IMMOBILIZATION DEVICE FOR FIBER DISTRIBUTION CUBE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to fiber distribution cubes and fiber optic networks, and more particularly, to locking devices and distribution cube modules of distribution fibers. Description of the Related Art The cubes of distribution of fibers are often used in fiber networks to premises to connect feeder cables to distribution cables through one or more splitter modules that optically connect a single fiber of the feeder cable to eight, sixteen or thirty-two fibers of the distribution cable, for giving a non-limiting description of the uses of the fiber distribution cubes and / or splitter modules. As the fiber distribution cubes are commonly installed above the ground and can occupy a significant amount of volume, it is desirable to minimize the size of the fiber distribution cubes for reasons of cost, easy installation, aesthetics and the like. In addition, many fiber distribution cubes include empty storage areas which are adapted for the future installation of one or more additional splitter modules, which are added frequently as more subscribers, to whom the service will be directed through the cube. fiber distribution, require the service. This storage space adds volume to the fiber distribution cube. Also, fiber distribution cubes frequently include one or more locking devices for selectively storing connected fiber optic cables that exit from a splitter module but, for example, are not connected to a subscriber terminal in a field. distribution of the fiber distribution cube. These immobilization devices provide convenient retention of the optical fiber cables; however, the immobilization devices are added to the volume of the fiber distribution cube. As disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0281526, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, a fiber distribution hub includes a divider mounting area on an upper portion of the distribution hub and a partition screen. in a lower part of the fiber distribution cube. The dividing screen is adapted to receive fasteners of removable connectors or immobilization devices. The fiber distribution cube also includes one or more splitter modules that include a number of fiber optic cables pre-connected to a locking device. When an additional divider module is installed in the fiber distribution cube in the divider mounting area, the corresponding clamping device is installed in the dividing screen by removing an empty clamping device. Therefore, the technician does not require to install each of the individual fiber optic cables in an immobilization device. However, such a fiber optic distribution cube requires a certain amount of volume to provide the divider mounting area and the partition screen, along with a cable storage area located proximate therebetween. Therefore, there is a need for a fiber distribution cube that is configured to allow the installation of additional divider modules while requiring less interior volume than conventional fiber distribution cubes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to the above needs and achieves other advantages by providing a cube of fiber distribution that requires relatively less internal volume than the cubes of conventional fiber distribution allowing the splitter modules to be installed directly in the immobilization area of the fiber distribution cube. More specifically, a technician can remove an immobilization device, preferably, an immobilization device that is free of fiber optic cable connectors, to provide a slot in the immobilization area within which the technician can then install a divider module. Therefore, some embodiments of the present invention effectively remove the mounting area of the divider from the fiber distribution cubes of the prior art and accordingly allow the fiber distribution hub of the present invention to require less interior volume. The fiber distribution cube of various embodiments of the present invention comprises a housing in which one or more fiber optic cables with connectors are housed. An immobilization area is provided within the housing, and the immobilization area defines a plurality of slots, such as vertical slots in some embodiments of the present invention. At least one locking device is selectively inserted into a slot in the locking area and at least one splitting module is selectively inserted into a slot in the locking area, so that the slots in the locking area are adapted to receive either an immobilization device or a divider module. Additional embodiments of the present invention also comprise locking devices and / or splitter modules that are permanently installed within the housing of the fiber distribution hub. The present invention also includes methods for installing a divider module within a distribution cube. The housing of the distribution hub is open and at least one locking device is removed from a single slot of a plurality of slots in a locking area of the housing. The divider module is inserted into the individual slot from which the immobilization device is removed. Therefore, the present invention includes various apparatuses and methods for providing connector immobilization and installing uivisor modules in a fiber distribution cube. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily to scale and which are illustrative and not limiting, and where Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fiber distribution cube according to a first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the front and right sides of the fiber distribution cube; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking device of Figure 1, illustrating the vertical slot and the dip-type fastener; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fiber distribution cube of Figure 1, illustrating the front and left sides of the fiber distribution cube and illustrating the hanging supports of the fibers generally located on the right side of the fiber hub. fiber distribution; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fiber distribution cube of Figure 1, illustrating the rear and right sides of the fiber distribution cube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, of the embodiments of the invention are shown. In fact, the invention can be incorporated in many different forms and should not be understood as limited to the modalities set forth herein, rather, these modalities are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy the applicable legal requirements. Although apparatuses and methods for installing splitter modules are described and shown in the accompanying drawings with respect to a specific type of fiber distribution cube, it is foreseeable that the functionality of the various apparatuses and methods can be applied to any cube of distribution of fibers. fibers now known or hereinafter devised in which it is desired to install splitter modules and / or provide locking devices. Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout. With reference to Figures 1-4, a hub 10 of fiber distribution according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The fiber distribution hub 10 of the illustrated embodiment includes a panel assembly 12 configured to receive locking devices 14 and splitter modules 16. The fiber distribution hub 10 of the illustrated embodiments is intended for use at a local point of convergence in which a portion of a feeder cable is optically connected to one or more splitter modules, which optically connect the feeder cable to a plurality of connection cables. The connection cables are selectively connected by adapters in a distribution field to one or more distribution cables that exit the fiber distribution cube and that are routed to one or more network access points. However, additional embodiments of the present invention comprise fiber distribution cubes at alternate locations in the fiber optic network. The fiber distribution cube 10 of Figures 1, 3 and 4 comprises a panel assembly 12 shown being in a lower portion of the housing 18 of the fiber distribution hub; however, additional embodiments of the present invention include panel mounting at any location within the housing of the fiber distribution hub. The fiber distribution cube of the present invention may comprise a housing of any shape, may be above the range below the range and may be intended for external use and / or internal use. The panel assembly of the present invention can be used in any fiber distribution cube, cabinet, or other device used in a fiber optic network. The fiber distribution cube 10 of Figure 1 comprises a housing 18 which generally defines a rectangular shape and defines an interior volume. The inner volume of the housing 18 is accessible through at least one door on the front side of the housing; however, the fiber distribution cubes of the present invention comprise housings that can be accessed through either side or through devices other than a door. Within the fiber distribution cube 10 of Figure 1 is a distribution field 20 comprising a plurality of adapters for selectively receiving a plurality of connectors of the optical fiber cables and a plurality of connection terminals of the distribution cables (not shown) exiting the distribution field. The distribution field 20 allows a technician to selectively determine which distribution cables are optically connected to the connection cables that exit the splitter modules. The fiber distribution cube 10 of Figure 1 also comprises a plurality of splitter modules 22 mounted in a divider mounting area 24. While the divider mounting area 24 is directly above the locking area 26 of the panel assembly 12, further embodiments of the present invention may provide a single area mounting and immobilization of the divider or may locate a divider mounting area and an immobilization area at any relative location. The fiber distribution cube of the present invention may further have at least one divider module that is permanently installed within the housing and / or at least one locking device that is permanently installed within the housing. Referring again to the 22 dividers modules of Figure 1, the connected connecting cables (not shown) coming out of the splitter modules can be inserted into the adapters of the distribution field 20, they can be suspended from the hanging supports of the fibers, and / or can be received by an immobilization device 14. However, while increasing the number of connection cables that are connected within the adapters of the distribution field 20, the number of immobilization devices 14 that will become empty of connectors of the connection cables increases. Therefore, the present invention provides the ability to install additional splitter modules in the panel assembly 12 in the slots where the empty locking devices 14 were located. Turning now to the panel assembly 12 of Figures 1, 3 and 4, the panel assembly includes an immobilization area 26 defining a plurality of slots, such as a plurality of slots that are generally oriented vertically. The immobilization area 26 further defines a plurality of fastening portions for selectively engaging with a fastener of the immobilization devices 14 for the selective insertion and retention of the immobilization devices. The panel assembly 12 of the illustrated embodiment comprises an immobilization area which is generally accessible from the front of the housing 18 of the fiber distribution hub 10, so that the locking devices 