WO2008017622A1

WO2008017622A1 - Improvements in or relating to optical fibre management

Info

Publication number: WO2008017622A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/057903
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kristof Vastmans
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem Nv; Tyco Electronics Uk Ltd
Priority date: 2006-08-10
Filing date: 2007-07-31
Publication date: 2008-02-14
Also published as: CL2007002309A1; PE20080414A1; TW200827800A; AR062308A1

Abstract

Apparatus for optical fibre management comprising an annular optical fibre organiser (120, 16') for storing length(s) of fibre, and an organiser mounting member (130, 64), the organiser being removably mountable on the said mounting member without use of threaded fasteners and being rotatable to angularly adjust its position on the mounting member.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO OPTICAL FIBRE MANAGEMENT

This invention relates to optical fibre management and in particular concerns a method and apparatus for fibre management in the context of fibre to the home/premises applications (FTT/H/P/X), hereinafter referred to as FTTH.

Fibre to the home (FTTH) concerns the installation of optical fibres in the subscriber loop of telecommunications networks either instead of or to replace twisted copper pairs. At the present time there are two leading technologies for providing high speed access to telecommunications networks from the home or business premises, namely DSL Broadband which utilises existing copper pairs and FTTH. FTTH is on average ten times faster than DSL Broadband and is inherently non- asymmetric in the sense that FTTH network connections operate at substantially the same speed in both directions. Emerging high speed services such as high definition IPTV and the like are driving the requirement for higher speed access and consequently FTTH is emerging as the preferred high speed access technology, particularly for new homes and business premises where there is no existing network infrastructure.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for optical fibre management comprising an annular optical fibre organiser for storing length(s) of fibre, and an organiser mounting member, the organiser being removably mountable on the said mounting member without use of threaded fasteners and being rotatably adjustable on the mounting member. This rotational adjustment of the annular organiser position on the mounting member permits coiling and uncoiling of fibre stored on the organiser to adjust the degree of looseness or tightness of the fibre thereon in order to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction which could otherwise damage the fibre. The rotational adjustment also enables the end(s) of the outgoing fibre(s) to be moved to a pre-determined angular position on the said mounting member, for convenient subsequent access to the end(s) to be connectorised and/or to position the connectorised end(s) in connector holding means associated with the organiser.

This aspect of the invention relates to optical fibre overlength management in general, including, but not limited to, wall plugs for managing incoming and outgoing optical fibre as hereinafter discussed. The rotatably adjustable fibre organiser provides a robust and convenient means for handling fibre overlength when a fixed outlet (connector) position exists, since the installation engineer can readily manipulate the organiser to rotate it on the mounting member, which may be part of an organiser tray, fibre cabinet, fibre distribution frame or the like. For example, it may be desirable to rotate the organiser so that a fibre connector when installed is correctly orientated to face in a particular direction, for instance downwards towards a floor so that any stray laser light escaping from the connector may be also directed downwards in a harmless manner.

The organiser may comprise at least one holder for receiving an optical component, fibre connector, cable splice or the like connected at the end of a respective fibre stored on the said organiser, and wherein said angular position of said connector is adjustable with respect to said mounting member by rotation of said organiser.

Preferably, said organiser comprises at least one optical fibre guide for fibre storage, the said fibre guide having minimum bend control radius, the rotational centre of which is substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the said organiser on the said mounting member. This enables convenient handling of the fibre in the sense that rotation of the organiser about its axis of rotation results in uncoiling of the fibre on the fibre guide as uncoiling occurs about the rotational centre of the guide which is coincident with the rotation axis.

It will be understood that references herein to the "annular" organiser relate to substantially circular organiser shapes, at least with regard to the fibre-guiding surface and the inner perimeter of the organiser. The outer perimeter of the organiser could be made in other shapes such as square or oval, if these can be accommodated while allowing the organiser to be rotated in use. The organiser preferably has an annular centre and an annular outer circumference, and an inner annular circumference which is closer to the outer annular circumference than to the annular centre. More preferably, the organiser has a central aperture extending from its annular centre of rotation to its inner annular circumference; however the central aperture may be partially covered or partially closed. Conveniently, the mounting member may be arranged to contact the inner annular circumference of the organiser when mounted on the mounting member. A preferred form of mounting member comprises a substantially circular formation which fits closely within the said central aperture of the organiser. Alternatively, or in addition, the mounting member may include a formation, preferably a substantially circular formation, which fits closely around the outer annular circumference of the organiser when mounted on the mounting member. The mounting member may have other forms, for example an array of upstanding posts or pillars which contact the inner and/or outer annular circumference of the organiser.

When the apparatus according to the invention is incorporated in a wall plug having an openable cover or lid, the organiser is conveniently disposed adjacent the openable cover to provide easy access to the organiser when the cover of the wall plug is opened. The wall plug housing preferably comprises a wall box insert for location in a wall/floor or ceiling cavity recess, with the organiser located between an open end of the wall box insert and the cover. The wall box insert is preferably of the type used for household electrical cable management comprising an open metal or plastics box having one or more apertures for incoming and/or outgoing cables capable of being secured within the cavity with screws or the like.

Preferably the wall plug housing further comprises a faceplate detachably attachable to the open end of the wall box insert. Thus, in the same way that a domestic plug socket is provided with a faceplate, which when in combination with a wall box insert is mounted flush with the surface of a wall, embodiments of the present invention also contemplate similar arrangement such that the faceplate may be removably attached to the wall box insert, and hence wall, by screws or the like.

In preferred embodiments the organiser is disposed between the faceplate and the cover. In this respect in home or office installations the organiser containing the over length fibre is located on the wall rather than in the wall by virtue of the fact that it is positioned between the faceplate and the cover. This is particularly advantageous since is separates the incoming fibre, in the wall insert box, from the main fibre management part of the wall plug to enable easier manipulation of the fibre in use.

The organiser is preferably detachably attachable to the faceplate so that it and its contents, including the over length fibre, may be removed from the faceplate and hence the main structure of the wall plug box for manipulation of the fibre at a remote location from the wall mounted components of the wall plug. Additionally or alternatively the organiser may be pivotally mounted with respect to the faceplate, for example in one embodiment the organiser is carried by a cover or lid hinged to the faceplate, preferably along one side of the faceplate, to provide ready access to the over length fibre within the organiser.

The present invention also contemplates embodiments where the organiser is rotatable on, or with respect to, the faceplate. In this embodiment rotation of the organiser on the faceplate can be used to correctly position the organiser rotationally with respect to the faceplate, for example to align a fibre connector or the like with respect to the fixed faceplate and hence the wall plug as a whole.

In preferred embodiments the organiser comprises a ring shaped body having a minimum bend control radius in the form of a fibre guide on an outer circumference thereof. In this particular arrangement the ring can be rotated to manipulate the angular position of the ring shaped organiser on or with respect to the faceplate. The ring shaped organiser readily enables the over length fibre to be unwound and rewound on the organiser when the fibre is manipulated by the installation engineer.

In preferred embodiments the faceplate comprises at least one aperture, preferably a plurality of apertures and most preferably a plurality of apertures including a central aperture for observation of the incoming fibre in the wall insert box. In this respect at least one aperture is provided which is of sufficient size to enable the installation engineer to observe the positioning and condition of the incoming fibre in the wall box when the faceplate is attached to the wall box insert during installation procedures. This enables the installation engineer to observe and possibly prevent damage to the incoming fibre when manipulating the over length fibre externally of the wall insert box.

In preferred embodiments the central aperture is circular and comprises an upstanding cylindrical projection which provides a connection means for attaching the rotatable ring shaped body of the organiser to the faceplate. In preferred embodiments the organiser comprises at least one fibre connector holder for removable attachment of a respective fibre connector to the organiser. In this way the connector attached to the over length fibre can be held on the organiser to secure the connector to the wall plug. In preferred embodiments the optical fibre connector holder is arranged so that the connector is attachable to the organiser at an angle with respect to the plane of the organiser. The angled holder provides for safe installation of the connector so that any stray laser light emitted from the fibre or connector in the installed wall plug will be directed at an oblique angle with respect to the plane of the wall on which the wall plug is mounted.

In preferred embodiments of the above aspect of the invention the organiser further comprises at least one copper wire connector holder for receiving at least one copper wire connector for removable attachment to the wall plug. In this respect the wall plug of the present invention also contemplates embodiments where the wall plug provides the same functionality as a conventional telecommunications wall plug for copper connectivity, for example for DSL connections. The wall plug therefore contemplates hybrid embodiments where it can be used for both fibre and copper network connections. This is particularly useful where wall plugs of the present invention are installed in homes or small business premises which have the option of both copper and fibre connectivity on the local loop so that the customer, i.e. subscriber, has the option of copper (DSL) or fibre connection according to the tariffs available from their service provider. For example, a subscriber may elect to be connected to the local loop initially on a less expensive but slower copper connection but have the option available to switch to a higher access speed fibre connection at a later date without incurring the full cost of a new FTTH connection.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention the wall plug further comprises fibre attachment means for attaching the incoming fibre with respect to the housing of the wall plug. The attachment means is preferably provided on the faceplate but may be implemented on the wall box insert itself. The attachment means is provided on either of these parts of the housing so that relative movement of the incoming fibre in the interior of the wall box insert is substantially prevented when the fibre is manipulated by the installation engineer during connectorisation thereof. In preferred embodiments the fibre attachment means is located adjacent to the organiser, for example on the faceplate in a region next to the organiser. In the embodiment where the organiser is hinged to the faceplate the attachment means is preferably arranged so that it is coincident, or substantially coincident with the hinge axis so that the fibre extends substantially along the hinge axis of the organiser to prevent damage to the fibre during opening and closing of the organiser on the faceplate.

In preferred embodiments the openable cover comprises a removable cover element. The removable cover element preferably provides for access to the connector or connectors or the ends thereof so that the installation engineer may access these components without removing the cover in its entirety during manipulation of the connectors so that the main part of the organiser remains protected by the cover during such procedure. The cover elements partially close one or more openings through which outgoing fibre and/or wire is fed. Preferably the opening(s) are of sufficient size to permit access to the connector(s) for connection, in-situ, of respective fibre or wires thereto. Preferably the wall plate further comprises at least one removable closure element for covering the opening(s), preferably comprising a strain relief element for protecting the outgoing fibre.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a wall plug for optical fibre connection(s) to telecommunications subscriber equipment, the said wall plug comprising a housing and at least one optical fibre organiser for storing overlength(s) of incoming optical fibre, the organiser being pivotally mounted with respect to the said housing to permit access to the organiser when rotated about its pivot axis to an open position. The wall plug according to this aspect of the invention provides for convenient and ready access to the organiser and the fibre and/or components positioned on the organiser and readily enables the fibre to be organised externally of the part of the wall plug that is installed in the wall.

The wall plug according to this aspect of the invention provides for improved handling of the fibres and other components located on the organiser and has the advantage that it may reduce installation times and the amount of time associated with other fibre management tasks. Preferably, the housing comprises a wall box for location on a wall, floor or ceiling or in a respective wall, floor or ceiling cavity and wherein said organiser is pivotally mounted to the housing in the region of an open end of said wall box. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a wall plug for optical fibre connection(s) to telecommunications subscriber equipment, the said wall plug comprising a housing for at least one pre-connectorised outgoing fibre, and at least one connector holder for removable attachment of the connector of a respective pre-connectorised outgoing fibre and securing the said connector with respect to thereto. This aspect of the invention readily provides for termination of outgoing fibre by mechanical connectors, for example of the type known as SC, LC or ST type mechanical connectors or the like. The connector of the pre-connectorised outgoing fibre is securely held in the connector holder with the outgoing part of the connector extending externally of the housing to provide an external rigid mechanical connection point for connection of the connector to the connector of a pre- connectorised fibre or cable, other optical component, subscriber equipment, or the like.

