Overmold zip strip

• US 7,403,685 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Wells, Dennis Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood; Kevin S.
• Application Number:
  US11/580,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20080089652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 385100-114, 385/135, 385/136, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/100
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4431 with provision in the protective covering, e.g. weak line, for gaining access to one or more fibres, e.g. for branching or tapping break-out terminations G02B6/4471
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4475 with provision for lateral branching G02B6/4431 takes precedence

Abstract

A telecommunications cable includes a distribution cable, a tether branching from the distribution cable at the mid-span breakout location, an enclosure that surrounds the breakout location, and an access device including a ripcord installed on the enclosure. Typically, the first and second ends of the ripcord are arranged adjacent the first end of the enclosure and a middle of the ripcord forms a half-loop adjacent the second end of the enclosure. The ripcord is configured to cut through the body of the enclosure when pulled from at least one of the first and second ends.

Claims

1. A telecommunications cable comprising:

a distribution cable including a cable jacket and at least a first buffer tube positioned within the cable jacket, the distribution cable including a breakout location where a portion of the cable jacket has been removed and where the first buffer tube includes a fiber access location;

an enclosure enclosing the breakout location, the enclosure including a body elongated over a length that extends along the distribution cable from a first end to a second end of the enclosure;

a tether branching from the distribution cable at the breakout location, the tether including a tether jacket;

an optical fiber structure including a first portion that extends through the first buffer tube of the distribution cable, a second portion that extends through the fiber access location and along the length of the enclosure, and a third portion positioned within the tether jacket, the first, second, and third portions of the optical fiber structure being in optical communication with one another; and

an access device including a ripcord installed on the enclosure, the ripcord extending from a first end to a second end, the first and second ends of the ripcord arranged adjacent the first end of the enclosure, the ripcord forming a half-loop adjacent the second end of the enclosure, the ripcord being configured to cut through the body of the enclosure when pulled.

2. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, wherein the access device also includes a ring coupled to at least one of the first and second ends of the ripcord.

3. The telecommunications cable of claim 2, wherein the ring is about ⅛

^th of an inch in diameter.

4. The telecommunications cable of claim 2, wherein the ring is embedded within the body of the enclosure.

5. The telecommunications cable of claim 4, wherein the body of the enclosure includes indicia indicating a location of the ring.

6. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end of the ripcord are each coupled to first and second rings, respectively.

7. The telecommunications cable of claim 6, wherein each ring is sized and configured to be grasped by a tool.

8. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is formed from a polymeric material.

9. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications cable is sized to be pulled through a conduit having a 1.25 inch inner diameter.

10. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve through which the second portion of the optical fiber structure passes, the sleeve being encased within the enclosure.

11. The telecommunications cable of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the optical fiber structure is defined by a distribution cable fiber positioned within the first buffer tube of the distribution cable, and wherein the third portion of the optical fiber structure is defined by a tether fiber positioned within the tether jacket, and wherein the second portion of the optical fiber structure is defined by optically coupled end portions of the distribution cable fiber and the tether fiber.

12. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is installed on the distribution cable in a factory.

13. A method comprising:

accessing a first end and a second end of a ripcord installed within a body of an enclosure, the enclosure installed on a distribution cable at a breakout location;

applying a force to the first end and to the second end of the ripcord to pull the ripcord from the body, wherein pulling the ripcord cuts the body of the enclosure;

removing a portion cut from the body of the enclosure to create a void leading to an interior of the enclosure; and

accessing a breakout assembly installed on the distribution cable at the breakout location; and

resealing the body of the enclosure to close the void.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein accessing a first end and a second end of a ripcord includes grasping a ring coupled to each of the first and second ends.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein applying a force includes pulling the rings in opposite directions.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein applying a force includes wrapping at least one of the first and second ends of the ripcord around a tool.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein applying a force includes applying a force to the first end and to the second end of the ripcord concurrently.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein sealing the cut portion includes mechanically welding the cut portion to the body of the enclosure using a heat gun.

19. An access device for accessing an interior of an enclosure installed on a distribution cable at a breakout location, the access device comprising:

a ripcord extending from a first end to a second end, the first end and the second end being embedded within the enclosure at a first end of the enclosure, the ripcord forming a half-loop within the body of the enclosure, the ripcord configured to cut through the enclosure when a force is applied to at least one of the first and second ends of the ripcord;

a first ring coupled to the first end of the ripcord, the first ring embedded in the enclosure at the first end of the enclosure; and

a second ring coupled to the second end of the ripcord, the second ring embedded in the enclosure adjacent the first ring.

20. A telecommunications cable comprising:

a distribution cable including at least a first buffer tube, the distribution cable including a breakout location where the first buffer tube includes a fiber access location;

an enclosure that encloses the breakout location, the enclosure including a body that extends along the distribution cable;

a tether branching from the distribution cable at the breakout location and extending out from the enclosure, the tether including a tether jacket and a connectorized end, the connectorized end spaced a distance from the enclosure;

an optical fiber structure including a first portion that extends through the first buffer tube of the distribution cable, a second portion that extends through the fiber access location and along the length of the enclosure, and a third portion positioned within the tether jacket, the first, second, and third portions of the optical fiber structure being in optical communication with one another; and

an access device including a ripcord, the ripcord extending along at least a portion of the body of the enclosure to form a half-loop, the ripcord being configured to cut through the body of the enclosure when pulled.

21. The telecommunications cable of claim 20, wherein the ripcord is provided within the enclosure.