Fiber optic cable control clips and enclosure assemblies and methods incorporating the same

• US 7,953,311 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Thompson, Justin Everette, Carrico, William Alan, Mullaney, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): LEPISTO, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/703,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20100142909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 385135-137
• US Class Current: 385/137
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4447 with divided shells G02B6/4448 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4475 with provision for lateral branching G02B6/4431 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

An enclosure assembly for use with a fiber optic cable, the cable having a lengthwise cable axis and including a plurality of optical fibers and a jacket surrounding the optical fibers includes an enclosure housing and a cable control clip. The enclosure housing defines a chamber to receive the cable. The cable control clip is configured to be inserted through the cable to extend radially between the optical fibers and the jacket to limit contact between the optical fibers and one or more other components of the cable, and to limit displacement of the enclosure housing relative to the cable when the cable control clip is disposed in the chamber.

Claims

1. An enclosure assembly for use with a fiber optic cable, the cable having a lengthwise cable axis and including a plurality of optical fibers and a jacket surrounding the optical fibers, the enclosure assembly comprising:

an enclosure housing defining a chamber to receive the cable; and

a cable control clip configured to be inserted through the cable to extend radially between the optical fibers and the jacket to limit contact between the optical fibers and one or more other components of the cable, and to limit displacement of the enclosure housing relative to the cable when the cable control clip is disposed in the chamber;

wherein;

the cable control clip includes a unitarily formed clip member, the clip member including a first wall and a second wall connected by a bend portion; and

the clip member is configured to loop around the cable such that the first wall extends between the optical fibers and the jacket, and the second wall extends around an exterior of the jacket.

2. The enclosure assembly of claim 1 wherein the cable control clip is affixed to the enclosure housing.

3. The enclosure assembly of claim 1 wherein the cable control clip is configured to grip the cable.

4. The enclosure assembly of claim 3 wherein the cable control clip includes at least one projection configured to embed into the jacket to resist axial displacement of the jacket relative to the cable control clip.

5. The enclosure assembly of claim 1 wherein, when mounted on the cable, the cable control clip permits the cable to float axially a limited distance with respect to the cable control clip.

6. The enclosure assembly of claim 1 wherein the cable control clip is configured to extend radially between the optical fibers and the jacket and a strength member forming a part of the cable concurrently such that the cable control clip limits contact between the optical fibers and the strength member.

7. The enclosure assembly of claim 1 wherein the cable control clip is metal.

8. The enclosure assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes:

a cable entrance port in communication with the chamber and configured to receive the cable therethrough along an entrance axis; and

a cable exit port in communication with the chamber and configured to receive the cable therethrough along an exit axis;

wherein the entrance axis and the exit axis are nonparallel with respect to one another.

9. The enclosure assembly of claim 1 in combination with a fiber optic cable to form an enclosed fiber optic cable assembly, wherein:

the fiber optic cable has a lengthwise cable axis and includes a plurality of optical fibers and a jacket surrounding the optical fibers;

the cable control clip is inserted through the cable and extends radially between the optical fibers and the jacket, and is disposed in the chamber; and

the cable control clip limits contact between the optical fibers and one or more other components of the cable and limits displacement of the enclosure housing relative to the cable.

10. The enclosure assembly of claim 9 wherein:

the cable further includes a buffer tube and a strength member; and

the cable control clip extends radially between the optical fibers and the jacket, the strength member and the buffer tube concurrently and limits contact between the optical fibers and the strength member and the buffer tube.

11. A cable control clip for use with a fiber optic cable and an enclosure housing, the cable having a lengthwise cable axis and including a plurality of optical fibers and a jacket surrounding the optical fibers, the enclosure housing defining a chamber to receive the cable, the cable control clip being configured to be inserted through the cable to extend radially between the optical fibers and the jacket to limit contact between the optical fibers and one or more other components of the cable, and to limit displacement of the enclosure housing relative to the cable when the cable control clip is disposed in the chamber;

wherein;

the cable control clip includes a unitarily formed clip member, the clip member including a first wall and a second wall connected by a bend portion; and

the clip member is configured to loop around the cable such that the first wall extends between the optical fibers and the jacket, and the second wall extends around an exterior of the jacket.

12. A method for enclosing a portion of a fiber optic cable, the cable having a lengthwise cable axis and including a plurality of optical fibers and a jacket surrounding the optical fibers, the method comprising:

inserting a cable control clip through the cable such that the cable control clip extends radially between the optical fibers and the jacket; and

placing the cable and the cable control clip in a chamber of an enclosure housing, wherein the cable control clip limits contact between the optical fibers and one or more other components of the cable and limits displacement of the enclosure housing relative to the cable;

wherein inserting the cable control clip through the cable is preceded by removing a scalloped segment of the jacket to form a longitudinally extending access opening through which the optical fibers are accessible, and wherein inserting the cable control clip through the cable includes inserting the cable control clip through the access opening.

13. The method of claim 12 including affixing the cable control clip to the enclosure housing.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein inserting the cable control clip through the cable includes positioning the optical fibers in a fiber groove of the cable control clip.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein inserting the cable control clip through the cable includes inserting the cable control clip through the cable such that the cable control clip extends radially between the optical fibers and the jacket and a strength member of the cable and limits contact between the optical fibers and the strength member.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein inserting the cable control clip through the cable includes inserting the cable control clip through the access opening and between the jacket and portions of the optical fibers extending fully across the access opening uncut.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

removing a second scalloped segment of the jacket to form a second longitudinally extending access opening at a second location axially spaced apart along a length of the cable from the first access opening and through which the optical fibers are accessible;

inserting a second cable control clip through the second access opening such that the second cable control clip extends radially between the optical fibers and the jacket at the second access opening; and

placing the cable and the second cable control clip in a second chamber of a second enclosure housing, wherein the second cable control clip limits contact between the optical fibers and one or more other components of the cable and limits displacement of the second enclosure housing relative to the cable;

wherein the optical fibers extend fully through the first and second enclosure housings uncut; and

wherein the jacket extends fully and continuously through the first and second enclosure housings.

18. A method for enclosing a portion of a fiber optic cable, the cable having a lengthwise cable axis and including a plurality of optical fibers and a jacket surrounding the optical fibers, the method comprising:

inserting a cable control clip through the cable such that the cable control clip extends radially between the optical fibers and the jacket; and

placing the cable and the cable control clip in a chamber of an enclosure housing, wherein the cable control clip limits contact between the optical fibers and one or more other components of the cable and limits displacement of the enclosure housing relative to the cable;

wherein inserting the cable control clip through the cable includes positioning the optical fibers in a fiber groove of the cable control clip.