Bulbous configured fiber optic splice closure and associated methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fiber optic splice closure comprising:
- a splice tray having a medial portion on which at least one optical fiber splice and any slack is contained thereon, and formed from a flexible material such that the splice tray can be rolled upon itself and biased back into an unrolled condition after any rolling force is released; and
a bulbous configured closure having at least one opening through which fiber optic cable to be spliced is received, and containing said splice tray after said splice tray and any optical fiber splice thereon has been received in a rolled condition such that said splice tray is biased into an unrolled condition within said bulbous configured closure to aid in maintaining a minimum bend radius of any fibers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A splice closure includes a splice tray having a medial portion on which at least one optical fiber splice and any slack is contained thereon. The splice tray can be formed from a flexible material, such that the splice tray can be rolled upon itself and biased back into an unrolled condition after any rolling force is released. A bulbous configured closure has at least one opposing opening through which fiber optic cable to be spliced is received. The splice tray is received within the bulbous configured closure. The splice tray is biased into an unrolled condition within the bulbous configured closure to aid in maintaining a minimum bend radius of any fibers.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A fiber optic splice closure comprising:
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a splice tray having a medial portion on which at least one optical fiber splice and any slack is contained thereon, and formed from a flexible material such that the splice tray can be rolled upon itself and biased back into an unrolled condition after any rolling force is released; and
a bulbous configured closure having at least one opening through which fiber optic cable to be spliced is received, and containing said splice tray after said splice tray and any optical fiber splice thereon has been received in a rolled condition such that said splice tray is biased into an unrolled condition within said bulbous configured closure to aid in maintaining a minimum bend radius of any fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A splice closure comprising:
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a splice tray having a substantially planar configured medial portion defined by upper and lower opposing sides and formed from a flexible material such that the splice tray can be rolled upon itself and biased back into an unrolled condition after any rolling force is released, wherein said upper side contains at least one optical fiber splice and any slack contained thereon, and said lower side is adapted to contain at least one copper splice, said splice tray having opposing stiff portions on which fiber/copper cables are secured; and
a bulbous configured closure having at least one opening through which fiber/copper cable to be spliced is received, and containing said splice tray after said splice tray and splices have been received within said opening in a rolled condition such that said splice tray is biased into an unrolled condition within said bulbous configured closure to aid in maintaining any minimum bend radius of any optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A splice closure comprising:
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a splice tray having a substantially planar configured medial portion defined by upper and lower opposing sides and formed from a flexible material such that the splice tray can be rolled upon itself and biased back into an unrolled condition after any rolling force is released, wherein said upper side contains at least one optical fiber splice and any slack contained thereon, and said lower side is adapted to contain at least one copper splice, said splice tray having opposing stiff portions on which fiber/copper cables are secured; and
a bulbous configured closure formed from a plastic material and having at least one tubular configured extension forming an opening into the interior of the bulbous configured closure through which fiber/copper cable to be spliced is received, and containing said splice tray after said splice tray and splices have been received within said opening in a rolled condition such that said splice tray is biased into an unrolled condition within said bulbous configured closure to aid in maintaining any minimum bend radius of any optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of forming a splice closure comprising the steps of:
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splicing optical fiber received from two fiber optic cables on a medial portion of a splice tray that is formed from a flexible material such that the splice tray can be rolled upon itself and biased back into an unrolled condition after any rolling force is released;
rolling the splice tray upon itself; and
inserting the rolled splice tray into an opening of a bulbous configured closure such that each respective fiber cable extends out of an opening of the bulbous configured closure and the splice tray is biased into an unrolled condition within the interior of the bulbous configured closure to aid in maintaining a minimum bend radius of any optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
sliding at least one heat shrink tube onto respective fiber optic cables before splicing;
sliding the heat shrink tube onto the opening of the bulbous configured closure after the splice tray is received into the bulbous configured closure; and
heat shrinking the heat shrink tube.
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Specification