Adjustable strain relief boot

• US 6,634,801 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stratos International Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Stratos Lightwave LLC
• Inventors: Waldron, Mark R., Simmons, Thom
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): VALENCIA, DANIEL E
• Application Number:
  US09/712,442
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 385/86, 385/76, 385/100, 385/139, 385/87, 385/135, 385/137
• US Class Current: 385/86
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting

Abstract

An adjustable strain relief boot includes a stationary portion and a moving portion slidably connected to the stationary portion. The adjustable strain relief boot is used to guide an optical fiber away from a connector of the optical fiber. In application, the stationary portion of the adjustable strain relief boot is press fitted onto to the connector. The adjustable strain relief boot provides for a predetermined, fixed angle of departure of the optical fiber away from the connector. The fixed angle of departure can be adjusted by the operator from a first position to a second position. The fixed angle of departure is adjustable between forty five and ninety degrees. In a locked position, the moving portion can not move relative to the stationary portion since actuator engagement teeth of an actuator arm of the stationary portion engage teeth of the moving portion. In an unlocked position, a force is applied to a release tab of the actuator arm of the stationary portion so as to disengage the actuator engagement teeth of the stationary from the teeth of the moving portion so as to allow the moving portion to move relative to the stationary portion. Due to the resiliency of the actuator arm of the stationary portion, when the force applied to the release tab is removed, the actuator arm tends to move towards its undeflected position thus engaging the actuator engagement teeth with the teeth of the moving portion.

Claims

1. An adjustable strain relief boot for guiding an optical fiber in a region adjacent to a connector of the optical fiber, the adjustable strain relief boot comprising:

a stationary portion attachable to the connector of the optical fiber; and

a moving portion slidably connected to the stationary portion, the moving portion being adjustable between a first position and a second position, and wherein the first position is different from the second position, and the moving portion being associated with the optical fiber so as to guide the optical fiber.

2. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 1 wherein the stationary portion includes a stationary portion fiber optic holder for connecting to the connector of the optical fiber.

3. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 2 wherein the stationary portion includes an actuator arm and a stationary guide, and wherein the actuator arm includes a release tab, and wherein the actuator arm includes actuator engagement teeth, and wherein the actuator arm is resilient relative to the stationary guide.

4. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 3 wherein the moving portion includes a track portion, and wherein the track portion includes a web.

5. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 4 wherein the web of the moving portion includes a sliding surface and teeth, and wherein the teeth of the web of the moving portion are complimentary to the actuator engagement teeth of the stationary portion, and wherein the sliding surface of the web of the moving portion is complimentary to the stationary guide of the stationary portion.

6. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 5 wherein the moving portion includes a moving portion fiber optic holder for supporting and guiding the optical fiber.

7. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 6 wherein the moving portion fiber optic holder includes a moving portion fiber optic holder axis, and wherein the stationary portion fiber optic holder includes a stationary portion fiber optic holder axis, and wherein, in the first position, the moving portion fiber optic holder axis is separated from the stationary portion fiber optic holder axis by a first angle, and wherein the first angle is substantially equal to forty-five degrees, and wherein, in the second position, the moving portion fiber optic holder axis is separated from the stationary portion fiber optic holder axis by a second angle, and wherein the second angle is substantially equal to ninety degrees.

8. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 7 wherein the stationary portion is made of a polymer material.

9. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 8 wherein the moving portion is made of a polymer material.

10. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 9 wherein, in a locked position, the actuator engagement teeth of the actuator arm of the stationary portion engage the teeth of the web of the moving portion so as to prevent the moving portion from moving relative to the stationary portion, and, in an unlocked position, a force is applied to the release tab of the actuator arm so as to disengage the actuator engagement teeth of the actuator arm from the teeth of the web of the moving portion so as to allow the moving portion to move relative to the stationary portion.

11. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 10 wherein the moving portion includes a first ribbed surface pattern.

12. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 11 wherein the release tab of the actuator arm of the stationary portion includes a second ribbed surface pattern.

13. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 4 wherein a section of the web of the moving portion being situated between the actuator arm and the stationary guide of the stationary portion.

14. The adjustable strain relief boot according to claim 13 wherein a section of the track portion of the moving portion bounds a section of the actuator arm and a section of the stationary guide of the stationary portion.