Fiber optic cable breakout system, packaging arrangement, and method of installation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fiber optic cable breakout arrangement comprising:
- a main cable;
a branch cable that separates from the main cable, the branch cable including a plurality of pigtails including optical fibers individually connected to separate fiber optic connectors that do not include outer bodies;
an elongate protective sheath in which the fiber optic connectors of the pigtails are packaged, the sheath being secured to the exterior of the main cable, the sheath having a profile height that extends generally radially outwardly from the main cable between a first convex side and a second concave side, the sheath also having a width, wherein the width is generally transverse relative to the profile height, and wherein the profile height is less than the width.
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Abstract
Certain aspects of the disclosure relate to fiber optic cable systems, packaging configurations and methods that facilitate the effective use and installation of pre-terminated fiber optic cable. A fiber optic cable breakout arrangement can include a main cable, a branch cable that separates from the main cable, and an elongate protective sheath. Fibers of the branch cable can be packaged in the sheath to secure the fibers to the exterior of the main cable. In certain embodiments, the sheath can have a profile height extending generally radially outwardly from the main cable and a width that is greater than the profile height.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A fiber optic cable breakout arrangement comprising:
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a main cable; a branch cable that separates from the main cable, the branch cable including a plurality of pigtails including optical fibers individually connected to separate fiber optic connectors that do not include outer bodies; an elongate protective sheath in which the fiber optic connectors of the pigtails are packaged, the sheath being secured to the exterior of the main cable, the sheath having a profile height that extends generally radially outwardly from the main cable between a first convex side and a second concave side, the sheath also having a width, wherein the width is generally transverse relative to the profile height, and wherein the profile height is less than the width. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A fiber optic cable breakout arrangement comprising:
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a main cable; a branch cable that separates from the main cable at a breakout location, the branch cable including a plurality of pigtails including optical fibers individually connected to separate fiber optic connectors; an elongate protective sheath in which the fiber optic connectors of the pigtails are packaged, the sheath being secured to the exterior of the main cable at a location spaced from the breakout location; and a plurality of clips attached to positions spaced along the main cable, each clip being configured to secure the sheath to the main cable when the sheath is inserted through the clip, and each clip being configured to remain at the respective position on the main cable when the sheath is pulled from the breakout location, wherein the clips include a retaining closure configured to secure the sheath to the main cable, the retaining closure including a sheath stopper against which one end of the sheath abuts when positioned within the retaining closure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of installing a fiber optic cable breakout arrangement, the method comprising:
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attaching a first end of a branch cable to a main cable at a breakout location, the branch cable including a plurality of pigtails including optical fibers, each optical fiber connected to a fiber optic connector arranged at a second end of the branch cable; positioning a breakout enclosure around a portion of the main cable and a portion of the branch cable at the breakout location, wherein the second end of the branch cable extends outwardly from the breakout enclosure; packaging the fiber optic connectors within an elongate protective sheath having a width that is greater than a profile height of the elongate protective sheath, the profile height extending generally radially outwardly from the main cable, the width of the elongate protective sheath being generally transverse to the profile height; securing the elongate protective sheath to the main cable at a location spaced from the breakout enclosure; deploying the main cable at an installation site; and removing the sheath from the fiber optic connectors after deployment. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of installing a fiber optic cable breakout arrangement, the method comprising:
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attaching a first end of a branch cable to a main cable at a breakout location, the branch cable including a plurality of pigtails including optical fibers, each optical fiber terminated at an interior body of a fiber optic connector at a second end of the branch cable; and packaging the interior bodies of the fiber optic connectors terminating the optical fibers within an elongate protective sheath coupled to the main cable, wherein packaging the interior bodies includes packaging the fiber optic connectors without outer bodies.
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22. A fiber optic cable breakout arrangement comprising:
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a main cable; a branch cable that separates from the main cable, the branch cable including a plurality of pigtails including optical fibers individually connected to separate fiber optic connectors; and an elongate protective sheath in which the fiber optic connectors of the pigtails are packaged, the sheath is secured to the exterior of the main cable, the sheath has a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, the sheath has a width and a profile height, the profile height extends generally radially outwardly from the main cable and the width is generally transverse relative to the profile height, the profile height is less than the width; wherein the fiber optic connectors include SC connectors; and wherein the SC connectors do not include outer bodies.
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23. A fiber optic cable breakout arrangement comprising:
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a main cable; a branch cable that separates from the main cable, the branch cable including a plurality of pigtails including optical fibers individually connected to separate fiber optic connectors; and an elongate protective sheath in which the fiber optic connectors of the pigtails are packaged, the sheath is secured to the exterior of the main cable, the sheath has a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, the sheath has a width and a profile height, the profile height extends generally radially outwardly from the main cable and the width is generally transverse relative to the profile height, the profile height is less than the width; and first and second end pieces configured to seal opposing ends of the sheath, each end piece being tapered, wherein the second end piece includes a retaining closure configured to attach to the exterior of the main cable and to secure the sheath to the main cable. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A fiber optic cable breakout arrangement comprising:
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a main cable; a branch cable that separates from the main cable at a breakout location, the branch cable including a plurality of pigtails including optical fibers individually connected to separate fiber optic connectors; an elongate protective sheath in which the fiber optic connectors of the pigtails are packaged, the sheath is secured to the exterior of the main cable; and at least one clip attached to a position on the main cable, each clip is configured to secure the sheath to the main cable when the sheath is inserted through the clip, and each clip is configured to remain at the position on the main cable when the sheath is pulled from the breakout location; wherein the at least one clip includes a retaining closure configured to be held in position to the main cable by a clamp.
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27. A method of installing a fiber optic cable breakout arrangement, the method comprising:
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attaching a branch cable to a main cable at a breakout location, the branch cable including a plurality of pigtails including optical fibers, each optical fiber connected to an interior body of a fiber optic connector; packaging the plurality of pigtails and the interior bodies within an elongate protective sheath; inserting the elongate sheath through at least one clip, the at least one clip attached to the main cable and configured to secure the elongate sheath to the main cable; pulling the branch cable at the breakout location to access the elongate sheath; accessing the plurality of pigtails within the elongate sheath; and assembling outer bodies of the fiber optic connectors over the inner bodies.
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Specification