Guide sleeve for fiber optic cable
First Claim
1. A fiber optic cable guide for removable placement on at least one fiber optic cable, the at least one fiber optic cable having a minimum bend radius, the fiber optic cable guide comprising:
- a sleeve that is at least partially curved along its length with a radius of curvature not less than the minimum bend radius of the at least one fiber optic cable, the sleeve having a first end and a second end and an interior surface that generally defines a passageway extending from the first end to the second end, the sleeve defining a slot that communicates with the passageway and extends from the first end to the second end such that the sleeve has an open cross-section along the entire length of the sleeve, the slot dimensioned to allow removable insertion of the at least one cable through the slot to be disposed in the passageway.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A guide sleeve is provided for guiding a portion of a fiber optic cable through a turn and insuring that the turn radius of such portion of the cable does not decrease below the minimum bend radius of the cable. The guide comprises a curved sleeve that has a radius of curvature not less than the minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable. The sleeve has an interior surface that defines a passageway, and the sleeve defines a slot that communicates with the passageway and extends the entire length of the sleeve such that the sleeve has an open cross-section along the entire length of the sleeve. The slot is configured to allow insertion of a length of a cable through the slot and into the passageway. The slot allows the guide to be removably installed on a cable that already has connectors and boots installed on each end of the cable without affecting the integrity of the connector/boot connection.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A fiber optic cable guide for removable placement on at least one fiber optic cable, the at least one fiber optic cable having a minimum bend radius, the fiber optic cable guide comprising:
a sleeve that is at least partially curved along its length with a radius of curvature not less than the minimum bend radius of the at least one fiber optic cable, the sleeve having a first end and a second end and an interior surface that generally defines a passageway extending from the first end to the second end, the sleeve defining a slot that communicates with the passageway and extends from the first end to the second end such that the sleeve has an open cross-section along the entire length of the sleeve, the slot dimensioned to allow removable insertion of the at least one cable through the slot to be disposed in the passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of routing at least one fiber optic cable through a curve, the at least one fiber optic cable having a minimum bend radius, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a length of the at least one fiber optic cable inside a curved sleeve that has a radius of curvature not less than the minimum bend radius of the at least one fiber optic cable, the sleeve having a first end and a second end and having an interior surface that defines a passageway that extends through the length of the sleeve from the first end to the second end, the sleeve defining a slot that communicates with the passageway and extends from the first end to the second end such that the sleeve has an open cross-section along its entire length; and (b) sliding the sleeve along the at least one fiber optic cable until the curved sleeve is located along the length of the at least one fiber optic cable that is desired to be routed through a curve. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A fiber optic cable and guide assembly comprising:
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(a) a fiber optic cable having a diameter and an exterior surface, the fiber optic cable having a minimum bend radius; (b) a guide sleeve that is removably attached about a length of the fiber optic cable, the guide sleeve at least partially curved along its length with a radius of curvature that is not less than the minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable, the guide sleeve defining a passageway through which the cable is disposed when the guide sleeve is attached about the cable, the passageway dimensioned to allow sliding of the guide sleeve along the cable when the guide sleeve is attached about the cable the guide sleeve having a first end and a second end and having an open cross-section along the entire length of the sleeve from the first end to the second end. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification