# US 10,371,916 B2 · Optical fiber pathway duct

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,371,916 B2
- Document ID: US10371916B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/411,177
- Filed: 2017-01-20
- Published: 2019-01-31
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-20
- Assignees: Clearfield, Inc.
- Applicants: Clearfield, Inc.
- Inventors: John Paul Hill; William J. Cruzen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371916B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/545: {Pulling eyes (G02B6/475 takes precedence)}
- G02B 6/4457: {Bobbins; Reels}
- G02B 6/4459: {Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres}
- G02B 6/50: Underground or underwater installation; Installation through tubing, conduits or ducts
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An optical fiber pathway duct comprises a first channel configured to receive a pulling mechanism, and a second channel configured to allow one of a pullable connector and a stub end coupled to an optical fiber cable to pass through the optical pathway duct. The optical fiber pathway duct further comprises a slot disposed between the first channel and the second channel and configured to allow a pulling eye of one of the pullable connector and the stub end coupled to the pulling mechanism to pass through the optical pathway duct.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical fiber pathway duct comprising:
a housing made of a flexible material configured to allow spooling of the housing and configured to protect an optical fiber cable;
a first channel in the housing configured to receive a pulling mechanism;
a second channel in the housing configured to allow one of a pullable connector and a stub end coupled to the optical fiber cable to pass through the housing; and
a slot connecting the first channel and the second channel and configured to allow a pulling eye of one of the pullable connector and the stub end coupled to the pulling mechanism to pass through the housing,
wherein the first channel has a first cross-sectional area and the second channel has a second cross-sectional area that is larger than the first cross-sectional area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber pathway duct of claim 1, wherein the second channel is further configured to house a plurality of previously deployed optical fiber cables.

### Claim 3

An optical fiber pathway assembly comprising:
a reel configured to store a pre-terminated optical fiber cable; and
an optical fiber pathway duct comprising:
a housing made of a flexible material configured to allow spooling of the housing and configured to protect the pre-terminated optical fiber cable,
a first channel in the housing configured to receive a pulling mechanism,
a second channel in the housing configured to allow a pullable connector of the pre-terminated optical fiber cable to pass through the housing, and
a slot connecting the first channel and the second channel and configured to allow a pulling eye of the pullable connector coupled to the pulling mechanism to pass through the housing,
wherein the first channel has a first cross-sectional area and the second channel has a second cross-sectional area that is larger than the first cross-sectional area.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The optical fiber pathway assembly of claim 3, wherein the second channel is further configured to house a plurality of previously deployed optical fiber cables.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber pathway duct of claim 1, wherein the housing has an asymmetrical shape in a cross-sectional view.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The optical fiber pathway duct of claim 5, wherein the housing includes at least one flat section in the cross-sectional view.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The optical fiber pathway duct of claim 6, wherein housing further includes a curved section in the cross-sectional view.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The optical fiber pathway duct of claim 7, wherein an inner surface of the flat section and an inner surface of the curved section define a portion of the second cross-sectional area.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The optical fiber pathway duct of claim 8, wherein the flat section and the curved section meet at a point.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber pathway duct of claim 1, wherein the second cross-sectional area has an asymmetrical shape.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

The optical fiber pathway assembly of claim 3, wherein the housing has an asymmetrical shape in a cross-sectional view.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The optical fiber pathway assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing includes at least one flat section in the cross-sectional view.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The optical fiber pathway assembly of claim 12, wherein housing further includes a curved section in the cross-sectional view.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The optical fiber pathway assembly of claim 13, wherein an inner surface of the flat section and an inner surface of the curved section define a portion of the second cross-sectional area.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The optical fiber pathway assembly of claim 14, wherein the flat section and the curved section meet at a point.

### Claim 16 (depends on 3)

The optical fiber pathway assembly of claim 3, wherein the second cross-sectional area has an asymmetrical shape.