Devices, systems, and methods for routing optical fibers to one or more stacks of optical fiber management trays

Abstract

Modules, modular systems and methods for optical fiber management at telecommunications equipment. Multiple of the same, reversible optical fiber guiding module can be used to guide optical fibers from one stack of optical fiber management trays to another stack of optical fiber management trays that are positioned side by side. Another module is configured to hold a tube holding device or a connector holding device and is of highly compact construction. The different modules can have the same vertical dimension as one another for greater customizability and improved use of space of optical fiber management equipment at a given distribution location. Other modules can be adapters to mount modules to different types of equipment and organizer arrangements.

Description

[0001] Docket No. 02316.8927WOU1 / 7504 WOW1

[0002] DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR ROUTING OPTICAL FIBERS TO ONE OR MORE STACKS OF OPTICAL FIBER MANAGEMENT TRAYS

[0003] PRIORITY CLAIM

[0004] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 63 / 683,356, filed August 15, 2024; 63 / 692,477, filed September 9, 2024; and 63 / 787,014, filed April 11, 2025, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] Fiber optic networks utilize fiber optic cables that often require optical fiber splicing and storage. Typically, one or more feeder cables from a service provider enter a telecommunications closure for splicing with one or more distribution cables. A plurality of splice trays store the splices inside the telecommunications closure. The one or more distribution cables exit the telecommunications closure to deliver high bandwidth communication capabilities to one or more subscriber locations.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] In general terms, the present disclosure relates to optical fiber management modules that can reduce the number of optical fiber routing parts and / or the size of optical fiber routing parts needed for various optical fiber management arrangements.

[0009] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to improvements in customizability of optical fiber management arrangements at telecommunications distribution locations.

[0010] In further general terms, the present disclosure relates to improvements in efficiency of space usage, for example, inside of a telecommunications cabinet or a sealable and re-enterable telecommunications closure.

[0011] According to one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for routing optical fibers, including: a first module having a first elongate dimension; and a second module having a second elongate dimension and configured differently from the first module and defining optical fiber routing pathways configured to guide optical fibers from the second module to the first module, wherein the first module and the second module are configured to interface with each other such that the first elongate dimension and the second elongate dimension abut each other at opposite side portions of the first module and the second module, and such that the first module and the second module are spaced apart from each other at middle portions of the first elongate dimension and the second elongate dimension, the middle portions being between the opposite side portions.

[0012] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of routing optical fibers on telecommunications equipment mounted to a panel, the telecommunications equipment including a first column of tray receiving modules mounted to the panel and a second column of tray receiving modules mounted to the panel and side by side with the first column of tray receiving modules, the tray receiving modules of the first column and of the second column receiving a plurality of optical fiber management trays that pivot relative to the tray receiving modules, the telecommunications equipment including a pair of fiber routing modules abutting each other and defining intersecting X-shaped fiber routing pathways, a first of the pair of fiber routing modules abutting the first column of tray receiving modules and a second of the pair of fiber routing modules abutting the second column of the tray receiving modules, the method including: routing an optical fiber via both of the pair of fiber routing modules onto one of the tray receiving modules of the second column without routing the optical fiber via any of the tray receiving modules of the first column.

[0013] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of mounting optical fiber management modules to a panel, including: positioning a module of a first type on the panel; and sliding a module of a second type along the panel until the module of the second type snappingly locks relative to the panel and covers a portion of the module of the first type, the module of the first type and the module of the second type being configured differently from each other.

[0014] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for managing optical fibers, including: a first module and a second module having a mounted configuration in which the first module and the second module are positioned along an axis one atop another on a panel such that the first module and the second module abut each other, the first module and the second module being configured differently from each other, wherein in the mounted configuration, a dimension of the first module parallel to the axis is equal to a dimension of the second module parallel to the axis.

[0015] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a device for managing optical fibers, including: a module configured to be mounted to a panel, wherein the module includes structures configured to hold a holding module that is configured to hold adapters for receiving optical fiber connectors or tubes containing optical fibers; wherein the module does not include any structures that define a X- shaped optical fiber routing pathway; and wherein an outermost perimeter of the module defines a lip configured to abut the panel and to be covered by another module mounted to the panel.

[0016] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for managing optical fibers, including: a first module and a second module of identical construction, the first module and the second module being configured to be mounted side by side to a panel, each of the first module and the second module including intersecting X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways, wherein, when the first module and the second module are mounted side by side to the panel, divergent portions of the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways of the first module are aligned and continuous with divergent portions of the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways of the second module only when an orientation of the second module is rotated 180 degrees relative to an orientation of the first module.

[0017] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of managing optical fibers, including: mounting a first module to a panel; and mounting a second module of identical construction to the first module to the panel such that: an orientation of the second module is rotated 180 degrees relative to an orientation of the first module; and divergent portions of X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways of the first module are aligned and continuous with divergent portions of X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways of the second module. According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a device for managing optical fibers, including: a module configured to be mounted to a panel, the module including: intersecting X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways; and tabs extending from walls that define the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways, the tabs being configured to retain optical fibers within the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways, wherein the module defines exactly zero lines of symmetry.

[0018] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of managing optical fibers, including: mounting a first module to a panel; and mounting a second module of different construction to the first module to the panel such that the first module and the second module abut each other, the mounting including inserting a tool or a finger within a pocket defined by the first module.

[0019] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for managing optical fibers, including: a base including base mounting structures; a module configured to receive and pivotally hold a plurality of optical fiber management trays; frame members; and frame member adapters, wherein the frame member adapters are configured to be secured with fasteners directly to the base mounting structures; wherein the frame members are configured to be secured directly to the frame member adapters with fasteners; and wherein the module is configured to be secured directly to the frame members without any fasteners.

[0020] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for managing optical fibers, including: a base including base mounting structures; a module configured to receive and pivotally hold a plurality of optical fiber management trays; frame members; and frame member adapters, wherein the frame member adapters are secured with first fasteners directly to the base mounting structures; wherein the frame members are secured directly to the frame member adapters with second fasteners; wherein the module is secured directly to the frame members by an interfacing of hooks, rounded receivers, and catches of the module with complementary structures of the frame members; wherein the frame member adapters define pockets positioned between the frame members and the box housing piece; and wherein the hooks are received in the pockets. According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of managing optical fibers, including: a) directly securing frame member adapters to mounting structures of a housing piece of a sealable and re-enterable closure; b) directly securing frame members to the frame member adapters; and c) directly securing to the frame members a module configured to receive and pivotally hold a plurality of optical fiber management trays.

[0021] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relate to a system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a module, the module including: a body defining a first axis extending from a left side of the body to a right side of the body, and a second axis extending from a top of the body to a bottom of the body, the first axis and the second axis being perpendicular to each other, the body including: a first set of structures configured to receive and pivotally hold a first set of optical fiber management trays; and a second set of structures configured to receive and pivotally hold a second set of optical fiber management trays, the first set of structures being to the left of the second set of structures such that the first set of optical fiber management trays is to the left of the second set of optical fiber management trays when the first set of optical fiber management trays and the second set of optical fiber management trays are pivotally held by the first set of structures and the second set of structures, respectively, pivot axes of the first set of optical fiber management trays and the second set of optical fiber management trays being parallel to the first axis when the first set of optical fiber management trays and the second set of optical fiber management trays are pivotally held by the first set of structures and the second set of structures, respectively; and a middle fiber guide channel fingers extending from fixed ends of the middle fiber guide channel fingers on the body to free ends of the middle fiber guide channel fingers, the middle fiber guide channel fingers being positioned to the right of the first set of structures and to the left of the second set of structures to define a middle fiber guide channel of the module that is between the first set of structures and the second set of structures.

[0022] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for managing optical fibers, including: pivotally mounting a first tray to a first structure of a module; pivotally mounting a second tray to a second structure of a module, a common fiber guide channel defined by the module being positioned between the first structure and the second structure, the common fiber guide channel being positioned also between the first tray and the second tray; routing a first optical fiber from the common fiber guide channel onto the first tray without first routing it to the second tray; and routing a second optical fiber from the common fiber guide channel onto the second tray without first routing it to the first tray.

[0023] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for managing optical fibers, including: a module having a front and a back, the module including: on the back, mounting features for mounting the module to a surface by snap connection; and on the front: three discrete and mutually parallel fiber routing channels, including a left fiber routing channel, a right fiber routing channel, and a middle fiber routing channel; a first structure positioned between the left fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a first optical fiber management tray; and a second structure positioned between the right fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a second optical fiber management tray.

[0024] According to another aspect, a module includes: a front and a back, and including: on the back, mounting features for mounting the module to a surface by snap connection; and on the front: three discrete and mutually parallel fiber routing channels, including a left fiber routing channel, a right fiber routing channel, and a middle fiber routing channel; a first structure positioned between the left fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to lockingly mount a fiber management component; and a second structure positioned between the right fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a second fiber management component, wherein the module is of seamless, unitary construction.

[0025] 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.

[0026] DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] The following drawing figures, which form a part of this application, are illustrative of the described technology and are not meant to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical fiber management system according to the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a front, planar view of the system of FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a front, planar view of a portion of the system of FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a front, planar view of a portion of what is shown in FIG. 3.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a front, planar view of a portion of what is shown in FIG. 4.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a front, planar view of a portion of what is shown in FIG. 5.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a front, planar view of one of the panels of the system of FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a frame member of the system of FIG. 1.

[0036] FIG. 9 is a further perspective view of the frame member of FIG. 8.

[0037] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a guide channel adjustment module of the system of FIG. 1.

[0038] FIG. 11 is a further perspective view of the guide channel adjustment module of FIG. 10.

[0039] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one of the optical fiber management trays of the system of FIG. 1.

[0040] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one of the tray receiving modules of the system of FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 14 is a further perspective view of the tray receiving module of FIG. 13.

[0042] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a fiber guiding module of the system of FIG. 1.

[0043] FIG. 16 is a further perspective view of the fiber guiding module of FIG. 15.

[0044] FIG. 17 is a further perspective view of the fiber guiding module of FIG. 15. FIG. 18 is a planar, front view of the fiber guiding module of FIG. 15.

[0045] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a component support module of the system of FIG. 1.

[0046] FIG. 20 is a further perspective view of the component support module of FIG. 19.

[0047] FIG. 21 is a further perspective view of the component support module of FIG. 19.

[0048] FIG. 22 is a front, planar view of the component support module of FIG. 19.

[0049] FIG. 23 is a further perspective view of the component support module of FIG. 19.

[0050] FIG. 24 is a further perspective view of the component support module of FIG. 19.

[0051] FIG. 25 is a back, planar view of the component support module of FIG. 19.

[0052] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a tube holder module that can be supported by the component support module of FIG. 19.

[0053] FIG. 27 is a further perspective view of the tube holder module of FIG. 26.

[0054] FIG. 28 is a further perspective view of the tube holder module of FIG. 26.

[0055] FIG. 29 is a front view of another example optical fiber management system according to the present disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 30 is a front view of a portion of the system of FIG. 29.

[0057] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a component of the system of FIG. 29.

[0058] FIG. 32 is a further perspective view of the component of FIG. 31.

[0059] FIG. 33 is a perspective view of another example optical fiber management system according to the present disclosure.

[0060] FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a portion of the system of FIG. 33.

[0061] FIG. 35 is a perspective view of a component of the system of FIG. 33.

[0062] FIG. 36 is a perspective view of another example of a component support module that can be used in any of the systems of the present disclosure.

[0063] FIG. 37 is a perspective view of another example optical fiber management system according to the present disclosure.

[0064] FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 37. FIG. 39 is a further perspective view of the system of FIG. 37.

[0065] FIG. 40 is a planar view of a portion of the system of FIG. 37.

[0066] FIG. 41 is a perspective view of a further portion of the system of FIG. 37.

[0067] FIG. 42 is a planar view of a further portion of the system of FIG. 37.

[0068] FIG. 43 is a perspective view of the system portion of FIG. 42.

[0069] FIG. 44 is a planar view of a further portion of the system of FIG. 37.

[0070] FIG. 45 is a perspective view of the system portion of FIG. 44.

[0071] FIG. 46 is a perspective view of a closure housing piece of the system of

[0072] FIG. 37.

[0073] FIG. 47 is a perspective view of a frame member of the system of FIG. 37.

[0074] FIG. 48 is a further perspective view of the frame member of FIG. 37.

[0075] FIG. 49 is a perspective view of another frame member of the system of

[0076] FIG. 37.

[0077] FIG. 50 is a further perspective view of the frame member of FIG. 49.

[0078] FIG. 51 is a perspective view of a frame member adapter of the system of

[0079] FIG. 37.

[0080] FIG. 52 is a further perspective view of the frame member adapter of FIG.

[0081] 51.

[0082] FIG. 53 is a further perspective view of the frame member adapter of FIG.

[0083] 51.

[0084] FIG. 54 schematically shows an example fastener that can be used in the system of FIG. 37.

[0085] FIG. 55 is an enlarged view of a portion of the system of FIG. 37.

[0086] FIG. 56 is an enlarged view of a further portion of the system of FIG. 37.

[0087] FIG. 57 is a front, planar view of another example optical fiber management system according to the present disclosure.

[0088] FIG. 58 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 57.

[0089] FIG. 59 is a further perspective view of the system of FIG. 57.

[0090] FIG. 60 is a front, planar view of a portion of the system of FIG. 57.

[0091] FIG. 61 is a perspective view of the portion of the system of FIG. 60. FIG. 62 is a front perspective view of a tray receiving module of the system of FIG. 57.

[0092] FIG. 63 is a back, perspective view of the tray receiving module of FIG. 62.

[0093] FIG. 64 is a front, planar view of the tray receiving module of FIG. 62.

[0094] FIG. 65 is a back, planar view of the tray receiving module of FIG. 62.

[0095] FIG. 66 a bottom, planar view of the tray receiving module of FIG. 62.

[0096] FIG. 67 is a front, perspective view of a component support module of the system of FIG. 57.

[0097] FIG. 68 is a further front, perspective view of the component support module of FIG. 67.

[0098] FIG. 69 is a back, perspective view of the component support module of FIG. 66.

[0099] FIG. 70 illustrates another example optical fiber management system according to the present disclosure and an optical fiber routing example that can be performed thereon.

[0100] FIG. 71 is a perspective view of a further example embodiment of a module of the assembly of FIG. 70.

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

[0102] FIG. 73 is a perspective view of a further example embodiment of a module of the assembly of FIG. 70.

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

[0104] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0105] Various embodiments 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 claims attached hereto. Additionally, 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 appended claims.

[0106] Terms such us up, down, left, right, front, back, vertical, horizontal, above below, in front, behind, and the like are used to relate positions of components of systems relative to one another within the system. These terms are not meant to limit how the system may be oriented in practice.

[0107] Referring to FIGS. 1-14, a system 100 and components of the system 100 are shown. The system 100 is a system of telecommunications equipment used to manage optical fibers at a signal distribution location. A signal distribution location is a location where provider side optical fibers are, or can be, routed to subscriber side optical fibers. For example, the system 100 can be mounted in a cabinet 10 (schematically shown), which can serve a large building or a plurality of buildings in, e.g., a neighborhood. Such a cabinet can have one or more doors. The one or more doors can be selectively locked closed and opened to access the system 10. In other examples, the system 100 can be mounted to a sealable and re-enterable closure. Other types of signal distribution locations are possible.

[0108] The system 100 extends vertically along a vertical axis 102 between a top of the system 100 and a bottom of the system 106. The system 100 extends from a left side 110 to a right side 112 along an axis 108 that is perpendicular to the axis 102. The system 100 extends into and out of the page along a third axis (not shown) in FIG 2, from a front of the system 100 (the front is what appears in FIG. 2) to a back of the system 100, the third axis and the axes 102 and 108 being mutually perpendicular.

[0109] The system 100 includes one or more panels. In this example, the system 100 includes two metal panels 101 and 103. The metal panels 101 and 103 can be, e.g., secured inside a cabinet 10.

[0110] Each panel 101, 103 includes a front surface 105 to which various optical fiber management components can be mounted. Each panel 101, 103 can include various through holes (see FIG. 7) of various shapes and sizes that can receive different fasteners or other couplers for mounting fiber management components to the surfaces 105 of the panels 101, 103.

[0111] The system 100 includes side by side subsystems 120 and 122, with the subsystem 120 being on the left side of the system 100 and the subsystem 122 being on the right side of the system. Each subsystem 120, 122 includes a column 124, 126 of optical fiber management trays 128. For each column 124, 126, the trays 128 are stacked one atop another in a stack 130 along a stacking axis that is parallel to the axis 102.

[0112] The trays 128 of each stack are pivotally mounted directly to tray receiving modules, which are themselves mounted relative to the panels 101, 103. Each tray 128 in each stack 130 is configured to pivot upward in the direction of the arrow 132 to provide access to the fiber management volume of the tray below it. The interface between a tray and tray receiving module can include structures that allow the tray to stay in the pivoted up position until a technician applies a force to pivot the tray back to the storage position.

[0113] The pivoting interface between a tray and a tray receiving module defines a pivot axis 134 about which the tray can pivot while remaining mounted to a tray receiving module. The pivot axis of each tray 128 is parallel to the axis 108.

[0114] Each subsystem 120, 122, in this example, includes four tray receiving modules 136 stacked one atop another on the respective front surface of a panel, with tops of modules 136 abutting bottoms of adjacent modules 136. Each module 136 includes receivers 140. In this example, each module 136 includes eight receivers 140 allowing the module 136 to pivotally receive up to eight trays 128.

[0115] Each receiver 140 is configured to pivotally receive a coupling arrangement of a tray 128. For example, pin receivers 142 hold hinge pins 150 of a tray 128, allowing the pins 150 to rotate within the receivers 142. In addition, clips 144, 146 receive a positioning shaft 152 of a tray 128. Interaction between the clips 144, 146 and a positioning shaft 152 enable the tray to be self-supporting in a pivoted-up position. A projection 148 on one side of the receiver 140 and not on the other side of the receiver 140 is configured to be received in a corresponding groove of the coupling arrangement of the tray 128 that is on only one side of the tray 128, such that the tray 128 can be mounted to the module 136 only in one orientation.

[0116] The tray 128 includes an outer perimeter wall 154 that defines an interior fiber management volume 156 of the tray 128, The fiber management volume 156 is configured to guide optical fibers in loops or partial loops to a fiber management region 158. In this example, the fiber management region 158 includes a splice holder 159 for holding one or more splice bodies 190 that protect splices between optical fibers that are routed onto the tray 128. In other examples, the fiber management region 158 could include another type of fiber management component, such as a signal splitter 192 or an adapter 194 that receives connectorized ends of optical fibers routed onto the tray 128.

[0117] At the left and right sides of the tray receiving module 136, the module 136 includes fingers 160. The fingers 160 partially define fiber guide channels 162 configured to guide fibers up and down parallel to the axis 102 to different modules 136, 200 and, thereby, to different trays 128 as needed to build and / or support particular fiber management circuits in an organized fashion. For example, the fibers routed on each tray 128 can correspond to subscribers of a different building, or subscribers of a different unit within a building, or to a different cluster of buildings.

[0118] Each tray receiving module 136 has a dimension Hl parallel to the axis 102.

[0119] All features of the module 136 can be constructed of plastic and be of unitary construction (e.g., formed using a single mold).

[0120] At the back of each module 136 is a mounting arrangement for mounting the module 136 relative to a panel 101, 103. The mounting arrangement includes hooks 164, rounded receivers 166, and catches 168. These elements mate with complementary elements in frame modules (also referred to as frame members) 170, 172. A frame module 170 is a mirror image of a frame module 172. The frame modules 170, 172 define pockets 174, and include through holes 173 and spacers 175.

[0121] Rivets or other fasteners can enter the through holes 173 to secure the frame modules 170, 172 to a panel 101, 103. The spacers 175 can facilitate fastening of the frame modules 170, 172 to a panel 101, 103.

[0122] Each pocket 174 includes a mating arrangement 176. The mating arrangement 176 is configured to mate with a complementary mating arrangement 179 of a channel adjusting module 178. When the arrangements 176 and 179 are interfacing, the channel adjusting module 178 is slidably retained by the frame module 170, 172, such that the channel adjusting module 178 can slide in and out parallel to the axis 108 to adjust a width parallel to the axis 108 of the fiber guide channels 162. For example, sliding a module 178 away from a corresponding module 170, 172 can facilitate inserting and adjusting fibers within the corresponding channel 162. Once the adjustment to the fibers has been made, the module 178 can be slid back toward the corresponding module 170, 172, to retain the fibers within the corresponding channel 162.

[0123] Each channel adjusting module 178 includes a wall 180 that partially defines a channel 162. For each pair of a tray receiving module 136 and a channel adjusting module 178, the wall 180 and the fingers 160 define a complete portion of channel 162 that has a vertical length equal to the height Hl.

[0124] Each channel adjusting module 178 includes a handle 182. The handle 182 can be grasped to slide the module 178 in and out relative to the module 170, 172 with which it is slidably mated.

[0125] The frame module 170, 172, includes slots 184, projections 186, and tabs 188. To mount a tray receiving module 136 to a pair of frame modules 170 and 172 that are fastened to a panel 101, 103, the back of the module 136 is placed against the panel 101, 103 or the fronts of the pair of frame modules 170 and 172 and slid downward (as indicated by the arrows 189 at the front of the module 136), until the hooks 164 are securely received in the slots 184 of the pair of frame modules, the catches 168 receive the tabs 188 of the pair of frame modules, and the projections 186 of the pair of frame modules are snappingly received in the pockets of the rounded receivers 166. By engagement of the three different types of pairs of coupling structures, the module 136 is thereby secured relative to the panel 101, 103.

[0126] A vertical dimension H2 of each of the frame modules 170, 172 and the channel adjusting module 178 is equal to the height Hl of the module 136.

[0127] Cables entering the cabinet 10 (e.g., from a bottom of the cabinet) may be not aligned side to side with the column 124, 126 of trays 128 on which fibers from the cables will need to be managed. For example, cables can enter toward the left column 124 that need to have their fibers routed to and managed on one or more trays 128 of the right column 126, and vice versa.

[0128] The fiber guiding module 200 can provide functionality to route fibers between the columns 124 and 126.

[0129] In addition, in some examples, optical fibers emerging from cables are held in protective tubes. The protective tubes are cut allowing the optical fibers that need to be managed on the trays 128 to emerge from the ends of the tubes. However, in these situations, end portions of the tubes must be held in place relative to the panel to minimize disturbance of the optical fibers that emerge from them. The component support module 300 can hold a tube holding module that achieves this functionality.

[0130] In other examples, optical fibers emerging from cables entering the closure are connectorized. The connectors must be received in a patch panel of adapters that allow the connectorized fibers to be optically connected to other optical fibers that are managed on the trays 128. The component support module 300 can a hold patch panel module that achieves this functionality.

[0131] Referring to FIGS. 15-18, all features of the fiber guiding module 200 can be constructed of plastic and be of unitary construction (e.g., formed using a single mold).

[0132] The module 200 is configured to be mounted to a panel 101, 103 by rivets or other fasteners that are inserted through holes 201 of the module 200. Thus, for example, referring to FIG. 6, the module 200 can be mounted directly to the panel 101 at either or both of the areas 250 and / or 252 where there are no frame modules 170, 172.

[0133] In other examples, a module such as the module 200 can be configured to mount to frame modules 170, 172 as described above in connection with the tray receiving module 136.

[0134] The module 200 includes a handle 203 that can be grasped to facilitate holding the module 200 in place against the surface 105 of a panel 101, 103 when it is being mounted thereto.

[0135] The module 200 includes a first side portion 202 and a second side portion 204 opposite the first side portion 202. Each side portion 202, 204 includes fingers 206 and / or other structures 208 that define fiber guide channels 211, 213 along the entire vertical length H3 of the module 200. In some examples, the height H3 is equal to the height H2 and the height Hl.

[0136] The module 200 has an elongate dimension LI that is parallel to the axis 108. Along the elongate dimension LI and between the side portions 202 and 204 are middle portions 210 and 212. The middle portions 210 and 212 are pockets defined by material voids formed by the shape and contours of the module 200.

[0137] Extending between the side portions 202 and 204 are optical fiber pathways 214 and 216 defined by walls (also referred to as guides) 221 of the module 200. The pathways 214 and 216 converge with each other at a convergent portion 218 of the pathways 214, 216, diverge from each other at a divergent portion 219 of the pathways 214, 216, converge with each other at a convergent portion 220 of the pathways 214, 216, and diverge from each other at a divergent portion 222 of the pathways 214, 216.

[0138] Optical fiber pathways, guides and channels herein are configured to gently guide optical fibers to different areas of the system or arrangement of fiber management components without overbending the optical fibers, which can result in damage to the optical fibers and / or signal loss.

[0139] The convergent portion 218 fully converges within, and is in open communication with, the guide channel 213. The convergent portion 220 fully converges within, and is in open communication with, the guide channel 211. The divergent portion 219 connects the convergent portion 218 to the convergent portion 220.

[0140] The divergent portion 222 extends from the convergent portion 220 to the end 225 of the module 200, which is configured to abut with the divergent portion 222 of another module 200 that is rotated 180 degrees relative to the module 200.

[0141] Due to the divergent and convergent nature of the pathways 214 and 216, lengths of the pathways 214 and 216 define optical fiber routing pathway portions that are X-shaped. The pathways 214 and 216 intersect twice, defining two X-shaped routing pathway portions.

[0142] Because there are two intersecting pathways 214 and 216, advantageously the module 200 can accommodate optical fibers coming from both above the module 200 and below the module 200 and guide any such fibers to the other side of the module 200. For example, an optical fiber coming down the channel 213 can be guided to the other column of trays 128 via the pathway 216, while an optical fiber coming up the channel 213 can be guided to the other column of trays 128 via the pathway 214. Extending from the guides 221 are tabs 223. The tabs 223 help to retain optical fibers on the pathways 214, 216 and within the guides that define the pathways.

[0143] At the end 225 of the module 200, an alignment tab 230 extends from a guide 221 defining the pathway 214. At the end 225 of the module 200, an alignment notch 232 is defined by the guide 221 defining the pathway 216. The alignment notch 232 is configured to receive the alignment tab of another module 200 rotated 180 degrees from the module 200, and the alignment tab 230 is configured to be received in the alignment notch of such another, 180 degree-rotated module 200, thereby facilitating continuous, open communication between the pathways 214, 216 of one module 200 and the pathways 216, 214, respectively, of another module 200 of identical construction that is rotated 180 degrees relative to the module 200.

[0144] Each side portion 202, 204 of the module 200 includes bypass posts 240. The bypass posts 240 present guides for routing optical fibers from one side of the module 200 to the other side of the module 200 while bypassing the pathways 214 and 216. For example, the bypass posts 240 can be used to route fibers using the module 200 from one side of a column of trays to another side of the same column of trays, rather than routing the fibers to a different column of trays.

[0145] Despite being able to accommodate optical fibers routed from above the module 200 and from below the module 200, the module 200 has no lines of symmetry. In other examples, the module 200 does not include the alignment tab and the alignment notch, and thereby does have exactly one line of symmetry about a reference line that bisects the module parallel to the axis 108.

[0146] Referring to FIGS. 19-23 the component support module 300 will be described. The support module 300 is a low-profile module, i.e., relatively compact module, which can be beneficial in various applications such as cabinets and closures.

[0147] All features of the component support module 300 can be constructed of plastic and be of unitary construction (e.g., formed using a single mold).

[0148] The module 300 is configured to support one or more other modules that hold portions of fibers near where the fibers emerge from the cables entering the cabinet or closure. For example, the module 300 can support a tube holding module 400 (FIGS. 26-28) for holding tubes protecting the optical fibers, or the module 300 can support a patch panel. Other modules may be supported by the module 300.

[0149] At the back of the module 300, the module 300 includes mounting structures 164, 166 and 168 as described above, for mounting the module 300 to a pair of frame modules 170 and 172 as described above in connection with the tray receiving module 136.

[0150] In other examples, the module 300 can be configured to be riveted or otherwise fastened directly to the panel 101, 103.

[0151] Due to the low-profile nature of the module 300, the module 300 includes just one side-by side pair of sets of three mounting structures 164, 166 and 168. As a result, to reinforce secure coupling of the module 300 relative to a panel 101, 103 in certain instances, the module 300 includes a protruding lip 308 at a top of an outermost perimeter of the module 300. The lip 308 is elongate parallel to the axis 108 and is configured to sit against a panel 101, 103. The lip 308 is configured to be covered by and contacted by a tray receiving module 136 (or a different type of module) that is positioned directly above the module 300 while the top of the module 300 abuts a bottom of the module 136 (or other type of module). Covering of the lip 308 by a module 136 (or other type of module) that is itself secured to the frame modules and relative to the panels 101, 103 in the manner described above, can reinforce the secure coupling of the module 300 to frame modules 170, 172 (e.g., at the position 301 shown in FIG. 6) and thereby relative to a panel 101, 103.

[0152] The module 300 includes arrangements 304 of fiber guides at opposite sides of the module 300. The arrangements 304 are configured to gently guide optical fibers from the components held in the component receivers 302 to a variety of different destinations, such as the tray 128 that is closest to the module 300, or to another tray 128 in a stack of trays.

[0153] The module 300 includes a tray stack support 306 having a support surface 310 angled obliquely to the plane of the surface 105 of the panel 101, 103. The stack of trays in their pivoted down, storage configuration, can rest on the surface 310 without contact or otherwise interfering with the fiber holding components mounted to the receivers 302. That is, the tray stack support 306 provides clearance between the stack of trays and any component that may be supported by the component support module 300.

[0154] The receivers 302 define geometric structures 312 (e.g., sets of triangle shapes) configured to lockingly engage with complementary structures, such as, for example, complementary structures 402 of a tube holding module 400 (FIGS. 26-28). Ramped tabs 404 and latch arms 406 of a tube holding module 400 can be lockingly received in complementary openings 320 and 322, respectively, of the receivers 302, while the geometric structures 312 and 402 help to align and stabilize the module 400 correctly with respect to the module 300. The tube holding module 400 includes an array of tube holders 410 that can laterally (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the protective tubes) receive protective tubes and hold down the tubes, e.g., via insertion of elastomeric tabs 450 (FIG. 34) into the holders 410 and causing the elastomeric tabs 450 to frictionally contact the protective tubes.

[0155] A vertical dimension H4 of the module 300 is equal to the each of the dimensions Hl, H2 and H3.

[0156] Because the dimensions Hl, H2, H3, and H4 are equal to one another, versatility and customizability of placement of different modules within a given cabinet, closure, or other organizer equipment, is improved. For example, a fiber guiding module 200 can be swapped for a tray receiving module 136, or a tray receiving module 136 can be swapped for a component support module 300, or a fiber guiding module 200 can be swapped for a component support module 300, and vice versa for each possibility, all while maintaining the other modules in the arrangement. Similarly, it can facilitate assembly and disassembly of different optical fiber management systems in that the compact component support module 300 mounts the same way to the same frame modules 170, 172, as the tray receiving modules 136.

[0157] Referring to FIG. 3 the arrangement 500 of modules includes two side by side columns 502, 504 of hardware mounted to two side-by-side panels 101 and 103, respectively. The two panels 101 and 103 could be a single panel.

[0158] Any suitable arrangement including any suitable number, type, and order of modules 136, 200, 300, 602 (FIG. 29) is possible. Starting from the bottom and working upward, each column 502 includes, mounted to the panel or to frame modules 170, 172 that are mounted to the panel, a component support module 300, followed by a fiber guiding module 200, followed by four tray receiving modules 136, followed by another fiber guiding module 200. Each pair of adjacent modules in a column 502, 504 abut each other. In addition, the pockets 210, 212 of each module 200 which define gaps between modules 200 and adjacent modules can facilitate access (e.g., with a tool or finger) to the adjacent module 136, 300, when assembling or disassembling the arrangement with modules 136, 300 around a module 200, where the module 200 has already been riveted or otherwise fastened directly to the panel 101, 103. Meanwhile, the side portions 202 and 204 abut the modules that are adjacent above and below the module 200 in each column.

