Fiber optic cable assemblies for terminating fiber optic cables and methods of making

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016334587-A1
Application number	US-201615150681-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 10, 2016
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fiber optic cable assembly for terminating a fiber optic cable along with a method for making the same are disclosed. The fiber optic cable assembly comprises a fiber optic cable having at least one optical waveguide and a jacket, at least one retention component, and a retention body. The retention component is attached to a portion of the jacket of the fiber optic cable to form a retention component sub-assembly. The retention body has an insertion end and a passage extending at least partially along a length of the retention body. The retention component sub-assembly is inserted into the passage so that the at least one retention component is secured to the retention body to complete the fiber optic cable assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fiber optic cable assembly for terminating a fiber optic cable, comprising:
the fiber optic cable having at least one optical waveguide and a jacket; at least one retention component being attached to a portion of the jacket of the fiber optic cable to form a retention component sub-assembly; and a retention body having an insertion end and a passage extending at least partially along a length of the retention body, wherein the retention component sub-assembly is inserted into the passage so that the at least one retention component is secured to the retention body.

2 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retention component comprises a plurality of teeth for gripping the jacket.

3 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first retention component and a second retention component attached to the jacket.

4 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retention component is pressed into the jacket.

5 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retention component comprises at least one mechanical locking feature for engaging with the retention body.

6 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 5 , wherein the at least one mechanical locking feature is a raised portion of the at least one retention component.

7 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retention component comprises at least one an alignment feature.

8 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , the at least one retention component being formed from metal.

9 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 , further including a ferrule attached to the at least one optical waveguide.

10 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 9 , wherein the ferrule is a portion of a connector assembly.

11 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 1 being a portion of a hardened connector.

12 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 11 , the hardened connector including a shroud for protecting a ferrule.

13 . A fiber optic cable assembly for terminating a fiber optic cable, comprising:
the fiber optic cable having at least one optical waveguide and a jacket;
a first retention component and a second retention component with the first and second retention components being attached to a portion of the jacket of the fiber optic cable to form a retention component sub-assembly; and
a retention body having an insertion end and a passage extending at least partially along a length of the retention body, wherein the retention component sub-assembly is inserted into the passage so that the at least one retention component is secured to the retention body.

14 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second retention components comprises a plurality of teeth for gripping the jacket.

15 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the first and second retention components is pressed into the jacket.

16 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second retention components comprises at least one mechanical locking feature for engaging with the retention body.

17 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 16 , wherein the at least one mechanical locking feature is a raised portion of the at least one retention components.

18 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the first and second retention components comprises at least one an alignment feature.

19 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 13 , at least one of the first and second retention components is formed from metal.

20 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 13 , further including a ferrule attached to the at least one optical waveguide.

21 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 20 , wherein the ferrule is a portion of a connector assembly.

22 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 21 being a portion of a hardened connector.

23 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 22 , the hardened connector including a shroud for protecting a ferrule.

24 . A fiber optic cable assembly for terminating a fiber optic cable, comprising:
the fiber optic cable having at least one optical waveguide and a jacket;
a first retention component and a second retention component with the first and second retention components being attached to a portion of the jacket of the fiber optic cable to form a retention component sub-assembly, wherein at least one of the first and second retention components comprises at least one mechanical locking feature; and
a retention body having an insertion end and a passage extending at least partially along a length of the retention body, wherein the retention component sub-assembly is inserted into the passage so that the at least one retention component is secured to the retention body using the mechanical locking feature.

25 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 24 , wherein the at least one mechanical locking feature is a raised portion of the at least one retention components.

26 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 24 , wherein at least one of the first and second retention components comprises a plurality of teeth for gripping the jacket.

27 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 24 , wherein the at least one of the first and second retention components is pressed into the jacket.

28 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 24 , wherein the at least one of the first and second retention components comprises at least one an alignment feature.

29 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 24 , at least one of the first and second retention components is formed from metal.

30 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 24 , further including a ferrule attached to the at least one optical waveguide.

31 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 30 , wherein the ferrule is a portion of a connector assembly.

32 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 31 being a portion of a hardened connector.

33 . The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 32 , the hardened connector including a shroud for protecting a ferrule.

34 . A method of terminating a fiber optic cable, comprising:
providing a fiber optic cable having at least one optical waveguide and a jacket; providing a first retention component; pressing the first retention component into the jacket of the fiber optic cable to form a retention component sub-assembly; providing a retention body comprising an insertion end and a passage extending at least partially along a length of the retention body; and inserting a first end of the fiber optic cable of the retention component sub-assembly into the passage of the retention body so that the at least one retention component is secured to the retention body.

35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising providing a second retention component and pressing the second retention component into the jacket of the fiber optic cable.

36 . The method of claim 34 , step of inserting further comprising inserting the retention component sub-assembly into the passage of the retention body so that a

Assignees

• Corning Optical Communications LLC

Inventors

• Isenhour Micah Colen

Classifications

• G02B6/3869

  Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/3887 Primary

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

• G02B6/3889

  using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting resin · CPC title

• G02B6/3888 Primary

  Protection from over-extension or over-compression · CPC title

• G02B6/38875

  Protection from bending or twisting · CPC title