WO2016029171A1

WO2016029171A1 - High density adapter carrier pack

Info

Publication number: WO2016029171A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/046392
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven J. Brandt; Ryan Kostecka; Brent Campbell; Duane R. Sand
Original assignee: Adc Telecommunications, Inc.
Priority date: 2014-08-21
Filing date: 2015-08-21
Publication date: 2016-02-25

Abstract

A fiber optic adapter module including an adapter block and a holder is disclosed. The fiber optic adapter block includes at least three fiber optic adapters provided in a stacked arrangement extending widthwise in a longitudinal direction along a first axis, wherein every other adapter of the at least three fiber optic adapters is staggered in a front to back direction with respect to an adjacent adapter such that front ends of the every other adapter of the at least three fiber optic adapters are aligned at a first depth and a front end of the adjacent adapter is at a second depth that is different than the first depth. The holder slides relative to a fixture for connector access along an axis that is oblique to the first axis.

Description

HIGH DENSITY ADAPTER CARRIER PACK

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application is being filed on August 21, 2015, as a PCT International Patent Application and claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 62/040,314, filed on August 21, 2014, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. The present application also incorporates by reference the disclosures of U. S. Patent No. 6,591,051, dated July 8, 2003 entitled FIBER TERMINATION BLOCK WITH ANGLED SLIDE, and U.S. Application Publication No. 2013/0183018, dated July 18, 2013, entitled FIBER OPTIC ADAPTER BLOCK. The disclosures of these documents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Field

The present disclosure relates generally to fiber optic telecommunications equipment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a high density carrier pack for holding fiber optic adapter blocks designed for high density applications.

Background

As demand for telecommunications increases, fiber optic networks are being extended in more and more areas. Management of the cables, ease of installation, and ease of accessibility for later management are important concerns. As a result, there is a need for fiber optic devices and methods which address these and other concerns.

Summary

The present invention relates to a fiber optic telecommunications device. The telecommunications device is a fiber optic adapter module including an adapter block mounted to a holder for sliding movement on a fixture. A plurality of adapter blocks are mounted adjacent to one another. The adapter blocks slide relative to the fixture for connector or adapter access. The adapter blocks can be in the form of a single block with a plurality of adapters, or a plurality of individual simplex or duplex adapters mounted together. The adapter block is mounted on a holder which can be slidably moved relative to the fixture.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, fiber optic adapters are arranged in a staggered alternating arrangement to facilitate improved connector access. Small form factor connectors particularly benefit from such a construction. Examples include LC and LX.5.

According to one example embodiment, the adapter block defines a generally one- piece molded body that defines a plurality of integrally formed adapters for optically connecting fiber optic cables terminated with connectors.

According to another embodiment, the adapter block defines a plurality of adapters provided in a stacked arrangement in a longitudinal direction, such as from a right side to a left side of the adapter block, wherein every other adapter of the block of adapters is staggered in a transverse direction, such as in a front to back direction with respect to an adjacent adapter.

According to another aspect, the fiber optic adapter block includes at least three fiber optic adapters provided in a stacked arrangement extending widthwise from a right to left direction on the block, wherein every other adapter of the at least three fiber optic adapters is staggered in a front to back direction with respect to an adjacent adapter such that front ends of the every other adapter of the at least three fiber optic adapters are aligned at a first depth and a front end of the adjacent adapter is at a second depth that is different than the first depth.

The adapters instead can be mounted in a non-staggered arrangement, including in a stepped manner, or in a single plane.

