Toolless Fiber Retainer Assembly with Stacking Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic equipment lacks efficient and toolless solutions for attaching and detaching fiber body holders, which limits the capacity for strain relief and flexibility in fiber optic installations, particularly for smaller diameter fibers like 250 µm fibers used in outside plant applications.
Innovation Solution
A fiber optic apparatus with a retainer assembly and attachment feature that allows toolless, removable attachment to mounting surfaces, enabling stacking of additional holders for increased capacity and strain relief, using a bracket with L-shaped sides and a resilient latch for secure attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fiber body holders are used, then fiber strain relief is provided, but attachment and detachment require tools and time
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber body holder employs a dynamic latch mechanism that transitions between locked and unlocked states through simple manual manipulation. The resilient latch member can be deflected to release the fiber body holder from the mounting surface, enabling toolless attachment and detachment while maintaining secure holding during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber body holder incorporates self-aligning features including guide pins that automatically position the holder correctly during attachment. The resilient latch mechanism self-engages with the mounting surface receptacle without requiring external tools or complex alignment procedures, allowing rapid toolless installation.
2Quantity of substance
If fiber body holder capacity is increased, then more fiber strain relief is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber body holder is divided into modular components including a base portion, a retainer assembly with multiple retainers, and a resilient latch mechanism. Each retainer can independently hold a fiber body, allowing the capacity to be increased by adding more retainers to the retainer assembly without fundamentally changing the attachment mechanism or overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber body holder design incorporates universal features that allow a single holder structure to accommodate multiple fiber bodies through the retainer assembly. The same basic holder design can be used for different fiber types and applications by simply configuring the number and arrangement of retainers in the retainer assembly, maintaining simplicity while providing increased capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fiber body holder is made removable, then flexibility and relocation capability are improved, but attachment reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient latch mechanism utilizes elastic deformation of a curved or flexible latch member to create a reliable mechanical engagement. When the latch is deflected during attachment, it flexes to engage with the mounting surface receptacle, and the elastic recovery force maintains a secure locked state that is as reliable as permanent attachments while still allowing easy release when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fiber optic apparatus including a retainer assembly having at least one retainer configured to toollessly, releasably retain a fiber body and or one or more optical fibers is disclosed. An attachment feature may toollesslly, removably attach the retainer assembly to a mounting surface. The at least one retainer is configured to releasably retain the fiber body via mounting bosses on the fiber body. A stacking feature may be configured to removably attach a second retainer assembly to the retainer assembly. The at least one retainer may be configured to releasably retain the one or more optical fibers to strain relief the one of more optical fibers. The mounting surface may be fiber optic equipment. The fiber optic equipment may be a shelf mounted to a chassis in a fiber optic equipment rack.