Fiber optic cables with extruded access features and methods of making fiber optic cables
AssigneeCorning Optical Communications LLC
InventorsGeorge Cornelius Abernathy, David Wesley Chiasson, Randall Dwaine Tuttle
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Abstract
Cables are constructed with embedded discontinuities in the cable jacket that allow the jacket to be torn to provide access to the cable core. The discontinuities can be longitudinally extending strips of polymer material coextruded in the cable jacket.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a cable jacket to surround a core comprising at least one optical fiber, the method comprising:
- extruding a primary portion of a first material;
- and
- co-extruding a discontinuity of a second material different from the first material such that the discontinuity is wholly embedded in the primary portion and extends along a longitudinal length of the cable jacket.
The method of claim 11, wherein a height of the discontinuity is less than the distance between an inner surface of the jacket and the closest exterior edge of the jacket.
A method of manufacturing a cable comprising:
- providing a core and a first strength member on a first side of the core and a second strength member on a second side of the core;
- and
- extruding a jacket to be in contact with the core, the first strength member, and the second strength member, the jacket comprising:
- a primary portion of a first material;
- and
- a discontinuity of a second material different from the first material such that the discontinuity is wholly embedded in the primary portion and extends along a longitudinal length of the cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.