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

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an adapter block having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the adapter block of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the adapter block of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the adapter block of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the adapter block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the adapter block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the adapter block of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 8 illustrates the front perspective view of the adapter block of FIG. 1 with a number of fiber optic connector mounted thereon;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the adapter block of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the adapter block of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an example adapter having a media reading interface configured to collect information stored in memory disposed on a fiber optic connector;

FIG. 12 illustrates how the fiber optic connectors mounted on the adapter block of FIG. 1 can be accessed by a technician;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of an adapter block having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the adapter block of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a right side view of the adapter block of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a left side view of the adapter block of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a front view of the adapter block of FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a left perspective view of a telecommunications device having a fixture supporting a plurality of adapter blocks mounted to corresponding holders which can be slidably moved relative to the fixture;

FIG. 19 is a right perspective view of the telecommunications device shown in FIG

18;

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the telecommunications device shown in FIG 18;

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the telecommunications device shown in FIG 18 showing only a portion of the components;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a portion of the components of the

telecommunications device shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of one of the adapter blocks and the corresponding holder shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of one of the adapter blocks mounted to a corresponding holder shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view of the adapter block and holder shown in FIG. 18; and FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a fixture that is fully loaded with the adapter blocks mounted to corresponding holders shown in FIG. 18.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to examples of inventive aspects of the present disclosure which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a fiber optic adapter block 10 having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure are illustrated. The fiber optic adapter block 10 defines a front end 12, a rear end 14, a right side 16, a left side 18, a top side 20, and a bottom side 22. In the depicted embodiment, the fiber optic adapter block 10 defines a plurality of fiber optic adapters 24 having an LC footprint that are configured to optically connect a pair of LC style fiber optic connectors 26. In the depicted embodiment, the adapter block 10 defines a generally one-piece unitary molded body 28, wherein the plurality of adapters 24 are integrally formed with the one-piece body 28. According to one example embodiment, the body 28 and the integrally formed adapters 24 may be molded from a polymeric material. In the depicted embodiment, the block 24 defines six LC-type duplex adapters 24 extending widthwise from the right side 16 to the left side 18 of the body 28 for a total of twelve possible connections.

As will be discussed in further detail below, the adapter block 10 is molded such that every other duplex adapter 24 is staggered in a front to back direction with respect to an adjacent adapter as the adapters 24 extend from the right side 16 to the left side 18 of the block 10. The staggering preferably alternates from the right side to the left side.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the fiber optic adapter block 10 with a number of LC-type fiber optic connectors 26 inserted within the individual adapters 24 of the block 10. LC- type connectors 26 and adapters 24 are generally known in the art. A fiber optic connector 26 having an LC footprint may define a connector body 30 having opposing sidewalls 32, 34, a top wall 36, a bottom wall 38, a front end 40, and a rear end 42. Certain portions of the connector body 30 may be formed from a molded polymeric material. The connector body 30 normally defines a latch 44 extending from the top wall 36 thereof toward the rear end 42, the latch 44 extending at an acute angle with respect to the top wall 36 of the connector body 30. An LC-type connector 26 may also include a latch trigger 46 that extends from the rear end 42 of the connector body 30 toward the front end 40. The latch trigger 46 also normally extends at an acute angle with respect to the top wall 36. The latch trigger 46 is configured to come into contact with the latch 44 for flexibly moving the latch 44 downwardly.

When an LC-type fiber optic connector 26 is placed in an adapter 24 for optically coupling light from two optical fibers together, the latch 44 functions to lock the fiber optic connector 26 in place within a cavity 48 of the adapter 24. As is known in the art, the latch 44 normally includes a pair of catches 50, each one extending from a side of the latch 44. Within each adapter cavity 48 is a pair of symmetrically disposed retaining shoulders 52, each formed by a horizontal surface 54 and a vertical surface 56. Please see FIG. 11 for an example of an LC-type fiber optic adapter cavity 48. The horizontal surface 54 of each shoulder 52 is configured to interact with a catch 50 of the latch 44 to deflect the latch 44 downwardly (i.e., toward the central axis of the connector 26). The vertical surface 56 of each shoulder 52 is configured to interact with a vertical surface 58 of a catch 50 to lock the fiber optic connector 26 within the adapter 24.