[0159] The fiber guiding module 200b is rotated 180 degrees relative to the fiber guiding module 200a and the alignment tabs of the fiber guiding modules 200a and 200b are received in the alignment notches of the fiber guiding modules 200b and 200a, respectively, to provide aligned and continuous fiber routing pathways from each column 502, 504 to the other column 504, 502 below the modules 136.

[0160] The fiber guiding module 200d is rotated 180 degrees relative to the fiber guiding module 200c and the alignment tabs of the fiber guiding modules 200c and 200d are received in the alignment notches of the fiber guiding modules 200d and 200c, respectively, to provide aligned and continuous fiber routing pathways from each column 502, 504 to the other column 504, 502 above the modules 136.

[0161] The intersecting fiber routing pathways of the pairs of modules 200 (200a and 200b, 200c and 200d) and the placement of the modules 200 relative to the module 300 and relative to the modules 136 allow high versatility and customizability in routing optical fibers from any module that is immediately adjacent a module 200 and within the same column 502, 504, directly to the other column 504, 502 without having to route the fiber through any other of the modules of the initial column. For example, an optical fiber can be routed from the component support module 300a to a module of the column 504 via the fiber guiding modules 200a and 200b and without having to enter any of the tray receiving modules 136 of the column 502. In addition, the intersecting fiber routing pathways of the pairs of modules 200 (200a and 200b, 200c and 200d) allow fibers extending along both upward paths and extending along downward paths within the fiber routing channels 162 to be routed to the other column via a pair of the modules 200.

[0162] Thus, the intersecting fiber routing pathways of the modules 200 can minimize the amount of fiber length, or slack, that is required to route a given fiber from a given location on one of the columns (or subsystems) to a given location on the other of the columns (or subsystems). In addition, the intersecting fiber routing pathways of the modules 200 can minimize clustering or bundling of large numbers of optical fibers in areas of the system where numerous fibers typically my come together.

[0163] Non-limiting examples of schematically represented optical fibers 12, 14 and 16 and the pathways that can be routed along using various of the modules described herein are shown in FIG. 4.

[0164] The construction of the fiber guiding module 200 is such that only one such module configuration (and one such mold) is required to perform all of the functions of the column to column fiber guiding described herein. That is, two such modules 200 of identical construction, as shown in FIG. 3, can provide the side to side column routing functionality described herein, and there is no need for differently configured modules or molds, which can add cost and complexity.

[0165] To maximize the compactness and low-profile nature of the module 300, the module 300 does not include structures that define S-shaped (or figure-8 shaped, or partial figure-8 shaped) fiber routing pathways for routing optical fibers from one side of the module to the other side of the module.

[0166] Referring to FIGS. 29-32, for example, the system 600 includes a component support module 602 (having module receivers 302) that also includes a pair of drum-like structures 604 for routing optical fibers from one side of the module 602 to the other side of the module 602. However, in certain applications, particularly for relatively compact closures handling relatively few cables, such side-to side routing of fibers before the fibers reach the tray receiving modules 136 and the trays 128 is not needed. As such, the drums needlessly take up space within the closure. The compact nature of the module 300 can address this issue by providing no drum-like structures 604 or other structures that perform the same function by providing S-shaped optical fiber pathways for side to side routing of optical fibers.

[0167] Still referring to FIGS. 29-32, the module 602 is configured to mount to the frame modules 170, 172 in the same manner as the tray receiving modules 136. To facilitate installing and removing the module 602 to or from the panel 101, a tool or finger can be inserted into the pocket 210 of the adjacent module 200, in the manner described above.

[0168] Referring to FIGS. 33-35, a further example system 700 is shown. The system 700 is a sealable and re-enterable, relatively compact closure. The closure has two housing pieces 702 and 704 that are hingedly coupled to each other and can selectively form a sealed interior volume of the closure. The housing piece 704 can be rotated away from the housing piece 702 to re-enter the closure 700.

[0169] The housing piece 704 defines pockets 732 that receive cable seal modules 730 defining ports 736 through which cables can enter the closure in a sealed fashion.

[0170] Frame members 703 are mounted to a panel 701 of the housing piece 702 within the interior volume. Two tray receiving modules 136 each supporting eight trays 128 are mounted to the frame members 703.

[0171] The component support module 300 is also mounted to the frame members 703, in the same manner as it is mounted to the frame modules 170 and 172. To reinforce the mounting of the module 300 relative to the panel 701, the tray receiving module 136a that is adjacent the module 300 covers the lip 308 of the module 300. In particular, as the module 136a is slid downward (in the direction of the arrow 720) along the frame members 703 into a locked position with respect to the frame members 703, the bottom of the module 136a slides over and covers the lip 308 while, in some examples, also abutting the lip 308. Subsequently, the tray receiving module 136b can be slid downward into locked position above and abutting the tray receiving module 136a.

[0172] FIG. 36 is a perspective view of another example of a component support module 800 that can be used in any of the systems of the present disclosure. The module 800 is of identical construction to the component support module 300 described above, except that the module 800 also includes, integrally formed therewith, pairs of clip arms 802 for securing a fiber pick 804. The fiber pick 804 can be useful in routing and organizing optical fibers in one of the fiber management systems described herein. Typically, a cover will be used to cover the module 602 described above, and such a cover includes structures for mounting a fiber pick. However, due to the small, compact size of the component support module 800, a cover is not needed and / or not supportable. Thus, it can be advantageous to mount a fiber pick 804 directly to the module 800 using clip arms 802.

[0173] Referring now to FIGS. 37-46, a further example optical fiber management system 900 will be described. The system 900 can provide one or more advantages over existing fiber management systems, such as improved compactness of component arrangements, smaller profile and / or lower weight of individual components, and / or greater ease in assembling, adjusting and / or disassembling component arrangements.

[0174] The system 900 includes a base 902 to which other fiber management components and component arrangements are mounted. The base can be associated with any type of optical fiber distribution hardware, such as a panel, a drawer, a cabinet, a closure, and the like. In the depicted example, the base 902 is a housing piece of a sealable and re-enterable closure. For example, the closure can include a cover similar to the housing piece 704 described above that hingedly couples to the housing piece 902 (via hinge structure 908) and allows for an interior closure volume 903 defined by the housing pieces to be selectively closed (e.g., in an environmentally sealed fashioned) and opened to manage optical fibers within the interior closure volume 903. Such closures can be typically found mounted to a surface inside a structure, such as mounted to a wall inside of a building. For instance, fasteners can be inserted through holes defined by tabs 905 of the housing piece 902 to secure the closure to a surface or another structure (e.g., a column, a pole, and the like).

[0175] Many different types of optical fiber management components can be mounted within the closure volume 903. Such components can include, for instance, cable fixation and termination components, fiber routing components, fiber splicing components, signal splitting components, wave division multiplexers, fiber indexing components, fiber slack storage components (e.g., spools, fiber guides) fiber optic adapters that receive and optically couple connectorized ends of optical fibers, optical fiber breakouts, optical fiber management trays for managing such things as splices, fiber slack storage, fiber optic adapters and signal splitting components, and the like.

[0176] Fiber optic cables (e.g., feeder cables and drop cables) can enter the closure volume 903 through various ports 909 defined by different sides (e.g., three or more sides) of the housing piece 902 or cable port defining modules that are received in pockets 907 of the housing piece 902. Such ports can form seals around the cable jackets as the cables pass through into the closure volume 903. Within the closure volume 903, the ends of the cables are fixed to the housing piece 902 with cable fixation components, and their optical fibers are routed to and managed by the various fiber management components stationed within the closure volume 903.

[0177] In the depicted example, the equipment secured relative to the housing piece 902 and within the closure volume 903 includes adapter holders 910 and a fiber management assembly 920.

[0178] The adapter holders 910 are secured directly to the housing piece 902 with fasteners that extend through bases 912 of the adapter holders 910 into fastener receivers 914 defined by bosses 911 unitarily formed with the housing piece 902 at the intersections of ribs 913 projecting from an interior rear surface 917 of the housing piece 902. The ribs 913 form one or more grids 915 of ribs 913 projecting forward from the rear surface 917. The grids 915 include the bosses 911 that define the fastener receivers 914.

[0179] The adapter holders 910 hold adapter modules 916 that, in turn, hold adapters 918. The adapters 918 each receive pairs of connectors 919 from opposite ends of the adapter and thereby optical couple the connectorized fibers terminated at the connectors 919.

[0180] The assembly 920 includes a stack of the optical fiber management trays 128, one or more of the tray receiving modules 136 pivotally holding the trays 128, frame members 922 and 924, frame member adapters 930, the component support module 300, one or more tube holding modules 400 secured to the component support module 300 as described above, and fasteners. An example fastener 990, several of which can be used to build the assembly 920, is shown schematically in FIG. 54. Referring to FIGS. 47-50, the frame members 922 and 924 are each of unitary plastic construction and are mirror images of each other. A pair of frame members 922 and 924 can directly hold, e.g., four or more modules, such as three tray receiving modules 136 and one component support module 300.

[0181] The frame members 922 and 924 include slots 184, projections 186, and tabs 188. To mount a tray receiving module 136 or a component support module 300 to a pair of frame members 922 and 924, the back of the module 136, 300 is placed against the fronts of the pair of frame members 922 and 924 and slid downward (as indicated by the arrows 189 at the front of the module 136), until the hooks 164 are securely received in the slots 184 of the pair of frame members 922 and 924, the catches 168 receive the tabs 188 of the pair of frame members 922 and 924, and the projections 186 of the pair of frame members are snappingly received in the pockets of the rounded receivers 166. By engagement of the three different types of pairs of coupling structures, the module 136, 300 is thereby secured directly to the pair of frame members 922 and 924 without any fasteners.

[0182] The frame members 922 and 924 include channel defining structures 932 and 934 that are complementary to channel defining structures of the modules 136 and 300 to thereby form complete fiber guiding channels.

[0183] In some examples, the assembly can be constructed with the frame modules 170 and 172 and the channel adjusting modules 178 as described above, in place of the frame members 922 and 924. It will be appreciated that the frame members 922 and 924 can also be considered types of modules as that term is used herein.

[0184] Referring to Figures 51-53, each frame member adapter 930 can be of unitary plastic construction. Each frame member adapter 930 includes an adapter body 940. The adapter body 940 defines recesses 942, 944, and 946. The recesses 942, 944, 946 are positioned to be aligned with one or more through holes 929 of a frame member 922, 924. In this manner, fasteners can extend through the holes 929 and extend through (e.g., by piercing) the rear surfaces of the recesses 942, 944, 946 to secure with the fasteners the frame members 922, 924 to the frame member adapters 930. The body 940 also includes at the rear of the body 940 bosses 950 that define through holes 951. Projecting rearward from the bosses 950 are prongs 952. The prongs 952 are configured to interface with and grip the exterior surfaces of the bosses 911 of the base 902.

[0185] Fasteners can be inserted through the through holes 951 and into the bosses 911 to directly secure the adapters 930 to the base 902.

[0186] The bodies 940 also include notches 948 and detents 960. The notches 948 and detents 960 are configured to receive complementary structures of the frame members 922, 924 and / or the frame modules 170 and 172 to help align and / or stabilize the frame members or frame modules with the adapters 930.

[0187] To assemble the system 900, two of the adapters 930 of identical construction are secured directly and with fasteners, as described above, to the housing piece 902 within the closure volume 903. Then the frame members 922, 924 (or frame modules 170 and 172) are secured directly and with fasteners, as described above, to the adapter 930. In some examples, the frame members 922, 924 (or frame modules 170, 172) are secured to the adapters 930 before the adapters 930 are secured to the closure. In some examples, the fasteners used to secure the frame members or frame modules to the adapters are along and aligned to extend into other bosses 911 of the housing piece 902 to further secure the assembly to the housing piece 902.

[0188] Thereafter, the module 300 is secured without fasteners and in the manner described above, to the bottoms of the frame members 922, 924, or the bottom set of frame modules 170, 172. Then, the modules 136 are mounted one by one and without fasteners and in the manner described above, to the frame members 922, 924, or other sets of frame modules 170, 172, starting with the module 136 that is closest to the module 300 and covers a portion of the module 300 (as described above), and working upward. Thereafter, the trays 128 can be pivotally mounted to the modules 136.

[0189] Advantageously, the adapters 930 create a spacing or clearance 970 between the grid 915 and the frame members 922, 924 (or frame modules 170, 172). The adapters include recessed pockets 971 positioned within the clearance 970. The pockets 971 are configured to receive and accommodate, e.g., the hooks 164 of the mating interfaces of the modules 136 and 300 when those modules are securely mounted to the frame members or frame modules. Without the adapters 930, structural components of the housing piece 902 could interfere with proper, direct securing of the modules 136 and 300 to the frame members or frame modules.

[0190] FIG. 57 is a front, planar view of another example optical fiber management system 1000 according to the present disclosure. FIG. 58 is a perspective view of the system 1000 of FIG. 57. FIG. 59 is a further perspective view of the system 1000 of FIG. 57.

[0191] Referring to FIGS. 57-59, the system 1000 can provide one or more advantages over existing fiber management systems, such as improved compactness of component arrangements, smaller profile and / or lower weight of individual components, and / or greater ease in assembling, adjusting and / or disassembling component arrangements. For example, the system 1000 and increase the fiber splice capacity and organization by increasing the number of optical fiber management trays that can be supported within the closure volume 903 defined in part by the base 902. Because there are more fiber management trays, there is greater ability to organize optical fibers on different trays one from another.

[0192] The system 1000 includes the base 902 to which other fiber management components and component arrangements are mounted. The base can be associated with any type of optical fiber distribution hardware, such as a panel, a drawer, a cabinet, a closure, and the like. In the depicted example, the base 902 is a housing piece of a sealable and re-enterable closure. For example, the closure can include a cover similar to the housing piece 704 described above that hingedly couples to the housing piece 902 and allows for an interior closure volume 903 defined by the housing pieces to be selectively closed (e.g., in an environmentally sealed fashioned) and opened to manage optical fibers within the interior closure volume 903.

[0193] Many different types of optical fiber management components can be mounted within the closure volume 903. Such components can include, for instance, cable fixation and termination components, fiber routing components, fiber splicing components, signal splitting components, wave division multiplexers, fiber indexing components, fiber slack storage components (e.g., spools, fiber guides) fiber optic adapters that receive and optically couple connectorized ends of optical fibers, optical fiber breakouts, optical fiber management trays for managing such things as splices, fiber slack storage, fiber optic adapters and signal splitting components, and the like.

[0194] Fiber optic cables (e.g., feeder cables and drop cables) can enter the closure volume 903 through various ports defined by different sides (e.g., three or more sides) of the housing piece 902 or cable port defining modules that are received in pockets of the housing piece 902 as described above. Within the closure volume 903, the ends of the cables are fixed to the housing piece 902 with cable fixation components, and then- optical fibers are routed to and managed by the various fiber management components stationed within the closure volume 903.

[0195] The system 1000 extends from a top 1003 to a bottom 1005 along an axis 1002. The system 1000 extends from a left side 1007 to a right side 1009 along another axis 1001. The axes 1002 and 1001 are perpendicular to each other. The system 1000 extends from a front to a back along an axis that is perpendicular to the plane of the page in FIG. 57 and is perpendicular to each of the axes 1002 and 1001.

[0196] The system 1000 includes a first set 1012 of optical fiber management trays 1010 and a second set 1014 of optical fiber management trays 1010. The sets 1012 and 1014 define two side-by-side columns of the trays 1010. Each column is a stack of trays 1010. The trays are pivotally mounted to tray receiving modules 1100 of the system 1000. The pivotability allows a technician to access different ones of the trays in a given set. Each tray 1010 provides similar functionality and similar structural features as the tray 128 described above, with the tray 1010 differing from the tray 128 primarily in its shape, size and splice capacity. However, due to the two stacks of trays 1010, the overall splice capacity of the system 1000 is significantly greater than the overall splice capacity of the system 900, for example, even though each individual tray 1010 may have less splice capacity than an individual tray 128.

[0197] The system 1000 defines three fiber guide channels 1004, 1006 and 1008. These three channels are configured to guide optical fibers to different, selectable trays 1010 in the stacks 1012 and 1014. Toward the bottom of the system 1000, the optical fibers can be routed into the bottoms of the channels 1004, 1006, 1008 from a module 1200 positioned below the bottommost of the modules 1100. The module 1200 can include tube holding structures for holding tubes containing the optical fibers. The guide channels 1004 and 1006 are formed by the modules 1100 and the frame members 922 and 924. The guide channel 1008 is formed by the modules 1200 alone.

[0198] The guide channel 1004 is a left guide channel at the left side of the modules 1200 and positioned to the left of the left set 1012 of trays 1010. The guide channel 1006 is a right guide channel at the right side of the modules 1200 and positioned to the right of the right set 1014 of trays 1010.

[0199] The guide channel 1008 is a middle channel positioned between the left set 1012 of trays 1010 (i.e., to the right of the left set 1012) and the right set 1014 of trays 1010 (i.e., to the left of the right set 1014). The guide channel 1008 is a common fiber guide channel that can be used to route optical fibers onto trays 1010 (via the trays’ fiber entryways 1011 on both the left set and right set of trays).

[0200] Referring to FIGS. 57-61, the system 1000 includes eight of the modules 1100 mounted to the housing piece 902 by snap connection of the modules 1100 to the frame members 922 and 924. The frame members 922 and 924 are in turn mounted to adapters, which are connected directly to the housing piece 902, as described above. The eight modules 1100 are stacked one atop another in a stack of the modules 1100.

[0201] The bottommost of the modules 1100 abuts the module 1200 and covers the protruding lips of the module 1200 in similar fashion to the modules 136 and 300 described above. In this example, the module 1200 is also mounted by snap connection to the frame members 922 and 924.

[0202] To the module 1200 are mounted three of the tube holding modules 400. Each tube holding module 400 is aligned parallel to the axis 1002 with a different one of the channels 1004, 1006, 1008. Thus, for example, the middle tube holding module 400 is aligned, parallel to the axis 1002 with the middle channel 1008, such that optical fibers emerging from tubes held by the middle tube holding module 400 can be routed directly into the middle channel 1008. Similarly, the lefthand tube holding module is aligned, parallel to the axis 1002 with the left channel 1004, such that optical fibers emerging from tubes held by the lefthand tube holding module 400 can be routed directly into the left channel 1004. Similarly, the righthand tube holding module is aligned, parallel to the axis 1002 with the righthand channel 1006, such that optical fibers emerging from tubes held by the righthand tube holding module 400 can be routed directly into the right channel 1006. The three tube holding modules 400 are mounted to three discrete mounting structures of the module 1200.

[0203] In some examples, a maximum width of the module 1200 parallel to the axis 1001 is equal or substantially equal (e.g., within 10 percent, or within 5 percent, or within 2 percent or within 1 percent), of the maximum width of a module 1100 parallel to the axis 1001.

[0204] Referring now to FIGS. 62-66, a tray receiving module 1100 will be described.

[0205] In some examples, the module 1100 is of unitary, seamless construction, with all structural features of the module 1100 being formed in a single mold. In some examples, the module 1100 is constructed of plastic.

[0206] The module 1100 includes a body 1101. The body 1101 defines a first axis 1122 extending from a left side 1107 of the body 1101 to a right side 1109 of the body 1101, and a second axis 1120 extending from a top 1103 of the body 1101 to a bottom 1105 of the body 1101. The axes 1120 and 1122 are perpendicular to each other. The body 1101 includes a first set 1116 of structures 142, 144, 146 configured to receive and pivotally hold a first set of optical fiber management trays 1010 (e.g., by receiving the trays’ hinge pins and positioning shafts), as described above. The body 1101 includes a second set 1118 of second of structures 142, 144, 146 configured to receive and pivotally hold a second set of optical fiber management trays 1010 (e.g., by receiving the trays’ hinge pins and positioning shafts), as described above.

[0207] The first set 1116 of structures is to the left of the second set 1118 of structures such that the first set of optical fiber management trays 1010 is to the left of the second set of optical fiber management trays 1010 when the first set of optical fiber management trays and the second set of optical fiber management trays are pivotally held by the first set of structures and the second set of structures, respectively.

[0208] Pivot axes of the first set of optical fiber management trays 1010 and the second set of optical fiber management trays 1010 are parallel to the axis 1122 when the first set of optical fiber management trays and the second set of optical fiber management trays are pivotally held by the first set of structures and the second set of structures, respectively. The module 1100 defines a left fiber guide channel 1110, a middle fiber guide channel 112 and a right fiber guide channel 1114. The left channel 1110 corresponds to the left channel 1004. The middle channel 1112 corresponds to the middle channel 1008. The right channel 1114 corresponds to the right channel 1006.

[0209] It should be appreciated that the term “middle” can mean, but need not mean, that the middle channel is centered on the body 1101.

[0210] The middle channel 1112 is defined by middle fiber guide channel fingers 1106 and 1108 of the module 1100. The fingers 1106 and 1108 extend from fixed ends 1130 of the middle fiber guide channel fingers 1106, 1108 on the body 1101 to free ends 1132 of the middle fiber guide channel fingers 1106, 1108. The middle fiber guide channel fingers 1106 and 1108 are positioned to the right of the first set 1116 of structures and to the left of the second set 1118 of structures to define, together with the planar surface 1128 of the body 1101, the middle fiber guide channel 1112 of the module 1100. The channel 112 is between the first set 1116 of structures and the second set 1118 of structures.

