Flexible optical closure and other flexible optical assemblies
First Claim
1. A flexible closure being attached to at least one optical fiber cable deployable using cable installation methods:
- the flexible closure comprising at least one molded portion, the molded portion being formed of a resilient and flexible material thereby forming a durable and flexible body associated with and protecting optical components associated with the flexible closure, the optical components comprising at least one optical fiber in the fiber optic cable and at least one other optical component forming an optical connection with the at least one optical fiber; and
the flexible closure being resiliently bendable and twistable in variable directions, and being flexible in response to stresses acting on the flexible closure due to cable installation equipment and maintaining mechanical integrity of the flexible closure protecting the performance on the optical components therein.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Flexible closures and other flexible optical assemblies that are installed within a factory, or in the field, and then deployed using cable installation methods, wherein the flexible closures and assemblies have the ability to bend and twist without incurring physical damage to their structure, optical fibers and splices disposed within, and without significant attenuation in the optical fibers when exposed to conventional installation stresses. Flexible closures that replace conventional substantially rigid closures in order to facilitate pre-engineered and assembled distribution cable installation within an optical network, and the physical, bending and material properties of such closures, and methods of manufacturing and installing the same.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A flexible closure being attached to at least one optical fiber cable deployable using cable installation methods:
-
the flexible closure comprising at least one molded portion, the molded portion being formed of a resilient and flexible material thereby forming a durable and flexible body associated with and protecting optical components associated with the flexible closure, the optical components comprising at least one optical fiber in the fiber optic cable and at least one other optical component forming an optical connection with the at least one optical fiber; and
the flexible closure being resiliently bendable and twistable in variable directions, and being flexible in response to stresses acting on the flexible closure due to cable installation equipment and maintaining mechanical integrity of the flexible closure protecting the performance on the optical components therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A flexible closure assembly for use in a fiber optic distribution cable assembly, comprising:
-
a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers and having at least one predetermined mid-span access location positioned along the length of the distribution cable;
at least one optical fiber of the distribution cable being accessed and terminated from the distribution cable at the mid-span access location;
a tether comprising a first end attached to the distribution cable at the mid-span access location and at least one optical connection being an optical fiber optically connected to the at least one terminated optical fiber of the distribution cable; and
a flexible closure positioned about the mid-span access location, said flexible closure being resiliently bendable and flexible in response to stresses acting on the flexible closure due to cable installation equipment, without incurring substantial breakage or cracking of the molded portion of the optical connection, and without significant degradation of optical performance of the optical connection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A flexible closure being attached to at least one optical fiber cable deployable using cable installation methods:
-
the flexible closure comprising at least one flexible protective body, the flexible protective body being formed of a resilient and flexible material thereby forming a durable and flexible body associated with and protecting optical components associated with the flexible closure, the optical components comprising at least one optical fiber in the fiber optic cable and at least one other optical component forming an optical connection with the at least one optical fiber; and
the flexible closure being resiliently bendable and twistable in variable directions, and being flexible in response to stresses acting on the flexible closure due to cable installation equipment and maintaining mechanical integrity of the flexible closure protecting the performance on the optical components therein.
-
-
24. A flexible closure assembly, comprising:
-
at least one connector port for presenting one or more connectorized optical fibers for optical interconnection with one or more connectorized fiber optic drop cables; and
a flexible overmolded housing. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A flexible fiber optic closure, the flexible closure comprising:
-
(a) at least one molded portion, the at least one molded portion being formed of a resilient and flexible material covering an interconnection of optical components, the optical components comprising at least one optical fiber and at least one other optical component associated therewith; and
(b) the at least one molded portion being at least an essentially molded, monolithic form, the monolithic form being resiliently bendable and twistable in response to stresses acting on the flexible closure. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method of forming a flexible closure molded portion, comprising the steps of:
-
(i) arranging at least one optical component in a cavity;
(ii) introducing a curable material in fluid form into the cavity, the fluid essentially flooding the cavity, penetrating interstices around and about the at least one optical component, and essentially covering the optical component; and
(iii) curing the curable material within suitable curing conditions. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A method of installing a flexible closure assembly comprising at least one molded portion, comprising the steps of:
-
(i) making a flexible closure as a securely assembled attachment to at least one cable thereby defining a flexible closure assembly;
(ii) packaging the flexible closure assembly on a packaging device and causing the flexible closure assembly to flex; and
(iii) paying off the flexible closure assembly from the packaging device in an installation area.
-
Specification