HK1146748B - Fiber optic enclosure with tear-away spool - Google Patents

Description

Optical fiber distribution box with tear-off spool

This application applies for PCT international patent application No. PCT on 9/4/2008, which designates applicants in all countries except the united states as ADC carriers (U.S. department of national company), designates only applicants in the united states as U.S. national Scott c.kowalczyk, U.S. national Trevor SMITH, U.S. national Jonathan r.kaml, and U.S. national Thomas g.leblanc, and claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application serial No.60/970,185, which was applied on 9/5/2007.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to fiber optic enclosures, and more particularly to fiber optic enclosures having cable payout.

Background

As the demand for communications increases, fiber optic networks expand in more and more areas. In facilities such as multiple dwelling units, rooms, apartments, commercial buildings, etc., fiber optic enclosures are used to provide a fiber optic network with a subscriber access point. These fiber drop boxes are connected to the fiber optic network by subscriber cables connected to a network hub. However, the length of subscriber cable required between the fiber box and the network hub varies depending on the positioning of the fiber box with respect to the network hub. Accordingly, there is a need for a fiber optic enclosure that can efficiently manage varying lengths of subscriber cable.

Disclosure of Invention

One aspect of the invention relates to a fiber organizer for enclosing fiber connections. The fiber optic enclosure includes a housing and a cable spool assembly disposed on an outer surface of the housing. The cable spool assembly has a first tear-off end and a second tear-off end. The first and second tear-away ends include at least one weakened region extending from an inner diameter of the cable spool assembly to an outer diameter of the cable spool assembly. The mounting plate is rotatably engaged with the cable spool assembly such that the cable spool assembly and the housing selectively and integrally rotate about an axis of the mounting plate.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of paying out a subscriber cable from a fiber optic enclosure. The method includes rotating the housing and the cable spool assembly (including the user cable coiled around the drum portion of the cable spool assembly) about the axis of the mounting plate of the fiber optic enclosure until a desired length of the user cable is paid out. The tear-away end of the cable spool assembly is separated at the weakened area. The tear-away end of the cable spool assembly is removed from the cable spool assembly.

Many other aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. These aspects can relate to individual features as well as 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 concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fiber optic network including a fiber drop box having features that are examples of aspects in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the fiber drop box schematically shown in fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded isometric view of the fiber drop box of figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the fiber drop box of fig. 2 with the cover plate removed.

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a tear-away end of a cable spool assembly of the fiber optic enclosure of fig. 2.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the tear-away end of FIG. 5.

Fig. 7 is an exploded front view of the fiber drop box of fig. 2 with a bracket.

Figure 8 is an isometric view of the fiber drop box of figure 7.

Fig. 9 is an alternative embodiment of a cable spool assembly having features that are examples of aspects in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is an elevation view of the cable spool assembly of fig. 9.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a spindle assembly suitable for use with the cable spool assembly shown in FIG. 9.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of the spindle assembly shown in fig. 11.

FIG. 13 is an exploded isometric view of the cable spool assembly of FIG. 9 and the spindle assembly of FIG. 11.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present invention that 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 structures.

Referring now to fig. 1, a schematic diagram of a fiber optic network, generally designated 11, in a facility 13 (e.g., an individual dwelling, room, apartment, commercial building, etc.) is shown. The fiber optic network 11 includes a feeder cable 15 originating from a central office (not shown). The feeder cable 15 enters a feeder cable input location 17 (e.g., a fiber distribution hub, a network interface device, etc.) having one or more splitters that produce a number of individual fibers (e.g., 1-8 splitters, 1-16 splitters, or 1-32 splitters). In this embodiment and by way of example only, the fiber distribution hub 17 is positioned on a lower level 19 of the facility 13. Each unit in the facility 13 includes a fiber drop box, generally designated 21, and a subscriber cable 22 extends from each fiber drop box 21 to the fiber distribution hub 17. The subscriber cable 22 extending between the fiber distribution hub 17 and the fiber drop box 21 typically includes a plurality of optical fibers.

