Fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly

• US 7,532,799 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Andy, Suek, Paul, Gronvall, Erik, Lu, Yu, Carlson, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ERIC K
• Application Number:
  US11/787,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20080253722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 385/100, 385134-135
• US Class Current: 385/136
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4475 with provision for lateral branching G02B6/4431 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly including a main fiber optic cable and a tether cable that branches from the main fiber optic cable at a breakout location. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly also includes a breakout block mounted to the main fiber optic cable at the breakout location, and an over-mold that covers the breakout block and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable. The breakout block defines a straight-through channel in which the main fiber optic cable is received and a breakout channel that branches out from the straight-through channel. The breakout block includes seams with overlap configurations that prevent the over-mold from entering the breakout block through the seams. The breakout block also includes barrier dams for preventing bonding material from entering the breakout channel.

Claims

1. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:

a main fiber optic cable;

a tether cable that branches from the main fiber optic cable at a breakout location;

a breakout block mounted to the main fiber optic cable at the breakout location, the breakout block defining a straight-through channel in which the main fiber optic cable is received and a breakout channel that branches out from the straight-through channel, the breakout block including first and second half-pieces joined at oppositely positioned first and second seams, the first seam being positioned adjacent the straight-through channel and the second seam being positioned adjacent the breakout channel;

an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout block to the tether cable; and

an over-mold that covers the breakout block and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable;

wherein the first and second half-pieces of the breakout block include a first set of inner and outer overlap members that extend along the second seam and overlap one another to provide a first barrier that prevents over-mold material from entering the breakout block through the second seam.

2. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second half-pieces of the breakout block include a second set of inner and outer overlap members that extend along the second seam and overlap one another to provide a second barrier that prevents the over-mold material from entering the breakout block through the second seam.

3. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 1, wherein a bonding material is provided at the first and second seams, and wherein the breakout block includes a second barrier for preventing the bonding material from entering the breakout channel.

4. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 3, wherein the second barrier includes overlapping fins positioned inside the first set of inner and outer overlap members.

5. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the straight-through channel is located adjacent a bottom of the breakout block and the breakout channel is located adjacent a top of the breakout block, wherein the straight-through channel includes a bottom surface to which a bonding material is applied for bonding the main fiber optic cable to the breakout block, and wherein the breakout block includes a barrier structure for preventing the bonding material from migrating up to the breakout channel.

6. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 5, wherein the barrier structure includes two ribs that extend along a length of the straight-through channel and that press against the main fiber optic cable.

7. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second half-pieces include curved members that nest and overlap with one another when the first and second half-pieces are interconnected at the first and second seams, and wherein the curved members define a portion of the breakout channel.

8. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:

a main fiber optic cable;

a tether cable that branches from the main fiber optic cable at a breakout location;

a breakout block mounted to the main fiber optic cable at the breakout location, the breakout block defining a straight-through channel in which the main fiber optic cable is received and a breakout channel that branches out from the straight-through channel, the breakout block including first and second half-pieces joined at oppositely positioned first and second seams, the first seam being positioned adjacent the straight-through channel and the second seam being positioned adjacent the breakout channel;

an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout block to the tether cable;

bonding material provided at the first and second seams for securing the first and second half-pieces together; and

the breakout block including a barrier dam positioned inside the second seam for preventing the bonding material applied to the second seam from entering the breakout channel.

9. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 8, wherein the barrier dam is defined by fins that overlap when the first and second half-pieces are assembled together.

10. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 8, further comprising an over-mold layer covering the breakout block.

11. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:

a main fiber optic cable;

a tether cable that branches from the main fiber optic cable at a breakout location;

a breakout block mounted to the main fiber optic cable at the breakout location, the breakout block defining a straight-through channel in which the main fiber optic cable is received and a breakout channel that branches out from the straight-through channel, the breakout block including first and second half-pieces joined at oppositely positioned first and second seams, the first seam being positioned adjacent the straight-through channel and the second seam being positioned adjacent the breakout channel, the straight-through channel being located adjacent a bottom of the breakout block and the breakout channel being located adjacent a top of the breakout block;

an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout block to the tether cable;

the straight-through channel including a bottom surface to which a bonding material is applied for bonding the main fiber optic cable to the breakout block, and the breakout block including a barrier dam structure for preventing the bonding material from migrating up to the breakout channel.

12. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly of claim 11, wherein the barrier dam structure includes two ribs that extend along a length of the straight-through channel and that press against the main fiber optic cable.

13. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:

a main fiber optic cable;

a tether cable that branches from the main fiber optic cable at a breakout location, the tether cable having a central buffer tube and two strength members positioned at opposite sides of the central buffer tube;

at least one crimp member crimped on the tether cable;

a retention block mounted to the main fiber optic cable at the breakout location, the retention block defining a straight-through channel in which the main fiber optic cable is received and a tether mounting channel for receiving one end of the tether cable, the tether mounting channel including a cable anchoring portion including a central region for receiving the central buffer tube and side regions for receiving the strength members, the cable anchoring portion also including a pocket that receives the at least one crimp member;

an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the retention block to the tether cable; and

a bonding material that secures the strength members in the side regions of the cable anchoring portion of the retention block.