Fiber optic cable breakout configuration with tensile reinforcement

• US 20080253729A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Gronvall, Erik, Lu, Yu, Carlson, Scott, Schmidt, Andy, Suek, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/137
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly including a main fiber optic cable and a tether cable that branches from the main fiber optic cable at a breakout location. The breakout location includes a breakout block mounted to the main fiber optic cable, a tether retention block mounted to the main fiber optic cable, and a sleeve positioned outside the main fiber optic cable that extends from the breakout block to the tether retention block. An optical fiber structure extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout block, through the sleeve and through the tether retention block to the tether cable. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly also includes a tensile reinforcing structure that extends from the breakout block to the retention block for preventing a spacing between the breakout block and the retention block from exceeding a predetermined amount. The tensile reinforcing structure is positioned outside the main fiber optic cable and has portions anchored to the breakout block and the retention block. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly further includes an over-mold that covers the breakout block, the sleeve, the retention block, the tensile reinforcing structure and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable.

Claims

1. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:

a main fiber optic cable;

a tether cable;

a breakout block mounted to the main fiber optic cable;

a retention block mounted to the main fiber optic cable, the tether cable being secured to the retention block;

a sleeve positioned outside the main fiber optic cable that extends from the breakout block to the retention block;

an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout block, through the sleeve and through the retention block to the tether cable;

a tensile reinforcing structure that extends from the breakout block to the retention block for preventing a spacing between the breakout block and the retention block from exceeding a predetermined amount, the tensile reinforcing structure being positioned outside the main fiber optic cable, and the tensile reinforcing structure having portions anchored to the breakout block and the retention block; and

an over-mold that covers the breakout block, the sleeve, the retention block, the tensile reinforcing structure and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable.

2. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the tensile reinforcing structure has a string-like configuration.

3. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the tensile reinforcing structure includes aramid yarn.

4. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the portions of the tensile reinforcing structure that are anchored to the breakout block and the retention block are wrapped around the breakout block and the retention block.

5. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the tensile reinforcing structure includes a first tensile reinforcing length positioned at a first side of the main fiber optic cable and a second tensile reinforcing length positioned at a second side of the main fiber optic cable, the first side of the main fiber optic cable being opposite from the second side of the main fiber optic cable.

6. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 5, wherein the first and second tensile reinforcing lengths are generally parallel to the main fiber optic cable.

7. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 5, wherein the first and second tensile reinforcing lengths are part of a continuous tensile reinforcing member.

8. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 7, wherein the tensile reinforcing member includes aramid yarn.

9. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the breakout block includes at least one outwardly projecting securing member for use in securing the tensile reinforcing structure to the breakout block and wherein the retention block includes at least one outwardly projecting securing member for use in securing the tensile reinforcing structure to the retention block.

10. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 9, wherein the tensile reinforcing structure is wrapped about the securing members.

11. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 9, wherein the tensile reinforcing structure is tied to the securing members.

12. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 9, wherein the securing members include posts.

13. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 12, wherein the breakout block includes at least two posts.

14. The fiber optic communications cable of claim 9, wherein the breakout block includes at least two securing members positioned at a first side of the breakout block and at least one securing member positioned at an opposite second side of the breakout block.

15. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:

a main fiber optic cable;

a tether cable;

a breakout piece mounted to the main fiber optic cable, the breakout piece including a first anchoring projection;

a retention piece mounted to the main fiber optic cable, the tether cable being secured to the retention piece, the retention piece including a second anchoring projection;

an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout piece and the retention piece to the tether cable;

a tensile reinforcing member that extends from the breakout piece to the retention piece, the tensile reinforcing member being positioned outside the main fiber optic cable, and the tensile reinforcing member having portions anchored to the first and second anchoring projections; and

an over-mold that covers the breakout piece, the retention piece, the tensile reinforcing member and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable.

16. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second anchoring projections include posts.

17. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 15, wherein the tensile reinforcing member is wrapped about and/or tied to the anchoring portions.

18. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 15, wherein the tensile reinforcing member includes aramid yarn.

19. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:

a main fiber optic cable;

a tether cable;

a breakout piece mounted to the main fiber optic cable;

a retention piece mounted to the main fiber optic cable, the tether cable being secured to the retention piece;

an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout piece and the retention piece to the tether cable;

a string-like tensile reinforcing member that extends from the breakout piece to the retention piece, the tensile reinforcing member being positioned outside the main fiber optic cable, and the tensile reinforcing member having portions anchored to the breakout piece and the retention piece; and

an over-mold that covers the breakout piece, the retention piece, the tensile reinforcing member and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable.

20. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 19, wherein the tensile reinforcing member includes aramid yarn.