Referring now to fig. 2 and 3, the fiber box 21 will now be described. The fiber organizer 21 includes a housing, generally indicated at 23, a cable spool assembly, generally indicated at 25, and a mounting plate 27 (shown in fig. 3).

Referring now to fig. 4, the housing 23 includes a cover 29 (shown in fig. 2 and 3), a base 31, a first sidewall 33, and an oppositely disposed second sidewall 35. The first and second sidewalls 33, 35 extend outwardly from the base 31 such that the base 31 cooperatively defines an interior region 37 with the first and second sidewalls 33, 35.

A termination module, generally designated 39, is disposed in the interior region 37 of the housing 23. The termination modules 39 of the fiber box 21 act as a split line between the incoming and outgoing fibers. In this embodiment, the termination module 39 is mounted to the base 31 of the housing 23.

In this embodiment, the termination module 39 includes a plurality of sliding adapter modules 41 having a front side 43 and a rear side 45. Similar sliding adapter modules 41 have been described in detail in commonly owned U.S. patents 5,497,444, 5,717,810, 6,591,051 and U.S. patent publication 2007/0025675, which are incorporated herein by reference.

In this embodiment, the interior region 37 of the housing 23 includes a slack storage area 47 in which a cable management flap 49 is disposed. Cable management flaps 49 are disposed in the interior region 37 of the housing 23 to provide organization of incoming and outgoing cables within the interior region 37 and to avoid attenuation damage to the optical fibers during storage.

The interior region 37 includes a passage 51 extending through the base 31 of the housing 23. The passage 51 allows the connectorized end of the subscriber cable 22 to enter the housing 23. As the incoming fiber passes through the channel 51, the incoming fiber passes to the slack storage area 47. The connectorized ends of the incoming optical fibers then pass from the slack storage area 47 to the front side 43 of the sliding adapter module 41. The connectorized ends of the output fibers are routed out of the rear side 45 of the sliding adapter module 41 and through fiber exit ports 53 disposed in the first and second sidewalls 33, 35.

Referring now to fig. 3, the cable spool assembly 25 is disposed on an outer surface of the housing 23. In this embodiment, the electrical cable shaft assembly 25 is disposed on the rear side of the base 31, although it will be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the electrical cable shaft assembly 25 being disposed on the rear side of the base 31. The cable spool assembly 25 includes a first tear-away end 55a, an oppositely disposed second tear-away end 55b, and a drum plate assembly, generally designated 59.

The drum plate assembly 59 includes a plate portion 61, a drum portion 63, and a mounting bracket 65. In this embodiment, the plate portion 61 includes a substantially flat surface 67 having a substantially rectangular-shaped periphery. It will be understood, however, that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the plate portion 61 having the generally flat surface 67 of the generally rectangular shape.

The drum portion 63 extends outward in a substantially vertical direction from the flat surface 67 of the plate portion 61. In this embodiment, the drum portion 63 extends outwardly from the central portion 69 of the plate portion 61, although it will be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the drum portion 63 extending outwardly from the central portion 69 of the plate portion 61. The drum portion 63 is generally cylindrical in shape having an inner bore 71 and an outer surface 73. The inner bore 71 extends through the drum portion 63 and defines a central axis 74 of the drum plate assembly 59.

In this embodiment, the mounting bracket 65 is rigidly joined to the plate portion 61 of the drum plate assembly 59 by a plurality of fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws, rivets, etc.) that extend through a plurality of mounting holes 75 of the plate portion 61 and through a plurality of mounting apertures in the mounting bracket 65 that are aligned with the mounting holes 75. When mounted to the plate portion 61, the mounting bracket 65 extends outwardly from the flat surface 67 of the plate portion 61 in a generally vertical direction such that the mounting bracket 65 extends through the inner bore 71 of the drum portion 63.

The mounting bracket 65 includes a mounting surface 76 having a plurality of apertures 77 for rigid engagement with the housing 23. In one embodiment, the holes 77 are through holes for fasteners such as rivets or bolts. In another embodiment, the hole 77 is a threaded hole for a threaded fastener such as a screw. In this embodiment, the mounting surface 76 of the mounting bracket 65 extends outwardly slightly farther than the end surface 79 of the drum portion 63.

