Figure-eight preconnectorized fiber optic drop cables and assemblies

• US 7,111,990 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2004
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gimblet, Michael J., Tran, Hieu V., Melton, Stuart R., Liu, Xin, Thompson, David A., Wagman, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ERIC K
• Application Number:
  US10/765,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20040223699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/100
• US Class Current: 385/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/387 Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3889 using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting resin
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3894 Screw-lock type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4405 with longitudinally spaced waveguide clamping G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4429 Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4433 Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44384 the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence

Abstract

A preconnectorized outdoor cable streamlines the deployment of optical waveguides into the last mile of a optical network. The preconnectorized outdoor cable includes a cable and at least one plug connector. The plug connector is attached to a first end of the cable, thereby connectorizing at least one optical waveguide. The cable has at least one optical waveguide, at least one tensile element, and a cable jacket. Various cable designs such as figure-eight or flat cables may be used with the plug connector. In preferred embodiments, the plug connector includes a crimp assembly having a crimp housing and a crimp band. The crimp housing has two half-shells being held together by the crimp band for securing the at least one tensile element. When fully assembled, the crimp housing fits into a shroud of the preconnectorized cable. The shroud aides in mating the preconnectorized cable with a complimentary receptacle.

Claims

1. A preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly comprising:

a messenger section, the messenger section comprising at least one strength component and a jacket surrounding the at least one strength component;

a carrier section, the carrier section comprising a jacket and a tube, at least one optical waveguide disposed within the tube;

a web connecting the respective jackets of the messenger and carrier sections; and

at least one plug connector, the at least one plug connector being attached to a first end of the figure-eight cable, thereby connectorizing a first end of the optical waveguide, wherein the at least one plug connector includes a crimp housing and a connector assembly, the crimp housing having two half-shells that secure a portion of the connector assembly therebetween where the connector assembly includes a ferrule and a connector housing.

2. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, the two-half shells having a curvilinear longitudinal passageway therethrough for routing the at least one optical waveguide to the connector assembly, and the two half-shells being held together by a crimp band.

3. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, the crimp housing being a portion of a crimp assembly that includes a crimp band for holding the crimp housing together.

4. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 3, the two half-shells having a curvilinear longitudinal passageway therethrough and at least one cable clamping portion, the at least one cable clamping portion securing at least one strength component of the cable therein, and the two half-shells being held together by the crimp band.

5. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, one of the two half-shells having at least one rib.

6. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud and the crimp housing is at least partially disposed within the shroud, the shroud having two fingers for mating with a complementary receptacle, wherein the two fingers are disposed about 180 degrees apart and have different cross-sectional shapes for keying the plug connector with the complementary receptacle.

7. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, further comprising a heat shrink tube for weatherproofing the preconnectorized outdoor cable, the heat shrink tube being disposed over a portion of the at least one plug connector and a portion of one of the jackets.

8. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud having a first end and a second end, and a coupling nut.

9. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 8, the shroud defining a pair of openings on opposite sides of the first end, the opening extending lengthwise from a medial portion of the shroud to the first end of the shroud, wherein the ferrule is accessible within the first end of the shroud.

10. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 8, further comprising a heat shrink tube for weatherproofing the preconnectorized outdoor cable, the heat shrink tube being disposed about the second end of the shroud and a portion of one of the jackets.

11. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 8, further comprising an O-ring disposed on the shroud for weatherproofing the at least one plug connector.

12. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud having a first end and a second end, wherein the shroud has at least one alignment indicia for indicating a mating orientation.

13. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud having a first end and a second end, the shroud has a plurality of fingers for mating with a complementary receptacle, wherein at least two of the fingers have different cross-sectional shapes for keying the plug connector with the complementary receptacle.

14. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, the at least one plug connector having a protective cap and a retention wire, wherein the protective cap is attached to the at least one plug connector by a retention wire.

15. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, a plurality of the components of the at least one plug connector being formed from a UV stabilized material.

16. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, the cable having two or more plug connectors.

17. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 1, a dry insert being disposed within the tube.

18. A preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly, comprising:

a messenger section, the messenger section comprising at least one strength component and a jacket surrounding the at least one strength component;

a carrier section, the carrier section including at least one optical waveguide and a jacket;

a web connecting the respective jackets of the messenger section and carrier section; and

at least one plug connector, the at least one plug connector being attached to a first end of the figure-eight cable, thereby connectorizing a first end of the optical waveguide, wherein the at least one plug connector comprises a crimp assembly, the crimp assembly includes a crimp housing that secures a connector assembly, the crimp housing comprises two half-shells, the two half-shells having a curvilinear longitudinal passageway therethrough for routing the at least one optical waveguide therethrough to the connector assembly, and the two half-shells being held together by a crimp band.

19. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud and the crimp housing is at least partially disposed within the shroud, the shroud having two fingers for mating with a complementary receptacle, wherein the two fingers are disposed about 180 degrees apart and have different cross-sectional shapes for keying the plug connector with the complementary receptacle.

20. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, one of the half-shells having at least one rib.

21. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, the two half-shells further comprising:

at least one cable clamping portion, the at least one cable clamping portion securing at least one strength component of the cable therein;

a connector assembly clamping portion, the connector assembly clamping portion securing a portion of the connector assembly; and

a crimp band, the crimp band holding together the two half-shells.

22. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, further comprising a heat shrink tube for weatherproofing the preconnectorized outdoor cable, the heat shrink tube being disposed over a portion of the at least one plug connector and a portion of one of the jackets.

23. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud having a first end and a second end, and a coupling nut.

24. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 23, the shroud defining a pair of openings on opposite sides of the first end, the opening extending lengthwise from a medial portion of the shroud to the first end of the shroud, wherein the ferrule is accessible within the first end of the shroud.

25. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 23, further comprising a heat shrink tube for weatherproofing the preconnectorized outdoor cable, the heat shrink tube being disposed about the second end of the shroud and a portion of one of the jackets.

26. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 23, further comprising an O-ring disposed on the shroud for weatherproofing the at least one plug connector.

27. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud having a first end and a second end, wherein the shroud has at least one alignment indicia for indicating a mating orientation.

28. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud having a first end and a second end, the shroud has a plurality of fingers for mating with a complementary receptacle, wherein at least two of the fingers have different cross-sectional shapes for keying the plug connector with the complementary receptacle.

29. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, the at least one plug connector having a protective cap and a retention wire, wherein the protective cap is attached to the at least one plug connector by a retention wire.

30. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, a plurality of the components of the at least one plug connector being formed from a UV stabilized material.

31. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, the cable having two or more plug connectors.

32. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 18, the carrier section having a dry insert.

33. A preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly, comprising:

a messenger section, said messenger section comprising at least one strength component and a jacket of the messenger section surrounding the at least one strength component;

a carrier section being a tubeless configuration that excludes a strength component, the carrier section including at least one optical fiber and at least one water-swellable element disposed within a passageway of a jacket of the carrier section;

a web connecting said respective jackets of the messenger section and the carrier section; and

at least one plug connector, the at least one plug connector being attached to a first end of the cable, thereby connectorizing a first end of the optical waveguide, wherein the at least one plug connector includes a crimp housing and a connector assembly, the crimp housing having two half-shells that secure a portion of the connector assembly therebetween where the connector assembly includes a ferrule and a connector housing.

34. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, the two halfshells having a curvilinear longitudinal passageway therethrough for routing the at least one optical waveguide to the connector assembly, and the two half-shells being held together by a crimp band.

35. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, the crimp housing being a portion of a crimp assembly that includes a crimp band for holding the crimp housing together.

36. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 34, the crimp housing having at least one cable clamping portion, the at least one cable clamping portion securing at least one strength component of the cable therein.

37. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 34, one of the half-shells having at least one rib for securing the at least one strength component.

38. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 34, the two half-shells further comprising:

at least one cable clamping portion, the at least one cable clamping portion securing at least one strength component of the cable therein; and

a connector assembly clamping portion, the connector assembly clamping portion securing a portion of the connector assembly therein.

39. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, further comprising a heat shrink tube for weatherproofing the preconnectorized outdoor cable, the heat shrink tube being disposed over a portion of the at least one plug connector and a portion of one of the jackets.

40. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud having a first end and a second end, and a coupling nut.

41. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 40, the shroud defining a pair of openings on opposite sides of the first end, the opening extending lengthwise from a medial portion of the shroud to the first end of the shroud, wherein the ferrule is accessible within the first end of the shroud.

42. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 40, further comprising a heat shrink tube for weatherproofing the preconnectorized outdoor cable, the heat shrink tube being disposed about the second end of the shroud and a portion of one of the jackets.

43. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 40, further comprising an O-ring disposed on the shroud for weatherproofing the at least one plug connector.

44. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud having a first end and a second end, wherein the shroud has at least one alignment indicia for indicating a mating orientation.

45. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud having a first end and a second end, the shroud has a plurality of fingers for mating with a complementary receptacle, wherein at least two of the fingers have different cross-sectional shapes for keying the plug connector with the complementary receptacle.

46. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, the at least one plug connector having a protective cap and a retention wire, wherein the protective cap is attached to the at least one plug connector by a retention wire.

47. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, a plurality of the components of the at least one plug connector being formed from a UV stabilized material.

48. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, the cable having two or more plug connectors.

49. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, the water-swellable element being a portion of a dry insert.

50. The preconnectorized outdoor figure-eight cable assembly of claim 33, the at least one plug connector further comprising a shroud and the crimp housing is at least partially disposed within the shroud, the shroud having two fingers for mating with a complementary receptacle, wherein the two fingers are disposed about 180 degrees apart and have different cross-sectional shapes for keying the plug connector with the complementary receptacle.