# US 10,502,919 B2 · Cable assembly with a removable installation device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,919 B2 - Document ID: US10502919B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/011,175 - Filed: 2018-06-18 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-14 - Assignees: Corning Research & Development Corporation - Applicants: Corning Research & Development Corporation - Inventors: Zachary M. Thompson; Jonathan V. Haggar; Brian M. Cole; Edward B. Lurie; Victor J. Borer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502919B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/545: {Pulling eyes (G02B6/475 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/3861: {Adhesive bonding (adhesives in general C09J)} - G02B 6/4431: {with provision in the protective covering, e.g. weak line, for gaining access to one or more fibres, e.g. for branching or tapping (break-out terminations G02B6/4471)} - G02B 6/44528: {Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00)} - G02B 6/4471: {Terminating devices (demountable connectors G02B6/3807); Cable clamps} - G02B 6/4476: {with heat-shrinkable elements} - G02B 6/475: {Mechanical aspects of installing cables in ducts or the like for buildings} - G02B 6/566: {Devices for opening or removing the mantle} - G02B 6/4433: {Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A cable assembly is described that includes a preterminated optical fiber drop cable having a connector body mounted on a terminal end thereof, and a removable installation device attached to a jacket of the preterminated optical fiber drop cable by an attachment portion, wherein the attachment portion includes a pair of tear tabs that provides tool-less removal of the installation device from the preterminated optical fiber drop cable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cable assembly, comprising: a preterminated optical fiber drop cable having a connector body mounted on a terminal end thereof; and a removable installation device attached to a jacket of the preterminated optical fiber drop cable by an attachment portion, wherein the attachment portion includes at least one tear tab configured to be pulled by a user to facilitate tool-less removal of the installation device from the preterminated optical fiber drop cable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector body is disposed within the installation device such that the installation device does not exert any tensile loading on the connector body when pushed or pulled. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the installation device comprises a push-pull device comprising a pulling sock and a pushing device separably attached to a front end of the pulling sock. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the installation device comprises a pushing device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the installation device comprises a pushing device that includes a rigid tube configured to push the connector body through a straight passage, wherein the straight passage has a diameter of less than 0.4 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the installation device comprises a pushing device that includes a rigid tube configured to push the connector body through a straight passage, wherein the straight passage is less than 20% larger than the connector body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein a first end of the cable assembly can fit through a ⅜ inch hole. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the installation device comprises a protection device disposed over the connector body at the terminal end of the preterminated optical fiber drop cable to protect an exposed, unjacketed portion of the preterminated optical fiber drop cable adjacent to a back end of the connector body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment portion comprises a pre-expanded collapsible sleeve with at least one longitudinal slit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cable assembly of claim 9, wherein the pre-expanded collapsible sleeve comprises a piece of adhesive-coated heat shrink tubing. ### Claim 11 A cable assembly, comprising: a preterminated optical fiber drop cable having a connector body mounted on a terminal end thereof; and a removable installation device attached to a jacket of the preterminated optical fiber drop cable by an attachment portion, wherein the attachment portion includes a sleeve portion and an adhesive portion, wherein the sleeve portion includes at least one longitudinal slit extending from a first end of the sleeve portion to a second end of the sleeve portion to provide tool-less removal of the installation device from the preterminated optical fiber drop cable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cable assembly of claim 11, wherein the installation device comprises a push-pull device comprising a pulling sock and a pushing device separably attached to a front end of the pulling sock. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The cable assembly of claim 11, wherein the installation device comprises a pushing device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The cable assembly of claim 11, wherein the installation device comprises a protection device disposed over the connector body at the terminal end of the preterminated optical fiber drop cable to protect an exposed, unjacketed portion of the preterminated optical fiber drop cable adjacent to a back end of the connector body. ### Claim 15 A method for installing a fiber optic cable assembly, the method comprising: routing a first end of a cable assembly from an exterior location through a building entrance point into an interior location of a building, wherein the first end of the cable assembly includes (i) a preterminated optical fiber drop cable having a connector body mounted on a terminal end of the preterminated optical fiber drop cable, and (ii) an installation device attached to a jacket of the preterminated optical fiber drop cable by an attachment portion; and toollessly removing the installation device from the preterminated optical fiber drop cable within the interior location of the building. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the connector body is disposed within the installation device such that the installation device does not exert any tensile loading on the connector body when pushed or pulled. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the installation device comprises a push-pull device comprising a pulling sock and a pushing device separably attached to a front end of the pulling sock. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the installation device comprises a pushing device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the installation device comprises a pushing device that includes a rigid tube, and the routing of the first end of the cable assembly includes pushing the connector body with the rigid tube through a straight passage, wherein the straight passage is characterized by one of the following features (a) or (b): (a) the straight passage has a diameter of less than 0.4 inches, or (b) the straight passage has a diameter less than 20% larger than the connector body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein: the attachment portion includes at least one tear tab; and the toollessly removing of the installation device from the preterminated optical fiber drop cable comprises pulling the at least one tear tab.