During insertion, the interaction between the catches 50 of the latch 44 and the horizontal surfaces 54 of the shoulders 52 cause the latch 44 to move downwardly. The latch 44 springs back (upwardly) after insertion is complete. Thereafter, the vertical surfaces 56 of the shoulders 52 interact with the vertical surfaces 58 on the catches 50 of the latch 44 to lock the connector 26 into the adapter 24.

Removal of the connector 26 is normally accomplished by manually depressing the latch 44 downwardly and pulling the connector 26 away from the adapter cavity 48. As noted above, the latch trigger 46 may be used to provide greater access the latch 44 and may be configured to come into contact with the latch 44 for flexibly moving the latch 44 downwardly. When the latch trigger 46 is depressed, the interaction between the latch trigger 46 and the latch 44 causes the latch 44 to be pressed in a downward direction, freeing the catch portions 50 of the latch 44 from the vertical surfaces 56 of the shoulders 52 in removing the connector 26.

Further details relating to LC-type adapters are described in U.S. Patent No.

5,647,043, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

As known, LC-type fiber optic adapters 24 may be provided as duplex adapters wherein each duplex adapter defines a pair of adapter cavities 48 positioned next to one another. Duplex clips may be provided on the connectors 26 for coupling two LC connectors 26 in a side by side configuration. A duplex clip may include a single larger latch trigger that expands over the individual latch triggers 46 of the connectors 26 for removing the two connectors 26 at the same time from a duplex LC adapter 24. An example of a duplex clip is shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 6,672,898, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

When connectors 26 having an LC footprint are mounted in adapter blocks that provide a high density of connections, a single LC connector 26 that is positioned next to another LC connector 26 or between two other LC connectors 26 may be difficult to access. A technician, when trying to remove a selected LC connector 26, may unintentionally disconnect more than one LC connector 26 at a time. This is a particular problem for rows of three or more connectors 26.

According to the inventive aspects of the present disclosure, the fiber optic adapter block 10 is molded such that every other adapter 24 (in the depicted embodiment, every other duplex adapter 24) is staggered in a front to back direction with respect to an adjacent adapter 24 as the adapters 24 extend widthwise from the right side 16 to the left side 18 of the block 10. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front ends 60 (also the rear ends 62) of the first, the third, and the fifth duplex adapters 24 from the left are aligned at a first depth Di along a front to back direction. Similarly, the front ends 60 (also the rear ends 62) of the second, the fourth, and the sixth duplex adapters from the left are aligned at a second depth D2 along a front to back direction, wherein the second depth D2 is different than the first depth Di. According to the depicted embodiment, the second depth D2 is farther back than the first depth Di.

In this manner, a technician experiences reduced interference from adjacent connectors 26 when trying to access a connector 26 that is in the middle of two other connectors 26. According to the depicted embodiment, the adapter block 10 provides space on at least one side of the connector 26 to be removed and the technician can also use portions of the body 28 of the adapter block 10 for support in removing the connector 26. Please refer to FIG. 12 for an illustration of how one of the fiber optic connectors 26 mounted to the adapter block 10 of the present disclosure can be accessed by a technician. For example, in the block 10 shown in FIG. 1, if a technician wants to access the leftmost connector 26, the technician has ample room on the left side of the connector for removing the connector 26 by pushing the latch 44 and pulling away from the adapter block 10. The technician may also use the front left corner of the adapter block body 28 for support in removing the connector 26. If the technician wants to access the second connector 26 from the left, the technician has ample room on the right side of the connector for removing the connector 26 since the next adjacent connector 26 to the right is staggered rearwardly and is at a different depth. The technician is also able to use the front right corner of the first duplex adapter 24 for support in applying the pushing and pulling forces on the connector 26. If the technician wants to access the third connector 26 from the left (i.e., the first connector 26 of the second duplex adapter 24 from the left), the technician is able to use the right sidewall 64 of the first duplex adapter 24 from the left to limit interference from the connector 26 to the left of the connector 26 to be removed. The technician can also use the right sidewall 64 or the front right corner of the first duplex adapter 24 from the left for support in pulling the third connector 26. The same process is applicable to the rest of the connectors 26 on the block 10.

