Fiber optic splice assembly
First Claim
1. A fiber optic splice assembly for splicing optical fibers, said fibers having a transparent core with a buffer coating thereon, said assembly comprising:
- a longitudinal body having an axial bore therethrough and having opposed ends separated by and connected to a center portion;
a hollow sleeve positioned within said center portion;
elastic means mounted in said hollow sleeve for receiving the transparent cores of two fibers which have had a portion of their buffer coating removed, one fiber entering said body from each of said ends;
means associated internally of said ends for receiving a portion of the fibers having a buffer coating thereon; and
holding means cooperating with said ends for applying radial compression to said ends whereby said fibers are retained within said assembly.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic splicing system for accommodating optical fibers having similar or distinctly different buffered coating sizes. The system comprises a first pair of housing halves forming a body with opposed ends adapted to receive two optical fiber of a first similar size; a second pair of housing halves forming a body with opposed ends adapted to receive two optical fibers of a second similar size, different from said first size; and a third pair of housing halves forming a body having one end formed to receive one of said first size of optical fiber and another end formed to receive one of said second, different size of optical fiber. Holding means in the form of slidable end caps cooperate with the ends of the housing to apply radial compression thereto to maintain the fibers in position without the use of crimps or adhesives. A center portion of the halves can be formed to accept elastic means for receiving fibers or, alternatively, a hollow sleeve which includes the elastic means therein.
31 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A fiber optic splice assembly for splicing optical fibers, said fibers having a transparent core with a buffer coating thereon, said assembly comprising:
- a longitudinal body having an axial bore therethrough and having opposed ends separated by and connected to a center portion;
a hollow sleeve positioned within said center portion;
elastic means mounted in said hollow sleeve for receiving the transparent cores of two fibers which have had a portion of their buffer coating removed, one fiber entering said body from each of said ends;
means associated internally of said ends for receiving a portion of the fibers having a buffer coating thereon; and
holding means cooperating with said ends for applying radial compression to said ends whereby said fibers are retained within said assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- a longitudinal body having an axial bore therethrough and having opposed ends separated by and connected to a center portion;
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6. A fiber optic splice assembly for splicing optical fibers, said fibers having a transparent core with a buffer coating thereon, said assembly comprising:
- a longitudinal body having an axial bore therethrough and having opposed ends separated by and connected to a center portion;
a hollow sleeve positioned within said center portion;
elastic means mounted in said hollow sleeve for receiving the transparent cores of two fibers which have had a portion of their buffer coating removed, one fiber entering said body from each of said ends;
said body comprising longitudinal halves;
means associated internally of said ends of said longitudinal halves for receiving a portion of the fibers having a buffer coating thereon and including said longitudinal bores;
said longitudinal bores being defined by a slot formed on one of said halves and a projection formed on the other of said halves and holding means cooperating with said ends for applying radial compression to said ends whereby said fibers are retained within said bore. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
- a longitudinal body having an axial bore therethrough and having opposed ends separated by and connected to a center portion;
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10. A fiber optic splicing system for accommodating optical fibers having similar or distinctly different buffered coating sizes, said system comprising:
- a first pair of housing halves forming a body with opposed ends adapted to receive two optical fibers of a first similar size;
a second pair of housing halves forming a body with opposed ends adapted to receive two optical fibers of a second similar size, different from said first size;
a third pair of housing halves forming a body having one end formed to receive one of said first size of optical fiber and another end formed to receive one of said second, different size of optical fiber, each of said housing halves including a center portion having a semi-cylindrical trough therein, said semi-cylindrical troughs forming a cylindrical cavity when two of said halves are mated; and
a hollow sleeve for inclusion within said cylindrical cavity, said hollow sleeve containing elastic means for receiving and holding fibers inserted thereinto. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a first pair of housing halves forming a body with opposed ends adapted to receive two optical fibers of a first similar size;
Specification