Pulling grip for installing pre-connectorized fiber optic cable

• US 6,993,237 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cooke, Terry L., Johnson, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEPISTO, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/724,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 385 60- 66, 385 78- 85, 385 92- 94, 385134-136, 294/1.1, 294/86.42, 254/134.3, 254/264, 394/1.1, 394/86.42, 394/90.91
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/545 Pulling eyes G02B6/475 takes precedence

Abstract

A pulling grip includes a pulling grip sleeve, a pulling grip housing and a furcation plug attached to the terminated end of a fiber optic cable. The pulling sleeve includes a bag adapted to be positioned over the pulling grip housing and the furcation plug and to be opened and closed by a lengthwise extending zipper. The pulling grip housing has a first compartment defining an elongate channel for routing optical fibers of the fiber optic cable and a second compartment defining a plurality of pockets that each store a plurality of fiber optic connectors mounted upon the ends of the optical fibers. The pulling grip housing may be formed as a plurality of injection molded modules to increase rigidity and to reduce manufacturing cost. The furcation plug includes means for readily integrating the furcation plug with a conventional distribution frame or rack, or with a cross-connect housing.

Claims

1. A pulling grip for installing a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable having a terminated end with fiber optic connectors mounted upon the ends of respective optical fibers, the pulling grip comprising:

a furcation plug attached to the terminated end of a fiber optic cable;

a pulling grip housing for receiving and temporarily storing the furcation plug, the fiber optic connectors and the ends of the respective optical fibers, the pulling grip housing having a first housing portion defining an elongate channel for routing the optical fibers and a second housing portion defining a plurality of pockets, each pocket for storing a plurality of the fiber optic connectors;

a pulling grip sleeve comprising a bag that is longitudinally openable to position the pulling grip sleeve over the pulling grip housing and the furcation plug, and to be closed around the pulling grip housing and the furcation plug to install the fiber optic cable; and

wherein the pulling grip sleeve is removable from the fiber optic cable once the fiber optic cable is installed, and the bag is closeable.

2. A pulling grip according to claim 1 wherein the bag of the pulling grip sleeve is provided with at least one opening at one end and at least one handle at the opposite end and wherein, to be longitudinally openable and closeable, the bag defines a lengthwise slit extending from the opening in the direction of the handle.

3. A pulling grip according to claim 2 wherein the slit is adapted to be opened and closed by a zipper extending lengthwise from the opening substantially to the handle.

4. A pulling grip for installing a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable having at least one terminated end with fiber optic connectors mounted upon at least one of the ends of respective optical fibers, the pulling grip comprising:

a furcation plug attached to the terminated end of a fiber optic cable;

a pulling grip housing for receiving and temporarily storing the furcation plug, the fiber optic connectors and the ends of the respective optical fibers;

a pulling grip sleeve comprising a bag that is adapted to be opened to position the pulling grip sleeve over the pulling grip housing and the furcation plug and to be closed around the pulling grip housing and the furcation plug to install the fiber optic cable; and

the pulling grip sleeve being removable from the fiber optic cable once the fiber optic cable is installed;

wherein the pulling grip housing has a first housing portion that defines an elongate channel for routing the optical fibers and a second housing portion that defines a plurality of pockets that each store a plurality of the fiber optic connectors.

5. A pulling grip according to claim 4 wherein the plurality of fiber optic connectors stored within each pocket defined by the second housing portion are bundled together and encompassed by a cylindrical wrap.

6. A pulling grip according to claim 5 wherein the wrap comprises a generally planar sheet of flexible material having opposed ends and wherein the wrap is wrapped around the plurality of fiber optic connectors and the opposed ends are secured together to define a hollow cylinder.

7. A pulling grip according to claim 6 wherein one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion has a lengthwise groove and the other comprises a lengthwise tongue that engages the groove to thereby secure the first housing portion and the second housing portion together in a closed configuration.

8. A pulling grip for installing a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable having at least one terminated end with fiber optic connectors mounted upon at least one of the ends of respective optical fibers, the pulling grip comprising:

a furcation plug attached to the terminated end of a fiber optic cable;

a pulling grip housing for receiving and temporarily storing the furcation plug, the fiber optic connectors and the ends of the respective optical fibers, the pulling grip housing having a first housing portion defining an elongate channel for routing the optical fibers and a second housing portion defining a plurality of pockets, each pocket for storing a plurality of the fiber optic connectors;

a pulling grip sleeve comprising a bag that is adapted to be opened to position the pulling grip sleeve over the pulling grip housing and the furcation plug and to be closed around the pulling grip housing and the furcation plug to install the fiber optic cable; and

the pulling grip sleeve being removable from the fiber optic cable once the fiber optic cable is installed;

wherein the furcation plug comprises means for integrating the furcation plug with conventional communications hardware.

9. A pulling grip for installing a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable having a terminated end with fiber optic connectors mounted upon the ends of respective optical fibers, the pulling grip comprising:

a furcation plug attached to the terminated end of a fiber optic cable;

a pulling grip housing for receiving and temporarily storing the furcation plug, the fiber optic connectors and the ends of the respective optical fibers; and

a pulling grip sleeve comprising a bag that is adapted to be opened to position the pulling grip sleeve over the pulling grip housing and the furcation plug and to be closed around the pulling grip housing and the furcation plug to install the fiber optic cable;

wherein the pulling grip sleeve is removable from the fiber optic cable once the fiber optic cable is installed;

wherein the furcation plug comprises at least one groove and wherein at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion comprises a corresponding ridge for engaging the groove to restrain lengthwise movement and rotation of the furcation plug relative to the pulling grip housing.

10. A pulling grip for installing a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable having a terminated end with fiber optic connectors mounted upon the ends of respective optical fibers, the pulling grip comprising:

a furcation plug attached to the terminated end of a fiber optic cable;

a pulling grip housing for receiving and temporarily encasing the fiber optic connectors, the optical fibers and at least a portion of the furcation plug, the pulling grip housing having a first housing portion defining an elongate channel for routing the optical fibers and a second housing portion defining a plurality of pockets, each pocket for storing a plurality of the fiber optic connectors; and

a pulling grip sleeve adapted to be positioned over the pulling grip housing and at least a portion of the furcation plug.

11. A pulling grip according to claim 10 wherein the pulling grip housing is formed by a molded clamshell defining a hinge line that separates the first housing portion and the second housing portion and wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion are folded about the hinge line to temporarily encase the fiber optic connectors, the optical fibers and at least a portion the furcation plug.

12. A pulling grip according to claim 11 wherein one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion has a lengthwise groove and the other comprises a lengthwise tongue that engages the groove to thereby secure the first housing portion and the second housing portion together in a closed configuration.

13. A pulling grip according to claim 10 wherein the first housing portion comprises a continuous first flange and a plurality of discontinuous second flanges and wherein the optical fibers are routed lengthwise underneath the first flange and between a pair of adjacent second flanges into one of the pockets.

14. A pulling grip according to claim 10 wherein the furcation plug comprises at least one groove and wherein at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion comprises a corresponding ridge for engaging the groove to restrain lengthwise movement and rotation of the furcation plug relative to the pulling grip housing.

15. A pulling grip according to claim 10 wherein the pulling grip housing is formed by a plurality of individual modules connected together by at least one flexible rod that is received within a lengthwise opening provided in one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

16. A pulling grip according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of modules comprise a plug end module, one or more connector modules, and a nose end module.

17. A pulling grip according to claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of modules has a lengthwise slot and comprises a lengthwise dove tail that engages the slot to thereby secure the first housing portion and the second housing portion together in a closed configuration.

18. A pulling grip according to claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of modules is injection molded.

19. A pulling grip for installing a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable having a terminated end with fiber optic connectors mounted upon the ends of respective optical fibers, the pulling grip comprising:

a furcation plug attached to the terminated end of a fiber optic cable;

a pulling grip housing for receiving and temporarily encasing the fiber optic connectors, the optical fibers and at least a portion of the furcation plug; and

a pulling grip sleeve adapted to be positioned over the pulling grip housing and at least a portion of the furcation plug;

wherein the pulling grip housing is formed by a plurality of individual modules connected together by at least one flexible rod.

20. A pulling grip according to claim 19 wherein the plurality of modules comprise a plug end module, one or more connector modules, and a nose end module.

21. A pulling grip according to claim 19 wherein the pulling grip housing has a fist housing portion defining an elongate channel for routing the optical fibers and a second housing portion defining at least one pocket for storing a plurality of the fiber optic connectors.