Optical fiber units and optical cables
First Claim
1. An optical fiber unit comprising a plurality of optical fibers loosely contained within a flexible elongated tubular member to allow for lateral movement of the fibers, the flexible tubular member being inwardly collapsible and formed from plastic strip means extending around the fibers to provide space for lateral movement of the fibers, the plastic strip means having at least one longitudinally extending seam provided by longitudinally extending edge regions of the strip means which are bonded together to provide the tubular member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Optical fiber unit with optical fibers loosely contained within a flexible tube formed from two plastic strips which are bonded together along edge seams. The structure is completely flexible and the tube is compressible and deformable to assist in packing into channels in a cable while maximizing fiber density in the cable product.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. An optical fiber unit comprising a plurality of optical fibers loosely contained within a flexible elongated tubular member to allow for lateral movement of the fibers, the flexible tubular member being inwardly collapsible and formed from plastic strip means extending around the fibers to provide space for lateral movement of the fibers, the plastic strip means having at least one longitudinally extending seam provided by longitudinally extending edge regions of the strip means which are bonded together to provide the tubular member.
- 6. An optical cable comprising a longitudinally crush resistant means defining at least one longitudinally extending passage and a plurality of optical fiber units extending side-by-side along the passage, each optical fiber unit comprising a plurality of optical fibers loosely contained within a flexible elongated tubular member to allow for lateral movement of the fibers, the flexible tubular member being inwardly collapsible and formed from plastic strip means extending around the fibers to provide space for lateral movement of the fibers, the plastic strip means having at least one longitudinally extending seam provided by longitudinally extending edge regions of the strip means which are bonded together to provide the tubular member, and the flexible tubular members of the units are urged against one another to cause at least partial inwards collapse of the tubular members.
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12. A method of making an optical cable comprising:
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providing a plurality of optical fiber units, each optical fiber unit comprising a plurality of optical fibers loosely contained within a flexible elongated tubular member to allow for lateral movement of the fibers, the flexible tubular member being inwardly collapsible and formed from plastic strip means extending around the fibers to provide space for lateral movement of the fibers, the plastic strip means having at least one longitudinally extending seam provided by longitudinally extending edge regions of the strip means which are bonded together to provide the tubular member; and disposing the plurality of optical fiber units within a longitudinally extending passage defined within a longitudinally extending crush resistant means of the cable, with the units urged against one another to cause at least partial inwards collapse of the tubular members. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification