel of the first splice holder, the channel being configured to hold a splice body.

[0033] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a splice management assembly, including: a first splice holder module configured to lockingly hold a first plurality of splice bodies protecting first pairs of optical fibers; a second splice holder module configmed to lockingly hold a second plurality of splice bodies protecting second pairs of optical fibers; and a stacking adapter, the stacking adapter being configmed to lock the first splice holder and the second splice holder together in a stack, wherein when the first splice holder and the second splice holder are locked together in the stack with the stacking adapter, a portion of the stacking adapter covers an opening to a channel of the first splice holder, the channel being configmed to hold a splice body.

[0034] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a stacking adapter for stacking together two fiber management modules, comprising: a body, including: a plate; a hook extending from the plate and configmed to lock the body to a first splice holder module; and a coupling structure configmed differently from the hook and configmed to lockingly mount a second fiber management module to the plate.

[0035] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an optical fiber management assembly, including: a splice holder module; and a stacking adapter for stacking together the splice holder module and a fiber management module, the stacking adapter including a body, the body including: a plate; and a hook extending from the plate and configmed to lock the body to the splice holder module. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a stacking adapter for stacking together a splice holder module and another fiber management module, wherein the stacking adapter includes a plurality of structurally different interfaces for coupling to differently configured coupling features of different fiber management modules.

[0036] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of mounting an optical fiber management module to an optical fiber management support structure, including: positioning the optical fiber management module to abut, face-to-face, the optical fiber management support structure; and while the optical fiber management module and the optical fiber management support structure abut each other face-to- face, rotating the optical fiber management module until tabs of the optical fiber management module are received in pockets of the optical fiber management support structure.

[0037] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an optical fiber management module, including: a body; and a base supporting the body, the base including: a mounting member; and a tab extending from the mounting member in a direction to an end of the tab that is farthest from the mounting member, wherein the mounting member includes at least one straight portion having an outer surface that is oblique to the direction.

[0038] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a splice holder module, including: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; walls defining channels, the walls extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis; latch arms integrally formed with the body, the latch arms being configured to lockingly hold splice bodies protecting ribbon splices between pairs of optical fiber ribbons in the channels; pairs of posts integrally formed with the body, the pairs of posts being positioned at opposite ends, respectively, of the elongate dimensions of the channels, each pair of the posts having flat stop surfaces that face each other; and pairs of T-shaped guides integrally formed with the body and positioned between the latch arms and the pairs of posts parallel the elongate dimensions of the channels. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a splice holder module, including: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; walls defining channels, the walls extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis; latch arms integrally formed with the body, the latch arms being configured to lockingly hold splice bodies, the latch arms including teeth configured to embed within jackets of the splice bodies when the splice bodies are lockingly held in the channels.

[0039] In further aspects, the present disclosure relates to an optical fiber closure including housing pieces configured to define a sealable and re-enterable closure, and any of the modules and / or assemblies mounted within an interior volume defined by the housing pieces.

[0040] 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.

[0041] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0042] 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.

[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example splice holder module according to the present disclosure.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the splice holder module of FIG. 1.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a planar top view of the splice holder module of FIG. 1.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a planar end view of the splice holder module of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example optical fiber management tray to which the splice holder module of FIG. 1 can be securely mounted.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example telecommunications closure that can hose the tray of FIG. 5.

[0048] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an example splice management assembly according to the present disclosure, including the splice holder module of FIG. 1.

[0049] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the splice management assembly of FIG. 7.

[0050] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further example splice management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0051] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the stacking adapter of the assemblies of FIGS. 7-9.

[0052] FIG. 11 as a planar end view of the stacking adapter of FIG. 10.

[0053] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the stacking adapter of FIG. 10.

[0054] FIG. 13 is a perspective, cross-sectional view of the stacking adapter of FIG. 10 along the line 13-13 in FIG. 12.

[0055] FIG. 14 is a planar, cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 9.

[0056] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of partially exploded further example splice management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0057] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a further example splice management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 17 is perspective view of example telecommunications equipment including an arrangement of a plurality of the splice holder modules of FIG. 1.

[0059] FIG. 18 is perspective view of further example telecommunications equipment including a further arrangement of a plurality of the splice holder modules of FIG. 1.

[0060] FIG. 19 is an exploded view of a further example splice management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0061] FIG. 20 is a partially exploded view of a further example splice management assembly according to the present disclosure, including the splice holder module and the stacking adapter of FIG. 19.

[0062] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a further example splice holder module according to the present disclosure. FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the splice holder module of FIG. 21, and including optical fiber ribbons and splice bodies.

[0063] FIG. 23. is a perspective, cross-sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 22.

[0064] FIG. 24 is a planar end view of the cross-section of FIG. 23.

[0065] FIG. 25 is an exploded view of a further example splice management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0066] FIG. 26 is a partially exploded view of the splice management assembly of FIG. 25.

[0067] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the splice management assembly of FIG. 25.

[0068] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of another splice management assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0069] FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the splice management assembly of FIG. 28.

[0070] FIG. 30 illustrates installing an example stacking adapter on an example splice holder module.

[0071] FIG. 31 illustrates stacking another example splice holder module on the splice holder module of FIG. 30 using the stacking adapter of FIG. 30.

[0072] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of an example optical fiber management tray.

[0073] FIG. 33 is a top, planar view of the tray of FIG. 32.

[0074] FIG. 34 is a bottom, planar view of the tray of FIG. 32.

[0075] FIG. 35 is a perspective view of telecommunications equipment assembly including an arrangement of splice holder modules and stacking adapters mounted to the tray of FIG. 32.

[0076] FIG. 36 is a perspective view of a further telecommunications equipment assembly including a further alternative arrangement of splice holder modules and stacking adapters mounted to the tray of FIG. 32.

[0077] FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a further telecommunications equipment assembly including a further alternative arrangement of splice holder modules and stacking adapters mounted to the tray of FIG. 32.

[0078] FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a further telecommunications equipment assembly including a further alternative arrangement of splice holder modules and stacking adapters mounted to the tray of FIG. 32.

[0079] FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 35. FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a further portion of the assembly of FIG. 35.

[0080] FIG. 41 is a perspective view of a further portion of the assembly of FIG. 35.

[0081] FIG. 42 is a perspective view of one of the splice holder modules of the assembly of FIG. 35.

[0082] FIG. 43 is a top, planar view of the splice holder module of FIG. 42.

[0083] FIG. 44 is a bottom, planar view of the splice holder module of FIG. 42.

[0084] FIG. 45 is top, perspective view of one of the stacking adapters of the assembly of FIG. 35.

[0085] FIG. 46 is a bottom perspective view of the stacking adapter of FIG. 45.

[0086] FIG. 47 is a perspective view of a further telecommunications equipment assembly including a further alternative arrangement of splice holder modules and stacking adapters mounted to the tray of FIG. 32.

[0087] FIG. 48 is a perspective view of one of the stacks of splice holder modules of the assembly of FIG. 47.

[0088] FIG. 49 is a perspective view of a portion of the stack of splice holder modules of FIG. 48.

[0089] FIG. 50 is a perspective view of one of the splice holder modules of the assembly of FIG. 47.

[0090] FIG. 51 is a further perspective view of the splice holder module of FIG. 50.

[0091] FIG. 52 is a top planar view of the splice holder module of FIG. 50.

[0092] FIG. 53 is a bottom planar view of the splice holder module of FIG. 50.

[0093] FIG. 54 is a top perspective view of one of the stacking adapters of the of the assembly of FIG. 47.

[0094] FIG. 55 is a bottom perspective view of the stacking adapter of FIG. 54.

[0095] FIG. 56 is a perspective view of a further telecommunications equipment assembly including a further alternative arrangement of splice holder modules and stacking adapters mounted to the tray of FIG. 32.

[0096] FIG. 57A is a perspective view of one of the splice holder modules of the assembly of FIG. 56.

[0097] FIG. 57B is a further perspective view of the splice holder module of FIG. 57A.

[0098] FIG. 58 is a top, planar view of the splice holder module of FIG. 57 A.

[0099] FIG. 59 is a bottom, planar view of the splice holder module of FIG. 57A. FIG. 60 is a planar, end view of the splice holder module of FIG. 57 A, and schematically showing splice bodies secured in one of the channels of the module.

[0100] FIG. 61 is a further perspective view of the splice holder module of FIG. 57A.

[0101] FIG. 62 is a perspective view of a further telecommunications equipment assembly including a further arrangement of a splice holder module and an optical fiber management tray, in which the splice holder module is in a pre-mounted staged position with respect to the tray.

[0102] FIG. 63 is a planar, top view of the arrangement of FIG. 62.

[0103] FIG. 64 is an enlarged view of a portion of the arrangement of FIG. 62.

[0104] FIG. 65 is a perspective view of a further arrangement of the splice holder module and the optical fiber management tray of FIG. 62, in which the splice holder module has been rotated from the pre-mounted staged position to a mounted position with respect to the tray.

[0105] FIG. 66 is a planar, top view of the arrangement of FIG. 65.

[0106] FIG. 67 is a perspective view of the splice holder module of FIG. 65.

[0107] FIG. 68 is a bottom, planar view of the splice holder module of FIG. 65.

[0108] FIG. 69 is a top, perspective view of a further example splice holder module.

[0109] FIG. 70 is bottom, perspective view of the splice holder module of FIG. 69.

[0110] Detailed Description

[0111] 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.

[0112] 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. 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.

[0113] Telecommunications equipment hardware is used to manage optical fibers and optical fiber connections, e.g., at signal distribution nodes of telecommunications networks. Such hardware can include, for example, sealable and re-enterable closures, cabinets, drawers, panels, and the like.