14 are removable from a front side of the housing. However, additional embodiments of the present invention can locate the panel assembly in any orientation and location so that the locking devices can be removed from any direction relative to the housing of the fiber distribution hub. The immobilization device 14 is shown in more detail in Figure 2. The immobilization device 14 defines an elongated opening 28 oriented in a generally vertical direction to receive one or more connectors of the optical fiber cables within the distribution hub of fibers, such that the connection cables extend from the partition modules 22. The immobilization device 14 is adapted to receive at least six connectors such that the connectors contact the adjacent connector selectively inserted in the immobilization device. Other embodiments of the present invention comprise alternative locking devices that define an opening of any shape in any orientation and size to receive any number of connectors that may or may not contact the adjacent connector. The locking devices 14 of Figures 1-4 are adapted to be selectively inserted into an individual slot of the plurality of slots of the locking area 12. The immobilization device 14 includes a fastener device 30, such as the dip-type fastener illustrated in Figure 2 to provide a non-limiting example, which provides convenient insertion and / or removal of the immobilization device. Additional embodiments of the present invention provide alternate fastening devices, such as lugs, clamps, or the like for listing non-limiting examples or non-clamping devices at all, to selectively retain the locking device relative to the locking area. Switching back to the immobilization device 14 of Figure 2, the fastener device 30 is generally located vertically above the elongated opening 28; however, the fastener device can be located anywhere on the immobilization device. Opposite to the fastener device 30 is a lug portion that is generally orthogonal to the portion of the immobilization device defining the elongated aperture 28, so that the lug portion provides additional structural strength and / or retention with the immobilization area 12 . Still other additional embodiments of the present invention provide immobilization devices of alternative shape and structure. The fiber distribution hub 10 also includes a number of hanging supports 32, 34 of the fibers above which optical fiber cables can be routed. More particularly, the hanging support 34 of the fibers comprises a plurality of individual hanging supports 36 spaced apart from each other and joined to an elongated portion. The individual hangers 36 also define retainers 38 of cables located generally opposite the elongated portion of the hanging support 34 of the fibers. The individual supports 36 of Figures 1, 3 and 4 are positioned on one side of the housing of the fiber distribution hub and define an axis that is generally orthogonal to the sides of the housing. The hanging supports of the prior art fibers comprise individual supports defining axes that are generally orthogonal to the front and rear of the housing of the fiber distribution hub; however, the present invention provides individual supports 36 that are orthogonal to the conventional hanging supports of the fibers so that the inner volume of the fiber distribution hub can be reduced relative to the fiber distribution cubes of the prior art. Additional embodiments of the present invention provide hanging supports for the fibers, located in alternate positions and oriented in alternative directions. In addition, the present invention provides methods for installing a divider module 22 in the housing 18 of a fiber distribution hub 10. The technician opens the housing 18 of the fiber distribution cube 10 and identifies an immobilization device 14 which does not retain the connectors of the optical fiber cables or moves the connectors from a locking device to a different locking device or to the field of immobilization. distribution. The technician then removes the empty immobilization device 14, preferably by manipulating the fastener device 30, such as by pulling the dip-type fastener shown in Figure 2 to give a non-limiting example, from the immobilization area 12 to reveal an individual groove. The technician subsequently inserts the divider module into the individual slot of the locking area 12 from which the locking device 14 was removed, and preferably holds the splitter module to the locking area with a fastening device or the like. Once the divider module has been selectively inserted into the locking area and preferably optically connected to the feeder cable entering the housing of the fiber distribution hub, the one or more connecting cables extending from the divider module can be directed by the technician, preferably above the hanging supports of the fibers and connected to distribution field adapters, connected to one or more remaining locking devices, or suspended from the hanging supports of the fibers. Therefore, the present invention provides convenient immobilization of the connectors and convenient installation of the splitter modules while reducing the required volume within the interior of the fiber distribution hub housing. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will be in the minds of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains., having the benefit of the teachings presented in the above descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. It is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention with the proviso that they fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Although specific terms are used here, they are used in a purely generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.