FIBER OPTIC CABLE CRIMP ASSEMBLIES EMPLOYING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED CABLE STRAIN RELIEF BOOTS, AND RELATED FIBER OPTIC CONNECTORS, CABLES, AND METHODS

• US 20140328560A1
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Coming Cable Systems LLC
• Inventors: Ahmed, Izhar Zahoor, Henke, Charles Todd, Parkman, Louis Edward III, Schroeder, Wiliam Michael, Vasudeo, Nikhil Baburam
• Granted Patent: US 9,429,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/87
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4477 with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein include fiber optic cable crimp assemblies employing integrally connected cable strain relief boots to provide a single component crimp assembly. Related fiber optic connectors, cables, and methods are also disclosed. A fiber optic cable crimp assembly is employed for securing a fiber optic connector assembly to a fiber optic cable to form a terminated fiber optic connector. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly includes a cable strain relief boot configured to receive an end portion of a fiber optic cable to provide bend and strain relief for the end portion of the fiber optic cable. A fiber optic cable crimp band is integrally connected to the cable strain relief boot. The fiber optic crimp assembly is further configured to secure the end portion of the fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector assembly.

Claims

1. A fiber optic cable crimp assembly for securing a fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector, the fiber optic cable crimp assembly comprising:

a cable strain relief boot having a front end and a rear end, the cable strain relief boot configured to receive an end portion of a fiber optic cable from the rear end of the cable strain relief boot and provide bend and strain relief for the end portion of the fiber optic cable; and

a fiber optic cable crimp band having a front end and a rear end, the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band integrally connected to the front end of the cable strain relief boot, wherein;

the fiber optic cable crimp band is configured to receive the end portion of the fiber optic cable extending through the cable strain relief boot; and

the fiber optic cable crimp band is further configured to secure the end portion of the fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector assembly.

2. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band is mechanically connected to the front end of the cable strain relief boot.

3. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 1, wherein the front end of the cable strain relief boot is overmolded over at least a portion of the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band.

4. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 3, wherein the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band is covered entirely by the front end of the cable strain relief boot.

5. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 3, wherein at least a second portion of the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band is exposed via at least one orifice in the cable strain relief boot.

6. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 1, wherein the front end of the cable strain relief boot is integrally connected to the fiber optic cable crimp band by interfacing with at least one recess in the fiber optic cable crimp band.

7. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one recess in the fiber optic cable crimp band comprises at least one throughhole, thereby forming an integral mechanical connection between the fiber optic cable crimp band and the cable strain relief boot.

8. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one recess in the fiber optic cable crimp band comprises at least one groove.

9. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band is flared with respect to the front end of the fiber optic cable crimp band.

10. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 9, wherein a radius of the flared rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band is larger than a radius of the front end of the fiber optic cable crimp band.

11. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 1, further comprising a connection portion attached to the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band, wherein the front end of the cable strain relief boot is integrally connected to the fiber optic cable crimp band by interfacing with the connection portion.

12. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 11, wherein the connection portion is formed from a different material than the fiber optic cable crimp band.

13. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable strain relief boot includes an integral gasket portion extending into the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band along an interior surface of the fiber optic cable crimp band, wherein the fiber optic cable crimp band is configured to secure the end portion of the fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector assembly by compressing the gasket portion around an outer jacket of the fiber optic cable.

14. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 13, wherein the fiber optic cable crimp band is further configured to secure the end portion of the fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connector assembly by compressing an end portion of at least one internal strength member of the fiber optic cable between a front portion of the interior surface of the fiber optic cable crimp band and an end portion of the fiber optic connector assembly.

15. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly of claim 13, wherein compressing the gasket portion around the outer jacket of the fiber optic cable comprises compressing the outer jacket of the fiber optic cable between an inner surface of the gasket portion and an end portion of the fiber optic connector assembly.

16. A connectorized fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:

a fiber optic connector sub-assembly having a front end and a rear end;

a fiber optic cable crimp assembly comprising;

a cable strain relief boot having a front end and a rear end; and

a fiber optic cable crimp band having a front end and a rear end, the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band integrally connected to the front end of the cable strain relief boot; and

a fiber optic cable having an end portion inserted through the rear end of the cable strain relief boot, wherein;

the cable strain relief boot provides bend and strain relief for the end portion of the fiber optic cable; and

the fiber optic cable crimp band is crimped about the end portion of the fiber optic cable and about the fiber optic connector sub-assembly such that the end portion of the fiber optic cable is secured to the fiber optic connector sub-assembly.

17. The connectorized fiber optic cable assembly of claim 16, wherein:

the cable strain relief boot includes an integral gasket portion extending into the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band along an interior surface of the fiber optic cable crimp band; and

the gasket portion is compressed around an outer jacket of the fiber optic cable for securing the fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connector sub-assembly.

18. The connectorized fiber optic cable assembly of claim 17, wherein an end portion of at least one internal strength member of the fiber optic cable is compressed between a front portion of the interior surface of the fiber optic cable crimp band and a first end portion of the fiber optic connector sub-assembly for securing the fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connector sub-assembly.

19. The connectorized fiber optic cable assembly of claim 18, wherein the outer jacket of the fiber optic cable is compressed between an inner surface of the gasket portion and a second end portion of the fiber optic connector sub-assembly for securing the fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connector sub-assembly.

20. A method of assembling a terminated fiber optic connector assembly, comprising:

providing a fiber optic connector sub-assembly having a front end and a rear end;

providing a fiber optic cable crimp assembly comprising;

a cable strain relief boot having a front end and a rear end; and

a fiber optic cable crimp band having a front end and a rear end, the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band integrally connected to the front end of the cable strain relief boot;

inserting an end portion of a fiber optic cable through the rear end of the cable strain relief boot such that the cable strain relief boot provides bend and strain relief for the end portion of the fiber optic cable; and

crimping the fiber optic cable crimp band about the end portion of the fiber optic cable and about the fiber optic connector sub-assembly such that the end portion of the fiber optic cable is secured to the fiber optic connector sub-assembly.

21. A method of forming a fiber optic cable crimp assembly, comprising:

disposing a rear end of a fiber optic cable crimp band in a mold defining a cavity for forming a cable strain relief boot;

disposing a mold pin through the fiber optic cable crimp band such that the mold pin forms a seal separating the rear end from a front end of the fiber optic cable crimp band; and

disposing a moldable material in the mold such that the moldable material is disposed around the mold pin and the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band, thereby forming the cable strain relief boot for providing bend and strain relief for an end portion of a fiber optic cable, the cable strain relief boot having an integral connection between the cable strain relief boot and the rear end of the fiber optic cable crimp band.