[0114] Optical connections between two optical fibers, such as between a provider side fiber and a subscriber side fiber, or between provider and subscriber ribbon fibers, can be achieved in a variety of ways, such as by using connectorized fibers that connect to each other via an adapter that receives the connectors. Other such connections are made by directly splicing one fiber to another fiber, or one fiber ribbon to another fiber ribbon. Splices can be formed in a variety of ways, such as mechanical splices where the ends of the fibers are held together but not actually fused together, and fusion splices whereby the optical fibers are fused together at a splice location. Splices are delicate and subject to breakage. To minimize breakage, typically splice bodies are provided. Splice bodies surround the actual splices and thereby protect the splices (e.g., by preventing bending of the optical fibers at the splice). The splice bodies can be formed of any suitable material, such as a resin that cures around the splice and forms a hard body around the splice.

[0115] In addition to splice bodies, the optical fibers are typically further protected from damage or over bending (which could disadvantageous^ reduce optical signal transmission) by securing the splice bodies to the telecommunications equipment. To do so, the splice bodies can be held in splice holders, also known as splice chips. Splice holders can be integrally formed with the telecommunications equipment (e.g., with a fiber management tray) or come as a separate splice holder module that selectively mounts to the telecommunications equipment. An advantage of using splice holder modules is the greater ability to customize the equipment, including, e.g., selectability of where to place the splice holder module(s) relative to other components, how many splice holders to mount to the equipment (e.g., based on fiber management needs), and the like.

[0116] With telecommunications equipment, efficiency of space usage is critical. The equipment is typically made as small as possible to accommodate the fiber management needs where it will be installed. Moreover, typical equipment includes a large number of different hardware components, and the need to route a large number of fibers safely to and between the different hardware components.

[0117] The splice module holders and assemblies of the present disclosure can help increase space usage efficiency of telecommunications equipment in a variety of ways.

[0118] For example, the splice module holders and assemblies of the present disclosure offer higher density of splices per unit volume or unit of cross-sectional area of the splice holder modules, allowing the same number of splices or more splices to be securely mounted on telecommunications equipment in less space, thereby freeing up other space on the equipment for other fiber management requirements.

[0119] As another example, the stackability features of the assemblies of the present disclosure can increase the strength of the stacks of splice module holders, thereby reducing the possibility of the modules in the stack separating from each other.

[0120] As another example, the stackability features of the assemblies of the present disclosure can allow the stacks of splice holder modules to be grown to any height (e.g, any number of vertically stacked splice holder modules), which can increase the customizability of splice holding arrangements on telecommunications equipment.

[0121] As another example, splice holder modules supporting columns of splice bodies are configured to strongly secure each individual splice body in each column.

[0122] As another example, splice holder modules are equipped with mounting features that allow for simple rotational mounting of the module to a tray or other equipment.

[0123] As another example, a stacking adapter is equipped with an interface that allows a variety of different modules to be mounted to it.

[0124] Additional advantages will be borne out by the following description.

[0125] In some examples, the splice holder modules and stacking adapters of the present disclosure are constructed entirely of molded plastic.

[0126] In some examples, all features of a splice holder module are formed in a single mold such that all features of the splice holder module are integrally formed with the module. Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an example splice holder module 100 according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0127] The module 100 includes a body 102. The body 102 includes a base 104.

[0128] The body 102 extends along a vertical axis 106 from a bottom 108 of the body 102 to a top 110 of the body 102.

[0129] The body 102 extends along an axis 112 from a first side 114 of the body 102 to an opposite second side 116 of the body 102.

[0130] The body 102 extends along an axis 118 from a first end 120 of the body 102 to a second end 122 of the body 102.

[0131] The axes 106, 112 and 118 are mutually perpendicular to one other. The axes 112 and 118 define a horizontal plane.

[0132] The body 102 includes a first outermost wall 124 and an opposite second outermost wall 126 extending upward from the base 104.

[0133] Each of the walls includes one or more recesses 128 that is / are recessed downward from the top 110 of the body 102. The recesses 128 are configured to receive catches of latch arms of a stacking adapter, as will be described below.

[0134] Between the outermost walls 124 and 126, the body 102 defines eight channels 130.

[0135] Each channel 130 is elongate parallel to the axis 118.

[0136] Each channel 130 is defined by structures of the body 102 that allow up to at least three splice bodies 5 (schematically represented in FIGS. 3 and 4) one atop another parallel to the axis 106 to be lockingly held in each channel 130. These structures include, for example, the outermost walls 124 and 126 (for the outermost channels), as well as interior walls 132, latch arms 134 with catches 136, and wedge- shaped retainers 138. Each splice body 5 protects a splice between two single optical fibers.

[0137] Thus, with eight channels 130 each configured to lockingly hold at least three splice bodies 5, the module 100 has a 3x8 channel arrangement that can lockingly hold at least 24 splice bodies 5.

[0138] The latch arms 134 are resiliency flexible relative to the base 104, allowing the splice bodies 5 to be installed in a channel 130. Once installed, the latch arms 134 of that channel 130 resiliency return to their unflexed positions and the catches 136 of the latch arms lockingly hold the splice bodies 5 within the channels 130. In some examples, the wedge shaped retainers 138 are not integrally formed with the rest of the body 102, and are instead installed separately on to the base 104. In these examples, the retainers 138 can be a different material than the body 102. For example, the retainers 138 can be made of rubber or other elastomeric material for improved retention of splice bodies within the channels 130.

[0139] Each channel 130 is defined by pairs of the walls, two pairs of the latch arms 134 and opposing pairs of the retainers 138. The two outer channels are defined, respectively, by the outermost walls 124, 126, and interior walls 132. The inner channels are defined by interior walls 132.

[0140] To increase the density of splice holding capacity along the axis 112, the positioning of the pairs of latch arms 134 for adjacent pairs of the channels 130 is staggered, the positions of the pairs of corresponding latch arms 134 alternating parallel to the axis 118 from channel 130 to channel 130 along the axis 112.

[0141] The retainers 138 are configured to stop splice bodies 5 from creeping or slipping out of the channels 130, with the gap between a pair of retainers 138 being narrower than the corresponding dimension of a splice body at a longitudinal end of the splice body.

[0142] The body 102 includes flexibly resilient mounting members 140 integrally formed with the base 104. The flexibly resilient mounting members 140 extend from the base parallel to the axis 118. The body 102 includes semi-circular tabs 142 integrally formed with the base 104 and extending from the flexibly resilient mounting members parallel to the axis 118.

[0143] The module 100 includes fully enclosed material voids 144 defined by the body 102 and positioned between the base 104 and the flexibly resilient mounting members 140. The voids 144 are configured to allow the flexibly resilient mounting members 140 to resiliently flex toward each other along the axis 118.

[0144] The mounting members 140 and tabs 142 define a mounting interface for mounting the module 100 to piece of telecommunications hardware (such as a fiber management tray, a basket for storing optical fiber loops, or an optical fiber routing module) as will be described in greater detail below. The ability of the mounting members 140 to resiliently flex in this manner can allow the module 100 to be easily and securely mounted to a piece of telecommunications hardware. The arrangement of features of the module 100 is highly condensed to increase the splice holding density of the module. In particular, a rectangular area R defined by a first side corresponding to a first distance (or width) W parallel to the axis 112 from a center Cl of a first outer channel 130 to a center C2 of a second outer channel at bottoms of the first outer channel and the second outer channel, a second side corresponding to the first distance W parallel to the axis 112 from a center C3 of the first outer channel 130 to a center C4 of the second outer channel at tops of the first outer channel and the second outer channel, and third and fourth sides that are perpendicular to the first side and the second side, parallel to the axis 106 parallel to the axis, and extending, respectively between the centers Cl and C3 and between the centers C2 and C4, is less than 250 square millimeters. These centers are at the centers of the widths parallel to the axis 112 of the corresponding channels 130.

[0145] In some examples, the rectangular area R is less than 225 square millimeters. In some examples, the rectangular area R is less than 200 square millimeters. Each channel 130 has an elongate dimension (or length) L that extends along the center of the channel as just described parallel to the axis 118. The length L is, in some examples, less than 52.0 millimeters. The length L is, in some examples, less than 51.5 millimeters. The length L is, in some examples less than 51.2 millimeters. The length L is, in some examples, about 51.0 millimeters. Accordingly, a volume of the module R defined by the rectangular area R and the length L is, in some examples, less than 10,250 cubic millimeters. That is, a total splice holding volume that can support at least 24 splices and is bounded by the width W between the centers of the outermost channels, the height H of the channels 130, and the length L of the channels 130 is, in some examples, less than 10,250 cubic millimeters (less than 10.25 cubic centimeters). Thus, the splice module 100 provides high splice holding density.

[0146] The base 104 defines a groove 150 positioned at the bottom of the body 102. The groove 150 is configured to accommodate a stacking adapter that can lockingly stack another splice holder module 100 to the splice holder module 100.

[0147] The groove 150 continuously extends across an entire dimension of the body 102 parallel to the axis 112.

[0148] The groove 150 includes ramps 152 at opposite ends of the groove 150. The groove 150 is centrally positioned relative to the axis 118. The body 102 also includes fiber retention fingers 154, 156 positioned at the top 110 of the body 102 and extending outward from the outermost walls 126 and 124, respectively.

[0149] When two of the modules 100 are mounted adjacent each other, the fingers 154, 156 define, together with the fingers 156, 154 of the other module 100, a fiber guide channel between the modules 100. The guide channel has a vertical height defined between the surface of the piece of hardware to which the modules 100 are mounted and the bottom surfaces of the fingers 154, 156. These guide channels allow fibers to be routed on the telecommunications equipment between pairs of splice holding modules 100.

[0150] There are three fiber retention fingers 154 and three fiber retention fingers 156. The fingers 154 are offset relative to the axis 118 from the corresponding fingers 156. For example, none of the fiber retention fingers 154 is centrally aligned along any reference line perpendicular to the axis 118 with any of the fiber retention fingers 156. This offset arrangement allows adjacent modules 100 mounted to the same telecommunications equipment to be closer to each other because the fingers 154 and 156 do not butt into each other, while still maintaining a sufficiently wide fiber guide channel between the modules 100.

