Optical fiber cable with fiber receiving jacket ducts
First Claim
1. An optical fiber cable having a length and a longitudinal axis, said cable comprising:
- a longitudinal strength member disposed at said axis;
a tubular plastic jacket encircling the strength member and having a circumferentially continuous outer portion, wherein the strength member and the jacket define at least one longitudinal duct between the jacket outer portion and the strength member, and wherein the jacket includes connecting portions only at circumferentially opposite sides of the duct which provide connections to the strength member;
wherein said connecting portions provide connections to the strength member which resist longitudinal movement of the connecting portions with respect to the strength member when the cable is subjected to pulling forces directed parallel to the axis of the cable but which connections can be interrupted by manual forces applied to the jacket and directed radially of said axis;
wherein there is at least one longitudinally extending optical fiber in the at least one duct; and
wherein the optical fiber in the duct is exposed upon the interruption of the connection of the jacket to the strength member at either of the circumferentially opposite sides of the duct.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Optical fiber cables with a central strength member encircled by a jacket having ducts which are disposed around the strength member and which receive one or more optical fibers with jacket material between the ducts and the outer surface of the jacket. The optical fibers are free to move in the ducts, and preferably, the optical fibers are tight buffered. Portions of the jacket intermediate the ducts connect to the strength member which resists longitudinal movement of the jacket relative to the core. However, the jacket can be separated from the core by manual pulling force after the jacket is axially and radially cut at a pair of diametrically opposite ducts. Preferably, the jacket has outer surface indicia showing the positions of the slots, and the cables can include water blocking materials.
355 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An optical fiber cable having a length and a longitudinal axis, said cable comprising:
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a longitudinal strength member disposed at said axis; a tubular plastic jacket encircling the strength member and having a circumferentially continuous outer portion, wherein the strength member and the jacket define at least one longitudinal duct between the jacket outer portion and the strength member, and wherein the jacket includes connecting portions only at circumferentially opposite sides of the duct which provide connections to the strength member; wherein said connecting portions provide connections to the strength member which resist longitudinal movement of the connecting portions with respect to the strength member when the cable is subjected to pulling forces directed parallel to the axis of the cable but which connections can be interrupted by manual forces applied to the jacket and directed radially of said axis; wherein there is at least one longitudinally extending optical fiber in the at least one duct; and wherein the optical fiber in the duct is exposed upon the interruption of the connection of the jacket to the strength member at either of the circumferentially opposite sides of the duct. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification