Holding for optical fiber splice couplings

• US 5,530,786 A
• Filed: 05/30/1995
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Commscope Emea Limited (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Stough, Robert E., Keener, Scott A., Radliff, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US08/453,739
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 385/96-99, 385/100, 385/135, 385/136, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/136
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3801 Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means splices by bonding G02B6/255; fusion splices G02B6/2551
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44785 Cable clamps

Abstract

A splice holder (24) having first channels (70) having upper and lower portions (80,82) separated by a constriction (76) with each portion adapted to hold a respective single-fiber splice coupling (84) . Second channels (90) have a large diameter adapted to hold a multi-fiber mass fusion splice coupling (94) used with ribbon cable. Both the first and second channels (70,90) having constrictions along their entrances of less width than a splice coupling (84,94) to be inserted thereinto. Splice holder (24) may be adhered to a bottom wall (14) of a splice tray (10).

Claims

1. A splice holder for holding splice couplings of fiber optic members, comprising:

a member of resilient material having top and bottom major surfaces and including opposed end faces, and a plurality of at least first channels defined into said top surface and extending between said opposed end faces, each of said first channels having at least a depth and width equivalent to the diameter of a single-fiber splice coupling and having a first constriction at an entrance thereto along said top surface of less width than said diameter.

2. A splice holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said first channel has depth equivalent to twice the diameter of a single-fiber splice coupling, and having a second constriction defined along sides of said channel midway from said entrance toward a bottom thereof, defining upper and lower channel portions each generally shaped and dimensioned to receive and hold thereinto and therealong a respective said single-fiber splice coupling.

3. A splice holder as set forth in claim 2 wherein said member includes at least one second channel defined into said top surface and extending between said opposed end faces, each said second channel having a depth and width equivalent to the diameter of a multi-fiber fusion splice coupling, for receipt thereinto and holding of a mass fusion splice coupling.

4. The splice holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient material is an elastomer.

5. The splice holder as set forth in claim 4 wherein said elastomeric material a polypropylene based elastomer.

6. The splice holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member includes spaced from each said opposed end thereof, a strain relief portion having a plurality of slots into said top surface aligned with said first and second channels for receiving thereinto said single fibers and said ribbon cables extending from said single-fiber splice couplings and said multi-fiber fusion splice couplings, respectively.

7. A fiber optic splice tray, comprising:

a tray member including a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls; and

a splice holder for holding splice couplings of fiber optic members and secured to said bottom wall between said opposed end walls and said opposed side walls, comprising;

a member of resilient material having top and bottom major surfaces and including opposed end faces, and a plurality of at least first channels defined into said top surface and extending between said opposed end faces, each of said first channels having at least a depth and width equivalent to the diameter of a single-fiber splice coupling and having a first constriction at an entrance thereto along said top surface of less width than said diameter.

8. A fiber optic splice tray as set forth in claim 7 wherein each said first channel has depth equivalent to twice the diameter of a single-fiber splice coupling, and having a second constriction defined along sides of said channel midway from said entrance toward a bottom thereof, defining upper and lower channel portions each generally shaped and dimensioned to receive and hold thereinto and therealong a respective said single-fiber splice coupling.

9. A fiber optic splice tray as set forth in claim 8 wherein said member includes at least one second channel defined into said top surface and extending between said opposed end faces, each said second channel having a depth and width equivalent to the diameter of a mass fusion splice coupling, for receipt thereinto and holding of a multi-fiber fusion splice coupling.

10. A fiber optic splice tray as set forth in claim 7 wherein said resilient material is an elastomer.

11. A fiber optic splice tray as set forth in claim 10 wherein said elastomeric material is a polypropylene based elastomer.

12. A fiber optic splice tray as set forth in claim 7 wherein said member includes spaced from each said opposed end thereof, a strain relief portion having a plurality of slots into said top surface aligned with said first and second channels for receiving thereinto said single fibers and said ribbon cables extending from said single-fiber splice couplings and said multi-fiber fusion splice couplings, respectively.