[0151] Referring to FIG. 5, an example fiber management tray 30 is shown. The tray 30 includes a mounting interface 32 for mounting fiber management components, such as splice holder modules.

[0152] The mounting interface 32 includes a recessed surface 36 and rounded pockets 34 arranged in rows along opposite sides of the recessed surface 36. The pockets 34 define lips 38. The pockets are configured to receive the tabs 142 under the lips 38. Once under the lips 38, the module 100 can be slid in either direction indicated by the arrows 40 along the surface 36 in ratcheting fashion until the desired position of the module on the tray 30 is reached with the tabs 142 entering and locking into the pockets 34 corresponding to the desired position.

[0153] To mount the module 100 to the interface 32, the flexibly resilient mounting members 140 can flexed toward each other until the tabs 142 find pockets 34 under the lips 38. Alternatively the module 100 can be loaded at a loading zone 42. The loading zone 42 includes notches in the lips 38. The notches can receive the tabs 142 and allow the tabs to be slid under the lips 38. As the module 100 is slid in ratcheting fashion from pockets to other pockets, the flexibly resilient mounting members can flex toward each other and then return to their unflexed positions whenever pockets 34 are found by the tabs 142.

[0154] Due to the higher density of splice bodies provided by the module 100, more splices and more of the modules 100 can be accommodated by the tray 30 than for existing splice holders.

[0155] In some examples, the height H of the modules 100 is less than or equal to a maximum vertical height from the surface 36 to a top 48 of the tray.

[0156] Referring to FIG. 6, example telecommunications equipment is shown. In this example, the equipment includes a closure 200. In other examples, the equipment can include, e.g., a panel, a cabinet, a drawer, and the like. The closure 200 defines an interior closure volume that is sealable and re-enterable via a seal actuator 206. The closure 200 includes a first housing piece 202 (in this case, a dome), and a second housing piece 204 (in this case, a base) configured to cooperate with the first housing piece to define a sealable and re-enterable closure volume defined primarily by interior surfaces of the dome 202 for managing optical fibers. In particular, the first and second housing pieces 202, 204 define an interior closure volume in which other fiber managing equipment, including, e.g., fiber management trays or other fiber management assemblies of the present disclosure to which are mounted splice holder modules and assemblies as described herein, can be positioned.

[0157] A clamp ring 208 having a clamp (or other securing mechanism) can be used to clamp and seal together the housing pieces 202 and 204 to each other. A sealing element, such as a strip seal or O-ring can be positioned at the junction between the housing pieces 202 and 204 and compressed by the clamp ring 208 to form a seal.

[0158] Cables carrying optical fibers can enter the closure volume via sealable ports 210 defined by the base 204. 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 200 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.

[0159] Splices, such as mechanical splices or fusion splices, can be performed at the factory or in the field, e.g., at the closure 200 positioned in the field.

[0160] 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.

[0161] 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 signal 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.

[0162] 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.

[0163] Referring to FIGS. 7-14, an example stacking adapter 300 and assemblies of a stacking adapter and one or more splice holder modules 100 will be described.

[0164] For example, an assembly 350 of one stacking adapter 300 and two of the modules 100 (100a, 100b) in a vertical stack 160 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 13.

[0165] The stacking adapter 300 is configured to lockingly hold together in a vertical stack two of the modules 100.

[0166] Because stacking of modules 100 is performed with an adapter 300, rather than by locking one module directly to another module, the height H of the module 100 can be kept to a minimum. That is, without the adapter, a module 100 would have to receive another module partially within it in order to lock the two modules together in a vertical stack, thus requiring additional height along the axis 106 of the module to receive the another module.

[0167] However, adding height in this manner can cause the height of the splice holding module to exceed the height of, e.g., a tray 30 when the module is mounted to the tray 30. That is, by locking one module to another in a vertical stack, a single module may no longer be sized to fit within the interior volume of a tray 30, or other equipment.

[0168] The adapter 300 therefore allows the module 100 to retain its minimized height H, with the adapter only being used when the height of a stack of one or more modules 100 can be higher than the height H (e.g., when a stack of modules is mounted on equipment other than the tray 30).

[0169] The stacking adapter 300 includes a frame 302. The frame includes a base frame member 304 and legs 306 extending from opposing ends of the base frame member 304. The base frame member 304 extends along an elongate dimension D of the base frame member, which is parallel to the axis 112 when a module 100 is mounted in the adapter 300.

[0170] Pairs of frame members 308 extend from each leg 306 and form V-shapes 310. The material voids in the V-shapes allow one adapter 300 to nest within the material void of another adapter 300. In addition, the material voids in the V-shapes allow the adapter 300 to not interface with the fingers 156 and 158 when the module 100 is mounted to the adapter 300.

[0171] As shown in FIG. 12, the adapter 300 is asymmetrical about a reference line RL perpendicular to the elongate dimension D of the base frame member 304 and that bisects the elongate dimension D of the base frame member. The adapter 300 is asymmetrical in this manner to be able to accommodate, in the material voids of the V- shapes 310, the offset nature of the fingers 154 from the fingers 156.

[0172] The frame 302 defines a cradle 312. The cradle 312 includes first pairs of catches 314 and a second pairs of catches 316 positioned on the legs 306.

[0173] The catches 314 are configured to be snappingly received in the recesses 128 of the outermost walls of the lower module 100a of the stack 160 of modules 100, to thereby inhibit vertical movement of the lower module 100a relative to the adapter 300. Meanwhile, the mounting of the tabs 142 to corresponding pockets of a mounting interface inhibit movement of the assembly parallel to the axes 112 and 118. The catches 316 are configured to be snappingly received in the recesses 128 of the outermost walls of the upper module 100b of the stack 160 of modules 100, to thereby inhibit vertical movement of the upper module 100b relative to the adapter 300 and relative to the lower module 100a. The catches 316 include upper portions 318 and end portions 320, forming L-shapes. The upper portions 318 inhibit vertical movement of the upper module 100b relative to the adapter 300, while the end portions 320 (which are generally perpendicular to the upper portions 318, inhibit movement along the axis 112.

[0174] The shape of the structure of the frame 302 (with the base frame member and two V-shapes) is such that application of an external force to an exterior surface of the frame 302 along the axis 112 can apply a stronger downward force on the modules 100 within the stack 160, further securing the stack and minimizing the possibility of the modules 100 of the stack 160 separating from each other.

[0175] To facilitate coupling the adapter 300 to the lower module 100a, and to increase the structural integrity of the adapter 300, the frame 302 includes supports 321 supporting the junctions between the base frame member 304 and the legs 306. The areas of the groove 150 that include the ramps 152 are configured to accommodate the supports 321 to further enhance the strength of the coupling between adapter 300 and the lower module 100a.

[0176] The base member 304 is received in the groove 150 of the lower module 100a to further secure the module 100a to the adapter 300. In addition, because the base member 304 is received in the groove 150, the adapter 300 is not vertically lower than the bottom of the module 100a when the two components are assembled together, such that the adapter does not interfere with the mounting interface of the lower module 100a when the lower module 100a is being mounted to other hardware.

[0177] Referring to FIG. 15, the partially exploded assembly 360 shows how three of the modules 100 (100a, 100b, 100c) can be vertically stacked together one atop another using two of the adapters 300 (300a, 300b). The third adapter 300c is not needed for a stack of 3 modules 100. As shown, the legs of the adapter 300b nest in the V-shaped material voids of the adapter 300a such that the stack of three modules is as compact as possible with the bottom of the module 100b abutting the top of the module 100a and the bottom of the module 100c abutting the top of the module 100b. That is, the configuration of the frames 302 of the adapters 300 is such that they do not interfere within one another when creating stacks of modules 100 that are three or more modules 100 in vertical height.

[0178] Referring to FIG. 16, the assembly 370 shows how five of the modules 100 can be vertically stacked together one atop another using four of the adapters 300. As shown, the legs of the adapters nest in the V-shaped material voids of other adapters such that the stack of five modules is as vertically compact as possible.

[0179] In general, due to the configuration of the adapters 300, the vertical stack of modules can be grown to any desired vertical height using N modules 100 and N-l adapters 300 that nest in one another, where N is an integer greater than 1.

[0180] FIG. 17 shows an example optical fiber organizer 400 that can be housed in the interior volume of an optical fiber closure. Cables 402 enter the closure and their optical fibers can be managed on the organizer 400. The organizer includes a fiber management region 404 that is configured to accommodate one, two or three assemblies 360 each including a stack of three of the modules 100. That, is, stacks of up to three modules 100 can be mounted in the region 404 without interfering with the placement of the pivoting tray 406 on top of the region 404 when it is time to install the organizer 400 in the interior volume of a closure.

[0181] Other configurations are possible. For instance, if only 72 splice bodies need to be accommodated in the region 404, then rather than arranging three modules 100 horizontally side by side in the region 404, an assembly 360 of three modules 100 can be mounted to the region 404 instead, which frees up a large amount of space across the surface of the region 404 for other fiber management needs, such as placement of a patch panel, or loop fiber storage.

[0182] FIG. 18 shows another example optical fiber organizer 410 that can be housed in the interior volume of an optical fiber closure. The organizer 410 includes a fiber management region 412 that is configured to accommodate one, two, three, four, five, or six assemblies 360 each including a stack of three of the modules 100. That, is, stacks of up to three modules 100 can be mounted in the region 404 without interfering with the placement of other components of the organizer 410 when it is time to install the organizer 410 in the interior volume of a closure.

[0183] Other configurations are possible. For instance, if only 288 splice bodies need to be accommodated in the region 412, then rather than arranging six stacks of two modules 100 horizontally side by side in the region 412, four assemblies 360 each of three modules 100 can be mounted to the region 412 instead, which frees up space across the surface of the region 412 for other fiber management needs, such as placement of a patch panel or loop fiber storage.

[0184] Other customizing possibilities are made possible by the stackability, of modules 100 using the adapters 300.

[0185] Referring to FIG. 19, an assembly 500 of a splice holder module 502 and a stacking adapter 600 is shown.

[0186] The stacking capabilities and advantages of the module 502 and adapter 600 are the same as those described with respect to the module 100 and the adapter 300. In addition, the adapter 600 has an asymmetry similar to that described for the adapter 300 and for the same reason. In the interest of brevity, the following discussion focuses primarily on structural differences between the module 502 and the module 100, and between the adapter 600 and the adapter 300.

[0187] The base of the body of the module 502 includes two spaced apart grooves 550 rather than one groove. In addition, of the fiber retention fingers extending from the tops of the outermost walls, the middle finger 556 on each side extends outwardly less distance than the other fingers 558. The shorter fingers 556 allows the lower module 502 in a stack of two modules to pass into the V-shaped material voids without materially interfering with the legs of the frame of the adapter 600.

[0188] When the module 502 is an upper module in a stack of modules with an adapter 600, the shorter fingers 556 are received in recesses 620 defined by the legs 604, 606 of the frame of the adapter 600.

[0189] A lower module 502 is lockingly held in the cradle defined by the adapter 600 by catches 608 extending from the legs 604, 606. An upper module 502 is lockingly held in the cradle defined by the adapter 600 atop a lower module 502 by catches 610 extending from legs 604 and 606, together with the interfacing of the fingers 556 with the recesses 620.

[0190] In some respects, the adapter 600 is an inverted version of the adapter 300. The frame of the adapter 600 includes two base frame members from which the legs 604, 606 (which include the side frame members that form the V-shapes) extend. The base frame members 602 are received in the grooves 550 of the lower module 502 in the stack in the same manner as the base frame member of the adapter 300 is received in the groove of the lower module 100 in the stack as described above. FIG. 20 shows a partially exploded assembly 520 of three of the modules 502 and two of the adapters 600 that can form a vertical stack of three modules 502. The adapters 600 nest in one another. As with the modules 100 and adapters 300, an assembly of N modules 502 and N-l adapters 600 can be grown to a vertical height of any desired number of modules 502, where N is an integer greater than 1. In some examples, N is an integer greater than 2.

[0191] Referring to FIGS. 21-24, another example splice holder module 700 is shown.

[0192] The module 700 includes a body 701 having a base 703. The body 701 includes the same mounting interface as the module 100. The body 701 includes the same arrangements of fiber retention fingers as the module 100.

[0193] Though not shown, the body 701 can be configured to be received in an adapter 300 or an adapter 600 as described above with respect to the module 100, allowing any desired number of the modules 700 to be vertically stacked on atop another with one less adapter 300, 600, than the number of modules 700.

[0194] The body 701 includes structures that defined eight side by side channels 708. Each channel includes a shorter central flexibly resilient latch arm 710 having a catch, and two taller flexibly resilient latch arms 712 having catches on the other side of the latch arm 710.

[0195] Each channel 708 also includes stabilizers 730.

[0196] Each channel 708 can lockingly hold two splice bodies 702 one atop the other, where each splice body 702 is protects splices between two ribbon fibers 704, 706, where each of the ribbon fibers 704, 706 includes more than one optical fiber (e.g., 12 optical fibers). That is each, channel 708 can lockingly hold splices between, for example, 24 pairs of fibers.

[0197] The lower of the two splice bodies 702 is lockingly held by the shorter arm 710, and further stabilized by the stabilizers 730 and the taller arms 712.

[0198] The stabilizers 730 have concave surfaces to receive the exterior surfaces of ribbon fiber splice bodies 702.

[0199] The upper of the two splice bodies is lockingly held by the catches of the taller arms 712 and further stabilized by the taller arms 712 and the lower splice body 702.

[0200] The ribbon fibers 704 can be either flat ribbons or rollable ribbons.

[0201] To further stabilize the splice bodies 702 within the channels 708, the body 301 includes integrally formed pairs of posts 750, 754 positioned at opposite ends, respectively of elongate dimensions of the channels, each pair of integrally formed posts having flat stop surfaces 756, 758 that face each other. The flat surfaces 756, 758 are particularly configured to stop the shape of ribbon splice bodies 702 from creeping out of the channels 708, with the gap 760 between adjacent ones of the surfaces 756, 758 on the same side of the body 301 being narrower than the corresponding dimension of the ribbon splice body 702 at a longitudinal end of the splice body 702.

[0202] Referring to FIGS. 25-27, an assembly 800 of two splice holder modules 802 and a stacking adapter 850 is shown.

[0203] The components of the assembly 800 can be molded of plastic.

[0204] The module 802 is identical to the module 502 described above, except that it does not have shortened middle fingers in order to accommodate a stacking adapter. For example, the middle fingers 803 of the module 802 are not shortened like the middle fingers 556 described above. In addition, the module 802 has reduced height outer walls 810 that define larger receivers 812 for receiving the catches 860 of the adapter 850, thereby allowing the height of the adapter 850 not to exceed the height of the two modules 802 stacked together, and while maintaining the total height of a stack of two modules 802 no greater than twice the height of one of the modules 802.

[0205] The module 802 can accommodate the stacking adapter 850 without requiring shortened middle fingers.

[0206] The stacking adapter 850 has an H-shaped frame 852. The frame 852 does not define V-shapes.

[0207] An upper module 802 is lockingly held in the upper cradle 854 defined by the adapter 850 by inwardly projecting catches 860 extending from the legs 862, 864 of the frame 852 and by the mating of the grooves 550 with the base frame members 870 of the adapter 850. The base frame members 870 span the entire elongate dimensions of the adapter 850.

[0208] The frame 852 includes additional pairs of spaced apart catches 880 below the base frame members 870 and defining a lower cradle 855. The cradles 854 and 855 face away from each other on opposite sides of the base frame members 870. These pairs of spaced apart catches 880 are configured to straddle the middle fingers 830 of a lower module 802 in a stack. Therefore, these pairs of spaced apart catches 880 define an asymmetry of the adapter 850 similar to the asymmetries described above in connection with the adapters 300 and 600. The legs 862, 864 also define outwardly projecting catches 890 that are configured to snappingly mate with the catches 880 of another adapter 850 to thereby lockingly stack multiple of the adapters 850 together to create a stack of more than two modules 802, e.g., as shown in the assembly 900 of FIG. 28, which includes a stack of four modules 802 lockingly held together in the stack by three adapters 850.

[0209] The catches 880 are wide enough to lockingly interface with both the shoulders 840 of the outer channel defining walls of the module 802, as well as with the outwardly projecting catches 890 of another adapter 850. Thus, the catches 880 are wider than the catches 860, with pairs of the catches 860 on each side of the adapter being spaced further apart from each other than corresponding pairs of the catches 880.

[0210] The modules 802 and stacking adapters 850 have stacking capabilities and advantages similar to those described above for the other stacking assemblies. In addition, the adapter 850 can stack together two modules 802 by positioning its base frame members 870 in the grooves of the upper of the stack of modules, rather than the lower of the stack of modules, with the lower catches 880 providing adequate locking interface between the adapter 850 and the lower module 802 within the lower cradle 855. As a result, creating a stack of modules can be advantageously performed after the lowest module has been secured to telecommunications equipment (e.g., an optical fiber organizer) without removing the lowest module from the telecommunications equipment to install it in the adapter. An adapter 850 can simply be secured to the top of the pre-installed lowest module 802, and the desired number N of modules 802 can then be stacked together using N-l of the modules 802, by alternating adapters 850 and modules 802 to grow the stack, all without removing the initial module 802 to install the first adapter 850.

[0211] FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the splice management assembly 900 of FIG. 28. Referring to FIG. 29, the cross-section shows, for each pair of adjacently stacked splice holder modules 802 stacked to each other with an adapter 850, how the catches 860 of the adapter 850 latch over the reduced height outer walls 810 of the upper of the two splice holder modules in the pair of adjacent splice holder modules, while for the lower of each pair of splice holder modules 802, the catches 880 of the adapter 850 latch under the shoulders 840 of the lower of the splice holder modules 802, thereby securing the lower splice holder module and the upper splice holder module to each other in a vertical stack. Once fully coupled, the interfacing provided between each stacking adapter 850 and corresponding splice holder modules 802 (regardless of the number of such modules and adapters in the stack) is robust in part due to the bearing surfaces 899 of the legs 864 of the stacking adapter 850 abutting against the reduced height outer walls 810 of the splice holder module(s) 802.

[0212] FIG. 30 illustrates installing an example stacking adapter 850 on an example splice holder module 802, 802a. Upper portions of the legs 864 above the base frame members are resiliently flexed toward each other causing a teeter-totter effect in which catches 880 below the base frame members spread apart from each other allowing the splice holding module 802, 802a to be received in the lower cradle of the adapter 850 and for the catches 880 to lockingly interface with the shoulders 840 (FIG. 31).

[0213] FIG. 31 illustrates stacking another example splice holder module 802, 802b on the splice holder module 802, 802a of FIG. 30 using the stacking adapter 850 of FIG. 30. The upper portions of the legs 864 are resiliently flexed away from each other allowing the module 802, 802b to be received in the upper cradle of the adapter 850 and for the catches 860 to interface with the reduced height outer walls 810.

[0214] FIGS. 32 through 70 show additional example optical fiber management assemblies, fiber management set-ups, splice holder modules, and stacking adapters. These assemblies, set-ups, splice holder modules, and stacking adapters, share the advantages and many of the structural features of the assemblies, set-ups, splice holder modules, and stacking adapters described above, as is readily apparent from the figures. In the interest of brevity, the following description of FIGS. 32-70 will focus in large part on differences between these assemblies and components, and those already described above.

[0215] Referring to FIGS. 32-34, an optical fiber management tray 1000 is shown. The tray 1000 includes a hinge arrangement 1002 to allow the tray to pivotally mounted to a support structure, such as a tower, within a telecommunications closure. The interior 1006 of the tray 1000 has a depth 1004 that is deeper (e.g., at least twice as deep) as the corresponding depth of the tray 30 (FIG. 5). The bottom interior surfaces of the tray 1000 and other features of the tray 1000 define a mounting interface 32 as described above.

[0216] Referring to FIG. 35, an example telecommunications equipment assembly 1100 is shown. The assembly 1100 includes a first customized arrangement 1102 of 16 splice holder modules and 8 stacking adapters mounted to the tray 1100 in a total of 8 stacks 1104, each stack 1104 including two splice holder modules and one stacking adapter. The arrangement 1102 allows for, e.g., slack storage of one or more loops 1106 of optical fibers or tubes containing optical fibers around the entire arrangement of stacks but still within the interior volume of the tray 1000. The arrangement 1102 is customized for high splice holding density in the tray 1000 where other types of fiber management, such as patch panels or large amounts of loops storage, may not be needed.

[0217] Referring to FIG. 36, a further example telecommunications equipment assembly 1200 is shown. The assembly 1200 includes a second customized arrangement 1202 of the same 16 splice holder modules and 8 stacking adapters mounted to the tray 1100. In the arrangement 1202, however, there are 6 total stacks, including 5 stacks 1104 and 1 stack 1204. The stack 1204 includes 6 splice holder modules and 5 stacking adapters. The arrangement 1202 is customized for high splice holding density in the tray 1000 in combination with providing an open area 1206 for additional fiber management types, such as mounting a patch panel to the tray 1000 in the area 1206, and / or using the area 1206 for loop storage of additional fibers.

[0218] Referring to FIG. 37, a further example telecommunications equipment assembly 1300 is shown. The assembly 1300 includes a third customized arrangement 1302 of 6 unstacked splice holder modules mounted to the tray 1000. The arrangement 1302 is customized for relatively lower splice holding density in the tray 1000 in combination with providing significant space 1304 above the splice holder modules for additional fiber management types, such as loop storage. For example, a cover can be placed directly on top of the splice holder modules, and other types of fiber management can take place above the cover but still within the interior tray volume.

[0219] Referring to FIG. 38, a further example telecommunications equipment assembly 1400 is shown. The assembly 1400 includes a fourth customized arrangement 1402 of 6 stacked splice holder modules and 3 stacking adapters in 3 stacks 1104 mounted to the tray 1000. The arrangement 1402 is customized for relatively lower splice holding density in the tray 1000 in combination with providing significant space 1404 adjacent the stacks 1104 and closer to the hinge arrangement for additional fiber management types, such as loop storage and / or patch panels for connector-to-connector optical connections via adapters held by the patch panels. Referring to FIGS. 39-46, components of a stack 1104 will now be described. Each stack 1104 includes two splice holder modules 1500 and one stacking adapter 1600.

[0220] The splice holder module 1500 is structurally the same as the splice holder module 100, except that the splice holder module 1500 does not include a groove 150 and ramps 152. This is because the stacking adapter 1600 mounts in a different fashion to the splice holder module 1500 and so the splice holder module 1500 does not need a groove 150 and ramps 152. However, it should be appreciated that the stacking adapter 1600 can mount to the fiber retention fingers of any of the splice holder modules 100, 502, 700, 802, and other splice modules described herein.

[0221] The stack can include as many splice holder modules as desired, with a stacking adapter 1600 positioned between each pair of the splice holder modules. When the first splice holder and the second splice holder are locked together in the stack with the stacking adapter, a portion of the stacking adapter 1600 covers an opening to a channel of the first splice holder, the channel being configured to hold a splice body. The stacking adapter 1600 can cover the openings to two or more or all of the channels of the splice holder module that can receive splice bodies.

[0222] The stacking adapter 1600 is configured for stacking together two fiber management modules. The stacking adapter 1600 includes a body 1602. The body 1602 includes a plate 1604, hooks 1606 extending downward from a bottom surface 1616 of the plate 1604, stabilizing feet 1608 extending downward from the bottom surface 1616 of the plate 1604, first coupling structures 1610 extending upward from an upper surface 1618 of the plate 1604, and second coupling structures 1612 defined by the plate 1604. The body 1602 also includes stop projections 1614 extending downward from the bottom surface 1616 of the plate 1604.

[0223] The coupling structures 1610 are configured differently from the coupling structures 1612. The coupling structures 1610 include opposing lips 38 and pockets 34 that can receive semicircular tabs 142 of another fiber management component under the lips 38 as described above to lockingly mount the another fiber management component to the upper surface 1618 of the plate 1604. The another fiber management component can be another splice holder module or something else, such as a patch panel module, a signal splitter module, a fiber organizer module, and the like, provide the module includes a complementary locking interface. The coupling structure 1612 allows a fiber management component having a different mounting interface from the tabs 142 to lockingly mount to the stacking adapter 1600. In particular, there are coupling structures 1612. Each coupling structure 1612 includes a pair of T-shaped openings 1630, 1632 extending though the plate 1604 and a flexible arm 1634 positioned in one of the T-shaped openings. The T-shaped openings 1630, 1632 are configured to receive complementarity structured projections of another fiber management module in a sliding, dovetail fashion until the flexible arm 1634 returns to its relaxed position to hold the projections in place and prevent reverse sliding thereof until the flexible arm is flexed away from its relaxed position.

[0224] The hooks 1606 and stabilizing feet 1608 are configured to receive fiber retention fingers 154, 156 of a lower splice holder module (or other fiber management module) in the stack. To mount the stacking adapter 1600 to a splice holder module or other fiber management module, the stacking adapter 1600 is slid in the direction 1660 until the stop projections 1614 snap over and clear the middles ones of the fingers 154 and 156, preventing the stacking adapter 1600 from being slid in the reverse direction without significant force. Meanwhile, the hooks 1606 and stabilizing feet 1608 slide under corresponding fingers 154 and 156, providing a locked mounting of the stacking adapter to the, e.g., splice holder module 1500. When lockingly mounted, the plate 1604 covers at least a portion of the openings to the channels of the splice holder module 1500 that can receive splice bodies.

[0225] The pairs of the hooks 1606, stabilizing feet 1608, and stop projections 1614 are offset from each other along the elongate dimension of the stacking adapter 1600 to correspond to the offset nature of the fingers 154, 156, as described above.

[0226] In some examples, the stop projections 1614 include ramped surfaces to facilitate their sliding clearance of the middle ones of the fingers 154, 156 in one or both of the sliding direction 1660 and the opposite sliding direction.

[0227] Referring to FIGS. 47-55, components of a stack 1700 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 47, the stacks 1700 can be mounted to the mounting interface of the tray 1000 in the same manner as described above for, e.g., a stack 1104. Using the stacking adapters, the stacks can have any desired number of modules (two modules in a stack 1700 is just one non-limiting example) and be lockingly mounted to the tray 1000 in any desired arrangement in the tray 1000 depending on specific fiber management needs. Each stack 1700 includes two splice holder modules 1702 and one stacking adapter 1680.

[0228] The stacking adapter 1680 functions the same way as the stacking adapter 1600. The only difference is that the plate 1682 of the stacking adapter 1680 is wider than the plate 1604 of the stacking adapter 1600, to allow the stacking adapter 1680 to mount to the wider splice holder module 1702. Because the stacking adapter 1680 is wider, the plate 1682 can accommodate additional coupling structures 1612 for mounting larger and / or a larger number of fiber management components thereto. For example, the stacking adapter 1680 has four, rather than three, of the coupling structures 1612.

[0229] The splice holder module 1702 is similar in function and purpose to the splice holder module 700 described above, and includes many of the same structural features. A module 1702 can mount to an interface 32 as described above.

[0230] The module 1702 includes a body 1710 extending from a bottom 1712 of the body to a top 1714 of the body 1710 along an axis 1711 (perpendicular to the page in FIG. 52). The body includes a base 1716 at the bottom of the body, and walls 1718, 1720 defining channels 1722. The walls 1722 extend parallel to the axis 1711 upward from the base 1716 to the top 1714 of the body. The channels 1722 have elongate dimensions that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis 1711. Each channel 1722 includes a pair of taller latch arms 1730 and a shorter latch arm 1732 integrally formed with the body 1710.

[0231] The shorter latch arm 1732 is configured to lockingly hold a lower splice body protecting a lower ribbon splice between a lower pair of optical fiber ribbons in the channel 1122. The taller latch arms 1730 are configured to lockingly hold an upper splice body protecting an upper ribbon splice between an upper pair of optical fiber ribbons in the channel 1122.

[0232] Each channel 1122 includes a pair of posts 1740 integrally formed with the body. The posts 1740 of each pair are positioned at opposite ends, respectively, of the elongate dimensions of the channel 1122. Each the posts 1740 of each pair have flat stop surfaces 1742 that face each other.

[0233] The body 1710 also includes, integrally formed therewith, pairs of T-shaped guides 1750 at opposite ends of the channels 1122. The T-shaped guides 1750 are positioned between the latch arms 1730 and 1732 on one side and the pairs of posts 1740 on the other side parallel the elongate dimensions of the channels.

[0234] Adjacent ones of the pairs of posts 1740 define first gaps 1760. Adjacent ones of the pairs of T-shaped guides define second gaps 1762. The second gaps 1762 are wider than the first gaps 1760 in dimensions perpendicular to the axis 1711 and perpendicular to the elongate dimensions of the channels.

