Abstract: A communication line such as an optical fiber or cable is attached along a wall, ceiling, trim piece, or other selected surface on or inside of a building, by paying out the fiber from an applicator tool while the tool guides the fiber along the selected surface. The outer surface of the fiber is prepared so that the fiber will be in a temporarily tacky condition when the fiber is pressed onto the selected surface by the applicator tool. The fiber is pre-coated with an adhesive that is activated by a fluid supplied by the applicator tool. As the applicator tool presses the fiber onto the selected surface, the activated adhesive coating on the fiber quickly becomes non-tacky to attach the fiber firmly to the surface.

Abstract: An optical fiber is permanently routed easily, quickly, and unobtrusively at a customer premises using an inventive hand tool, without staples or other fasteners. The fiber has an adhesive outer coating that is activated as the fiber is applied by the tool on an exposed surface such as a wall, ceiling, molding, groove, or corner at the premises. When the activated coating hardens, the fiber is bonded to the surface on which it was applied, and the hardened coating also provides physical protection for the fiber. In the disclosed embodiment, the coated fiber is supplied on a spool that mounts on the tool, and the coating is activated by guiding the fiber as it unwinds from the spool through a chamber containing an activating substance. The fiber with the activated coating is then guided to an applicator wheel on the tool which applies the fiber to the surface.

Abstract: A tool for routing an optical fiber or a cable over a desired span on a visible supporting surface at a given premises. The tool includes a rod with a handle, and a reel or spool is mounted on the rod for storing a length of an optical fiber or a cable to be routed. An adhesive coating assembly is fixed on the rod for providing an adhesive on the fiber when the fiber is unwound from the spool during use of the tool. A fiber routing applicator is disposed at the distal end of the rod. The routing applicator is dimensioned and arranged to travel over the supporting surface at the premises to route the fiber with the adhesive thereon over the desired span, while urging the fiber against the surface so that the fiber adheres to the surface.

Abstract: A communication line such as an optical fiber or cable is attached along a wall, ceiling, trim piece, or other selected surface on or inside of a building, by paying out the fiber from an applicator tool while the tool guides the fiber along the selected surface. The outer surface of the fiber is prepared so that the fiber will be in a temporarily tacky condition when the fiber is pressed onto the selected surface by the applicator tool. The fiber is pre-coated with an adhesive that is activated by a fluid supplied by the applicator tool. As the applicator tool presses the fiber onto the selected surface, the activated adhesive coating on the fiber quickly becomes non-tacky to attach the fiber firmly to the surface.

Abstract: Methods for routing an optical fiber over a desired span on a structural surface at a given premises are provided. When the optical fiber is unwound from a container, the optical fiber attaches to the structural surface by an adhesive material. The adhesive material can be applied along the desired span before, during, or after the optical fiber is routed over the desired span.

Abstract: Methods for routing an optical fiber over a desired span on a structural surface at a given premises are provided. When the optical fiber is unwound from a container, the optical fiber attaches to the structural surface by an adhesive material. The adhesive material can be applied along the desired span before, during, or after the optical fiber is routed over the desired span.

Abstract: A communication line such as an optical fiber or cable is attached along a wall, ceiling, trim piece, or other target surface inside of a building by laying out the line from an applicator tool. An outer surface of the line is placed in a temporarily tacky condition as the line is laid out from the tool along the target surface. The temporarily tacky condition of the line is due at least in part to an adhesive component that is pre-applied to the outer surface of the line. The adhesive component is activated by an agent or medium that is associated with the applicator tool. The line becomes non-tacky after it is attached to the target surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for routing an optical fiber over a desired span on a structural surface at a given premises are provided. When the optical fiber is unwound from a spool, the optical fiber attaches to the structural surface by an adhesive material. The adhesive material can be applied along the desired span, or portion thereof, before, during, or after the optical fiber is routed over the desired span.

Abstract: An optical fiber is permanently routed easily, quickly, and unobtrusively at a customer premises using an inventive hand tool, without staples or other fasteners. The fiber has an adhesive outer coating that is activated as the fiber is applied by the tool on an exposed surface such as a wall, ceiling, molding, groove, or corner at the premises. When the activated coating hardens, the fiber is bonded to the surface on which it was applied, and the hardened coating also provides physical protection for the fiber. In the disclosed embodiment, the coated fiber is supplied on a spool that mounts on the tool, and the coating is activated by guiding the fiber as it unwinds from the spool through a chamber containing an activating substance. The fiber with the activated coating is then guided to an applicator wheel on the tool which applies the fiber to the surface.

Abstract: Among other things, a communication line is attached along a target surface of a building by laying out the line from a tool. An outer surface of the line is in a temporarily tacky condition as the line is laid out along the surface. The line is in the temporarily tacky condition based at least in part on an adhesive component having been pre-applied to the outer surface of the line. The line becomes non-tacky after it has been attached.

Abstract: A tool for routing an optical fiber or a cable over a desired span on a visible supporting surface at a given premises. The tool includes a rod with a handle, and a reel or spool is mounted on the rod for storing a length of an optical fiber or a cable to be routed. An adhesive coating assembly is fixed on the rod for providing an adhesive on the fiber when the fiber is unwound from the spool during use of the tool. A fiber routing applicator is disposed at the distal end of the rod. The routing applicator is dimensioned and arranged to travel over the supporting surface at the premises to route the fiber with the adhesive thereon over the desired span, while urging the fiber against the surface so that the fiber adheres to the surface.

Abstract: A communications cable (20) in which plastic material which is disposed about each transmission medium thereof is characterized by a relatively low dielectric constant. The cable exhibits relatively low flame spread and low smoke generation while maintaining circuit integrity through a fire retardant composition which includes a mixture of an organic resin and first and second inorganic oxide constituents. The first inorganic oxide constituent is characterized by a melting point in the range of about 350.degree. C. The second inorganic oxide constituent comprises a higher melting devitrifying frit which begins to crystallize at about 650.degree. C. Advantageously, when the cable is exposed to high temperatures, the mixture of the first and second inorganic oxide constituents melts and forms a crusty layer which is interposed between the covering plastic material and other components of the cable.