Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080247711 | Attachment structure allowing movement and protection of a tether of a cable assembly - A cable assembly comprising a fiber optic cable and one or more attachment points to allow one or more tethers to optically connect to optical fibers within the cable. The cable assembly may be used as a drop cable for extending optical connections to a plurality of points. An attachment structure is provided for maintaining the tether to the cable to prevent damage to the tether. The attachment structure provides a loose attachment to allow the tether to move relative to the distribution cable, so the tether can move in a generally translational movement, is able to slightly twist, and to have limited lateral movement during coiling, installation, and removal of the cable assembly. This loose attachment structure may prevent damage to the tether due to forces being placed on the cable, such as during coiling or uncoiling of the cable. In one exemplary embodiment, the attachment structure is attached to the cable and receives the tether. In another exemplary embodiment, the attachment structure include a protective covering. In another embodiment, both are employed in combination. | 10-09-2008 |
20080247720 | Cable assembly with access point - A cable assembly comprising a fiber optic cable having an optical ribbon stack therein, at least one network access location for accessing the ribbon stack, and at least one ERL insert assembly, which can include for example at least one resilient plug for holding one or more optical ribbons of the fiber optic cable at, or near, the network access location to inhibit optical ribbon stack movement and torque, for example, translation and/or rotation at the network access point. Also disclosed is a method for inhibiting optical fiber movement or torque, translation and/or rotation at a predetermined position within a fiber optic cable. | 10-09-2008 |
20090310924 | Attachment Structure Allowing Movement and Protection of a Tether of a Cable Assembly - A cable assembly comprising a fiber optic cable and one or more attachment points to allow one or more tethers to optically connect to optical fibers within the cable. The cable assembly may be used as a drop cable for extending optical connections to a plurality of points. An attachment structure is provided for maintaining the tether to the cable to prevent damage to the tether. The attachment structure provides a loose attachment to allow the tether to move relative to the distribution cable, so the tether can move in a generally translational movement, is able to slightly twist, and to have limited lateral movement during coiling, installation, and removal of the cable assembly. This loose attachment structure may prevent damage to the tether due to forces being placed on the cable, such as during coiling or uncoiling of the cable. In one exemplary embodiment, the attachment structure is attached to the cable and receives the tether. In another exemplary embodiment, the attachment structure include a protective covering. In another embodiment, both are employed in combination. | 12-17-2009 |
20100054679 | Fiber optic cable assembly with floating tap - A fiber optic cable assembly with a floating tap is disclosed, wherein the assembly comprises a fiber optic cable having a cable fiber assembly, such as in the form of a ribbon stack. The assembly includes at least one network access point (NAP) for accessing at least one cable fiber in the cable fiber assembly and at least one strength area for example a strength member. At least one cable fiber is extracted from the cable fiber assembly and held by a transition assembly. A buffer conduit loosely contains the at least one cable fiber and guides it to an intermediate buffer conduit, which in turn guides the at least one cable fiber to a splice tube. The intermediate buffer conduit can translate relative to the splice tube. At least one tether fiber is spliced to the at least one cable fiber. Alternatively, the at least one cable fiber has sufficient length to serve as the at least one tether fiber so that splicing to another fiber is not required. Each strength member is covered by a movable member. A bonding structure bonds the cable fiber assembly, buffer conduit and movable member so that the cable fiber assembly can translate but not rotate relative to the cable within the NAP. This allows the tap point to “float” within the NAP when the cable fiber assembly needs to translate within the cable. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054690 | Flame-retardant fiber optic assemblies - Disclosed are fiber optic cable assemblies having a composite covering disposed about a portion of a transition location for providing a fiber optic assembly suitable for indoor or indoor/outdoor applications. The composite covering provides a combination of an underlying heat dissipative structure, such as a metal foil along with a high temperature capable substrate, such as mica, thereby providing the desired characteristics for indoor or indoor/outdoor use that a single layer of either material is incapable of providing. The covering may also include an optional flame-retardant wrap as an outer portion for sealing and/or mechanical protection. | 03-04-2010 |
20100154609 | Tools and Methods for Manufacturing Fiber Optic Distribution Cables - Fiber optic distribution cables and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The methods present one or more optical fibers outward of the protective covering for distribution of the same toward the subscriber. Specifically, the methods include presenting a length of distribution optical fiber outward of the protective covering that is longer than the opening at access location. After the opening is made in the protective covering at the access location, the optical fibers for distribution are selected. Then a tool according to the present invention is positioned about the optical fibers selected for distribution and slid within the protective covering of the fiber optic distribution cable until it reaches a cutting location within the fiber optic distribution cable. Consequently, the tool is positioned for cutting the distribution optical fiber at a cutting location within the fiber optic distribution cable at a downstream location. Thereafter, the tool is removed and the cut distribution optical fiber is routed through the opening at the access location so the distribution optical fiber is presented outside the protective covering. | 06-24-2010 |
20100278495 | FIBER OPTIC CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH FLOATING TAP - A fiber optic cable assembly with a floating tap is disclosed, wherein the assembly comprises a fiber optic cable having a cable fiber assembly, such as in the form of a ribbon stack. The assembly includes at least one network access point (NAP) for accessing at least one cable fiber in the cable fiber assembly and at least one strength area for example a strength member. At least one cable fiber is extracted from the cable fiber assembly and held by a transition assembly. A buffer conduit loosely contains the at least one cable fiber and guides it to an intermediate buffer conduit, which in turn guides the at least one cable fiber to a splice tube. The intermediate buffer conduit can translate relative to the splice tube. At least one tether fiber is spliced to the at least one cable fiber. Alternatively, the at least one cable fiber has sufficient length to serve as the at least one tether fiber so that splicing to another fiber is not required. Each strength member is covered by a movable member. A bonding structure bonds the cable fiber assembly, buffer conduit and movable member so that the cable fiber assembly can translate but not rotate relative to the cable within the NAP. This allows the tap point to “float” within the NAP when the cable fiber assembly needs to translate within the cable. | 11-04-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080205824 | Angle-specific multi-fiber ferrules and associated methods of manufacture - The present invention provides a method of manufacture that minimizes the lateral offset of a plurality of optical fiber holes associated with a multi-fiber ferrule, including: determining an initial offset distance of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes from each of a plurality of corresponding target locations on an initial endface; removing a predetermined amount of material from the multi-fiber ferrule to form a subsequent endface; determining a subsequent offset distance of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes from each of the plurality of corresponding target locations on the subsequent endface; and, using the initial offset distance and the subsequent offset distance, determining an angle of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes relative to the initial endface. The method of manufacture also includes, using the angle, determining an optimal amount of material that is removed from the multi-fiber ferrule in order to minimize the offset distance of the plurality of optical fiber holes from the plurality of corresponding target locations. The method of manufacture further includes, using the optimal amount of material, removing this amount of material from another similarly-situated multi-fiber ferrule. | 08-28-2008 |
20080247719 | CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH ACCESS POINT AND RIBBON STACK HANDLING - A cable assembly comprising a fiber optic cable having a ribbon stack therein, at least one network access location for accessing the ribbon stack, and a bonding fillant for locking an uncut portion of the ribbon stack to the cable at the network access location to prevent ribbon stack translation and rotation at the network access point relative to the tubular component. A method for eliminating optical fiber translation and rotation at a predetermined position within a fiber optic cable comprising providing a cable, forming an access location, filling exposed cable portions with a fillant, flowing the fillant, and curing the fillant to bond a length of the ribbon stack within the cable. | 10-09-2008 |
20080310798 | Fiber optic plug assembly with boot and crimp band - A fiber optic plug assembly of a fiber optic connector assembly is provided and generally includes a fiber optic plug mounted upon an end of a fiber optic cable; a pre-molded boot placed over the fiber optic plug and the fiber optic cable; and a crimp band mated over the pre-molded boot to secure the boot to the fiber optic cable; wherein the fiber optic plug assembly is operable to mate to a fiber optic receptacle. The plug assembly eliminates the need for an overmolded boot. Further, the present invention eliminates the need to perform a heat shrink between the buffer tube and crimp body through the internal O-ring. The plug assembly meets the standards of GR-3120-CORE while at the same time providing a simpler hardware package that can be assembled with ordinary connectorization tools. | 12-18-2008 |