[0235] The combination of the flat surfaces 1742 and the T-shaped guides 1750 are particularly configured to stabilize the jackets of ribbon splice bodies (such as ribbon splice bodies 702) within a channel 1122 and prevent creeping out of the channels 708, with the gap 1760 between adjacent ones of the surfaces 1742 on the same side of the body 301 being narrower than the corresponding dimension of the ribbon splice body 702 at a longitudinal end of the splice body 702. In addition, the gap 1762 can be sized to hug the jacket of the splice body as the jacket tapers and narrows toward its outer ends.

[0236] In some examples, the posts 1740 can serve as stops along the elongate dimensions to accommodate relatively longer splice bodies, while the T-shaped guides 1750 can service as stops along the elongate dimensions for relatively short splice bodies, given that the lengths of splice bodies can vary.

[0237] The walls 1722 can connect the posts 1740 to the T-shaped guides 1750.

[0238] Referring to FIGS. 56-61, components of a stack 1800 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 56, the stacks 1800 can be mounted to the mounting interface of the tray 1000 in the same manner as described above for, e.g., a stack 1104. Using the stacking adapters 1600, the stacks can have any desired number of modules (two modules in a stack 1800 is just one non-limiting example) and be lockingly mounted to the tray 1000 in any desired arrangement in the tray 1000 depending on specific fiber management needs.

[0239] Each stack 1800 includes a pair of splice holding modules 1802 and a stacking adapter 1600 that lockingly mounts the two modules 1802 together in the manner described above. A module 1802 can mount to an interface 32 as described above.

[0240] The module 1802 includes a body 1804 extending from a bottom 1806 of the body 1804 to a top 1808 of the body 1804 along an axis 1811.

[0241] The body 1804 includes a base 1810 at the bottom 1806 of the body 1804. The body 1804 includes walls 1812, 1814 defining channels 1818. The walls 1812, 1814 extend parallel to the axis 1811 upward from the base 1810 to the top 1808 of the body 1804, The channels 1818 have elongate dimensions that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis 1811.

[0242] Integrally formed with the body 1804, and for each channel 1818 are three pairs of latch arms 1820, 1822, 1824.

[0243] Each pair of latch arms 1820, 1822, 1824 is configured to lockingly a hold splice body. Thus, the splice holder module 1802 has 8 channels 1816, each with a capacity of up the three splice bodies arranged in a column parallel to the axis 1811 , for a total splice body capacity of 24 splice bodies for the module 1802.

[0244] The latch arms 1820, 1822, 1824 include integrally formed teeth 1830 configured to embed within jackets 1832 of the splice bodies 1834 when the splice bodies are lockingly held in the channels 1818. Each latch arm can include one or more teeth 1830. Embedding of the teeth 1830 into the jackets 1832 can help to secure the splice bodies 1834 within a channel 1818, and particularly when the channel includes two or three splice bodies 1834, which could have a tendency to destabilize the splice bodies 1834 within the channel 1818.

[0245] The latch arms 1820, 1822, 1824 include curved portions 1860 toward their tops, which can also help to secure and stabilize the splice bodies within the channels. The curved portions 1860 can include the teeth 1830 extending from the curved portions 1860 to further help secure the splice bodies within the channels.

[0246] The three pairs of latch arms 1820, 1822, 1824 are different lengths parallel to the axis 1811 from one another. The innermost of the three pairs of latch arms 1824 is a longest of the three pairs of latch arms parallel to the axis 1811, and the outermost of the three pairs of latch arms 1820 is a shortest of the three pairs of latch arms parallel to the axis. The latch arms 1820 are configured to secure a lowermost splice body in a channel 1818. The latch arms 1822 are configured to secure a splice body directly above the lowermost splice body in the channel 1818. The latch arms 1824 are configured to secure an uppermost splice body in the channel 1818.

[0247] Because there are individual latch arm pairs for each splice body, a given channel does not need to be fully loaded with three splice bodies in order for the splice bodies to be secure. Rather, a single splice body, or two splice bodies, can also be adequately secured in a given channel 1818. Because the latch arms 1820 for the lowermost splice body are toward the outside of the module 1802 relative to the latch arms 1822 and 1824, and because the latch arms 1822 for the second splice body are toward the outside of the module 1802 relative to the latch arms 1824, insertion and removal of the splice bodies is facilitated. For example, access to flex the latch arms 1820 of a lower most splice body to remove the lowermost splice body from a channel is facilitated by this arrangement since the latch arms 1820 can be accessed from the outside of the module 1802.

[0248] Referring to FIGS. 62-66, a splice holder module 1900 has a modified mounting interface adapted to lockingly mount to the interface 32 of the tray 30 (or the tray 1000) in a different manner than the other splice holder modules described herein. The mounting interface of the splice holder module 1900 can be readily applied to other splice holder modules and other fiber management modules for mounting such a module to the interface 32 on some kind of support structure, such as a tray 30, 1000. The splice holder module 1900 is configured to be lockingly mounted to an optical fiber management support structure (like the tray 30) by rotation in the direction 1901 of the module 1900 relative to the optical fiber management support structure 30 while the optical module 1900 and the optical fiber management support structure abut each other face-to-face.

[0249] In particular, the mounting members of the module 1900 are positioned on the recessed surface 36 such that the elongate dimensions of the channels are oblique to the axis 40. The module 1900 is then grasped and rotated in a direction 1902 while the mounting members are abutting the surface 36 until the opposing tabs 142 of the module 1900 enter opposing pockets 34 of the interface 32. The rotation can by an angle of less than 60 degrees. In some examples, the rotation can be by an angle of less than 45 degrees. In some examples, the rotation can be by an angle of about 45 degrees.

[0250] The structure of the module 1900 that facilities the mounting to the interface 32 by rotation will now be described with reference to FIGS. 67-68.

[0251] The module 1900 includes a body 1902 and a base 1904 supporting the body 1902. The base 1904 includes, on opposite sides of the module 1900, mounting members 1906, and tabs 142 extending from the mounting member 1906 in directions, 1907, 1909 to ends 149 of the tabs 142 that are farthest from the mounting members 1906. The directions 1907, 1909 are parallel to the elongate dimensions of the channels 1910 that can receive splice bodies. Each mounting member 1906 includes exactly one straight portion 1912 having an outer surface 1914 that is oblique to the directions 1907 and 1909. The tabs 142 extend from another straight portion 1916 of the mounting members that have outer surfaces 1918 that are perpendicular to the directions 1907 and 1909.

[0252] The two straight portions 1912 are diagonally across from one another on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the module 1900 parallel to the directions 1907 and 1909. That is, the base 1904 is asymmetrical about the axis 1920.

[0253] The oblique portions 1912 facilitate rotation of the module into the locked and mounted position on the interface 32. The portions 1916 serve as an over-rotation stop to inhibit rotation beyond the installation position. Thus, the mounting members 1906 are configured to permit rotation of the module 1900 into locked and mounted position in one rotational direction only.

[0254] The body 1902 covers at least portions of the mounting members 1906 and the tabs 142. In particular, in this example, the channels 1910 are extra long to accommodate extra long splice bodies and the body 1902 extends beyond the tabs 142 along the axis 1920. As a result, the body 1902 obscures visibility and access to the mounting members 1906 which can inhibit mounting of the module 1900 to the interface 32 as described above in connection with FIG. 5. The modified mounting members 1906 permitting rotational mounting thus provide a solution to this problem, essentially allowing mounting to occur “blind”, without the technician being able to see or touch the tabs 142 or other portions of the mounting members 1906 of the base 1904 of the module 1900.

[0255] It should be appreciated that the modified mounting members 1906 can be readily applied to any of the splice holder modules or other fiber management module described herein, regardless of whether the body of the module covers portions of the mounting members 1906.

[0256] Referring to FIGS. 69-70, the splice holder module 2000 is structurally identical to the splice holder module 1900, except that the mounting members 2006 each have two straight portions 2002 on opposite sides of the tabs 142 with outer surfaces 2004 that are both oblique to the axis 2020. In addition, the structures defining the outer ends of the channels 2010 are differently shaped than those of the channels 1910.

[0257] The mounting members 2006 include third straight portions 2016 between the pairs of straight portions 2002. The straight portions 2016 have outer surfaces 2018 that are perpendicular to the axis 2020. The oblique straight portions 2002 make up a majority of each mounting member 2006.

[0258] Unlike the base of the module 1900, the base of the module 2000 is symmetrical about the axis 2020. The oblique portions 2002 facilitate rotation of the module 2000 into the locked and mounted position on the interface 32. Unlike the module 1900, the mounting members 2006 of the module 2000 do not have rotation stops. Thus, the mounting members 2006 are configured to permit rotation of the module 1900 into locked and a mounted position on an interface 32 in each of two opposite rotational directions when the bottom of the base of the module 2002 is face to face with the recessed surface of the interface 32.

[0259] 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. A splice holder module, comprising: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; and walls defining channels, the walls being integrally formed with the base and extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis, the channels including a first outer channel adjacent a first outermost of the walls, a second outer channel adjacent a second outermost of the walls of the body, and a plurality of inner channels positioned between the first outer channel and the second outer channel, the channels being configured to lockingly hold at least 24 splice bodies protecting splices between 24 pairs of optical fibers, wherein a rectangular area defined by a first side corresponding to a first distance perpendicular to the elongate dimensions from a center of the first outer channel to a center of the second outer channel at bottoms of the first outer channel and the second outer channel, a second side corresponding to a second distance perpendicular to the elongate dimensions from the center of the first outer channel to the center of the second outer channel at the top of the body, and third and fourth sides that are perpendicular to the first side and the second side, parallel to the axis, and that extend between pairs of ends of the first side and the second side, is less than 250 square millimeters.

2. The splice holder module of claim 1, wherein the rectangular area is less than 225 square millimeters.

3. The splice holder module of claim 1, wherein the rectangular area is less than 200 square millimeters.

4. The splice holder module of any of claims 1-3, wherein each of the channels is configured to lockingly hold at least 3 of the 24 splice bodies with the at least 3 of the 24 splice bodies being arrange one atop another parallel to the axis.