The holder may be provided, at least in part, on the fibre organiser. Corresponding parts of the holder may be provided on adjacent regions of a faceplate and the organiser such that the connector is capable of being held securely between the organiser and the faceplate when the organiser is attached to the faceplate when the wall plug is closed.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a wall plug for optical fibre connection(s) to telecommunications subscriber equipment, the said wall plug comprising a housing having an openable cover and sufficient internal space for storing overlength outgoing optical fibre(s) on fibre guide means located within the housing such that when installed on a wall the said overlength fibre is accessible in a region of the wall plug which extends forward of the plane of the wall. This aspect of the present invention readily enables over length fibre of outgoing fibre to be stored in the wall plug, specifically the region of the wall plug that extends forward of the wall when installed such that the fibre over length (pigtails) may be considered to be housed on the wall, rather than in the wall, on which the wall plug is installed.

The principles of the open-centered annular organiser hereinbefore described may also be applied to organisation of excess optical fibre lengths in any kind of apparatus, for example in or on optical fibre splice trays or other supports within optical fibre enclosures known per se. Various embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an optical fibre splice tray incorporating the rotatable organiser of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a preferred form of the organiser having means for securing the ends of the fibres;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the components of a wall plug according to a further embodiment of the invention;

Figures 4a to 4d show various configurations of the wall plug of Figure 3 at different stages of installation;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the components of a wall plug according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred design of wall plug or connection box according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, an optical fibre splice tray 100 is shown with a pivotably attached lid 110 carrying an open-centred annular organiser 120 according to the present invention. The lid 110 carries upstanding substantially circular walls 130 which fit closely around the outer annular circumference of the organiser 120 to mount it on the lid. A second circular wall 130 is provided for mounting a second organiser 120 if desired. The walls 130 are preferably designed so that the organiser 120 "clicks" or snap-fits into position as shown and is held rotatably in that position until deliberately dislodged, for example by manual pulling or simple leverage with a suitable tool such as a screwdriver. In this example, the mounting means does not project into the central aperture of the annular organiser 120.

Excess lengths of optical fibre (not shown) can be easily wound up onto or unwound from the organiser 120, preferably by manual pressure on the illustrated handle 125. Cut ends of the fibres can be conveniently secured in locating slots 140, shown in larger detail in Figure 2.

Figure 2 shows the annular organiser 120 having locating slots 140 spaced around the circumference of one of its projecting walls 150, 160, which define an annular fibre-guiding recess 170 extending outward from the inner annular wall 180. A cut fibre end (not shown) can be threaded through one or more of the slots 140 to keep the fibre end available for easy location when it is desired to unwind a selected fibre from the organiser for splicing or other operations.

The organiser and the mounting means may be made of any suitable material, preferably moulded from plastics materials of the kinds commonly used in optical fibre organisers and enclosures. Splice trays of the illustrated kind may be especially useful in fibre distribution boxes for connecting optical fibre telecommunications cables to multi-dwelling buildings.

Referring now to Figure 3, in a further embodiment of the present invention a wall plug comprises a wall box insert 12 a faceplate 14', an organiser 16' an openable cover 18 and a closure insert 20. The faceplate 14' is modified to accommodate a removable ring shape organiser 16' and comprises a front panel 58 which comprises a plurality of apertures including a relatively large central circular shaped aperture 60 and various smaller apertures 62a to 62d. The central aperture 60 has a diameter of 20mm or so and is surrounded by an upstanding cylindrical projection 64 which extends forward of the front panel 58 towards the cover 18. The outer diameter of the cylindrical projection 64 corresponds to the internal diameter of the organiser ring 16" and forms part of a locating and connecting mounting for attaching the organiser 16' to the faceplate 14'. Additional upstanding elements 66a and 66b are provided on the surface of the faceplate front panel 58 to provide a boundary around the periphery of the organiser ring 16 when attached to the faceplate, as can best be seen in the drawing of Figure 4c.