The plate portion 61 of the drum plate assembly 59 is connectively joined to the mounting plate 27 by a bearing such as a lazy-susan bearing or a ball bearing. The central axis of the bearing is aligned with the central axis 74 of the drum portion 63 of the drum plate assembly 59. The bearings allow the drum plate assembly 59 to rotate about a central axis of the bearings aligned with the central axis 74 of the inner bore 71 and the mounting plate 27 when the mounting plate 27 is secured to a structure such as a wall.

Referring now to fig. 3, 5 and 6, the first and second tear-away ends 55a, 55b of the cable spool assembly 25 will be described. In this embodiment, the first and second tear-away ends 55a, 55b are substantially similar in construction. Therefore, for ease of description, the first and second tear-off ends 55a, 55b will be collectively referred to as "tear-off ends 55". It will be understood, however, that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the first and second tear-off ends 55a, 55b being similar.

The tear-away end 55 is generally circular in shape and includes an outer diameter 81 and an inner diameter 83. The inner diameter 83 is adapted to receive the outer surface 73 of the drum portion 63. The tear-away end 55 includes at least one weakened area 85. In this embodiment, the weakened region 85 extends radially from the inner diameter 83 to the outer diameter 81 of the tear-away end 55. In one embodiment, and by way of example only, there are four weakened areas 85 disposed on the tear-away end 55 that extend radially from the inner diameter 83 to the outer diameter 81. The four weakened regions 85 are arranged incrementally on the tear-away end 55 so as to be 90 ° from the adjacent weakened region 85. In this embodiment, the weakened region 85 is a perforation formed by a series of slits extending through the tear-away end 55, one slit being disposed at the outer diameter 81 of the tear-away end 55 to serve as a point at which tearing can begin. In another embodiment, the weakened region 85 is a region of reduced thickness.

In this embodiment, the tear-away end 55 is made of a plastic having a thickness of 0.09 inches, such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). However, it will be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to tear-away ends 55 made of ABS or tear-away ends 55 having a thickness of 0.09 inches, as tear-away ends 55 can be made of other materials of various thicknesses, including, but not limited to, cardboard. In embodiments where the weakened region 85 is a reduced thickness region, the thickness of the weakened region 85 is less than half the thickness of the tear-away end 55. In another embodiment, the thickness of the weakened region 85 is less than one third of the thickness of the tear-away end 55. In yet another embodiment, the thickness of the weakened region 85 is less than one-quarter the thickness of the tear-away end 55 (1/4). In one embodiment, the thickness of the weakened region is about 0.015 inches. In embodiments where the weakened region is a reduced thickness region, a slit is disposed at the outer diameter 81 of the tear-away end 55 to serve as a point at which tearing can begin.

The first and second tear-off ends 55a, 55b are oppositely disposed on the outer surface 73 of the drum portion 63. In this embodiment, the first and second tear-off ends 55a, 55b are snugly engaged with the outer surface 73 such that the first and second tear-off ends 55a, 55b are slightly rotatable. In one embodiment, the first and second tear-away ends 55a, 55b are in close fitting engagement with the outer surface 73 of the drum portion 63. The first and second tear-away ends 55a, 55b are oriented along the drum portion 63 such that a portion of the outer surface 73 of the drum portion 63 is disposed between the first and second tear-away ends 55a, 55b to enable a length of the subscriber cable 22 having a plurality of optical fibers to be coiled around the portion of the outer surface 73 between the first and second tear-away ends 55a, 55 b. To protect the subscriber cable 22 from attenuation caused by the subscriber cable 22 being coiled around the drum portion 63, the outer surface 73 has a radius that is greater than the minimum bend radius of the subscriber cable 22.

The subscriber cable 22 includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the subscriber cable 22 has a connectorized end that is inserted through the channel 51 and connectively engaged with the front side 43 of the sliding adapter module 41. A second end of the subscriber cable 22 is configured to connect with the cable distribution hub 17. However, as shown in fig. 1, the length of subscriber cable 22 required between each fiber drop box 21 and the fiber distribution hub 17 in the facility 13 will vary depending on the location of each fiber drop box 21 relative to the fiber distribution hub 17.

A method of installing and using the fiber optic enclosure 21 will now be described to illustrate the varying lengths of subscriber cable 22 required between the fiber optic enclosure 21 and the fiber distribution hub 17. The fiber box 21 provides a dual function by serving as a storage location for the subscriber cable 22 and by selectively paying out a desired length of the subscriber cable 22. A given length of subscriber cable 22 is stored in the fiber box 21 by coiling this length of subscriber cable 22 around the cable spool assembly 25. In one embodiment, the length of the user cable 22 coiled around the cable spool assembly 25 is in the range of 100 to 500 feet. In another embodiment, the length of the user cable 22 coiled around the cable spool assembly 25 is 300 feet. The fiber optic enclosure 21 with the cable spool assembly 25 can provide more effective cable management for a greater length of cable 22 when the cable spool assembly 25 is disposed on the outer surface of the housing 23 than a fiber optic enclosure 21 without the cable spool assembly 25.

A second role of the fiber box 21 relates to the selective payout of the subscriber cable 22. As previously described, the first end of the subscriber cable 22 is connectively engaged with the termination module 39 disposed in the interior region 37 of the housing 23. The subscriber cable 22 can be paid out with the first end of the subscriber cable 22 connectively engaged with the front side 43 of the sliding adapter module 41 and the output fibers disengaged from the rear side 45 of the sliding adapter module 41. When the cable spool assembly 25 is rigidly engaged with the housing 23 by the mounting face 76 of the mounting bracket 65 and rotationally engaged with the mounting plate 27 by a bearing disposed between the mounting plate 27 and the plate portion 61 of the drum plate assembly 59 of the cable spool assembly 25, the cable spool assembly 25 and the housing 23 are selectively rotatable about a central axis of the bearing aligned with the central axis 74 of the inner bore 71 of the drum portion. Thus, with the cable spool assembly 25 rigidly mounted to the housing 23 and rotationally mounted to the mounting plate 27 (plate 27 mounted to the wall), a desired length of the subscriber cable 22 can be paid out from the fiber box 21 by rotating the fiber box 21 in a rotational direction about the central axis 74. Since the housing 23 and the cable spool assembly 25 rotate integrally about the central axis 74, the second end of the subscriber cable 22 can be paid out without the first end of the subscriber cable 22 being pulled out of the termination module 39.

Once the desired length of subscriber cable 22 has been paid out, the rotation of the fiber drop box 21 is stopped. At this point, the tear-away end 55 of the cable spool assembly 25 can be removed. To remove the tear-away end 55 of the cable spool assembly 25, the weakened region 85 extending from the inner diameter 83 to the outer diameter 81 is separated. In this embodiment, the weakened region 85 can be separated by breaking, tearing, cutting, tearing, or the like. The weakened region 85 is separated along the length of the weakened region 85. Upon separation to the inner diameter 83 of the tear-away end 55, the opening created by the separation weakened region 85 can expand to allow the tear-away end 55 to be removed from the cable spool assembly 25. In another embodiment, the other weakened regions 85 can be separated to create an opening between the weakened regions 85 through which the drum portion 63 of the cable spool assembly 25 can pass.

Referring now to fig. 7 and 8, with the tear-away end 55 of the cable spool assembly 25 removed, the position of the fiber organizer 21 can be fixed so that it cannot rotate relative to the mounting plate 27. A first bracket, generally indicated at 87a, and a second bracket, generally indicated at 87b, can be used to fix the position of the fiber box 21 after rotation of the fiber box has stopped. In this embodiment, the first and second brackets 87a, 87b are substantially similar in structure. Therefore, for ease of description, first and second brackets 87a, 87b will be collectively referred to as "bracket 87". It will be understood, however, that the scope of the present invention is not limited to first and second brackets 87a, 87b being similar.