5. The splice holder module of any of claims 1-4, including exactly 8 of the channels and exactly 6 of the plurality of inner channels.

6. The splice holder module of any of claims 1-5, wherein the body includes flexibly resilient mounting members integrally formed with the base.

7. The splice holder module of claim 6, wherein the flexibly resilient mounting members extend from the base parallel to the elongate dimensions of the channels.

8. The splice holder module of any of claims 6-7, wherein the body includes tabs integrally formed with the base and extending from the flexibly resilient mounting members.

9. The splice holder module of claim 8, wherein the tabs extend from the flexibly resilient mounting members parallel to the elongate dimensions of the channels.

10. The splice holder module of any of claims 8-9, wherein the tabs are semicircular.

11. The splice holder module of any of claims 8-10, further comprising a fiber management component including an interface, the interface defining pockets configured to lockingly receive the tabs.

12. The splice holder module of claim 11, wherein the fiber management component includes one of a fiber management tray, a basket for storing optical fiber loops, and an optical fiber routing module.

13. The splice holder module of any of claims 6-12, wherein fully enclosed material voids defined by the body and positioned between the base and the flexibly resilientmounting members are configured to allow the flexibly resilient mounting members to resiliently flex.

14. The splice holder module of any of claims 1-13, wherein the body includes two pairs of latch arms integrally formed with the base and positioned at each of the channels, the latch arms being configured to lockingly hold the splice bodies in the channels.

15. The splice holder module of any of claims 1-14, wherein the base defines a groove positioned at the bottom of the body, the groove being configured to accommodate a stacking adapter configured to lockingly stack another splice holder module to the splice holder module.

16. The splice holder module of claim 15, wherein the groove continuously extends across an entire dimension of the body along an elongate dimension of the groove and perpendicular to the elongate dimensions of the channels.

17. The splice holder module of any of claims 15-16, wherein the body defines ramps at opposite ends of the groove.

18. The splice holder module of any of claims 15-17, wherein the base defines another groove positioned at the bottom of the body, the another groove and the groove being configured to accommodate together the stacking adapter.

19. The splice holder module of any of claims 15-18, further comprising the stacking adapter.

20. The splice holder module of any of claims 1-19, wherein the body includes fiber retention fingers positioned at the top of the body and extending outward from the first outermost of the walls and from the second outermost of the walls.

21. The splice holder module of claim 20, wherein there are three fiber retention fingers extending from the first outermost wall, wherein a middle one of the three fiberretention fingers extends from the outermost wall less than the other two of the three fiber retention fingers.

22. The splice holder module of any of claims 20-21, wherein none of the fiber retention fingers extending outward from the first outermost wall is centrally aligned along any reference line perpendicularly to the elongate dimensions of the channels with any of the fiber retention fingers extending outward from the second outermost wall.

23. A splice holder module, comprising: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; and walls defining channels, the walls being integrally formed with the base and extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis, the channels including a first outer channel adjacent a first outermost of the walls, a second outer channel adjacent a second outermost of the walls of the module, and a plurality of inner channels positioned between the first outer channel and the second outer channel, the channels being configured to lockingly hold at least 24 splice bodies protecting splices between 24 pairs of optical fibers, wherein a rectangular area defined by a first side corresponding to a first distance perpendicular to the elongate dimensions from a center of the first outer channel to a center of the second outer channel at bottoms of the first channel and the second channel, a second side corresponding to a second distance perpendicular to the elongate dimensions from a center of the first outer channel to a center of the second outer channel at the top of the body, and third and fourth sides that are perpendicular to the first side and the second side, parallel to the axis, and that extend between pairs of ends of the first side and the second side, is less than 250 square millimeters; wherein each of the channels is configured to lockingly hold at least 3 of the 24 splice bodies with the at least 3 of the 24 splice bodies being arrange one atop another parallel to the axis;wherein the body includes flexibly resilient mounting members integrally formed with the base and extending from the base parallel to the elongate dimension of the channels; wherein the body includes semi-circular tabs integrally formed with the base and extending from the flexibly resilient mounting members parallel to the elongate dimensions of the channels; wherein fully enclosed material voids defined by the body and positioned between the base and the flexibly resilient mounting members are configured to allow the flexibly resilient mounting members to resiliently flex; and wherein the body includes two pairs of latch arms integrally formed with the base and positioned at each of the channels, the latch arms being configured to lockingly hold the splice bodies in the channels.

24. A splice holder module, comprising: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; and walls defining channels, the walls extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis, the channels being configured to lockingly hold splice bodies protecting splices between pairs of optical fibers, wherein the base defines a groove positioned at the bottom of the body, the groove being configured to accommodate a stacking adapter configured to lockingly stack another splice holder module to the splice holder module.

25. The splice holder module of claim 23, wherein the groove continuously extends across an entire dimension of the body along an elongate dimension of the groove and perpendicular to the elongate dimensions of the channels.

26. The splice holder module of any of claims 23-25, wherein the body defines ramps at opposite ends of the groove.

27. The splice holder module of any of claims 23-26, wherein the base defines another groove positioned at the bottom of the body, the another groove and the groove being configured to accommodate together the stacking adapter.

28. The splice holder module of any of claims 1-27, further comprising splice bodies lockingly held in the channels.

29. The splice holder module of any of claims 1-28, wherein the splice holder module is constructed entirely of molded plastic from a single mold.

30. A splice management assembly, comprising: a first splice holder module configured to lockingly hold a first plurality of splice bodies protecting first pairs of optical fibers; a second splice holder module configured to lockingly hold a second plurality of splice bodies protecting second pairs of optical fibers; and a stacking adapter, the stacking adapter configured to lock the first splice holder and the second splice holder together in a stack by mounting each of the first splice holder and the second splice holder directly to the stacking adapter, wherein the stacking adapter is configured to allow another stacking adapter of identical construction to the stacking adapter to mount to the second splice holder when the first splice holder and the second splice holder are locked together in the stack with the stacking adapter.

31. The splice management assembly of claim 30, wherein the stacking adapter includes a frame, the frame defining pairs of frame members connected by a base frame member.

32. The splice management assembly of claim 31 , wherein each pair of frame members forms a V-shape.

33. The splice management assembly of any of claims 30-32, wherein the stacking adapter is asymmetrical about a reference line perpendicular to an elongate dimensionof the base frame member and that bisects the elongate dimension of the base frame member.

34. The splice management assembly of any of claims 30-33, wherein the frame defines a cradle and the pairs of frame members define sets of catches for locking the frame to the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module within the cradle.

35. The splice management assembly of claim 34, wherein the catches are configured to be received in recesses defined by outer walls of the of the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module.

36. The splice management assembly of any of claims 30-35, wherein the first splice holder module, the second splice holder module, and the stacking adapter are constructed of molded plastic.

37. The splice management assembly of any of claims 30-36, wherein at least one of the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module is configured to lockingly hold splices of optical fiber ribbons.

38. The splice management assembly of claim 37, wherein the at least one of the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module includes channels each of which is configured to accommodate at least two splice bodies each protecting a ribbon splice between a pair of optical fiber ribbons.

39. The splice management assembly of any of claims 37-38, wherein the at least one of the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module includes pairs of integrally formed posts positioned at opposite ends, respectively of elongate dimensions of the channels, each pair of integrally formed posts having flat stop surfaces that face each other.

40. A splice management assembly, comprising:N splice module holders configured to lockingly hold pluralities of splice bodies protecting pairs of optical fibers; andN-l stacking adapters configured to lock the N splice module holders together in a single stack of the splice module holders, wherein N is an integer greater than 2.

41. The splice management assembly of claim 40, wherein at least one of the stacking adapters nests within another of the stacking adapters.

42. A stacking adapter for stacking together two splice holder modules, comprising: a frame, including: a base frame member; a first pair of frame members extending from a first end of an elongate dimension of the base frame member; and a second pair of frame member extending from a second end of the elongate dimension of the base frame member, the second end being opposite the first end.

43. The stacking adapter of claim 42, wherein the first pair of frame members and the second pair of frame members each form a V-shape.

44. The stacking adapter of claim 42, wherein the frame forms an H-shape.

45. The stacking adapter of any of claims 42-44, wherein the frame is asymmetrical about a reference line perpendicular to the elongate dimension of the base frame member and that bisects the elongate dimension of the base frame member.

46. The stacking adapter of any of claims 42-43, wherein the frame defines a cradle and the pairs of frame members define sets of catches for locking the frame to a first splice holder module and a second splice holder module within the cradle.

47. The stacking adapter of any of claims 42 or 44, wherein the frame defines a first cradle include a first set of catches for locking the frame to a first splice holder moduleand a second cradle including a second set of catches for locking the frame to a second splice holder module.

48. The splice management assembly of any of claims 42-47, wherein the stacking adapter is constructed of molded plastic.

49. A splice holder module, comprising: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; walls defining channels, the walls extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis, the channels being configured to lockingly hold splice bodies protecting ribbon splices between pairs of optical fiber ribbons; and pairs of posts integrally formed with the body, the pairs of posts being positioned at opposite ends, respectively, of the elongate dimensions of the channels, each pair of the posts having flat stop surfaces that face each other.

50. The splice holder module of claim 49, wherein each channel is configured lockingly hold at least two splice bodies each protecting a ribbon splice between a pair of optical fiber ribbons.

51. A splice holder module, comprising: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; and walls defining channels, the walls extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis, wherein in each of the channels at least two splice bodies each protecting a ribbon splice between a pair of optical fiber ribbons are lockingly held.

52. The splice holder module of any of claims 1-22, wherein a volume defined by one of the elongate dimensions of the channels and the rectangular area is less than 10.25 cubic centimeters.

