Abstract: An optical power meter unit includes a transmitting/receiving port configured to connect to a fiber under test. The optical power meter unit also includes a light source and an optical power meter. The optical power meter unit further includes an optical fiber extending between the transmitting/receiving port and the optical power meter. The optical fiber has a core size greater than a core size of the fiber under test.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a cable and a cable mounting clamp. The cable mounting clamp includes a base removably connectable to a surface. The base may include a tab removably insertable into an aperture defined in the surface and a lock releasably connectable to the surface. The base further includes an outer body which defines an inner channel and a support ramp disposed within the inner channel, the inner channel extending along a longitudinal axis. The cable mounting clamp further includes a cap connectable to the base to further define the inner channel therebetween. The cable mounting clamp further includes a roller tube disposed within the inner channel and rotatably mounted on the support ramp, the roller tube rotatable about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Cable managers are provided. A cable manager includes a body configured to be selectively engaged with a loose end of a first cable, wherein the body defines an effective unbiased length, as measured in an unbiased state, and an effective biased length, as measured in a biased state, and wherein the effective biased length is greater than the effective unbiased length.

Abstract: A folding, flared utility vault or enclosure that may be used to protect public utility valves, electrical cables, switches, fiber optic cables, or the like is provided. The system generally comprises a base box having a front panel, back panel, and side panels. Alternative embodiments may further comprise an extension box having a front extension panel, back extension panel, and side extension panels. The various panels of the base box and extension box may have flared bottoms that prevent removal after installation. Additionally a user may attach extension boxes to the base box to increase the amount of storage area within the system.

Abstract: A patch panel may include a tray that is slidable between a retracted position and an extended position on tray supports and features for holding the tray in the retracted position and in the extended position. The patch panel may also include a cassette that is slidable on cassette supports, latches for engaging the cassette to block movement of the cassette and features for disengaging the latches.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a cable and a cable mounting clamp. The cable mounting clamp includes a base removably connectable to a surface. The base includes an outer body which defines an inner channel and a support ramp disposed within the inner channel, the inner channel extending along a longitudinal axis. The cable mounting clamp further includes a roller tube disposed within the inner channel and moveably mounted on the support ramp, the roller tube translatable along the longitudinal axis relative to the support ramp. The cable is inserted through the roller tube and extends through the inner channel, such that the cable is translatable with the roller tube along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A fiber optic cassette includes a cassette body, the cassette body extending along a longitudinal axis between a front and a rear, extending along a lateral axis between a first side and a second side, and extending along a transverse axis between a bottom and a top. The fiber optic cassette further includes a plurality of fiber optic adapter apertures defined at the front of the cassette body. The fiber optic cassette further includes a side channel defined at the first side of the cassette body, the side channel including an entry aperture spaced from the rear of the cassette body along the longitudinal axis. The fiber optic cassette further includes a splice module receptacle defined in the cassette body.

Abstract: A method of forming and assembling a foldable plastic utility enclosure using molds to form sides of the enclosure, preferably using glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite. The molds are constructed to form a central hole in hinge members which are formed on ends of the sides. The central hole of the hinge member is molded with two molding parts, wherein one or both of the molding parts have a solid central portion that forms the central hole. The sides are removed from the molds after curing and the sides are assembled to form the utility enclosure while the sides are still hot from the molding process. Hinge pins are inserted into the central holes of the hinge members to form hinges and to prevent the sides from warping during cooling. Assembling the sides and inserting hinge pins to form the utility enclosure is completed within approximately 10 minutes after removing the sides from the molds.

Abstract: Systems and methods of aligning multicore fiber optic cables are provided. A method for aligning a first multicore fiber (MCF) and a second multicore fiber (MCF), the first MCF and second MCF each comprising a plurality of cores and a marker, the method including: producing a brightness profile for the first and second MCFs; determining rotational orientations of the first and second MCFs from the brightness profile; rotating at least one of the first and second MCFs until each of the plurality of cores of the first MCF and the second MCF are aligned; determining if the markers of the first MCF and second MCF are aligned in view of a region of the brightness profile associated with the markers; and splicing the first MCF and the second MCF together if the cores and marker of the first MCF are aligned with the cores and marker of the second MCF.

Abstract: A fiber optic distribution cable includes a central inner jacket formed from one of a polyvinyl chloride or a low smoke zero halogen material, a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the inner jacket, and a plurality of first strength members disposed within the inner jacket. The fiber optic distribution cable further includes an outer jacket surrounding the central inner jacket, the outer jacket formed from the one of the polyvinyl chloride or the low smoke zero halogen material, and a plurality of second strength members disposed between the outer jacket and the central inner jacket. A fiber density of the cable is greater than 0.65 fibers per square millimeter.

Abstract: A patch panel includes a cabinet and a cassette. A pair of cassette guides is positioned within the cabinet. The pair of cassette guides are spaced along a lateral direction such that the cassette is receivable between the pair of cassette guides. The cassette is slidable along a transverse direction on the pair of cassette guides. At least one of the pair of cassette guides includes a first rail and a second rail that are spaced apart along a vertical direction. The cassette is slidable along the transverse direction between the first and second rails. Each end of the first rail is cantilevered such that each end of the first rail is moveable along the vertical direction.

Abstract: An aerial cable management device includes a trunk; and a plurality of arms, each arm including a body defining a central pivot point and having a cable support element disposed at both opposite ends of the body, wherein each of the plurality of arms is rotatably coupled with the trunk in a shared direction of rotation.

Abstract: A fiber optic tray system includes a tray. The tray includes a tray body, the tray body extending along a longitudinal axis between a front and a rear and extending along a lateral axis between a first side and a second side. The tray further includes a plurality of alignment rails, each of the plurality of alignment rails protruding from the tray body along a transverse axis. The tray further includes a plurality of retainer features disposed at the rear of the tray body. The fiber optic tray system further includes a fiber optic module, the fiber optic module including an outer housing and at least one retainment feature. The at least one retainment feature is interfaced with at least one of the plurality of retainer features to retain the fiber optic module on the tray.

Abstract: A foldable extension enclosure for a utility enclosure, each having first, second, third, and fourth sides connected by hinges and each folding only in one direction by means of detents on the sides. A first end of the first side slidably overlaps a second opposite end of the third side and a first end of the second side slidably overlaps a second opposite end of the fourth side. There is an internal top ledge on each side in an interior near a top end of the extension enclosure and the utility enclosure and an external bottom ledge on each side on an exterior near a bottom end of the extension enclosure, to mount the extension enclosure to the utility enclosure with concave and convex detents. Convex detents are at the top end of the utility and extension enclosures and concave detents are at the bottom end of the extension enclosure. The convex detents also reversibly lock a lid to the tops of the utility and extension enclosures.

Abstract: A lid for a utility enclosure having a front end, a rear end, a right side, a left side, a top lid portion, and a bottom, defining an interior. Large reinforcement ribs are on an interior surface of the top lid portion and form a lattice-type structure. Small reinforcement ribs are mounted in spaces formed by the lattice type structure. The lid is made of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene and metal bars or rebar are embedded in the large reinforcement ribs. The metal bars are positioned near a bottom of the large reinforcement ribs and spaced above the bottom. The physical structure of the lid and the lid's composition, consisting essentially of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene, are constructed so that the lid withstands up to 33,750 pounds of force without breaking or being deformed.

Abstract: An optically traceable patch cord includes a cable extending from a first connector at a first end to a second connector at a second end. A trace assembly in the cable is located between the first end of the cable and the second end of the cable. An optical tracing fiber extends from the trace assembly to one of the first connector and the second connector.

Abstract: A fiber optic tray system includes a tray. The tray includes a tray body, the tray body extending along a longitudinal axis between a front and a rear and extending along a lateral axis between a first side and a second side. The tray further includes a plurality of alignment rails, each of the plurality of alignment rails protruding from the tray body along a transverse axis. The tray further includes a plurality of retainer features disposed at the rear of the tray body. The fiber optic tray system further includes a fiber optic module, the fiber optic module including an outer housing and at least one retainment feature. The at least one retainment feature is interfaced with at least one of the plurality of retainer features to retain the fiber optic module on the tray.

Abstract: Optical fiber mass splice methods and assemblies are provided. A method may include securing a fiber clamp to a fiber setting fixture, the fiber setting fixture including a fiber alignment block and a backstop. A plurality of fiber grooves may be defined in the fiber alignment block. The method may further include inserting a plurality of optical fibers into the fiber setting fixture such that each of the plurality of optical fibers is disposed in one of the plurality of fiber grooves and contacts the backstop. The method may further include loading, after the inserting step, each of the plurality of optical fibers into the fiber clamp. The method may further include clamping the plurality of optical fibers in the fiber clamp.

Abstract: Optical fiber mass splice methods and assemblies are provided. A method may include securing a fiber clamp to a fiber setting fixture, the fiber setting fixture including a fiber alignment block and a backstop. A plurality of fiber grooves may be defined in the fiber alignment block. The method may further include inserting a plurality of optical fibers into the fiber setting fixture such that each of the plurality of optical fibers is disposed in one of the plurality of fiber grooves and contacts the backstop. The method may further include loading, after the inserting step, each of the plurality of optical fibers into the fiber clamp. The method may further include clamping the plurality of optical fibers in the fiber clamp.