Abstract: Disclosed are fiber optic connectors including a holder for attaching a fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector along with cable assemblies and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the holder includes a first and a second cantilevered arm that are squeezed together when a sleeve is placed over the holder. Further, one or more of the cantilevered arm may include a plurality of teeth for “biting” into the cable jacket and providing a suitable fiber optic cable retention force. The fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods disclosed herein are advantageous since they allow the craft to quickly, reliably, and easily attach a robust fiber optic cable to a connector, thereby providing a rugged solution for the craft.

Abstract: Disclosed are fiber optic connectors including a holder for attaching a fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector along with cable assemblies and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the holder includes a first and a second cantilevered arm that are squeezed together when a sleeve is placed over the holder. Further, one or more of the cantilevered arm may include a plurality of teeth for “biting” into the cable jacket and providing a suitable fiber optic cable retention force. The fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods disclosed herein are advantageous since they allow the craft to quickly, reliably, and easily attach a robust fiber optic cable to a connector, thereby providing a rugged solution for the craft.

Abstract: A line module includes a plurality of pivoting insulation displacement connector holders, an insulation connector (IDC) positionable in at least one holder when the holder is in a connected position, and a gel-less jack in electrical communication with at least one IDC.

Abstract: An optical connection closure has at least one connector port located within an external wall of the closure for receiving a connectorized optical fiber of a distribution cable on the inside of the closure and a pre-connectorized fiber optic drop cable on the outside of the closure. The closure includes a base, a cover affixed to the base and movable between a closed position and an opened position, and an end wall that defines at least a portion of at least one cable opening for receiving the distribution cable in a butt-type or a through-type closure configuration. The base and the cover define an interior cavity that optionally contains a splice tray for interconnecting the optical fiber of the distribution cable with a pigtail to create the connectorized optical fiber. The connector port may be located within an end wall, a bottom wall or a top wall of the closure.

Abstract: Furcation bodies and furcation assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment, a furcation body includes a channel forming a passageway extending from the front end to a back end of the furcation body. The furcation body may accommodate different styles and/or sizes of fiber optic cables. For instance, the furcation body may be secured to either a buffer tube of a buffered drop cable or a cable jacket of an unbuffered drop cable. Additionally, assemblies may include a furcation tube secured to the furcation member back end for protecting the optical fiber extending from the furcation body and/or a fiber optic connector. Furcation assemblies having multiple fibers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A NID includes a base defining an interior cavity and a protective outer cover attached to the base for movement between an opened position and a closed position. At least one of the base and the outer cover has one or more channels formed therein and the other of the base and the outer cover has one or more lips that depend outwardly therefrom. Each lip is received within a corresponding channel formed on the other of the base and the outer cover. The lip and the channel have side portions that engage at multiple contact points to form an environmental seal that prevents contaminants, such as wind-driven dust, sand and moisture, from entering the interior cavity when the outer cover is in the closed position, thereby protecting communications equipment within the NID without the use of an elastomeric gel, seal or gasket.

Abstract: A slack storage receptacle for storing an excess length of a pre-connectorized fiber optic drop cable extending between an optical connection terminal and a network interface device (NID) includes a housing and a storage means disposed within the housing for receiving the drop cable such that the drop cable slack is stored external to the NID. The slack storage receptacle may be secured to an exterior wall of a subscriber premises and the NID mounted thereon. Alternatively, the slack storage receptacle may be positioned around and formed to the NID. Alternatively, the slack storage receptacle may be buried in the ground adjacent the NID. The drop cable slack may be wound onto the storage means after deployment. Alternatively, the slack storage receptacle may be pre-assembled, shipped to the subscriber premises, and the drop cable unwound from the storage means with the drop cable slack remaining wound on the storage means.

Abstract: An installation closure having fiber management apparatus includes an outer shell and at least one cable centralizer disposed within the outer shell at a factory-assembled access location on a fiber optic distribution cable. The cable centralizer has a central channel for retaining the distribution cable and at least one routing slot for routing an optical fiber preterminated from the distribution cable at the access location. At least a portion of the outer shell is removed following deployment of the distribution cable and replaced with a conventional closure. An optical connector may be mounted upon the end of the preterminated optical fiber and the installation closure may further include an end centralizer having a central channel for retaining the distribution cable and at least one connector slot for retaining the connector. The replacement closure includes at least one connector port for receiving the connector from the inside of the installation closure.

Abstract: A wire termination device, such as a protected termination device (“PTD”), is provided for establishing and testing telephone wiring connections. Conductive contacts provided on the cover of the PTD are incorporated into a plug assembly mounted on the cover. The plug assembly is then brought into engagement with the jack of the PTD when the cover is closed. A preferred embodiment of the plug assembly incorporates laterally disposed bypass contacts that are brought into engagement with conductive plates within the jack. An alternative embodiment of the plug assembly has conductive contacts that are brought into contact with the tip and ring contacts of the jack when the cover is closed. In either case, test contacts are accessible through the cover of the PTD so that the cover of the PTD can be opened and closed without having to disconnect and reconnect the test probes from the test contact points.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable has a plug assembly that may be positioned and secured at any desired location along the length of the cable to engage a receptacle disposed within a connector port provided in a wall of a connection terminal. The plug assembly includes a shroud, a coupling nut, a heat shrink tube for sealing the cable and a boot for providing bending strain relief. At least a portion of the cable passes through the connector port for interconnection with optical fibers of a distribution cable or optical equipment. A method for routing a fiber optic cable into a connection terminal includes using a connector port provided in a wall of the terminal, determining a desired length of the cable, positioning and securing a plug assembly at a desired location along the length of the cable, and mating the plug assembly with a receptacle disposed within the connector port.

Abstract: An optical connection closure has at least one connector port located within an external wall of the closure for receiving a connectorized optical fiber of a distribution cable on the inside of the closure and a pre-connectorized fiber optic drop cable on the outside of the closure. The closure includes a base, a cover affixed to the base and movable between a closed position and an opened position, and an end wall that defines at least a portion of at least one cable opening for receiving the distribution cable in a butt-type or a through-type closure configuration. The base and the cover define an interior cavity that optionally contains a splice tray for interconnecting the optical fiber of the distribution cable with a pigtail to create the connectorized optical fiber. The connector port may be located within an end wall, a bottom wall or a top wall of the closure.

Abstract: Metal oxide varistors (MOVs) are employed in surge protection devices, such as overvoltage protection devices, between a pair of signal lines and ground to reduce the capacitive imbalance introduced by the overvoltage protector, thereby improving higher frequency transmissions over twisted-pair telephone lines. The MOVs are sorted into subgroups having a capacitive tolerance of no more than about 1.0 picofarad. MOVs with asymmetrical electrodes can also be sorted to reduce both the capacitance and the capacitive tolerance of the MOVs. The sorted MOVs can then be electrically connected in parallel with a gas discharge tube on each signal line to produce an overvoltage protection device, for example a station protector for use at a customer premises, having a capacitive imbalance that does not exceed about 1.3 picofarads. The use of asymmetrical electrodes reduces the capacitance of the sorted MOVs to less than about 30 picofarads.

Abstract: Metal oxide varistors (MOVs) are employed in surge protection devices, such as overvoltage protection devices, between signal lines and ground to reduce the capacitance and the capacitive imbalance introduced by the overvoltage protector, thereby improving higher frequency transmissions, such as xDSL communications, over a twisted-pair telecommunications network. The MOVs can be stacked electrically in series to reduce the capacitance of each MOV and to reduce the variability, tolerance or spread of the capacitance between MOVs. Asymmetrical MOVs with electrodes having different surface areas can also be used to reduce capacitance and to reduce capacitive imbalance between MOVs. Furthermore, Asymmetrical MOVs, as well as MOVs with electrodes having the same surface area, can be stacked electrically in series. Such series stacked, asymmetrical, and series stacked asymmetrical MOVs can be used in parallel with a gas discharge tube to form, for example, a station protector for use at a customer premises.

Abstract: Metal oxide varistors (MOVs) are employed in surge protection devices, such as overvoltage protection devices, between signal lines and ground to reduce the capacitance and the capacitive imbalance introduced by the overvoltage protector, thereby improving higher frequency transmissions, such as xDSL communications, over a twisted-pair telecommunications network. The MOVs can be stacked electrically in series to reduce the capacitance of each MOV and to reduce the variability, tolerance or spread of the capacitance between MOVs. Asymmetrical MOVs with electrodes having different surface areas can also be used to reduce capacitance and to reduce capacitive imbalance between MOVs. Furthermore, Asymmetrical MOVs, as well as MOVs with electrodes having the same surface area, can be stacked electrically in series. Such series stacked, asymmetrical, and series stacked asymmetrical MOVs can be used in parallel with a gas discharge tube to form, for example, a station protector for use at a customer premises.

Abstract: Metal oxide varistors (MOVs) are employed in surge protection devices, such as overvoltage protection devices, between a pair of signal lines and ground to reduce the capacitive imbalance introduced by the overvoltage protector, thereby improving higher frequency transmissions over twisted-pair telephone lines. The MOVs are sorted into subgroups having a capacitive tolerance of no more than about 1.0 picofarad. MOVs with asymmetrical electrodes can also be sorted to reduce both the capacitance and the capacitive tolerance of the MOVs. The sorted MOVs can then be electrically connected in parallel with a gas discharge tube on each signal line to produce an overvoltage protection device, for example a station protector for use at a customer premises, having a capacitive imbalance that does not exceed about 1.3 picofarads. The use of asymmetrical electrodes reduces the capacitance of the sorted MOVs to less than about 30 picofarads.

Abstract: A failsafe surge protector having a reduced part count includes a line terminal, a gas tube assembly, at least one ground spring for biasing the gas tube assembly in the direction of the line terminal, and a ground terminal. The gas tube assembly includes a gas tube, a fusible solder pellet, a failsafe ground, an MOV, and an MOV spring. The surge protector provides a first electrical ground path from the line terminal to the ground terminal through the gas tube and the fusible solder pellet, and a second electrical ground path parallel to the first electrical ground path from the line terminal to the ground terminal through the MOV. When the fusible solder pellet melts, the ground spring biases the failsafe ground into electrical contact with the line terminal, thereby providing a short-circuit electrical path from the line terminal to the ground terminal through the failsafe ground.

Abstract: An interconnect apparatus for electrically connecting Telco wires to subscriber wires is arranged and configured to withstand overcurrent and overvoltage conditions. The interconnect apparatus includes a jack, a first set of contacts, and a first set of by-pass conductors. The first set of by-pass conductors is electrically connected to the first set of contacts and has a greater current carrying capacity than the first set of contacts. The interconnect apparatus further includes a second set of by-pass conductors and a plug. The second set of by-pass conductors is electrically connected to the first set of by-pass conductors when the plug and jack are engaged. The second set of by-pass conductors may also have a greater current carrying capacity than the first set of contacts. Preferably, the first set of by-pass conductors is spaced sufficiently apart and the second set of by-pass conductors is spaced sufficiently apart to substantially eliminate arcing.

Abstract: A customer bridge for a terminating device includes a base defining an interior cavity and a base cap attached to the base and substantially covering the cavity. At least a pair of wire insertion holes formed through the base cap extend into the cavity for receiving twisted-pair tip and ring wires. The customer bridge further includes at least a pair of corresponding insulation displacement contacts disposed within the cavity. An actuating arm pivots between a disconnected position wherein the twisted-pair tip and ring wires do not engage the corresponding pair of insulation displacement contacts and a connected position wherein the twisted-pair tip and ring wires engage the corresponding pair of insulation displacement contacts. The wire insertion holes are located on the top surface of the customer bridge to permit the twisted-pair tip and ring wires to be inserted from immediately above the terminating device.

Abstract: A wire termination device, such as a protected termination device (“PTD”), is provided for establishing and testing telephone wiring connections. Conductive contacts provided on the cover of the PTD are incorporated into a plug assembly mounted on the cover. The plug assembly is then brought into engagement with the jack of the PTD when the cover is closed. A preferred embodiment of the plug assembly incorporates laterally disposed bypass contacts that are brought into engagement with conductive plates within the jack. An alternative embodiment of the plug assembly has conductive contacts that are brought into contact with the tip and ring contacts of the jack when the cover is closed. In either case, test contacts are accessible through the cover of the PTD so that the cover of the PTD can be opened and closed without having to disconnect and reconnect the test probes from the test contact points.

Abstract: An interconnect apparatus for electrically connecting Telco wires to subscriber wires is arranged and configured to withstand overcurrent and overvoltage conditions. The interconnect apparatus includes a jack, a first set of contacts, and a first set of by-pass conductors. The first set of by-pass conductors is electrically connected to the first set of contacts and has a greater current carrying capacity than the first set of contacts. The interconnect apparatus further includes a second set of by-pass conductors and a plug. The second set of by-pass conductors is electrically connected to the first set of by-pass conductors when the plug and jack are engaged. The second set of by-pass conductors may also have a greater current carrying capacity than the first set of contacts. Preferably, the first set of by-pass conductors is spaced sufficiently apart and the second set of by-pass conductors is spaced sufficiently apart to substantially eliminate arcing.