Fiber optic splice organizer and associated method

Abstract

A fiber optic splice organizer for storing optical fiber splices and the slack associated therewith to permit ready separation of the optical fibers, such as to remake a splice. The splice organizer includes a generally rectangular base, splice securing slots on the base, and optical fiber guides for guiding slack portions of first and second optical fiber groups from a first end of the base, along respective portions of the base adjacent the first and second sides thereof, into a plurality of overlying slack loops adjacent the second end of the base, and back to the splice securing means from respective first and second sides of the base. The slack optical fibers, including the overlying respective slack loop, of the first and second optical fiber groups, form a figure-eight pattern on the base and are thus readily separable from each other. An ability to interconnect individual optical fibers broken out from optical fiber ribbons is also provided by crossing first and second groups of optical fiber ribbons and breaking out individual optical fibers at the crossover point. Arcuately shaped walls on the base are provided to maintain the individual fibers in a predetermined bend radius. A series of tabs along sidewalls of the base separate the individual fibers from the optical fiber ribbons downstream from the crossover point.