[0211] The module 1100 includes first fingers 1102 extending to the left from fixed ends 1134 of the first fingers 1102 to free ends 1136 of the first fingers 1102. The first fingers 1102 extend from the left side 1107 of the body 1101 and define the left fiber guide channel 1110 of the module 1100. The first fingers 1102 are to the left of the first set 1116 of structures.

[0212] The module 1100 includes second fingers 1104 extending to the right from fixed ends 1138 of the second fingers 1104 to free ends 1140 of the second fingers 1104. The second fingers 1104 extend from the right side 1109 of the body 1101 and define the right fiber guide channel 1114 of the module 1100. The second fingers 1104 are to the right of the second set 1118 of structures.

[0213] In the depicted example, one of the middle fiber guide channel fingers 1106 extends to the right from its fixed end 1130 to its free end 1132. The other middle fiber guide channel finger 1108 extends to the left from its fixed end 1130 to its free end 1132. As a result, in the system 1000, the middle fiber guide channels alternate parallel to the axis 1002 between extending to the right and extending to the left. In the depicted example, the fixed end 1130 of the middle fiber guide channel finger 1106 is to the left of the fixed end 1130 of the middle fiber guide channel finger 1008, while the free end 1132 of the middle fiber guide channel finger 1106 is to the right of the free end 1132 of the middle fiber guide channel finger 1108.

[0214] Each of these features of the fingers 1106 and 1108, independently and / or in combination, can advantageously facilitate the middle channel 1112 serving as a common channel from which optical fibers can be routed easily to trays in both sets of trays on opposite sides of the middle channel 1112. Optical fibers can be routed to trays on either side of the middle channel 1112 via fiber guiding structures 1150, 1152 positioned on each of the left side and right side of the channel 1112 and between the tray receiving structures. While the channels 1110, 1112 and 1114 generally define guide pathways parallel to the axis 1002, the fiber guiding structures 1150, 1152 generally define guide pathways parallel to the axis 1001.

[0215] On the back of the module 1100, the body 1101 includes the mounting features 164, 166, 168 for mounting the module to a surface (e.g., a surface of a frame member 922, 924) by sliding into snap connection, as further described herein.

[0216] A maximum dimension of the module 1100 parallel to the axis 1120 is shorter than the corresponding dimension of the module 136, while a maximum dimension of the module 1100 parallel to the axis 1122 is longer than the corresponding dimension of the module 136. Comparing the modules 136 and 1100, they are each configured to receive and pivotally hold up to eight optical fiber management trays, with the module 136 being configured to hold up to eight trays in a single set of trays, whereas the module 1100 is configured to hold up to eight trays in two sets of side-by- side trays each including up to four trays.

[0217] Referring to FIGS. 67-69, a module 1200 will be described. The module 1200 includes three of the component receivers 302, two of the protruding lips 308, two of the tray stack supports 306 with supports surfaces 310, and four arrangements 304 of fiber guides. These features are configured to function as described above with reference to the module 300.

[0218] Each of the three component receivers 302 is aligned, parallel to the axis 1002, with one of the fiber guide channels of the system 1000, allowing emerging fibers anchored to modules mounted to the receivers 302 to be guided into the corresponding fiber guide channel and then to a desired tray. The three component receivers 302 are aligned with one another parallel to the axis 1004.

[0219] Each tray stack support 306 is configured to support, on its surface 310, one of the two sets of trays when they trays are pivoted down.

[0220] The middle two of the four arrangements 304 are positioned between the two protruding lips 308 and aligned to guide fibers emerging from a component mounted to the middle of the three component receivers 301 in the middle channel of one or more of the modules 1200.

[0221] The bottommost of the modules 1100 in the system 1000 can cover the protruding lips 308, which can help stabilize the module 1200 on the frame members 922 and 924.

[0222] Like the module 1100, the module 1200 includes the mounting features 164, 166, 168 at the back of the module 1200 for mounting the module to a surface (e.g., a surface of a frame member 922, 924) by sliding those features into snap connection, as further described herein. Thus, like the module 1100, the module 1200 is configured to be mounted directly to frame members 922, 924 without any fasteners.

[0223] In some examples, the module 1200 is plastic and of unitary, seamless construction, including all of its structural features.

[0224] FIG. 70 illustrates another example optical fiber management system 1300 according to the present disclosure and an optical fiber routing example that can be performed thereon.

[0225] The system 1300 includes one or more of the modules 1100 and another module 1301 positioned atop the topmost of the modules 1100. The module 1301 can have structures to which can be secured fiber management components such as signal splitter modules 1304. In this manner, such fiber management components need not be secured to the (relatively smaller) optical fiber management trays 1010 or to another location within the relatively small closure volume 903. Thus, efficient use of space within the closure volume 903 can be increased. Optical fibers can be routed to and from such fiber management components from and to one or more trays 1010 or other management components within the closure. The module 1301 includes curved fiber guides 1302 that define different fiber guide pathways above the modules 1100. The pathways can be used for routing optical fibers from the middle fiber guide channel to the left fiber guide channel and the right fiber guide channel without first routing the optical fibers to any optical fiber management trays. Similarly, the pathways can be used for routing other optical fibers from the left fiber guide channel to the right fiber guide channel and from the right fiber guide channel to the left fiber guide channel without first routing the other optical fibers in the middle fiber guide channel.

[0226] Fibers can also be routed via the pathways defined by the fiber guides 1302 from a tray in one of the sets of trays to a tray in another of the sets of trays. The example fiber pathway 1306 is along the left fiber routing channel to one of the splitter modules 1304 and then, via the middle channel, to a tray supported on the right side of the middle channel.

[0227] The system 1300 provides great versatility in possible routing pathways of optical fibers between different components of the system.

[0228] Referring to FIGS. 71-72 the module 1400 is a further example of the module 1301. That is, the module 1400 can provide the same functionality as the module 1301.

[0229] The module 1400 includes a body 1402. The body 1402 includes a first plate 1404 and a second plate 1406. The second plate 1406 extends from the first plate 1404 at an angle 1409. The angle 1409 can be any angle from about 10 degrees to about 100 degrees. In some examples, the angle 1409 is a right angle. In some examples, the angle 1409 is an oblique angle. In some examples, the angle 1409 is between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees.

[0230] The first plate 1404 is formed on a portion of the body 1402 that is identical to the module 1100 except that instead of being structurally configured to pivotally support fiber management trays (like the module 1100), the first plate 1404 includes mounting structure 1408. Each mounting structure 1408 includes two T-shaped openings and a flexible lock arm. Each mounting structure 1408 is configured to receive complementary mounting protrusions of a fiber management module in sliding, dovetail fashion to lock the fiber management module to a desired one of the mounting structure 1408 and, thereby to lock the fiber management module to the body 1402. The fiber management module can be, e.g., a splitter module 1304.

[0231] In addition, the angled plate 1406 includes mounting structures 1408 for selectively mounting fiber management modules, such as one or more splitter modules 1304, to the angled plate 1406.

[0232] The first plate 1404 includes many of the same fiber routing structures and left, middle and right channel forming structures as the module 1100. Thus, the module 1400 allows gentle fiber routing between the left channel, the right channel and the middle channel via a splitter mounted to the first plate 1404.

[0233] In addition, because of the angle 1409, gentle routing of fibers from one channel to another via a splitter mounted to the second plate 1406 can also be achieved without the second plate 1406 requiring any additional fiber routing structures. That is, the angling of the second plate 1406 relative to the first plate 1404 serves as fiber routing structures, such as the fiber guides 1302.

[0234] More specifically, in some examples, the pathways formed by the fiber routing guides of the first plate 1404 and the angling of the second plate 1406 can be used for routing optical fibers from the middle fiber guide channel to the left fiber guide channel and the right fiber guide channel without first routing the optical fibers to any optical fiber management trays. Similarly, the pathways can be used for routing other optical fibers from the left fiber guide channel to the right fiber guide channel and from the right fiber guide channel to the left fiber guide channel without first routing the other optical fibers in the middle fiber guide channel.

[0235] Fibers can also be routed via the pathways defined by the fiber guides and plate angling from a tray in one of the sets of trays to a tray in another of the sets of trays in manners similar to those described in FIG. 70.

[0236] Referring to FIGS. 73-74 the module 1500 is a further example embodiment of the module 1301. That is, the module 1500 can provide the same functionality as the module 1301 and the module 1400. The module 1500 is identical to the module 1400, except that the module 1400 does not include the second plate 1406. Thus, the module 1500 allows gentle routing of optical fibers from one channel to another, without passing through a tray, and via a fiber management module mounted to a mounting structure 1408.

[0237] The modules 1400 and 1500 provides great versatility in possible routing pathways of optical fibers between different components of the system. The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and application illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a first module and a second module having a mounted configuration in which the first module and the second module are positioned along an axis one atop another on a panel such that the first module and the second module abut each other, the first module and the second module being configured differently from each other, wherein in the mounted configuration, a dimension of the first module parallel to the axis is equal to a dimension of the second module parallel to the axis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module is configured to receive another module that can hold tubes containing optical fibers and the first module is not configured to pivotally receive an optical fiber management tray; and wherein the second module is configured to pivotally receive optical fiber management trays.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module includes intersecting X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways and is not configured to pivotally receive an optical fiber management tray; and wherein the second module is configured to pivotally receive optical fiber management trays.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module is configured to receive another module that can hold tubes containing optical fibers and the first module is not configured to pivotally receive an optical fiber management tray; and wherein the second module includes intersecting X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways and is not configured to pivotally receive an optical fiber management tray.

5. The system of any of claims 1-4, wherein in the mounted configuration at least one of the first module and the second module is riveted to the panel.

6. The system of any of claims 1-5, wherein in the mounted configuration, at least one of the first module and the second module is mounted to one or more frame members that are secured to the panel.

7. A system for routing optical fibers, comprising: a first module having a first elongate dimension; and a second module having a second elongate dimension and configured differently from the first module and defining optical fiber routing pathways configured to guide optical fibers from the second module to the first module, wherein the first module and the second module are configured to interface with each other such that the first elongate dimension and the second elongate dimension abut each other at opposite side portions of the first module and the second module, and such that the first module and the second module are spaced apart from each other at middle portions of the first elongate dimension and the second elongate dimension, the middle portions being between the opposite side portions.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the middle portion of the first elongate dimension includes a lip that extends into a gap between the first module and the second module when the first module and the second module interface with each other.

9. The system of any of claims 7-8, further comprising a third module, the third module being configured to be mounted to the first module, the third module including tube holding structures for holding tubes containing the optical fibers.

