Fiber optic cable breakout configuration with retention block

• US 7,630,606 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Lu, Yu, Millea, Keith, Gniadek, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): ROJAS, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US12/008,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20090022459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/100
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4475 with provision for lateral branching G02B6/4431 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4476 with heat-shrinkable elements

Abstract

A telecommunications cable includes a distribution cable, a tether that branches from the distribution cable, and a tether retention block affixed to the distribution cable. The tether retention block includes a first portion and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to secure a tether buffer tube and a strength member of the tether. Each of the first and second portions defines at least a first half-channel configured to cooperate with the first half-channel of the other portion to receive the strength member of the tether.

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 first buffer tube enclosing a first optical fiber, the distribution cable including a mid-span location where a portion of the cable jacket has been removed and where at least the first buffer tube includes a fiber access location through which the first optical fiber is routed out of the first buffer tube;

a tether that branches from the distribution cable at the mid-span location, the tether including a tether jacket, at least one strength member positioned within the jacket, a tether buffer tube positioned within the jacket, and a second optical fiber that extends through the tether buffer tube, the second optical fiber being spliced to the first optical fiber at a splice location; and

a tether retention block affixed to the distribution cable, the tether retention block including a first portion and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to secure the tether buffer tube and at least the strength member of the tether, each of the first and second portions defining at least a first half-channel configured to cooperate with the first half-channel of the other portion to receive the strength member of the tether;

wherein the retention block defines a groove along which the distribution cable extends when the retention block is affixed to the distribution cable.

2. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second portions defines at least a second half-channel configured to cooperate with the second half-channel of the other portion to receive a second strength member of the tether.

3. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, wherein the tether retention block defines a passage through which the tether buffer tube extends, the passage being defined by the first and second portions.

4. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the tether retention block defines the groove on a first side and defines the first half-channel on a second, opposite side.

5. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, further comprising a flexible closure that surrounds the distribution cable and covers the mid-span location, the closure being factory installed, the closure being elongated along a length that extends along the distribution cable.

6. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, further comprising:

a separation block coupled to the distribution cable at an opposite side of the mid-span location from the tether retention block, the separation block at least partially enclosing the first optical fiber;

a tube extending from the separation block to the tether retention block, wherein the second optical fiber splices to the first optical fiber within the tube.

7. The telecommunications cable of claim 6, wherein each portion of the tether retention block includes a U-shaped flange configured to be inserted into one end of the tube.

8. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tether retention block is positioned within the closure.

9. The telecommunications cable of claim 1, wherein the closure includes overmolding.

10. A tether retention block for securing a tether cable to a distribution cable, the tether retention block comprising:

a first portion having a first side and an opposite, second side, the first side of the first portion defining at least a first groove;

a second portion having a first side and an opposite, second side, the first side of the second portion defining at least a first groove configured to cooperate with the first groove of the first portion to define a passageway configured to receive a strength member and a tether buffer tube of the tether cable;

wherein the first portion defines a third groove configured to receive the distribution cable to secure the tether cable to the distribution cable, the third groove being separate from the passageway.

11. The tether retention block of claim 10, wherein the first groove of the second portion is configured to align with the first groove of the first portion to form a first tunnel in which the strength member of the tether cable is secured.

12. The tether retention block of claim 10, wherein a second groove of the second portion is configured to align with a second groove of the first portion to form a second tunnel in which the tether buffer tube of the tether cable is secured.

13. The tether retention block of claim 10, wherein the third groove is provided on the second side of the first portion.

14. A telecommunications cable comprising:

a distribution cable including a cable jacket and at least a first buffer tube positioned within the cable jacket, the first buffer tube enclosing a first optical fiber, the distribution cable including a mid-span location where a portion of the cable jacket has been removed and where at least the first buffer tube includes a fiber access location through which the first optical fiber is routed out of the first buffer tube;

a tether that branches from the distribution cable at the mid-span location, the tether including a tether jacket, at least one strength member positioned within the jacket, a tether buffer tube positioned within the jacket, and a second optical fiber that extends through the tether buffer tube, the second optical fiber being spliced to the first optical fiber at a splice location;

a tether retention block affixed to the distribution cable, the tether retention block including a first portion and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to secure the tether buffer tube and at least the strength member of the tether, each of the first and second portions defining at least a first half-channel configured to cooperate with the first half-channel of the other portion to receive the strength member of the tether;

a separation block coupled to the distribution cable at an opposite side of the mid-span location from the tether retention block, the separation block at least partially enclosing the first optical fiber; and

a tube extending from the separation block to the tether retention block, wherein the second optical fiber splices to the first optical fiber within the tube.

15. The telecommunications cable of claim 14, wherein each portion of the tether retention block includes a U-shaped flange configured to be inserted into one end of the tube.