Fiber optic cable breakout configuration with tensile reinforcement
First Claim
1. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:
- a main fiber optic cable including a first set of strength members, the first set of strength members including at least one cable strength member continuing along the main fiber optic cable within a radial boundary defined by an inner surface of a cable jacket of the main fiber optic cable;
a tether cable;
a breakout block mounted to the main fiber optic cable;
a retention block mounted to the main fiber optic cable, the tether cable being secured to the retention block;
a sleeve positioned outside the main fiber optic cable that extends from the breakout block to the retention block;
an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout block, through the sleeve and through the retention block to the tether cable;
a tensile reinforcing structure including a second set of strength members, the second set of strength members including at least one tensile reinforcing member that extends solely between the breakout block and the retention block for preventing a spacing between the breakout block and the retention block from exceeding a predetermined amount, the tensile reinforcing structure being radially positioned outside the radial boundary of the main fiber optic cable, and the at least one tensile reinforcing member of the tensile reinforcing structure having a first portion anchored to the breakout block and a second portion anchored to the retention block; and
an over-mold that covers the breakout block, the sleeve, the retention block, the tensile reinforcing structure and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable;
wherein the breakout block includes at least one outwardly projecting securing member for use in securing the at least one tensile reinforcing member of the tensile reinforcing structure to the breakout block; and
wherein the retention block also includes at least one of the outwardly projecting securing members for use in securing the at least one tensile reinforcing member of the tensile reinforcing structure to the retention block.
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Accused Products
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 breakout location includes a breakout block mounted to the main fiber optic cable, a tether retention block mounted to the main fiber optic cable, and a sleeve positioned outside the main fiber optic cable that extends from the breakout block to the tether retention block. An optical fiber structure extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout block, through the sleeve and through the tether retention block to the tether cable. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly also includes a tensile reinforcing structure that extends from the breakout block to the retention block for preventing a spacing between the breakout block and the retention block from exceeding a predetermined amount. The tensile reinforcing structure is positioned outside the main fiber optic cable and has portions anchored to the breakout block and the retention block. The fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly further includes an over-mold that covers the breakout block, the sleeve, the retention block, the tensile reinforcing structure and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:
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a main fiber optic cable including a first set of strength members, the first set of strength members including at least one cable strength member continuing along the main fiber optic cable within a radial boundary defined by an inner surface of a cable jacket of the main fiber optic cable; a tether cable; a breakout block mounted to the main fiber optic cable; a retention block mounted to the main fiber optic cable, the tether cable being secured to the retention block; a sleeve positioned outside the main fiber optic cable that extends from the breakout block to the retention block; an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout block, through the sleeve and through the retention block to the tether cable; a tensile reinforcing structure including a second set of strength members, the second set of strength members including at least one tensile reinforcing member that extends solely between the breakout block and the retention block for preventing a spacing between the breakout block and the retention block from exceeding a predetermined amount, the tensile reinforcing structure being radially positioned outside the radial boundary of the main fiber optic cable, and the at least one tensile reinforcing member of the tensile reinforcing structure having a first portion anchored to the breakout block and a second portion anchored to the retention block; and an over-mold that covers the breakout block, the sleeve, the retention block, the tensile reinforcing structure and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable; wherein the breakout block includes at least one outwardly projecting securing member for use in securing the at least one tensile reinforcing member of the tensile reinforcing structure to the breakout block; and wherein the retention block also includes at least one of the outwardly projecting securing members for use in securing the at least one tensile reinforcing member of the tensile reinforcing structure to the retention block. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19)
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15. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:
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a main fiber optic cable including a first set of strength members, the first set of strength members including at least one cable strength member continuing along the main fiber optic cable within a boundary defined by an outer surface of a cable jacket of the main fiber optic cable prior to stripping away the cable jacket at a stripped region; a tether cable; a breakout piece mounted to the main fiber optic cable, the breakout piece including at least one outwardly projecting securing member; a retention piece mounted to the main fiber optic cable, the tether cable being secured to the retention piece, the retention piece also including at least one of the outwardly projecting securing members; an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout piece and the retention piece to the tether cable; a second set of strength members including a string-like tensile reinforcing member that extends between the breakout piece and the retention piece, the tensile reinforcing member not being a part of the main fiber optic cable and including at least a portion positioned outside the boundary defined by the outer surface of the cable jacket of the main fiber optic cable, and the tensile reinforcing member having portions anchored to the at least one of the outwardly projecting securing members of the breakout piece and the at least one of the outwardly projecting securing members of the retention piece; and an over-mold that covers the breakout piece, the retention piece, the tensile reinforcing member and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable. - View Dependent Claims (16, 20, 21)
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22. A fiber optic telecommunications cable assembly comprising:
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a main fiber optic cable having a central axis and an outer jacket, the main fiber optic cable defining a first radial dimension that extends from the central axis to an outer surface of the outer jacket; a tether cable; a breakout block mounted to the main fiber optic cable, the breakout block including at least one outwardly projecting securing member; a retention block mounted to the main fiber optic cable, the tether cable being secured to the retention block, the retention block also including at least one of the outwardly projecting securing members; a sleeve positioned outside the main fiber optic cable that extends from the breakout block to the retention block; an optical fiber structure that extends from the main fiber optic cable, through the breakout block, through the sleeve and through the retention block to the tether cable; a tensile reinforcing member that extends from the breakout block to the retention block for preventing a spacing between the breakout block and the retention block from exceeding a predetermined amount, the tensile reinforcing member being positioned outside the main fiber optic cable and being spaced from the central axis of the main fiber optic cable by a second radial dimension that is larger in magnitude than the first radial dimension, the tensile reinforcing member having portions anchored to the at least one outwardly projecting securing members of the breakout block and the retention block; and
an over-mold that covers the breakout block, the sleeve, the retention block, the tensile reinforcing member and at least a portion of the main fiber optic cable. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification