Reticulated tube, optical fiber protective unit, method for protecting optical fiber, and method for manufacturing reticulated tube

A method for fixing a group of optical fibers, comprising:

• inserting an optical fiber group, which is constituted by a plurality of optical fibers, through a tubular member and a reticulated tube which is longer than the tubular member, the optical fiber group branching from a single optical cable, one end part of the reticulated tube being disposed on an outer periphery of the tubular member, the optical fiber group being disposed inside an extended section of the reticulated tube which extends out from the tubular member;
• preparing a fixing member including a first fixing part that fixes an end part of the optical cable, and a second fixing part that fixes a plurality of the tubular members;
• fixing the end part of the optical cable to the first fixing part;
• and
• fixing, to the second fixing part, the plurality of tubular members each having the reticulated tube disposed on the outer periphery thereof.

A fixing structure comprising:

• an optical fiber group constituted by a plurality of optical fibers;
• a tubular member through which the optical fiber group is passed;
• a reticulated tube, one end part of the reticulated tube being disposed on an outer periphery of the tubular member, the optical fiber group being inserted through an extended section of the reticulated tube extending out from the tubular member;
• a fixing member that fixes the tubular member which has the reticulated tube disposed on the outer periphery thereof;
• and
• a housing part configured to house a lead part of a single optical cable at which a plurality of optical fiber groups branch from the single optical cable, wherein
• the fixing member comprises:
• a first fixing part that fixes an end part of the single optical cable;
• and
• a second fixing part that fixes a plurality of the tubular members,
• one or more of the optical fiber groups branching from the single optical cable are inserted through a respective one of the plurality of the tubular members and the reticulated tube,
• the housing part is configured in a manner that the housing part can be filled with an adhesive, and
• the housing part includes a stopper that prevents leakage of the adhesive.