In this embodiment, the bracket 87 is U-shaped with a front plate 89, a left plate 91, and a right plate 93. It will be understood, however, that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the U-shaped bracket 87. In this embodiment, the mounting tabs 95 extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the front panel 89. Mounting tabs 95 include through holes 97 for mounting bracket 87 to a wall. In this embodiment, the left and right plates 91, 93 include mounting openings 99 for mounting the left and right plates 91, 93 to the housing 23. Upon mounting the bracket 87 to a wall or other structure and extending between the mounting plate 27 and the housing 23, the housing 23 can no longer be selectively rotated relative to the mounting plate 27 because it is restrained by engagement with the bracket 87.

To prevent the housing 23 from rotating relative to the mounting plate 27 and to protect the user cable 22 stored on the drum portion 63 of the cable assembly 25 from environmental damage, the first and second brackets 87a, 87b are mounted on opposite sides of the housing 23 such that each of the left and right plates 91, 93 of the first bracket 87a and the left and right plates 91, 93 of the second bracket 87b extend approximately half the depth D (shown in fig. 8) of the housing 23.

Weakened area 85 can advantageously be used to make a more compact fiber box 21 after fiber box 21 has been installed to a wall or structure and after subscriber cable 22 has been paid out from fiber box 21. While the cable spool assembly 25 provides for storage of the user cable 22 during shipment and provides for handling and cable management during paying out of the user cable 22, the outer diameter 81 of the cable spool assembly 25 may not be required after the user cable 22 has been paid out. The tear-away end 55 allows the overall size of the cable spool assembly 25 to be reduced after payoff.

Referring now to fig. 9 and 10, an alternative embodiment of the cable spool assembly 225 is shown. The cable spool assembly 225 includes a first tear-off end 255a and a second tear-off end 255 b. The tear-away end 255 is oppositely disposed on the drum portion 263. In this embodiment, the tear-away end 255 is attached (e.g., press-fit, adhered, welded, etc.) to the drum portion 263. The drum portion 263 is cylindrical in shape and includes an inner bore 271 and an outer surface. The bore 271 extends through the drum portion 263 and defines a central axis 274.

Tear-off end 255 is generally circular in shape and includes an outer diameter 281. The tear-away end 255 also includes at least one radially weakened region 85. In this embodiment, weakened region 285 extends radially from outer diameter 281 of tear-away end 255 to inner diameter 301. In this embodiment, at least one circular weakened area 303 is also included in the tear-away end 255. The circular weakened area 303 extends around the tear-away end 255 and has a radius that is less than the radius of the outer diameter 281. In this embodiment, and by way of example only, there are two radially weakened areas 285 (which extend radially from the inner diameter 301 to the outer diameter 281) disposed on the tear-away end 55 and two circularly weakened areas 303, one of which is disposed at the inner diameter 301. In this embodiment, the two radial weakened areas 285 are arranged 180 ° apart, while the two circular weakened areas 303 are concentric. In this embodiment, the radial and circular weakened areas 285, 301 are areas of reduced thickness.

The first tear-away end 255a includes a plurality of apertures 305. An aperture 305 is disposed in the first tear-away end 255a for rigidly coupling the cable spool assembly 225 to the rear side of the base 31 of the housing 23. The aperture 305 will align with a hole in the base 31 of the housing 23 and will allow the first tear-away end 255a to be fastened to the housing 23 with a fastener, such as a screw, bolt, rivet, or the like.

Referring now to fig. 11 and 12, a spindle assembly, generally designated 307, will be described. The spindle assembly 307 includes a mounting plate 309 having a plurality of mounting through holes 311 for securely engaging the mounting plate 309 to a wall or a structure. The spindle assembly 307 further includes a spindle, generally designated 313, having a bore 315 with an axis 317. In this embodiment, the spindle is connected (e.g., fastened, glued, welded, etc.) to the mounting plate 309.

Spindle 313 further includes a plurality of resilient latches, generally indicated at 319. A resilient latch 319 extends outwardly from the mounting plate 309. The resilient latch 319 includes a free end 321 and a latch portion, generally indicated at 323. The latch portion 323 includes an end face 325 and a radially outwardly facing lip 327. The lip 327 extends outwardly in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis 317. An inclined edge 329 is disposed between the end face 325 and the lip 327.