53. A splice management assembly, comprising:N splice module holders of identical construction to one another, each of the N splice module holders being configured to lockingly hold pluralities of splice bodies protecting pairs of optical fibers; andN-l stacking adapters configured to lock the N splice module holders together in a single stack of the splice module holders, wherein N is an integer greater than 2.

54. The assembly of claim 53, wherein each of the N-l stacking adapters includes an H-shaped frame.

55. The assembly of claim 53, wherein each of the stacking adapters includes a frame that defines a V-shape.

56. A stacking adapter for stacking together two splice holder modules, comprising: a frame, the frame defining an upper cradle and a lower cradle on opposite sides of a base member of the frame that spans an entire dimension of the frame, wherein the stacking adapter is configured to lockingly receive one of the two splice holder modules in the upper cradle and to lockingly receive the other of the two splice holder modules in the lower cradle.

57. The stacking adapter of claim 56, wherein the frame includes another base frame member that spans the entire dimension of the frame and that partially defines the upper cradle and the lower cradle.

58. A method of organizing optical fiber splice holders, comprising: securing a first splice holder module and a second splice holder module of identical construction to the first splice holder module in a stack of the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module by mounting each of the first spliceholder module and the second splice holder module to a stacking adapter such that a portion of the stacking adapter covers an opening to a channel of the first splice holder, the channel being configured to hold a splice body.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the securing is performed while the first splice holder module is mounted to optical fiber organization equipment.

60. The method of claim 58, further comprising, after the securing, mounting the first splice holder module to optical fiber organization equipment.

61. The method of any of claims 58-60, further comprising growing the stack by securing to the stack a third splice holder module of identical construction to the first splice holder module and the second splice holder module with another stacking adapter of identical construction to the stacking adapter.

62. The method of any of claims 58-61, wherein mounting the first splice holder module to the stacking adapter includes spreading portions of legs of the stacking adapter toward each other; and wherein mounting the second splice holder module to the stacking adapter includes spreading the portions of the legs of the stacking adapter apart.

63. The splice management assembly of any of claims 30-39, wherein when the first splice holder and the second splice holder are locked together in the stack with the stacking adapter, a portion of the stacking adapter covers an opening to a channel of the first splice holder, the channel being configured to hold a splice body.

64. A splice management assembly, comprising: a first splice holder module configured to lockingly hold a first plurality of splice bodies protecting first pairs of optical fibers; a second splice holder module configured to lockingly hold a second plurality of splice bodies protecting second pairs of optical fibers; and a stacking adapter, the stacking adapter being configured to lock the first splice holder and the second splice holder together in a stack,wherein when the first splice holder and the second splice holder are locked together in the stack with the stacking adapter, a portion of the stacking adapter covers an opening to a channel of the first splice holder, the channel being configured to hold a splice body.

65. A stacking adapter for stacking together two fiber management modules, comprising: a body, including: a plate; a hook extending from the plate and configured to lock the body to a first splice holder module; and a coupling structure configured differently from the hook and configured to lockingly mount a second fiber management module to the plate.

66. The stacking adapter of claim 65, wherein the hook is configured to receive a fiber retention finger of the first splice holder module.

67. The stacking adapter of any of claims 65-66, wherein the coupling structure includes a pocket defining a lip, the pocket being configured to receive a semicircular tab of the second fiber management module under the lip.

68. The stacking adapter of any of claims 65-67, wherein the body includes a second coupling structure defined by the plate and configured differently from the first coupling structure, the second coupling structure including a pair of T-shaped openings extending though the plate and a flexible arm positioned in one of the T-shaped openings.

69. The stacking adapter of claim 68, wherein the second coupling structure is configured to receive a projecting coupling structure of the second fiber management module in a sliding, dovetail fashion.

70. The stacking adapter of any of claims 65-69, wherein the second fiber management module is a second splice holder module.

71. The stacking adapter of any of claims 65-70, further comprising an optical fiber management tray, the optical fiber management tray including a third coupling structure of identical construction to the first coupling structure and configured to receive another semicircular tab of the first fiber splice holder module.

72. An optical fiber management assembly, comprising: a splice holder module; and a stacking adapter for stacking together the splice holder module and a fiber management module, the stacking adapter including a body, the body including: a plate; and a hook extending from the plate and configured to lock the body to the splice holder module.

73. The optical fiber management assembly of claim 72, further comprising the fiber management module, the fiber management module being mounted to the plate.

74. A stacking adapter for stacking together a splice holder module and another fiber management module, comprising a plurality of structurally different interfaces for coupling to differently configured coupling features of different fiber management modules.

75. An optical fiber management module, comprising structure configured to be lockingly mounted to an optical fiber management support structure by rotation of the optical fiber management module relative to the optical fiber management support structure while the optical fiber management module and the optical fiber management support structure abut each other face-to-face.

76. The optical fiber management module of claim 75, wherein the optical fiber management module is a splice holder module.

77. The optical fiber management module of any of claims 75-76, further comprising the optical fiber support structure, the optical fiber support structure being an optical fiber management tray.

78. A method of mounting an optical fiber management module to an optical fiber management support structure, comprising: positioning the optical fiber management module to abut, face-to-face, the optical fiber management support structure; and while the optical fiber management module and the optical fiber management support structure abut each other face-to-face, rotating the optical fiber management module until tabs of the optical fiber management module are received in pockets of the optical fiber management support structure.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the rotating is by an angle of less than 60 degrees.

80. The method of claim 78, wherein the rotating is by an angle of about 45 degrees.

81. An optical fiber management module, comprising: a body; and a base supporting the body, the base including: a mounting member; and a tab extending from the mounting member in a direction to an end of the tab that is farthest from the mounting member, wherein the mounting member includes at least one straight portion having an outer surface that is oblique to the direction.

82. The optical fiber management module of claim 81 , wherein the mounting member includes two straight portions on opposite sides of the tab, the two straight portions including outer surfaces that are oblique to the direction and to each other.

83. The optical fiber management module of any of claims 81-82, wherein the at least one straight portion makes up a majority of the mounting member.

84. The optical fiber management module of any of claims 81 -83, wherein the base includes another mounting member on an opposite end of the base as the mounting member; wherein the base includes another tab extending from the another mounting member in another direction to another end of the another tab that is farthest from the another mounting member, the another direction being opposite to the direction; and wherein the another mounting member includes at least one straight portion having an outer surface that is oblique to the another direction.

85. The optical fiber management module of any of claims 81-84, wherein the optical fiber management module is a splice holder module.

86. The optical fiber management module of claim 85, wherein the body defines channels for receiving splice bodies.

87. The optical fiber management module of any of claims 81 -86, wherein the body covers at least a portion of the tab.

88. The splice holder module of claim 49, wherein the body includes latch arms integrally formed with the body; and wherein the body includes pairs of T-shaped guides integrally formed with the body and positioned between the latch arms and the pairs of posts parallel to the elongate dimensions of the channels.

89. The splice holder module of claim 88, wherein adjacent ones of the pairs of posts define first gaps; wherein adjacent ones of the pairs of T-shaped guides define second gaps; and wherein the second gaps are wider than the first gaps in dimensions perpendicular to the axis and perpendicular to the elongate dimensions of the channels.

90. A splice holder module, comprising: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; walls defining channels, the walls extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis; latch arms formed with the body, the latch arms being configured to lockingly hold splice bodies protecting ribbon splices between pairs of optical fiber ribbons in the channels; pairs of posts formed with the body, the pairs of posts being positioned at opposite ends, respectively, of the elongate dimensions of the channels, each pair of the posts having flat stop surfaces that face each other; and pairs of T-shaped guide formed with the body and positioned between the latch arms and the pairs of posts parallel the elongate dimensions of the channels.

91. The splice holder module of claim 90, wherein adjacent ones of the pairs of posts define first gaps; wherein adjacent ones of the pairs of T-shaped guides define second gaps; and wherein the second gaps are wider than the first gaps in dimensions perpendicular to the axis and perpendicular to the elongate dimensions of the channels.

92. The splice holder module of any of claims 90-91 , wherein each channel is configured to lockingly hold at least two splice bodies each protecting a ribbon splice between a pair of optical fiber ribbons.

93. The splice holder module of any of claims 14 or 20, wherein the latch arms include integrally formed teeth configured to embed within jackets of the splice bodies when the splice bodies are lockingly held in the channels.

94. The splice holder module of claim 93 wherein the latch arms include curved portions, and wherein at least portions of the teeth extend from the curved portions of the latch arms.

95. The splice holder module of any of claims 14, 20, 93, or 94, wherein each channel includes three pairs of the latch arms, each of the three pairs of latch arms being a different length parallel to the axis; wherein an innermost of the three pairs of latch arms is a longest of the three pairs of latch arms parallel to the axis; and wherein an outermost of the three pairs of latch arms is a shortest of the three pairs of latch arms parallel to the axis.

96. A splice holder module, comprising: a body extending from a bottom of the body to a top of the body along an axis, the body including: a base at the bottom of the body; walls defining channels, the walls extending parallel to the axis upward from the base to the top of the body, the channels defining elongate dimensions of the channels that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis; latch arms formed with the body, the latch arms being configured to lockingly hold splice bodies, the latch arms including teeth configured to embed within jackets of the splice bodies when the splice bodies are lockingly held in the channels.

97. The splice holder module of claim 96, wherein the latch arms include curved portions, and wherein at least portions of the teeth extend from the curved portions of the latch arms.

98. The splice holder module of any of claims 96-97, wherein each channel includes three pairs of the latch arms, each of the three pairs of latch arms being a different length parallel to the axis.

99. The splice holder module of claim 98,wherein an innermost of the three pairs of latch arms is a longest of the three pairs of latch arms parallel to the axis; and wherein an outermost of the three pairs of latch arms is a shortest of the three pairs of latch arms parallel to the axis.

100. The splice holder module of any of claims 96-99, further comprising the splice bodies lockingly held in the channels with the teeth embedding in the jackets of the splice bodies.

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