Splice tray for use in splicing fiber optic cables and housing therefor

Abstract

A splice tray for use in splicing fiber optic cables has an outer periphery and a cable splicing area inwardly of the outer periphery. A main cable guideway for receiving a pair of side-by-side cables to be spliced extends along a portion of the outer periphery adjacent thereto. The main cable guideway splits into first and second continuation guideways, the first of which curves inwardly from the outer periphery to intersection with the splicing area from one direction. The second continuation guideway continues along another portion of the outer periphery to intersection with the splicing area from another direction. The two fiber optic cables that extend along the main guideway are separated to extend through the first and second continuation guideways to the splicing area for being joined together in a splice. A cable looping device is provided in the splicing area for receiving cable loops to take up slack, and a splice receiving recess is provided in the splice area for holding a splice. A housing for the splice tray includes a vertical case having a door hinged to the bottom portion thereof for swinging movement about a horizontal hinge axis between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. The splice tray is attached to the inside of the door for receiving a pair of cables that extend from the case and across the hinge to the splice tray. An integral inclined guideway extension on the splice tray extends toward the hinge axis along an inclined door bottom wall for receiving the cables.