Referring now to fig. 9-13, the inner bore 271 of the drum portion 263 of the cable spool assembly 225 is adapted to receive the spindle 313. In this embodiment, the inner bore 271 and the drum portion 263 are snap-fittingly engaged with the spindle 313. When the spindle assembly 307 is mounted to a wall or a structure, the central axis 274 of the internal bore 271 of the cable spool assembly 225 is aligned with the axis 317 of the bore 315 of the spindle 313. Cable spool assembly 225 is then pressed onto spindle 313 such that contact between cable spool assembly 225 and angled edge 329 of spindle 313 causes resilient latch 319 to flex toward axis 317 until inner bore 271 of drum portion 263 fits over spindle 313. When cable spool assembly 225 is fully engaged on spindle 313, resilient latches 319 spring back, thereby engaging edge 331 of drum portion 263 with lip 327 of each resilient latch 319 of spindle 313. The cable spool assembly 225 and housing 23 are selectively slidably rotatable about the main shaft 313 of the main shaft assembly 307 when the main shaft 313 is engaged with the cable spool assembly 225, the main shaft assembly 307 being rigidly mounted to a wall or structure.

The circular weakened area 301 can be advantageous because it allows the tear-away end 255 of the cable spool assembly 225 to be scratched away. If the fiber optic enclosure 21 requires a small number of subscriber cables 22, the outer diameter 281 of the cable spool assembly 225 can be adjusted by tearing off a portion of the tear-off end 255 at the circular weakened area 301.

In addition, circular weakened area 301 is advantageous because it allows only one part number to be catalogued. In scenarios where cable spool assembly 225 having a different outer diameter 281 is desired, cable spool assembly 225 having first outer diameter 281 can be modified to cable spool assembly 225 having second outer diameter 281 by tearing off a portion of tear-off end 255 at circular weakened area 301.

Various modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and it should be understood that the inventive scope of this invention is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.

Claims (15)

1. A fiber optic enclosure for enclosing fiber optic connections, comprising:

a housing;

a cable spool assembly disposed on the outer surface of the housing, the cable spool assembly having a first tear-away end and a second tear-away end, wherein the first and second tear-away ends include at least one radially weakened region extending from an inner diameter of the cable spool assembly to an outer diameter of the cable spool assembly; and

a mounting plate rotatably engaged with the cable spool assembly such that the cable spool assembly and the housing selectively and integrally rotate about an axis of the mounting plate.

2. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radially weakened area is a perforation.

3. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radially weakened area is a reduced thickness material.

4. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first tear-away end of the cable spool assembly is securely engaged with an outer surface of the housing.

5. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a termination module.

6. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the termination module includes a plurality of sliding adapter modules.

7. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a circular area of weakness.

8. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 7, wherein there are two radial weakened areas and two circular weakened areas disposed on each of the first and second tear away ends.

9. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second tear-away ends are plastic.

10. A method of paying out a subscriber cable from the fiber drop box of claim 1, comprising:

rotating the housing and the cable spool assembly about the axis of the mounting plate of the fiber optic enclosure until a desired length of the user cable is paid out, the cable spool assembly including the user cable coiled around the drum portion of the cable spool assembly;

separating the first tear-away end of the cable spool assembly at the weakened region of the first tear-away end; and

the first tear-away end of the cable spool assembly is removed from the cable spool assembly.

11. A method of paying out a subscriber cable from a fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 10, wherein a connectorized end of the first end of the subscriber cable is connected to a termination module in the interior region of the housing.

12. A method of paying out a subscriber cable from a fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the termination module includes a plurality of sliding adapter modules.

13. A method of paying out a subscriber cable from a fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mounting plate is mounted to a wall.

14. A method of paying out a subscriber cable from a fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 10, further comprising fixing the position of the housing and the cable spool relative to the mounting plate.

15. A method of paying out a subscriber cable from a fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the bracket fixes the position of the housing and the cable spool relative to the mounting plate.