Abstract: A fiber optic cable (10) includes a tube section (20) and an sheath section (40). Between tube and sheath sections (20,40) is a series of general interstices (S), each general interstice (S) comprises a respective set of sub-interstices (S1,S2,S3). Each general interstice (S) comprises a respective interstitial assembly (30). Each interstitial assembly (30) provides crush strength resistance and water blocking features to fiber optic cable (10).

Abstract: A bracket assembly is provided for managing and strain relieving jumpers exiting an optical hardware cabinet. The bracket has a length portion and at least one fanning finger block mounted thereon to define a line of routing spaces for jumpers. The bracket further has at least one tie portion located at an end of the length portion and extending laterally of the length portion defining a free edge. The tie portion defines holes suitable for threading a cable tie therethrough. The tie portion is located relative to the fanning finger blocks such that jumpers routed through the fanning fingers can be gathered together over the tie portion and secured thereto with a cable tie threaded through one of the holes. The bracket has a mounting portion extending downward from the bracket to provide a clearance space to allow for threading of a cable tie through the hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lead for attachment to a cylindrical protector element with a circular contact ring thereon and a circular groove adjacent and axially inward of the contact ring. The lead is a conductive member with a first end and a second end opposite thereto. The second end has an arcuate surface with a ridge protruding therefrom than is sized to engage the groove of the protector element and guide the element until a portion of the contact ring of the element is disposed against the arcuate portion of the second end of the lead.

Abstract: A machine for incorporating filament(s) into a fiber optic cable, e.g. a fly-off type strander (20). Strander (20) includes a frame (22) and a carriage (30) rotatably mounted to the frame. Carriage (30) includes filament packages (50) respectively mounted on fixed arbors (38) in protective barrels (33). For the prevention of snagging of the filaments on the packages, each barrel includes a respective filament guard (35) adjacent to or against which respective packages (50) are disposed. Each package (50) includes a respective filament tensioner (40) mounted to carriage (30) for tensioning a respective filament (52). As tensioners (40) are generally parallel to the axis of rotation of carriage (30), loosening or tightening of tensioner (40) during rotation of carriage (30) is avoided, whereby filaments (52) are firmly wrapped about a cable component at a controlled tension and an optimal speed.

Abstract: The fiber organizer includes a tray for supporting at least one optical fiber within a housing, such as an optical receiver node. The fiber organizer also includes means for defining a raceway along which the optical fiber is routed. The raceway can be defined by inner and outer walls which extend outwardly from the tray in order to guide the optical fiber along the raceway in a manner which prevents the fiber from being excessively bent. In order to provide access to components disposed beneath the fiber organizer, the tray can include a hinge to permit a first portion of the tray to be pivoted relative to a second portion of the tray. The tray can also define one or more openings aligned with respective test ports of the electrical circuitry which lies beneath the fiber organizer. A technician can therefore establish electrical contact with the test ports while the tray remains in position within the housing.

Abstract: A splicing connector and an associated splice mechanism are provided to splice first and second pluralities of optical fibers without buckling the optical fibers. The connector includes a housing and a retainer disposed of at least partially within the housing which defines a channel through which a plurality of optical fibers extend. The connector also includes a clip for securing the optical fibers within the retainer such that the end portions of the optical fibers are exposed through the forward end of the housing in preparation for splicing the optical fibers. Further, the connector includes a spring for urging the retainer and the optical fibers secured within the retainer toward the forward end of the housing, thereby permitting the optical fibers to be spliced without buckling the optical fibers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a connector and connector sleeve assembly comprising a connector with reduced parts that is received in one side of the connector sleeve. The connector has a bayonet style protrusion that is received in a bayonet cut-out in the connector sleeve. The other side of the connector sleeve is configured to receive a standard connector design such as an SC connector or an ST type connector. The connector has an enlarged portion for being gripped by fingers such that the reduced part connector can be readily connected and disconnected from the connector sleeve in tight spaces.

Abstract: An optical fiber carrier (10) having at least one protective member comprising a buffer tube (20). Buffer tube (20) has a removable section (30) removal of which permits separation of the buffer tube for access to optical fibers (42) in the tube. Buffer tube (20) may include an optical fiber ribbon (41) with a removable section (50) for facilitating separation of a protective member (48).

Abstract: An optical cable (50) for use in a fiber optic cable assembly (10). Fiber optic cable assembly (10) comprises conventional single fiber connectors (80,82), a dual fiber connector (84), and a connector fan-out housing (86). Dual fiber connector (84) is of the type used to interface with, for example, an opto-electrical and electro-optical transducer. Fiber optic cable (50) comprises a ribbon (20). Ribbon (20) includes optical fibers (24), a variable spacing section (23), and a transition section (27) inside connector housing (86). Optical fibers (24) are spaced at a nominal fiber-to-fiber distance, defined as spacing S, in cable section (21). Variable spacing section (23) comprises sub-carrier sections (22a,22b) comprising plastic tubes, e.g. furcation tubing, the spacing of which is variable. Spacing S matches the spacing needed in an electrical system to avoid crosstalk.

Abstract: A method for providing core protrusion relative to cladding in an optical fiber mounted in a fiber optic connector includes the step of etching the end face of the fiber with a solution which preferentially removes the cladding from around the core of the optical fiber so that the core protrudes beyond the cladding. Additional steps may include fine polishing the end of the core in order to provide a relatively even end on the core and/or irradiating the end of the optical fiber with a laser in order to smooth the end of the core, thereby facilitating contact with the end of the second optical fiber in a fiber optic connector. As a result, according to the present invention a fiber optic connector with a protruding core is also provided. The core protrudes beyond the end of the cladding to improve contact and thus reduce reflectance when mated with a second fiber optic connector.

