Abstract: Furcation management structures and fiber optic shelf assemblies including one or more furcation management structures are disclosed. The furcation management structures are disposed in a chassis of a fiber optic shelf assembly and define a mounting surface for mounting at least one furcation body of a fiber optic cable assembly thereto. The furcation management structure may allow the fiber optic shelf assemblies to provide a greater density of fiber optic cable assemblies to support high density fiber optic equipment. Moreover, the furcation management structures provides the craft with an organized mounting structure that is relatively quick and easy to remove, rearrange, and/or reconfigure.

Abstract: Pulling grip housing assemblies for a fiber optic assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, the pulling grip assembly is comprised of a pulling grip housing for receiving part of a fiber optic assembly. A pulling grip sleeve is also provided. The pulling grip sleeve has at least one sleeve locking feature suitable for cooperating with a housing locking feature of the pulling grip housing to secure the pulling grip housing to the pulling grip sleeve. In this manner, the pulling grip housing can easily be secured to the pulling grip sleeve and removed when pulling of a fiber optic assembly is completed. The pulling grip housing and pulling grip sleeve can also be reused for pulling other fiber optic assemblies.

Abstract: Pulling grips for installing a fiber optic assembly are disclosed. The pulling grip includes a pulling grip housing for receiving part of a fiber optic assembly therein. The pulling grip may also include a pulling grip sleeve and/or pulling sock. In one embodiment, the pulling grip housing has a friction fit with the pulling grip sleeve when assembled, thereby inhibiting rotation therebetween. Consequently, the friction fit advantageously inhibits twisting of the fiber optic assembly when installing the same using the pulling grip. In this manner, the pulling grip housing can easily be insert into the pulling grip sleeve and removed when pulling of a fiber optic assembly is completed. The pulling grip housing, pulling grip sleeve, and/or pulling sock may also be reused for pulling other fiber optic assemblies.

Abstract: A fiber optic apparatus having a fiber optic equipment tray and an extension adapted to receive, organize and manage fiber optic cables routed to the fiber optic equipment tray is disclosed. The fiber optic equipment tray has a front, a rear, a base, and at least one extension rail. The extension movably attaches to the fiber optic equipment tray at the extension rail and, thereby, slidably extends from and retracts toward the rear of the fiber optic equipment tray. The extension comprises a shelf and a cable management tray hingedly attached to the shelf. The shelf moves over the base when the extension extends from and retracts toward the fiber optic equipment tray. The cable management tray is in planer alignment with the fiber optic equipment tray when the extension is retracted, and allowed to pivot downwardly when the extension is extended. At least one furcation plug tray attaches to the cable management tray.

Abstract: Fiber optic cable assemblies having a fiber optic cable, a furcation body, and one or more furcated legs are disclosed herein. In embodiments disclosed herein, the furcation body comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end having the fiber optic cable extending therefrom, and the second end having one or more furcated legs extending therefrom. The furcation body can include one or more features that facilitate cable management by supporting cabling components used in making fiber optic interconnections. The cable management features of the fiber optic cable assemblies advantageously inhibit sagging, facilitate access to fiber optic interconnections, and/or improve air flow paths between fiber optic interconnections.

Abstract: Fiber optic equipment that supports one or more rear-installable fiber optic modules is disclosed. The fiber optic equipment is comprised of a chassis defining a front end and a rear section. At least one guide system is disposed in the chassis and configured to receive at least one fiber optic module. The guide system may be provided in the form of a rail guide system. The at least one guide system receives the at least one fiber optic module from the rear section on the chassis and is configured to guide the fiber optic module toward the front end of the chassis. In this manner, a technician can make fiber optic connections to fiber optic modules and also install the fiber optic modules into the fiber optic equipment from the rear section of the chassis to reduce time and/or labor in making fiber optic connections.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include a telescoping fiber optic module. The telescoping fiber optic module may be provided in a fiber optic equipment chassis which may be disposed in an equipment rack to support fiber optic connections. In embodiments disclosed herein, the telescoping fiber optic module is comprised of a fixed housing portion having an opening on a front side defining a passage inside the fixed housing portion. The fiber optic module is also comprised of a telescoping portion received in the passage inside the fixed housing portion. In this manner, the telescoping portion can telescope in and out of the fixed housing portion. This allows fiber optic connectors or adapters disposed in the telescoping portion and any connections made thereto to be telescoped out for improved access and telescoped back into the fixed housing portion when access is no longer needed.

Abstract: Connectorized nano-engineered optical fibers and method for forming them are disclosed. The methods include heating a mid-span bare fiber portion of the nano-engineered fiber to substantially collapse the airlines therein so as to form a substantially airline-free portion. The fiber is then inserted into a ferrule channel so that the fiber end protrudes beyond the ferrule end face, but with the substantially airline-free portion positioned at the ferrule end face. The fiber is then cleaved at or near the ferrule end face in the substantially airline-free portion, and the new fiber end face polished to create a solid fiber end face that coincides with the ferrule end face. The methods result in relatively small changes to the mode field diameter (MFD) and/or to the outer cladding diameter.

Abstract: Connectorized nano-engineered optical fibers and method for forming them are disclosed. The methods include heating a mid-span bare fiber portion of the nano-engineered fiber to collapse the airlines therein so as to form an airline-free portion. The fiber is then inserted into a ferrule channel so that the fiber end protrudes beyond the ferrule end face, but with the airline-free portion positioned at the ferrule end face. The fiber is then cleaved at or near the ferrule end face in the airline-free portion, and the new fiber end face polished to create a solid fiber end face that coincides with the ferrule end face. The methods result in at most only minimal changes to the mode field diameter (MFD) and/or to the outer cladding diameter, which is essential in forming a connectorized nano-engineered fiber that can connect to like-size nano-engineered or non-nano-engineered fibers.

Abstract: Optical fiber interconnection devices, which can take the form of a module, are disclosed that include an array of optical fibers and multi-fiber optical-fiber connectors, for example, two twelve-port connectors or multiples thereof, and three eight-port connectors or multiples thereof. The array of optical fibers is color-coded and is configured to optically interconnect the ports of the two twelve-port connectors to the three eight-port connectors in a manner that preserves transmit and receive polarization. In one embodiment, the interconnection devices provide optical interconnections between twelve-fiber optical connector configurations to eight-fiber optical connector configurations, such as from twelve-fiber line cards to eight-fiber line cards, without having to make structural changes to cabling infrastructure. In one aspect, the optical fiber interconnection devices provide a migration path from duplex optics to parallel optics.

Abstract: Connectorized nano-engineered optical fibers and method for forming them are disclosed. The methods include heating a mid-span bare fiber portion of the nano-engineered fiber to substantially collapse the airlines therein so as to form a substantially airline-free portion. The fiber is then inserted into a ferrule channel so that the fiber end protrudes beyond the ferrule end face, but with the substantially airline-free portion positioned at the ferrule end face. The fiber is then cleaved at or near the ferrule end face in the substantially airline-free portion, and the new fiber end face polished to create a solid fiber end face that coincides with the ferrule end face. The methods result in relatively small changes to the mode field diameter (MFD) and/or to the outer cladding diameter.

Abstract: Connectorized nano-engineered optical fibers and method for forming them are disclosed. The methods include heating a mid-span bare fiber portion of the nano-engineered fiber to collapse the airlines therein so as to form an airline-free portion. The fiber is then inserted into a ferrule channel so that the fiber end protrudes beyond the ferrule end face, but with the airline-free portion positioned at the ferrule end face. The fiber is then cleaved at or near the ferrule end face in the airline-free portion, and the new fiber end face polished to create a solid fiber end face that coincides with the ferrule end face. The methods result in at most only minimal changes to the mode field diameter (MFD) and/or to the outer cladding diameter, which is essential in forming a connectorized nano-engineered fiber that can connect to like-size nano-engineered or non-nano-engineered fibers.

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: A bracket assembly includes a bracket including a flexible hinge, and a furcation assembly attached to the bracket.

Abstract: A connector housing for a communications network includes a housing assembly having a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel. In one configuration, the connector housing includes a jumper management panel that is rotatable into at least two different positions relative to the top panel of the housing assembly. In another configuration, the connector housing has a splice shelf assembly. The splice shelf assembly is attached to the housing assembly and rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the housing assembly. Another configuration of the connector housing has at least one cable entry plate that is removably attached to a side panel of the housing assembly. Additionally, one strain relief assembly has a furcation plug of a cable assembly that is attachable to a mounting rail for securing the same.

Abstract: A factory-manufactured, preterminated fiber optic distribution cable having at least one predetermined access location for providing access to at least one preterminated optical fiber. A preterminated fiber optic distribution cable comprising at least one buffer tube comprising at least one optical fiber, a buffer tube transition piece operable for transitioning the at least one optical fiber from the at least one buffer tube into at least one protective tube, a C-shaped molded member defining a longitudinally extending optical fiber guide channel operable for storing a length of the at least one preterminated optical fiber and a protective means. A method of mid-span accessing at least one optical fiber from a fiber optic distribution cable. A buffer tube transition piece operable for transitioning a plurality of preterminated optical fibers from a buffer tube into protective tubing.

Abstract: A factory-prepared preterminated and pre-connectorized fiber optic distribution cable having at least one mid-span access location for providing access to a plurality of preterminated optical fibers pre-connectorized with a multi-fiber connector is provided. Also provided is a method of forming a pre-connectorized fiber optic distribution cable by terminating and pre-connectorizing a predetermined number of the plurality of optical fibers of the cable to create a pre-connectorized mid-span access location. The fiber optic distribution cable provides a low profile mid-span access location that is sufficiently flexible to be installed through relatively small-diameter buried conduits and over aerial installation sheave wheels and pulleys without violating the minimum bend radius of the cable or the optical fibers.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes a multifiber ferrule and at least one force centering element for applying a biasing force to the ferrule in the longitudinal direction without introducing a moment about a lateral axis. The connector further includes a coil spring for exerting the biasing force and a spring seat disposed between the coil spring and the ferrule. The rearward portion or the forward portion of the spring seat may be provided with a pair of outwardly extending protrusions that are laterally spaced apart to transfer the biasing force to the ferrule. Alternatively, the forward portion of the spring seat or the rear face of the ferrule may define a convex surface. Alternatively, the ferrule defines a convex surface in the direction of a first lateral axis and the spring seat defines a convex surface in the direction of a second lateral axis perpendicular to the first lateral axis.

Abstract: A factory prepared fiber optic distribution cable has at least one predetermined access location for providing access to at least one pre-connectorized optical fiber. The fiber optic distribution cable includes at least one preterminated optical fiber withdrawn from a tubular body at the access location, a connector attached to the preterminated optical fiber, a transition piece for transitioning the preterminated optical fiber from the tubular body into a protective tube, and a protective shell encapsulating the access location for protecting the pre-connectorized optical fiber.

Abstract: A factory prepared fiber optic distribution cable has at least one predetermined access location for providing access to at least one pre-connectorized optical fiber. The fiber optic distribution cable includes at least one preterminated optical fiber withdrawn from a tubular body at the access location, a connector attached to the preterminated optical fiber, a transition piece for transitioning the preterminated optical fiber from the tubular body into a protective tube, and a protective shell encapsulating the access location for protecting the pre-connectorized optical fiber.