Strain relief connector for optical fiber
AssigneeThomas & Betts Corporation
InventorsFrancis Sladen, Peter Garner, Tadeusz Szostak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical fiber connector which provides strain relief. The connector provides for retaining a predetermined fiber extent between two longitudinal distant points along the fiber. The connector comprises two movable securement members which reduces the distance between two secured points of fiber while maintaining a fixed longitudinal extent.
Claims23
A connector for an elongate optical element comprising:
- a first member for engaging said element at a first location;
- a second member for engaging said element at a second location longitudinally spaced from said first location and defining thereby a predertimined extent of element, said predetermined extent being substantially equal to said longitudinal spacing between said first and second location, said first and second members being disposed for relative movement therebetween;
- and
- means for changing the longitudinal spacing between said first location and said second location and for retaining said predetermined element extent upon relative movement of said first and second members whereby said predetermined elements extent exceeds the longitudinal spacing between said first and second locations.
A connector for fiber optic cable having an optical fiber extending from a protective sheath, said connector comprising:
- a first member, including a first means for securing an extending portion of said optical fiber;
- a second member, including a second means for securing a sheathed portion of said optical fiber, said second member coupled to said first member;
- for relative movement therebetween, said first and second securing means defining a predetermined extent of fiber therebetween;
- means for reducing the spacing between said first securing means and said second securing means, and for retaining said predetermined extent of fiber upon said relative movement of said first and second members.
An apparatus for terminating a fiber optic cable having a fiber extending from a buffered portion which extends from an outer jacket, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongate sleeve having a passage therethrough including means for retentive receipt of said cable;
- an elongate fiber guide having a passage therethrough said fiber guide coupled to the said sleeve and including means for retentively receiving said buffered portion of said cable;
- means for providing relative movement between said fiber guide and said sleeve;
- and
- means for reducing the spacing between said fiber guide and said sleeve.
A method of providing strain relief for an optical element in a connector comprising the steps of:
- securing a first portion of said element in a first member of said connector;
- securing a second portion of said element, longitudinally spaced from said first portion, in a second member of said connector, thereby defining secured longitudinal extent of element between said first and second portion;
- moving one of said first and second members relatively toward the other thereby reducing the distance between said first and second securement portions.
An apparatus for providing strain relief in an optical element assembly, including a fiber movable therewithin and extending from an outer jacket a predetermined extent, said apparatus comprising:
- a first member for securing said fiber at a first location;
- a second member for securing said jacket at a second location spaced from said first location;
- means for reducing the longitudinal spacing between said first and second locations and thereby moving a portion of said fiber into said jacket increasing the fiber length therewithin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.