Abstract: A cable stripping tool for stripping the outer jacket of a cable having a length. The tool includes a tool frame having an elongated opening and a cable support disposed on the tool frame including at least one support surface for maintaining the cable in a relative position on the tool. The tool includes a roller assembly having an offset block movable along the elongated opening, a roller wheel rotatingly attached to an end of the block member adjacent the cable support and a loading knob attached to an opposite end of the offset block as the roller wheel. The tool includes a blade having a cutting edge extendable from the cable support surface toward the cable. The blade cutting edge may be rotatable between a first direction parallel to the cable length, a third direction perpendicular to the cable length and a second position between the first and third position.

Abstract: A compression tool for fastening a cable to a connector comprising an elongated tool frame, an anvil secured to one end of the tool frame, a compression plunger slidable along a portion of the tool frame, a handle set adapted to move the compression plunger toward and away from the anvil and a spacer block for securing the connector a distance from the anvil. The handle set may include a first handle movable from a first position wherein the plunger is a first distance from the anvil to a second position wherein the plunger is a second distance from the anvil. The spacer block may include a first end and a second end having a different depth from the first end and be rotatable so that the first end when rotated to the active position secures the connector a first distance from the anvil and the second end, when rotated to the active position secures the connector a second distance from the anvil.

Abstract: A snap adapter for a wire stripping tool has a hollow body with a tool end, a component end, and a button. The tool end is sized for insertion into the tool body and the component end is sized for receiving a component meant to strip a cable of a specified diameter. The button comprises a pin feature for attaching the received component. Inserting the component into the snap adapter forces the pin away from the snap adapter hollow body to allow for full insertion of the component into the tool body. A spring disposed between the hollow body and button pushes the pin feature upwards through the hollow body to hold the component inside the snap adapter once the component is fully inserted. Removing the component requires pushing down the button to extract the pin feature, which allows the component to be slideably removed from the tool body.

Abstract: A tube jacket slitting tool including first and second opposite tool portions, each tool portion including a common hinged portion at a first end for engaging the opposite tool portion. The first and second opposite tool portions are foldable about the hinged portion between an open position and a closed position. The tool includes at least one concave surface extending across the width of forming an opening, when the first and second opposite tool portions are in the closed position, through which a tube may be slid. The tool includes a blade extending inward into the opening for slitting a depth of the tube jacket as it is moved with respect to the tool. The tool includes a hinge pivot axis in the hinged portion extending in a direction substantially in the direction of the width and at an acute angle to either the plane or to the longitudinal axis of the tube or cable in the opening formed by the at least one concave surface.

Abstract: An adjustable wire stripper has a jaw for positioning a length of cable, a tool body for tangentially contacting the cable, a blade having a cantilevered loading ramp for cutting the insulation off the cable, and a blade angle adjustment shaft driven by an angle adjustment member. A frame member disposed between the jaw and the body adjusts the distance between the jaw and the body to accommodate cables of different diameters. The frame member relatively moves the jaw and the body with respect to each other along a line having a constant sliding angle. The angle adjustment shaft has a flange extending radially outwardly for driving the shaft to different angles of rotation with respect to the body. An optional assist spring bearing opposite the flange urges the flange against the blade angle adjustment member during movement of the flange to reduce backlash of the shaft.

Abstract: A tool for removing insulation in mid-span of a cable carrying a signal-transmitting conduit comprising a lower body section and an upper body section movable toward and away from the lower body section. The tool includes a curved mandrel disposed on the lower body section, the curved mandrel having a central peak portion and adjacent portions curving downward away from the peak portion, to present a mid-span portion of the cable insulation on a side away from the mandrel peak portion. The tool includes a blade disposed on the upper body section, the blade movable toward and away from the curved mandrel. The cable is securable in the curved mandrel in a curved position, allowing the blade to shave the cable insulation allowing access to the signal-transmitting conduit. The tool may include an adjustment barrel having a plurality of height adjustment surfaces disposed at a different distance from the barrel axis, each height adjustment surface positioning the blade a different distance from the mandrel.

Abstract: A fiber optic stripping and cutting apparatus comprising a tool housing and a stripping tool slidingly secured to the tool housing, the stripping tool having a pair of opposing stripping blades pivotable with respect to each other, each stripping blade having at least two teeth, the teeth on one stripping blade aligned with teeth on the opposite stripping blade. The fiber optic stripping and cutting apparatus includes a cutting tool removably secured to the tool housing, the cutting tool having a pair of opposing flat blades, each flat blade including a sharp edge. The stripping and cutting tools are each independently slideable from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position at least partially extending from the tool housing. The stripping tool and cutting tool may be removable from the tool housing.

Abstract: A fiber optic stripping apparatus comprising a frame having an axis and a pair of outer arms extending from the axis, each arm pivotal about the axis and a pair of first blades each first blade having a first blade edge, each of the first blades attached to a corresponding frame arm with the first blade edge extending in the direction of the corresponding frame arm. The stripping apparatus includes a pair of second blades each second blade having a second blade edge, each of the second blades attached to a corresponding frame arm with the second blade edge extending transverse to the direction of the corresponding frame arm, the second blades each having a first set of notches forming a circle when the stripping apparatus is in a closed position and a second set of notches substantially forming a circle when the stripping apparatus is in the closed position.

Abstract: A method is provided where a compression tool is used for fastening a cable to a connector comprising an elongated tool frame, an anvil secured to one end of the tool frame, a compression plunger slidable along a portion of the tool frame, a handle set adapted to move the compression plunger toward and away from the anvil and a spacer block for securing the connector a distance from the anvil. The handle set may include a first handle movable from a first position wherein the plunger is a first distance from the anvil to a second position wherein the plunger is a second distance from the anvil. The spacer block may include a first end and a second end having a different depth from the first end and be rotatable so that the first end when rotated to the active position secures the connector a first distance from the anvil and the second end, when rotated to the active position secures the connector a second distance from the anvil.

Abstract: A snap adapter for a wire stripping tool has a hollow body with a tool end, a component end, and a button. The tool end is sized for insertion into the tool body and the component end is sized for receiving a component meant to strip a cable of a specified diameter. The button comprises a pin feature for attaching the received component. Inserting the component into the snap adapter forces the pin away from the snap adapter hollow body to allow for full insertion of the component into the tool body. A spring disposed between the hollow body and button pushes the pin feature upwards through the hollow body to hold the component inside the snap adapter once the component is fully inserted. Removing the component requires pushing down the button to extract the pin feature, which allows the component to be slideably removed from the tool body.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for gaining access to optical fibers contained within a fiber optic cable. Specifically, a cable entry tool can include a first jaw that can have a substantially V-shaped first channel formed therein, a first cutting element extending into the first channel and movable to any of a variety of depths, a second jaw positioned opposing the first jaw and that can have a substantially V-shaped second channel formed therein, and a second cutting element extending into the second channel and movable to any of a variety of depths. The first channel and the second channel can be movable with respect to each other for receiving therebetween a buffer tube having any of a variety of tube diameters.