10. The system of any of claims 7-9, wherein the first module does not include any structures that define a S-shaped optical fiber routing pathway for routing an optical fiber from side of the first module to an opposite side of the first module.

11. The system of any of claims 7-10, wherein the middle portion of the second elongate dimension defines a pocket configured to receive a finger or a tool for coupling the first module to the second module.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second module includes another pocket opposite the pocket and of identical dimensions to the pocket.

13. The system of any of claims 1-12, wherein the first module includes a plurality of tray receivers configured to receive a plurality of optical fiber management trays such that the plurality of optical fiber management trays can pivot about pivot axes defined by the plurality of tray receivers and such that the plurality of optical fiber management trays can be stacked along a stacking axis that is perpendicular to the pivot axes; and wherein the second module defines optical fiber routing pathways for guiding the optical fibers off the second module in a direction generally parallel to the pivot axes when the first module and the second module interface with each other.

14. The system of claim 1-13, wherein the optical fiber routing pathways include optical fiber routing pathways that intersect each other forming an X-shape.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the optical fiber routing pathways are configured to route optical fibers extending onto the second module from above the second module and from below the second module.

16. The system of any of claims 7-15, wherein the second module is not symmetrical about any reference line.

17. The system of any of claims 7-16, wherein the second module includes an alignment tab and an alignment notch for interfacing, respectively, with an alignment notch and an alignment tab of another module of identical construction to the second module.

18. The system of any of claims 7- 17, wherein the first module and the second module are attached to a panel of a cabinet and interfaced with each other.

19. The system of any of claims 7-18, wherein the first module and the second module are attached to a panel of a cabinet and interfaced with each other; and wherein the first module is mounted to frame members that are secured to the panel and the second module is riveted directly to the panel.

20. The system of any of claims 7-19, wherein the first module does not include any drum-like structures.

21. The system of any of claims 7-20, wherein when the second module and the first module interface with each other, a dimension of the first module parallel to the stacking axis is equal to a dimension of the second module parallel to the stacking axis.

22. The system of claim 13, further comprising the plurality of optical fiber management trays pivotally received in the plurality of tray receivers.

23. A method of routing optical fibers on telecommunications equipment mounted to a panel, the telecommunications equipment including a first column of tray receiving modules mounted to the panel and a second column of tray receiving modules mounted to the panel and side by side with the first column of tray receiving modules, the tray receiving modules of the first column and of the second column receiving a plurality of optical fiber management trays that pivot relative to the tray receiving modules, the telecommunications equipment including a pair of fiber routing modules abutting each other and defining intersecting X-shaped fiber routing pathways, a first of the pair of fiber routing modules abutting the first column of tray receiving modules and a second of the pair of fiber routing modules abutting the second column of the tray receiving modules, the method comprising:routing an optical fiber via both of the pair of fiber routing modules onto one of the tray receiving modules of the second column without routing the optical fiber via any of the tray receiving modules of the first column.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the telecommunications equipment includes a tube holding module mounted to the panel and abutting the first of the pair of fiber routing modules, wherein the optical fiber emerges from an end of a tube held by the tube holding module.

25. The method of any of claims 23-24, further comprising: routing the optical fiber onto one of the plurality of optical fiber management trays pivotally received by the one of the tray receiving modules.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the optical fiber extends to a splitter mounted to the one of the plurality of optical fiber management trays.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the optical fiber is spliced to another optical fiber at a splice that is held on the one of the plurality of optical fiber management trays.

28. A method of mounting optical fiber management modules to a panel, comprising: positioning a module of a first type on the panel; and sliding a module of a second type along the panel until the module of the second type snappingly locks relative to the panel and covers a portion of the module of the first type, the module of the first type and the module of the second type being configured differently from each other.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the sliding causes the module of the second type to snappingly lock to one or more frame members secured to the panel.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the one or more frame members are riveted to the panel.

31. The method of any of claims 28-30, wherein the module of the first type is configured to receive another module that can hold tubes containing optical fibers; and wherein the module of the first type does not include any structures that define a S-shaped optical fiber routing pathway for routing an optical fiber from one side of the module to an opposite side of the module.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the module of the second type is configured to pivotally receive optical fiber management trays.

33. The method of claim 31 , wherein a dimension of the module of the first type parallel to a direction of the sliding is equal to a corresponding dimension of the module of the second type parallel to the direction of the sliding.

34. A device for managing optical fibers, comprising: a module configured to be mounted to a panel, wherein the module includes structures configured to hold a holding module that is configured to hold adapters for receiving optical fiber connectors or tubes containing optical fibers; wherein the module does not include any structures that define a S-shaped optical fiber routing pathway for routing an optical fiber from one side of the module to another side of the module; and wherein an outermost perimeter of the module defines a lip configured to abut the panel and to be covered by another module when the another module is mounted to the panel.

35. The device of claim 34, further comprising another module configured to be mounted to the panel, the another module including:intersecting X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways; and tabs extending from walls that define the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways, the tabs being configured to retain optical fibers within the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways.

36. A system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a first module and a second module of identical construction, the first module and the second module being configured to be mounted side by side to a panel, each of the first module and the second module including intersecting X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways, wherein, when the first module and the second module are mounted side by side to the panel, divergent portions of the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways of the first module are aligned and continuous with divergent portions of the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways of the second module only when an orientation of the second module is rotated 180 degrees relative to an orientation of the first module.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein each of the first module and the second module includes fingers that define optical fiber guide channels; and wherein convergent portions of the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways are positioned within the optical fiber guide channels.

38. The system of any of claims 36-37, wherein each of the first module and the second module includes tabs extending from walls that define the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways, the tabs being configured to retain optical fibers within the X- shaped optical fiber routing pathways.

39. The system of any of claims 36-38, wherein each of the first module and the second module defines opposing receivers configured to receive portions of other modules that are configured differently from the first module and the second module.

40. The system of any of claims 36-39, wherein each of the first module and the second module includes an alignment notch positioned at an end of one of the divergent portions and an alignment tab positioned at an end of the other of the divergent portions; and wherein, when the first module and the second module are mounted side by side to the panel and the orientation of the second module is rotated 180 degrees relative to the orientation of the first module, the alignment tab of the first module is received in the alignment notch of the second module and the alignment tab of the second module is received in the alignment notch of the first module.

41. The system of nay of claims 36-40, wherein each of the first module and the second module defines exactly zero lines of symmetry.

42. A method of managing optical fibers, comprising: mounting a first module to a panel; and mounting a second module of identical construction to the first module to the panel such that: an orientation of the second module is rotated 180 degrees relative to an orientation of the first module; and divergent portions of X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways of the first module are aligned and continuous with divergent portions of X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways of the second module.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising: inserting an alignment tab of the first module in an alignment notch of the second module; and inserting an alignment tab of the second module in an alignment notch of the first module.

44. The method of any of claims 42-43, wherein each of the first module and the second module defines exactly zero lines of symmetry.

45. A device for managing optical fibers, comprising: a module configured to be mounted to a panel, the module including: intersecting X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways; and tabs extending from walls that define the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways, the tabs being configured to retain optical fibers within the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways, wherein the module defines exactly zero lines of symmetry.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the module includes a receiver configured to receive a portion of another module that is configured differently from the module.

47. The device of any of claims 45-46, wherein the module includes fingers that define optical fiber guide channels; and wherein convergent portions of the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways are positioned within the optical fiber guide channels.

48. The device of any of claims 45-47, wherein the module defines opposing receivers configured to receive portions of other modules that are configured differently from the module.

49. The device of any of claims 45-48, wherein the module includes an alignment notch positioned at an end of a divergent portion of one of the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways and an alignment tab positioned at an end of a divergent portion of another of the X-shaped optical fiber routing pathways.

50. The device of any of claims 45-49, further comprising: another module configured to be mounted to the panel,wherein the another module includes structures configured to hold a holding module that is configured to hold adapters for receiving optical fiber connectors or tubes containing optical fibers; wherein the another module does not include any structures that define a S- shaped optical fiber routing pathway for routing an optical fiber from one side of the another module to another side of the another module; and wherein an outermost perimeter of the another module defines a lip configured to abut the panel and to be covered by a third module when the third module is mounted to the panel.

51. A method of managing optical fibers, comprising: mounting a first module to a panel; and mounting a second module of different construction to the first module to the panel such that the first module and the second module abut each other, the mounting including inserting a tool or a finger within a pocket defined by the first module.

52. The method of claim 51 , further comprising removing the second module from the panel, including inserting a tool or a finger within the pocket.

53. The device of any of claims 34 or 35, wherein the module includes structures for securing a fiber pick directly on the module.

54. The device of claim 53, including the fiber pick.

55. The system of claim 1 , further comprising: frame members; frame member adapters; and a box defining an interior of the box, the box including a box housing piece, the box housing piece including box mounting structures positioned within the interior of the box,wherein the frame member adapters are secured with first fasteners directly to the box mounting structures within the interior of the box; wherein the frame members are secured directly to the frame member adapters with second fasteners; and wherein at least one of the first module and the second is secured to the frame members without any fasteners.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein in the at least one of the first module and the second module is secured to the frame members by an interfacing of hooks, rounded receivers, and catches of the at least one of the first module and the second module with complementary structures of the frame members.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the frame member adapters define pockets positioned between the frame members and the box housing piece; and wherein the hooks are received in the pockets.

58. The system of any of claims 55-57, wherein the frame member adapters are of identical construction one to another.

59. The system of any of claims 55-58, wherein two of the frame members are mirror images of each another.

60. The system of any of claims 55-59, wherein the frame member adapters include prongs that interface with bosses of the box mounting structures.

61. A system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a base including base mounting structures; a module configured to receive and pivotally hold a plurality of optical fiber management trays; frame members; andframe member adapters, wherein the frame member adapters are configured to be secured with fasteners directly to the base mounting structures; wherein the frame members are configured to be secured directly to the frame member adapters with fasteners; and wherein the module is configured to be secured directly to the frame members without any fasteners.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the frame member adapters are secured to the base mounting structures with first fasteners; wherein the frame members are secured directly to the base mounting structures with second fasteners; and wherein the module is secured directly to the frame members without any fasteners.

63. The system of any of claims 61-62, further comprising the plurality of optical fiber management trays pivotally held by the module.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the module is secured directly to the frame members by an interfacing of hooks, rounded receivers, and catches of the module with complementary structures of the frame members.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the frame member adapters define pockets positioned between the frame members and the box housing piece; and wherein the hooks are received in the pockets.

66. The system of any of claims 61-65, wherein the frame member adapters are of identical construction one to another.

67. The system of any of claims 61-66, wherein two of the frame members are mirror images of each another.

68. The system of any of claims 61-67, wherein the frame member adapters include prongs that interface with bosses of the box mounting structures.