In this manner, when every other duplex adapter 24 is staggered front to back, ease of access to each connector 26 is improved and the unwanted removal of an adjacent connector is reduced. It should be noted that the configuration provided by the adapter block 10 of the present disclosure is different than an adapter block having a stepped configuration, wherein each adapter (or duplex adapter) includes a front end that is positioned at a farther point than the previous adapter in a row of adapters. The adapter block 10 of the present disclosure is able to provide high density, ease of access, and a small footprint for the adapter block, whereas a stepped configuration would either provide for a larger footprint or would require angled mounting of the adapter block to preserve a similar footprint.

It should be noted that although the depicted adapter block 10 has been described and shown as including six staggered duplex adapters 24, for a total of twelve single adapters 24 and twelve possible connections, the block 10 may include other numbers of adapters 24.

Although the adapters 24 of the block 10 have been described and shown as being integrally molded with respect to the block body 28, wherein the block 10 defines a unitary one-piece molded body 28, in other embodiments, the individual adapters 24 or the individual duplex adapters 24 may be provided as separable structures, wherein the adapters 24 could be individually mounted in a staggered configuration on a separate support structure. The individual adapters 24 may be permanently fixed to such a support structure (e.g., via ultrasonic welding) or may be mounted so as to be removable from the support structure.

Although the present disclosure includes the discussion of connectors and adapters having an LC-type footprint, the inventive aspects of the disclosure such as the staggered configuration of the adapters are equally applicable to adapters of other formats such as SC-type or LX.5-type adapters.

For example, FIGS. 13-17 illustrate a block 110 with adapters 124 having an SC- type footprint, wherein the block 1 10 includes similar features to that of block 10 in its general configuration. In the depicted embodiment, the adapter block 1 10 defines a generally one-piece unitary molded body 128, wherein the plurality of adapters 124 are again integrally formed with the one-piece body 128. In the depicted embodiment, the block 110 is shown to be formed from six SC-type adapters.

It should be noted that the individual adapters 124 forming the staggered configuration of the block 110 may include features found in conventional SC-type adapters. For example, each of the adapters 124 may include internal elements for coupling to SC-type fiber optic connector housings. The internal elements (not shown in the figures) may include a ferrule alignment sleeve and a pair of inner housing halves. As is known for conventional SC type adapters, the pair of inner housing halves may define a sleeve mount, wherein each inner housing half of the sleeve mount includes a pair of latching hooks for latching to an exterior of an SC connector housing and an axial bore for receiving the ferrule alignment sleeve.

The internal elements may be positioned into an adapter recess of each adapter 124 through an opening at the top sides of the adapters 124. The internal elements may be placed within the adapter recess in a manner similar to that shown in U.S. Patent No.

5,317,663, issued May 20, 1993, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Either a single panel 164 may be used to close all of the openings of the adapters 124 or each adapter 124 may include its own panel for closing the individual openings of the adapters 124 to secure the internal elements therewithin.

In an alternative embodiment, the internal elements may be molded integrally with the body 128 of the adapter block 1 10 as described in further detail in U.S. Application Publication No. 2010/0054668, filed August 26, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

It should be noted that the adapter blocks 10/1 10 of the present disclosure can be configured to be mounted to a variety of different telecommunications equipment or fixtures. The adapter blocks 10/110 may be configured to be movably mounted or fixedly mounted with respect to such equipment or fixtures. The adapter blocks 10/1 10 may be provided within the telecommunications equipment or fixture as a modular unit that is removable, replaceable, or expandable. Further, in accordance with some aspects, one or more of the adapters 24 of the blocks 10/1 10 may be configured with media reading interfaces or circuitry 70 to collect data or information from one or more fiber optic connectors 26 received within the adapters 24, as described in further detail in U.S. Application Publication No.

201 1/0262077, filed February 11, 201 1, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 1 for an LC adapter block, one or more of the adapter cavities 28 may be configured to hold one or more media reading interfaces 70 that are configured to engage memory contacts 72 on the fiber optic connectors 26. One or more media reading interfaces 70 may be positioned in the body 28 that defines the adapter block 10. In certain implementations, the body 28 may define slots 74 extending between an exterior of the body and an internal adapter passage or cavity 48 in which the ferrules of the connectors 26 are received.

Certain types of media reading interfaces 70 include one or more contact members 76 that are positioned in the slots 74. As shown in FIG. 11, a portion of each contact member 76 extends into a respective one of the passages or cavities 48 to engage memory contacts 72 on a fiber optic connector 26. Another portion of each contact member 76 also extends out of the slot 74 to contact a circuit board 80. Telecommunications equipment or fixtures to which the adapter block 10 may be mounted may define conductive paths that are configured to connect the media reading interfaces of the adapter 24 with a master circuit board. The master circuit board may include or connect (e.g., over a network) to a processing unit that is configured to manage physical layer information obtained by the media reading interfaces.

As noted, example adapters having media reading interfaces and example fiber optic connectors having suitable memory storage and memory contacts are shown in further detail in U.S. Application Publication No. 2011/0262077, filed February 11 , 2011 , the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The blocks 10/1 10 may be constructed in accordance with U.S. Application Publication No. 2013/0183018, noted above, or the connector ports of the blocks may be planar as in U.S. Patent RE41,460, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, or they may be stepped as in U. S. Patent No. 6,591,051, noted above.

As shown in FIGS. 18-26, a fiber optic telecommunications device 200 is presented. The telecommunications device 200 includes a plurality of fiber optic adapter blocks 210 having a front end 211 and a rear end 213. The adapter blocks 210 are generally similar in configuration to the adapter blocks 50, 150. Therefore, similar features between the adapter block 210 and the blocks 50/150 need not be further described here. The telecommunications device 200 can include adapter blocks 50, 150, and 210, and combinations thereof.

In one aspect, the adapter blocks 210 can be provided with cover plate 214 that can be removed to provide internal access to each of the adapters in the adapter block 210. In one aspect, the adapter blocks 210 can be mounted onto a holder 240 to form an adapter module 205 for sliding movement on a fixture 220. Fixture 220 includes spaced apart walls 230 as in U.S. Patent No. RE41,460, or U. S. Patent No. 6,591,051, noted above. In one aspect, a plurality of adapter blocks 210 mounted in holders 240 are provided such that the adapter blocks 210 are adjacent to one another in fairly close proximity, as can be easily seen at Figure 26. Thus, to facilitate access to the adapters or connectors, the adapter blocks 210 are configured to slide relative to the fixture 220 via the holders 240. It is noted that Figures 18-26 show dust plugs 260 inserted in the adapters or adapter ports 250 of the adapter blocks 210. The adapter ports 250 are configured to receive connectors during use, at which point the dust plugs 260 can be removed.

As most easily seen at Figure 25, each adapter block 210 is snapped into the adapter holder 240 from the side in a direction D 1 which is transverse to the longitudinal axes Al of the connector 250. Each block 210 includes side tabs 212 at each end which connect to a corresponding engagement member 242 on the holder 240. In one aspect, each engagement member 242 defines a pair of channels 242a into which the sides of the side tabs 212 are received. The channels 242a operate to position the adapter block in the appropriate position in a direction along the connector axes and also operate to further secure the adapter block 210 within the holder 240. In one aspect, each engagement member 242 includes a latch member 242b located between the channels 242a.

During installation of the adapter block 210 onto the holder 240, the adapter block

210 is pressed into the holder 240 such that the channels 242a receive and guide the side tabs 212. As this occurs, the latch members 242 initially expand over the side tabs 212. Once the block member 210 is sufficiently depressed, the latch members 242 snap over and lock against the top of the side tabs 212 to secure the adapter block 210 to the holder 240. The holder 240 can be further provided with a bottom plate 248 to provide support and protection to the bottom side of the adapter block 210, and to add further structural strength to the holder 240. The bottom plate 248 may also function to limit the degree to which the adapter block 210 can be depressed onto the holder 240 during mounting. The side tabs 212 and latch members 242 may also be configured to perform this function. As shown, the bottom plate 248 extends between the engagement members 242. In one embodiment, the holder is an integrally formed component including the engagement member 242 and bottom plate 248.

In one aspect, the holder is provided with a longitudinally extending flange member 241 extending along an axis A2. The flange member 241 is configured to engage with a pair of fixture arms or rails 230 provided on the fixture 220 such that the holder 240 is retained by the fixture 220 in a sliding relationship. As a result of the interconnection between the flange member 241 and arms or rails 230, the holder 240 can slide relative to the fixture 220 between a retracted position (e.g. Figures 18-20, 26) and an extended position (e.g. Figure 22) along a line of travel Dl, which is parallel to the axis Al . The line of travel D l is identified at Figure 22.

The adapter holder 240 is arranged so that the installed blocks 210 are positioned so the connector axes are parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the front of the block unit in the illustrated example. This straight-in position allows for convenient access when installing or removing any cable connector.

The holder 240 may also be provided with a handle 244 which is rotatable with respect to the holder 240 and a latch member 246 at the opposite end of the holder 240. The handle 244 may be provided with a first portion 244a and a second portion 244b, wherein the first portion 244a is configured to operate as a handle and the second portion 244b is configured to act on the ends of the fixture arms or rails 230 of the fixture 220 when the first portion 244a is rotated by a user. The fixture 220 can be configured with a separate structure such that that second portion 244b acts on a portion other than the ends of arms or rails 230. The latch member 246 is spring loaded and secures the holder 240 to the fixture 220 once the holder 240 is fully depressed into the retracted position within the arms or rails 230 of the fixture 220. By rotating the handle 244, the second portion 244b is forced against the ends of the arms or rails 230 of the fixture 220 with sufficient force to break the connection between the latch member 246 and the fixture 220. The handle portion 244a can then be pulled to further slide the holder 240 along path Dl from the retracted position to the extended position. The latch member 246 is also configured to engage the fixture arms or rails 230 at a notched portion 222 to prevent the holder 240 from becoming completely separated from the fixture 240, thereby defining a maximum pull-out distance in the extended position. The latch member 246 associated with the holder 240 shown on the left hand side of Figure 22 is shown as being locked against the notched portion 222 such that the holder cannot be further extended out of engagement with the fixture 220.

Fixture 220 can be in any form suitable for management of the adapters and connectors. For example, the fixture can be mounted to a rack where the adapter blocks 210 are mounted horizontally or vertically. The fixture can also take the form of a moveable drawer mounted to a chassis. In other examples, the fixture can be utilized in telecommunications equipment, such as wall boxes or other enclosures or cabinets.

In one aspect, the individual adapter ports 250 are stacked or formed together along an axis A3 which is orthogonal to the longitudinal connector axis Al and is at an oblique angle with respect to the axis A2. Accordingly, as the module 205 is moved along path Dl in a direction towards the extended position, the module 205 is displaced forward in a direction D2 extending from the rear end 213 of the adapter block 210 towards the front end 211. As this motion pushes the adapter block 210 towards the front end 21 1, slack is created for the cables associated with the connectors 26 connected at the front end 211, thereby allowing for easier connection of and access to the connectors 26. As the module 206 is moved along path D 1 in a direction towards the retracted position, the module 205 is displaced rearward in a direction D3 extending from the front end 211 of the adapter block 210 towards the rear end 213.

Although in the foregoing description, terms such as "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "right", "left", "upper", and "lower were used for ease of description and illustration, no restriction is intended by such use of the terms. The telecommunications devices described herein can be used in any orientation, depending upon the desired application.

The illustrated embodiment shows the connector axes at 90° to the longitudinal direction (right to left as described). The angle could be turned if desired, such as for cable management.

Having described the preferred aspects and embodiments of the present invention, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.

Claims

A telecommunications device comprising:

a. a fixture defining one or more rails;

b. an adapter holder including a flange in sliding engagement with the rails of the fixture such that the holder can be moved between a retracted position and an extended position along a path parallel to a first axis; and

c. at least three fiber optic adapters provided in a stacked arrangement extending along a widthwise second axis to form a fiber optic adapter block that is mounted to the adapter holder, wherein each adapter of the fiber optic adapter block is staggered in a front to back direction with respect to an adjacent adapter such that front ends of each adapter are only aligned at either a first depth or a second depth that is different than the first depth;

a. wherein the widthwise second axis of the fiber optic adapter block is at an oblique angle to the first axis.

The telecommunications device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the fiber optic adapters in the fiber optic adapter block is aligned along a longitudinal connector axis that is orthogonal to the widthwise second axis and that is at an oblique angle to the first axis.

The telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the adapter block defines a front side and a rear side, and wherein the module is displaced forward in a direction extending from the rear side towards the front side as the module is moved towards the extended position.

The telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the fiber optic adapter block includes six adapters.

The telecommunications device according to claim 4, wherein three of the adapters are aligned at the first depth and three of the adapters are aligned at the second depth.

6. The telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the adapters are aligned such that each adapter aligned at the first depth is adjacent to an adapter aligned at the second depth.

7. The telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the at least three adapters of the fiber optic adapter block are integrally formed with a unitary one- piece molded body of the fiber optic adapter block.

8. The telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the at least three fiber optic adapters are configured for interconnecting LC-type fiber optic connectors

9. The telecommunications device according to claim 8, wherein each fiber optic adapters of the at least three fiber optic adapters defines a duplex LC-type fiber optic adapter for providing a total of at least six connections.

10. The telecommunications device according to claim 9, wherein the at least three fiber optic adapters includes at least six duplex LC-type fiber optic adapters for providing a total of at least twelve connections.

1 1. The telecommunications device according to claim 1 , further including a snap mounting arrangement between the holder and the adapter block.

12. A fiber optic adapter module comprising:

a. an adapter holder including a flange configured for sliding engagement with a fixture such that the holder can be moved between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the fixture, the flange being aligned along a first axis; and

b. at least three fiber optic adapters provided in a stacked arrangement extending along a widthwise second axis to form a fiber optic adapter block that is mounted to the adapter holder, wherein each adapter of the fiber optic adapter block is staggered in a front to back direction with respect to an adjacent adapter such that front ends of each adapter are only aligned at either a first depth or a second depth that is different than the first depth; c. wherein the widthwise second axis of the fiber optic adapter block is at an oblique angle to the first axis.

13. The fiber optic adapter module according to claim 12, wherein each of the fiber optic adapters in the fiber optic adapter block is aligned along a longitudinal connector axis that is orthogonal to the widthwise second axis and that is at an oblique angle to the first axis.

14. The fiber optic adapter module according to claim 12, wherein the fiber optic adapter block includes six adapters.

15. The fiber optic adapter module according to claim 14, wherein three of the

adapters are aligned at the first depth and three of the adapters are aligned at the second depth.

16. The fiber optic adapter module according to claim 12, wherein the at least three adapters of the fiber optic adapter block are integrally formed with a unitary one- piece molded body of the fiber optic adapter block.

17. The fiber optic adapter module according to claim 12, wherein the at least three fiber optic adapters are configured for interconnecting LC-type fiber optic connectors

18. The fiber optic adapter module according to claim 17, wherein each fiber optic adapters of the at least three fiber optic adapters defines a duplex LC-type fiber optic adapter for providing a total of at least six connections.

19. The fiber optic adapter module according to claim 18, wherein the at least three fiber optic adapters includes at least six duplex LC-type fiber optic adapters for providing a total of at least twelve connections.

20. The fiber optic adapter module according to claim 12, further including a snap mounting arrangement between the holder and the adapter block.