20100080522 | METHOD OF PROVIDING MID-SPAN ACCESS TO AN OPTICAL FIBER RIBBON CABLE AND THE OPTICAL FIBER RIBBON CABLE - A method of facilitating mid-span access of an optical fiber ribbon cable, and the resulting cable, that provides for redeveloping and/or modifying excess ribbon length with the accessed cable structure. The method includes the use of a form placed within the cable structure that controls the excess ribbon length. The method may further include the reconstitution of severed strength members. | 04-01-2010 |
20100158453 | Distribution Cable Assembly Having Mid-Span Access Location - The present disclosure is generally directed to a fiber optic distribution cable assembly having an interior portion and an exterior portion. A distribution cable includes a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the interior portion and at least one predetermined mid-span access location positioned along a length of the distribution cable to provide access from the exterior portion to the interior portion. At least one optical fiber of the distribution cable is accessed and terminated from the distribution cable within the interior portion of the distribution cable. A tether having a first end is attached to the distribution cable through the mid-span access location. The tether has at least one optical fiber optically connected to the at least one terminated optical fiber of the distribution cable at a location within the interior portion of the distribution cable. | 06-24-2010 |
20100166370 | Bi-Directional Tap Assemblies for Two-Way Fiber Topologies - Bi-directional tap assemblies for two-way fiber topologies are disclosed. The assembly includes a fiber-optic cable having a cable optical fiber adapted to carry bi-directional optical signals and that is preterminated at a mid-span location to form at least one first cable fiber end and at least one second cable fiber end. First and second tether fibers are respectively spliced to the first and second cable fiber ends. In one version of the assembly, the tether fibers are contained in respective first and second tether covers to form first and second tethers that extend in opposite directions from the tap point. In another version of the assembly, the tether fibers are bend-insensitive fibers and are contained in a single tether cover to form a single tether. The tether fibers bend back on themselves within the tether cover and terminate at a common end of the tether, thereby allowing both downstream and upstream optical signals to be accessed at the tether end. The single tether is configured to be translateable along the fiber-optic cable by allowing the bend locations in the bend-insensitive fibers to change as the tether is translated. | 07-01-2010 |
20110229087 | Fiber Optic Interface Device With Bent Optical Path - A fiber optic interface device with a bent optical path has a ferrule with a body having front and rear ends and an internal cavity adjacent the front end and defined by a rear wall and a bottom wall. The bottom wall defines at least one lens. The device includes at least one optical waveguide that defines the bent optical path. The ferrule supports at least one optical waveguide so that the bent optical path resides within the cavity, with the fiber end being operably aligned with the at least one lens. A fiber optic interface assembly is formed by mating the device with a second fiber optic interface device. | 09-22-2011 |
20140193126 | FIBER OPTIC DISTRIBUTION CABLES AND STRUCTURES THEREFOR - Fiber optic distribution cables and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The fiber optic distribution cables present one or more optical fibers outward of the protective covering for distribution of the same toward the subscriber. In one fiber optic distribution cable, a length of distribution optical fiber that is removed from the distribution cable and presented outward of the protective covering is longer than the opening at access location. In another embodiment, a demarcation point is provided for inhibiting the movement (i.e., pistoning) of the distribution optical fiber into and out of the distribution cable. In still another embodiment, an indexing tube is provided for indexing a tether tube within the indexing tube for providing the distribution optical fiber with a suitable excess fiber length. Additionally, other embodiments may include a fiber optic distribution cable having a dry construction and/or a non-round cross-section. | 07-10-2014 |
20140241680 | FIBER OPTIC DISTRIBUTION CABLES AND STRUCTURES THEREFOR - A fiber optic distribution cable includes a jacket defining an exterior of the fiber optic distribution cable and a plurality of optical fibers extending through a cavity of the jacket. The jacket has an access location with a single opening formed in the jacket that extends to the cavity. A distribution optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers extends through and protrudes from the single opening in the jacket at the access location. The length of the distribution optical fiber is at least 5/4 times the length of the single opening. | 08-28-2014 |