69. The system of any of claims 61-68, further comprising channel adjusting modules adjustably coupled to the frame members.

70. The system of any of claims 61-69, wherein the base is a portion of a housing piece of a sealable and re-enterable box.

71. The system of any of claims 61-70, further comprising another module configured to be mounted directly to the frame members without any fasteners, wherein the another module includes structures configured to hold a holding module that is configured to hold adapters for receiving optical fiber connectors or tubes containing optical fibers; and wherein an outermost perimeter of the another module defines a lip configured to be covered by the module when the module and the another module are mounted directly to the frame members.

72. The system of claim 71 , wherein the another module does not include any structures that define a S-shaped optical fiber routing pathway for routing an optical fiber from one side of the another module to another side of the another module.

73. A system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a base including base mounting structures; a module configured to receive and pivotally hold a plurality of optical fiber management trays; frame members; andframe member adapters, wherein the frame member adapters are secured with first fasteners directly to the base mounting structures; wherein the frame members are secured directly to the frame member adapters with second fasteners; wherein the module is secured directly to the frame members by an interfacing of hooks, rounded receivers, and catches of the module with complementary structures of the frame members; wherein the frame member adapters define pockets positioned between the frame members and the box housing piece; and wherein the hooks are received in the pockets.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein the module is secured directly to the frame members without any fasteners.

75. A method of managing optical fibers, comprising: a) directly securing frame member adapters to mounting structures of a housing piece of a sealable and re-enterable closure; b) directly securing frame members to the frame member adapters; and c) directly securing to the frame members a module configured to receive and pivotally hold a plurality of optical fiber management trays.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the step a) is performed with first fasteners, the step b) is performed with second fasteners different from the first fasteners, and the step c) is performed without any fasteners.

77. The method of any of claims 75-76, wherein the step a) is performed before the step b).

78. A system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a module, the module including:a body defining a first axis extending from a left side of the body to a right side of the body, and a second axis extending from a top of the body to a bottom of the body, the first axis and the second axis being perpendicular to each other, the body including: a first set of structures configured to receive and pivotally hold a first set of optical fiber management trays; and a second set of structures configured to receive and pivotally hold a second set of optical fiber management trays, the first set of structures being to the left of the second set of structures such that the first set of optical fiber management trays is to the left of the second set of optical fiber management trays when the first set of optical fiber management trays and the second set of optical fiber management trays are pivotally held by the first set of structures and the second set of structures, respectively, pivot axes of the first set of optical fiber management trays and the second set of optical fiber management trays being parallel to the first axis when the first set of optical fiber management trays and the second set of optical fiber management trays are pivotally held by the first set of structures and the second set of structures, respectively; and middle fiber guide channel fingers extending from fixed ends of the middle fiber guide channel fingers on the body to free ends of the middle fiber guide channel fingers, the middle fiber guide channel fingers being positioned to the right of the first set of structures and to the left of the second set of structures to define a middle fiber guide channel of the module that is between the first set of structures and the second set of structures.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the module comprises: first fingers extending to the left from fixed ends of the first fingers to free ends of the first fingers, the first fingers extending from the left side of the body and defining a left fiber guide channel of the module, the first fingers being to the left of the first set of structures; andsecond fingers extending to the right from fixed ends of the second fingers to free ends of the second fingers, the second fingers extending from the right side of the body and defining a right fiber guide channel of the module, the second fingers being to the right of the second set of structures.

80. The system of any of claims 78-79, further comprising a second module, the second module defining curved fiber guide pathways for routing optical fibers from the middle fiber guide channel to the left fiber guide channel and the right fiber guide channel without first routing the optical fibers to any optical fiber management trays.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the second module defines at least one other curved fiber guide pathway for routing other optical fibers from the left fiber guide channel to the right fiber guide channel and from the right fiber guide channel to the left fiber guide channel without first routing the other optical fibers in the middle fiber guide channel.

82. The system of any of claims 80-81, further comprising a signal splitter mounted to the second module.

83. The system of any of claims 78-82, wherein one of the middle fiber guide channel fingers extends to the right from the fixed end of the one of the middle fiber guide channel fingers to the free end of the one of the middle fiber guide channel fingers; and wherein another of the middle fiber guide channel fingers extends to the left from the fixed end of the another of the middle fiber guide channel fingers to the free end of the another of the middle fiber guide channel fingers.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein the fixed end of the one of the middle fiber guide channel fingers is positioned to the left of the fixed end of the another of the middle fiber guide channel fingers.

85. The system of any of claims 83-84, wherein the free end of the one of the middle fiber guide channel fingers is positioned to the right of the free end of the another of the middle fiber guide channel fingers.

86. The system of any of claims 78-85, wherein the middle fiber guide channel is configured to guide optical fibers to a left portion of the module that is left of the middle fiber guide channel and to a right portion of the module that is right of the middle fiber guide channel.

87. The system of any of claims 78-86 wherein the module is mounted in an interior of a box.

88. The system of any of claims 78-86, wherein the module is mounted in an interior of a cabinet.

89. The system of any of claims 78-88, comprising a plurality of modules stacked one atop another, each of the plurality of modules being configured as the module.

90. The system of any of claims 78-89, further comprising two side-by-side columns of optical fiber management trays mounted to the first set of structures and the second set of structures, respectively.

91. The system of any of claims 78-89, further comprising an optical fiber management tray.

92. The system of any of claims 78-91 , further comprising: frame members; and frame member adapters, wherein the frame member adapters are configured to be secured with fasteners directly mounting structures of a panel;wherein the frame members are configured to be secured directly to the frame member adapters with fasteners; and wherein the module is configured to be secured directly to the frame members without any fasteners.

93. The system of any of claims 78-92, further comprising: another module; wherein the another module includes other structures configured to hold holding modules that are configured to hold adapters for receiving optical fiber connectors or tubes containing optical fibers.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein an outermost perimeter of the another module defines a lip configured to be covered by the module when the module and the another module are mounted directly to the frame members.

95. The system of any of claims 93-94, wherein the another module is configured to be mounted directly to frame members without any fasteners.

96. The system of any of claims 93-95, wherein the another module includes three of the other structures arranged side by side one another parallel to the first axis, a middle one of the three of the other structures being positioned to align parallel to the second axis with the middle fiber guide channel when the module and the another module are mounted to a panel.

97. The system of any of claims 78-96, wherein the module is of unitary, seamless construction.

98. The system of any of claims 93-97, wherein a dimension of the module parallel to the first axis is equal to a dimension of the another module parallel to the first axis.

99. A method for managing optical fibers, comprising: pivotally mounting a first tray to a first structure of a module; pivotally mounting a second tray to a second structure of a module, a common fiber guide channel defined by the module being positioned between the first structure and the second structure, the common fiber guide channel being positioned also between the first tray and the second tray; routing a first optical fiber from the common fiber guide channel onto the first tray without first routing it to the second tray; and routing a second optical fiber from the common fiber guide channel onto the second tray without first routing it to the first tray.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the module is of unitary, seamless construction.

101. The method of any of claims 99-100, further comprising securing a splice of the first optical fiber on the first tray and securing a splice of the second optical fiber on the second tray.

102. The method of any of claims 99-101, further comprising routing the first fiber from the first tray to the second tray.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein routing the first fiber from the first tray to the second tray is via the common fiber guide channel.

104. A system for managing optical fibers, comprising: a module having a front and a back, the module including: on the back, mounting features for mounting the module to a surface by snap connection; and on the front:three discrete and mutually parallel fiber routing channels, including a left fiber routing channel, a right fiber routing channel, and a middle fiber routing channel; a first structure positioned between the left fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a first optical fiber management tray; and a second structure positioned between the right fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a second optical fiber management tray, wherein the module is of seamless, unitary construction.

105. The system of claim 104, further comprising the first optical fiber management tray and the second optical fiber management tray.

106. The system of any of claims 104-105, further comprising the surface, wherein the surface is formed on a frame member.

107. The system of any of claims 104-106, wherein the middle fiber routing channel is a common fiber routing channel for trays mounted to the first structure and the second structure.

108. The system of any of claims 104-107, comprising a plurality of modules stacked one atop another and mounted to the surface, each of the modules being configured as the module.

109. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the first module and the second module has a front and a back and includes: on the back, mounting features for mounting the one of the first module and the second module to a surface by snap connection; and on the front:three discrete and mutually parallel fiber routing channels, including a left fiber routing channel, a right fiber routing channel, and a middle fiber routing channel; a first structure positioned between the left fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a first optical fiber management tray; and a second structure positioned between the right fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a second optical fiber management tray.

110. The system of claim 7, wherein one of the first module and the second module has a front and a back and includes: on the back, mounting features for mounting the one of the first module and the second module to a surface by snap connection; and on the front: three discrete and mutually parallel fiber routing channels, including a left fiber routing channel, a right fiber routing channel, and a middle fiber routing channel; a first structure positioned between the left fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a first optical fiber management tray; and a second structure positioned between the right fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a second optical fiber management tray.

111. The system of claim 71 , wherein the module includes: on the back, mounting features for mounting the module to a surface by snap connection; and on the front:three discrete and mutually parallel fiber routing channels, including a left fiber routing channel, a right fiber routing channel, and a middle fiber routing channel; a first structure positioned between the left fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a first optical fiber management tray; and a second structure positioned between the right fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a second optical fiber management tray.

112. The system of claim 73, wherein the module includes: on the back, mounting features for mounting the module to a surface by snap connection; and on the front: three discrete and mutually parallel fiber routing channels, including a left fiber routing channel, a right fiber routing channel, and a middle fiber routing channel; a first structure positioned between the left fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a first optical fiber management tray; and a second structure positioned between the right fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a second optical fiber management tray.

113. A module, comprising: a front and a back, and including: on the back, mounting features for mounting the module to a surface by snap connection; and on the front:three discrete and mutually parallel fiber routing channels, including a left fiber routing channel, a right fiber routing channel, and a middle fiber routing channel; a first structure positioned between the left fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to lockingly mount a fiber management component; and a second structure positioned between the right fiber routing channel and the middle fiber routing channel and configured to receive and pivotally hold a second fiber management component, wherein the module is of seamless, unitary construction.

114. The module of claim 113, further comprising the first fiber management component, wherein the first fiber management component includes a signal splitter.

115. The module of any of claims 113-114 wherein the first structure and the second structure each include a pair of T-shaped openings and a flexible arm.

116. The module of any of claims 113-115, comprising a first plate and a second plate, wherein the second plate is angled relative to the first plate by an angle of at least 10 degrees and less than 90 degrees, wherein one of the first structure and the second structure is formed in the first plate, and wherein the other of the first structure and the second structure is formed in the second plate.

117. The module of any of claims 113-116, comprising a plurality of the module according to claim 104 stacked underneath the module.

118. The system of any of claims 80-82, wherein the second module is the module according to any of claims 113-116.

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