Bi-Directional Tap Assemblies for Two-Way Fiber Topologies

A bi-directional tap assembly, comprising:

• a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber adapted to carry bi-directional optical signals and that is preterminated at a mid-span location to form a first cable fiber section having a first cable fiber end and a second cable fiber section having a second cable fiber end;
• and
• at least one tether fiber optically coupled to at least one of the first and second cable fiber ends, wherein
• the at least one tether fiber comprises at least one bend-insensitive fiber, and
• wherein the at least one bend-insensitive fiber includes at least one 180 degree loop.

A bi-directional tap assembly, comprising:

• a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber adapted to carry bi-directional optical signals and that is preterminated at a mid-span location to form a first cable fiber section having a first cable fiber end and a second cable fiber section having a second cable fiber end;
• at least one tether fiber optically coupled to at least one of the first and second cable fiber ends;
• and
• a tether that includes the at least one tether fiber, and wherein the tether is translatable along the fiber-optic cable,
• wherein the tether has a tether cover with a proximate end connected to a translatable mount that is slideably mounted to the fiber-optic cable.

A bi-directional tap assembly, comprising:

• a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber adapted to carry bi-directional optical signals and that is preterminated at a mid-span location to form a first cable fiber section having a first cable fiber end and a second cable fiber section having a second cable fiber end;
• at least one tether fiber optically coupled to at least one of the first and second cable fiber ends;
• a tether that includes the at least one tether fiber;
• and
• a protective cover that covers the mid-span location and a portion of the tether, wherein the protective cover is adapted to allow the tether to move.

A method of forming a bi-directional tap in a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber, comprising:

• a) at a mid-span location, preterminating the at least one cable optical fiber to form corresponding at least one first and at least one second cable fiber sections having respective first and second cable fiber ends;
• b) optically coupling the at least one first and the at least one second cable fiber sections at their respective first and second cable fiber ends to respective at least one first and at least one second tether fibers;
• c) containing the at least one first tether fiber in a first tether fiber cover that travels along the fiber-optic cable in a first direction;
• and
• d) containing the at least one second tether fiber in a second tether fiber cover that travels along the fiber-optic cable in a second direction along the fiber optical cable opposite the first direction.

A method of forming a bi-directional tap in a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber, comprising:

• a) at a mid-span location, preterminating the at least one cable optical fiber to form corresponding at least one first and at least one second cable fiber sections having respective first and second cable fiber ends;
• b) optically coupling the at least one first and the at least one second cable fiber sections at their respective first and second cable fiber ends to respective at least one first and at least one second tether fibers;
• c) forming the at least one first and at least one second tether fibers from bend-tolerant fibers;
• d) forming a bend equal to or substantially equal to 180 degrees in each of the bend-tolerant fibers;
• and
• e) containing in a tether cover having a first end, a portion of the bend-tolerant fibers that includes the bends so that the bend-tolerant fibers terminate at the tether cover first end.

A method of forming a bi-directional tap in a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber, comprising:

• a) at a mid-span location, preterminating the at least one cable optical fiber to form corresponding at least one first and at least one second cable fiber sections having respective first and second cable fiber ends;
• b) optically coupling the at least one first and the at least one second cable fiber sections at their respective first and second cable fiber ends to respective at least one first and at least one second bend-insensitive tether fibers;
• and
• c) terminating the bend-insensitive fibers with a fiber optic connector.