The optical fibre organiser ring comprises an optical fibre guide around its outer periphery so that overlength fibre may be wound onto the ring with the coiled fibre accommodated within the guide. The guide is circular and has a minimum radius which is greater or equal to the minimum bend radius of the fibre to be installed. The fibre guide is provided with a flared entry portion 68 for guiding the fibre from the connector 36 into the guide. The flared entry portion 68 is positioned on the ring at a suitable distance from a connector holder 70 also on the ring 16'. The connector holder 70 is preferably integrally formed on the ring shape body of the organiser 16', preferably by plastics moulding of the organiser 16'. As previously mentioned the holder 70 in this embodiment is angled with respect to the plane of the ring, and hence the faceplate 14', so that the fibre attached to the connector at both ends thereof, when installed, is also angled with respect to the plane of the faceplate so that any stray laser light inadvertently emitted therefrom is directed away from the line of sight of an observer.

Referring now to the drawings of Figures 4a to 4d which show various states of assembly of the wall plug of Figure 3. As can be seen in the drawing of Figure 4a the organiser 16' is entirely removable from the wall plug housing comprising the faceplate 14' and wall box insert 12. This enables the organiser to be removed from the fixed structure of the housing when it is mounted on a wall or the like so that the over-length incoming fibre can be removed from the organiser for connectorisation thereof at a more convenient location remote from the wall plug and return of the overlength fibre to the guide of the ring for storage when connectorisation has been undertaken, that is to say when the connector 36 has been connected to the end of the incoming fibre. When the excess length of fibre has been wound back on to the ring the organiser can be returned to the wall plug housing as shown in Figure 4b and rotatably adjusted so that the connector holder is rotatably aligned with the region where it is accommodated on the faceplate between the upstanding cylinder 64 and walls 66b when the organiser is reattached to the faceplate as shown in Figure 4c. Rotational adjustment of the organiser 16' is possible because the organiser 16', and more precisely the fibre guide means, can accommodate slackening, and hence unwinding, to some extent, of the fibre wound on the guide means so that the ring shape organiser 16' can be correctly aligned rotatably on the faceplate 14'. When this operation is complete and the organiser is reattached to the faceplate. The cover 18 can be reattached as well as the closure element 20 as previously described.

The central aperture 60 enables the installation engineer to observe the status and the condition of the incoming cable fibre within the wall box insert 12 during manipulation of the incoming fibre externally of the wall box housing. In addition, if necessary or desirable, the central aperture can be used to access one or more copper connections located within the wall insert box if the wall plug is used in a hybrid sense to provide both twisted copper pair connections and optical fibre connections.

Referring to Figure 5, which shows an exploded view of the components of a wall plug of a further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the wall plug is adapted for providing both connectivity for twisted copper pairs and optical fibre. In this embodiment the faceplate 14", organiser 16" cover 18" and closure element 20" are enlarged to accommodate the additional components of the hybrid wall plug. In this particular embodiment the organiser 16" has an overall oval shape having a circular aperture 70 at one end of an oval base plate and connector holders 72, 74 at the other end of the base plate. The periphery of the organiser 16" is provided with an oval shape fibre guide means for guiding the excess length of fibre on the organiser. The organiser may be configured to hold other components such as splices 77 and the like as may be necessary. The holder 74 is provided for holding the optical fibre connector 36 and the holder 72 is provided to holding the body of the twisted copper pair connector 76. The incoming copper wires may be fed through the aperture 70 and a corresponding aperture (not shown) in the faceplate similar to the aperture 60 shown in the previous embodiment. Similarly the incoming fibre may be routed through the aperture 80 provided in the faceplate. As in the previous embodiment the organiser 16" is completely removable from the faceplate 14" and has the same functionality in that it enables the installation technician to perform connectorisation of the fibre at a convenient location remote from the wall plug, for example 1.5m or so away from the wall plug, and then return the remaining length of fibre to the organiser and the organiser to the faceplate for attachment thereto. In this embodiment the copper connector may be a RS45 type connector or the like.

Figure 6 shows an exploded perspective view of a preferred design according to the present invention. The cover 601 fits onto the housing part 602 having two rectangular apertures behind which connector housings 603 and 604 are fitted. Generally rectangular part 605 carries the annular organiser 606, rotatably fittable onto circular mounting member 608 carried by underlying rectangular part 607, which itself fits into tray 609. The mounting member 608 has slots at intervals around its circumference to provide it with sufficient flexibility for snap-fitting of the organiser 606 over small retaining ridges at the top of the mounting member 608. The part 605 carrying the organiser 606 can then be moved angularly on the mounting member 608 to adjust the fibre slack and to position the fibre ends as hereinbefore mentioned according to the invention.

Although the illustrated embodiments disclose wall plug embodiments of the present invention it will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that many of the principles and concepts disclosed herein are equally applicable to other fibre management devices and systems.

Claims

1. Apparatus for optical fibre management comprising an annular optical fibre organiser (120, 16') for storing length(s) of fibre, and an organiser mounting member (130, 64), the organiser being removably mountable on the said mounting member without use of threaded fasteners and being rotatable to angularly adjust its position on the mounting member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is such that the angular adjustment of the annular organiser position on the mounting member permits coiling and uncoiling of fibre stored on the organiser to adjust the degree of looseness or tightness of the fibre thereon in order to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction which could otherwise damage the fibre.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the angular adjustment of the annular organiser position enables the end(s) of outgoing fibre(s) to be moved to a pre-determined angular position on the said mounting member, for convenient subsequent access to the end(s) to be connectorised and/or to position the connectorised end(s) in connector holding means associated with the organiser.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the organiser has an annular centre and an annular outer circumference, and has an inner annular circumference which is closer to the outer annular circumference than to the annular centre.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the organiser has a central aperture extending from its annular centre to its inner annular circumference.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the mounting member is arranged to contact the inner annular circumference of the organiser when mounted on the mounting member.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the mounting member comprises a substantially circular formation (64) which fits closely within the said central aperture of the organiser.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the mounting member includes a formation (130, 66), preferably a substantially circular formation, which fits closely around the outer annular circumference of the organiser when mounted on the mounting member.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the organiser includes securing means for securing the end(s) of one or more fibre(s) at predetermined position(s) on the organiser, thereby to enable the end(s) of the fibre(s) to be positioned at pre-determined angular position with respect to the said mounting member.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the organiser comprises at least one holder (70) for receiving an optical component, such as a fibre connector (36), cable splice or the like, connected at the end of a respective fibre stored on the said organiser, and wherein the angular position of said component is adjustable with respect to said mounting member by rotation of said organiser.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said organiser comprises at least one optical fibre guide for fibre storage, the said fibre guide having minimum bend radius control, the rotational centre of which is substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the said organiser on the said mounting member.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said mounting member includes a mounting plate (58).

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said mounting member comprises part of an optical fibre wall plug box (12), fibre organiser tray (100), fibre cabinet, fibre distribution frame or the like.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim incorporated in a wall plug for optical fibre connection(s) to telecommunications subscriber equipment, the said wall plug comprising a housing (12) having an openable cover (18) and sufficient internal space to accommodate at least one said optical fibre organiser (16') storing at least one incoming optical fibre of sufficient length to permit removal of the organiser and said fibre from the wall plug, connectorisation of the fibre at a convenient location remote from the wall plug, and return of the remaining fibre on the organiser to the wall plug for storage therein.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the organiser is pivotally mounted with respect to the said housing to permit access to the organiser when rotated about its pivot axis to an open position.

16. Apparatus as claimed in Claiml3, wherein the housing comprises a box for location on a wall, floor or ceiling or in a respective wall, floor or ceiling cavity and wherein said organiser is pivotally mounted to the housing in the region of an open end of said box.

17. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 16, wherein said housing further comprise a faceplate detachably attachable to said open end of said box.

18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the said organiser is disposed between said faceplate and a removable cover.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 18, further comprising fibre attachment means for attaching said incoming fibre with respect to said housing.

20. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17 or 18, wherein fibre attachment means is provided on said box or said faceplate for attaching said incoming fibre with respect to said housing.

21. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 20, wherein said fibre attachment means is located adjacent said organiser.

22. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 21 installed on a wall or in a wall cavity and wherein the organiser pivot axis is located in or closely adjacent to the plane of the said wall so that the organiser may be pivotally moved to a position where it is substantially entirely outside the said wall.