Abstract: An adapter assembly is provided for removably receiving two optical fiber ferrules of the type with open grooves extending longitudinally rearward of the end face of the ferrule. The assembly comprises a sleeve with an interior surface that defines a passageway therethrough sized for receiving the ends of the ferrules therein. The interior surface also defines two longitudinal grooves opposite each other that open to the passageway. A guide pin is located in each groove such that an exposed portion of the outer surface of the guide pin along the entire length of the guide pin inside the sleeve is exposed to the passageway. The exposed portion are sized and located relative to each other to slide in the ferrule grooves and operatively align the end faces of the ferrules rotationally and laterally relative to each other when the two ferrules are inserted into the sleeve.

Abstract: A multi-link boot assembly has a number of separate links which can be connected to form a flexible boot assembly capable of maintaining a predetermined bend radius as off-axial loads are applied, thereby effectively dispersing stresses along a cable as the cable is flexed or bent. Each link of the multi-link boot assembly includes a body portion defining a lengthwise extending bore for receiving the cable. The body portion extends between first and second opposed ends and generally includes a female section at the first end and a male section at the second end. The female section defines an opening for receiving the male section of another link during the assembly of the multi-link boot assembly. In order to connect each link with another link to form the flexible boot assembly, each link includes a connecting element at each of the first and second opposed ends which cooperably engages a corresponding connecting element of an adjacent link.

Abstract: The fiber optic connector includes a crimp body defining a longitudinal bore extending between the first and second opposed ends of the crimp body. The fiber optic connector also includes a cylindrical shroud defining an internal bore in which a ferrule assembly is disposed. The internal bore extends longitudinally between the first and second opposed ends of the shroud. The first end of the shroud is connected to the second end of the crimp body such that the internal bore of the shroud opens into the longitudinal bore of the crimp body. The crimp body is preferably formed of a metal, while the shroud is preferably formed of a plastic material such that the first end of the shroud can be ultrasonically welded to the second end of the crimp body. In order to further secure the crimp body and the shroud, the second end of the crimp body can include a lip that extends radially outward to engage the first end of the shroud.

Abstract: The at least partially flexible connector assembly includes a slack storage tube connected to the first end of a fiber optic cable for loosely storing excess lengths of the optical fibers. The slack storage tube is typically at least partially flexible. By including a flexible slack storage tube, the connector assembly can be readily flexed, such as during installations of the fiber optic cable in which the end portion of the fiber optic cable must be bent relatively sharply. However, the slack storage tube does generally include crush resistance means for supporting the slack storage tube as the connector assembly is flexed such that the longitudinal bore defined by the slack storage tube remains open. The crush resistance means can include a wire helically wound about the slack storage tube. Alternatively, the slack storage tube can be a corrugated tube.

Abstract: The receptacle includes a rotatable coupling nut for engaging an externally threaded fiber optic connector assembly or plug which is mounted upon the end portion of a fiber optic cable. As such, the cross-sectional dimensions of the fiber optic connector assembly can be significantly decreased, thereby permitting the fiber optic cable to be pulled through much smaller ducts or passageways. The receptacle also includes a receptacle body adapted to be mounted in a fixed position, such as to a sidewall of an enclosure. The coupling nut cooperably engages the receptacle body such that the coupling nut is free to rotate relative to the receptacle body even though the longitudinal movement of the coupling nut relative to the receptacle body is limited.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable (40) having an fiber optic cable component (10) with a cellularized structure. The fiber optic cable component (10) comprises a body (11) made from a cellularized material having at least one recess (13). The recess (13) includes an optical member (44), and the body (11) is surrounded by a protective sheath (45).

Abstract: A buffered optical fiber includes a coated optical fiber loosely contained within a space delimited by the inner surface of a plastic tube. The outer surface of the coated optical fiber is formed of non-stick material such as TEFLON. No filler material is inserted between the coated optical fiber and the inner surface of the plastic tube. The plastic tube may have an inner diameter of 400 .mu.m and an outer diameter of 900 .mu.m. The buffered optical fiber is suitable for use in interconnect cables.

Abstract: A composite cable (10) includes a core section (12), a tensile strength section (20), a conductor and water blocking section (30), an armor tape (50), and an outer jacket (60). Core section (12) includes at least one fiber optic conductor (14), and conductor and water blocking section (30) includes twisted pair conductors (32) and water blocking members (36,37). Tensile strength section (20) includes strength members (22). Composite cable (10) combines the high bit-rate capacity of fiber optic conductor (14) with the electrical signal/power carrying capacity of electrical conductors (32) and meets water blocking and tensile strength requirements.

Abstract: A method for connectorizing fiber optic cables includes arranging a plurality of connectorized optical fiber jumpers having first and second opposed ends, such that the first end of each jumper is in parallel alignment with respect to the first end of each other jumper. Each of the second ends of the jumpers have a fiber optic connector disposed thereon. The first ends of the jumpers are then spliced onto a corresponding plurality of first ends of optical fibers of a fiber optic cable. Each of the first ends of the optical fibers of the fiber optic cable are also arranged in parallel alignment with respect to each other optical fiber so that the first ends of the optical fiber jumpers are axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the corresponding first ends of the optical fibers of the fiber optic cable. A jumper insert which has a tapered channel and a jumper seat which has a plurality of lengthwise extending bores which are provided to assist in arranging the jumpers in parallel alignment.

Abstract: A gas tube protector module is provided that provides sneak current protection in addition to voltage surge protection. The module has two pairs of terminals with one pair for connection to outside plant and the second pair for connection to the inside wiring. The module has a gas tube with leads connected to the first pair of terminals. Positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistors are disposed electrically between the lead and the second pair of terminals such that the PTCs are in series between the outside plant and the inside wiring.