Fiber optic drop cable assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10067310-B2
Application number	US-201715798814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2017
Priority date	Nov 3, 2016
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

A fiber optic drop cable assembly is disclosed. The fiber optic drop cable assembly includes a fiber optic cable having an unsplit length, with a first split length and a second split length branching from the unsplit length. An optical fiber passage is formed at an interface of the first split length and the second split length. A first strength member extends from the unsplit length and is disposed in the first split length. A second strength member extends from the unsplit length and is disposed in the second split length. At least one optical fiber extends in the optical fiber passage. A fiber optic connector connects to the at least one optical fiber and is releasably secured to one or both of the first strength member and the second strength member. A pulling feature attaches to a portion of the fiber optic drop cable assembly for installation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fiber optic drop cable assembly, comprising:
a fiber optic cable, comprising:
a cable jacket comprising: an unsplit length, a first split length and a second split length, wherein the first split length and the second split length branch from the unsplit length, and wherein an optical fiber passage is formed at an interface of the first split length and the second split length;
a first strength member, wherein the first strength member extends from the unsplit length and is disposed in the first split length;
a second strength member, wherein the second strength member extends from the unsplit length and is disposed in the second split length; and
at least one optical fiber, wherein the at least one optical fiber extends in the optical fiber passage;

a fiber optic connector connected to the at least one optical fiber, wherein the fiber optic connector is releasably secured to one or both of the first strength member and the second strength member; and
a pulling feature attached to a portion of the fiber optic drop cable assembly for installation.

2. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a removable joining feature placed around the cable jacket, the removable joining feature joining the first split length to the second split length at the interface.

3. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 2 , wherein the removable joining feature comprises an adhesive tape.

4. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical fiber is extended from the cable jacket.

5. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first strength member and the second strength member is extended from the cable jacket.

6. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 5 , wherein the fiber optic connector is releasably secured to the one or both of the first strength member and the second strength member extended from the cable jacket.

7. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 6 , wherein the fiber optic connector is shroudless.

8. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pulling feature comprises a pulling loop attached to a portion of the fiber optic drop cable assembly.

9. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 8 , wherein the pulling loop is attached to a portion of the fiber optic drop cable assembly by a friction knot.

10. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 9 , wherein the friction knot comprises a Prusik knot.

11. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 9 , wherein the friction knot comprises a Klemheist knot.

12. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical fiber comprises a flame retardant coating.

13. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 12 , wherein the outside diameter of the at least one optical fiber and the flame retardant coating is about 900 microns.

14. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 12 , wherein the outside diameter of the at least one optical fiber and the flame retardant coating is about 1.6 millimeters.

15. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first strength member and the second strength member each are dielectric members comprising glass reinforced plastic (GRP) having a diameter of about 1.25 millimeters.

16. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first strength member and the second strength member comprise a conductive material.

17. The fiber optic drop cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable jacket comprises a polymer.

18. A method of preparing a fiber optic drop cable assembly, comprising:
branching an unsplit length of a cable jacket of fiber optic cable into a first split length and a second split length, wherein a first strength member is extended from the unsplit length and is disposed in the first split length, and wherein a second strength member is extended from the unsplit length and is disposed in the second split length;
forming an optical fiber passage at an interface of the first split length and the second split length, wherein at least one optical fiber extends in the optical fiber passage;
connecting a fiber optic connector to the at least one optical fiber;
releasably securing the fiber optic connector to one or both of the first strength member and the second strength member; and
attaching a pulling feature to the fiber optic cable.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising using a removable joining feature to secure the first split length to the second split length.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising attaching a pulling loop to a portion of the fiber optic drop cable assembly.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the attaching the pulling loop to the portion of the fiber optic drop cable assembly comprises a friction knot.

Assignees

• Corning Optical Communications LLC

Inventors

• Compton Brandon Duvall
• Stover Kathleen Erin

Classifications

• G02B6/4436

  Heat resistant · CPC title

• G02B6/4433

  Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element · CPC title

• G02B6/3887

  Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features · CPC title

• G02B6/4466 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G02B6/4495

  Physics · mapped topic