Rematable optical splice utilizing rods with resilient coating

An optical fiber splice comprising:

• (a) a frame having a channel in communication with an exterior surface of the frame;
• (b) two rigid coated rods beside each other in the channel delimiting a groove therebetween into which two optical fiber terminal end portions may be abutted, each coated rod having a lengthwise resilient coating thereon;
• (c) a lid at least partially covered by a resilient coating, said lid coating in contact with the two rigid coated rods when the lid is closed;
• (d) two optical fiber terminal end portions, in end-wise abutting relationship with one another, disposed in the groove delimited by the coated roads;
• and,
• (e) a device to compress the frame and the lid into a mating relationship comprising (i) a housing longer than the frame and lid placed around the frame and lid, the end portions of the housing extending beyond the frame and lid;
• and, (ii) resilient tubular members nested within the housing on either end of the frame and lid.

A splice comprising:

• (a) a frame having a channel in lengthwise communication with an exterior surface of the frame;
• (b) two rigid rods beside each other in the channel delimiting a groove therebetween into which the two optical fiber terminal end portions may be abutted, each rod having a resilient lengthwise coating between 0.0015 and 0.004 inches thick;
• and,
• (c) a lid at least partially covered by a resilient coating between 0.0015 and 0.10 inches thick, said lid coating adapted to be in lengthwise contact with the two rigid coated rods when the lid is closed.

An optical fiber splice comprising:

• (a) a frame having a channel in communication with an exterior surface of the frame;
• (b) two rigid coated rods beside each other in the channel delimiting a groove therebetween into which two optical fiber terminal end portions may be abutted, each coated rod having a lengthwise resilient coating between 0.0015 and 0.10 inches thick;
• (c) a lid at least partly covered by a resilient coating between 0.0015 and 0.004 inches thick, said lid coating in contact with the two rigid coated rods when the lid is closed;
• and,
• (d) two optical fiber terminal end portions in end-wise abutting relationship with one another disposed in the groove delimited by the coated rods.

A splicing assembly comprising:

• (a) a first tube;
• (b) a ferrule and an optical fiber, said optical fiber having first and second portions, said optical fiber first portion disposed inside of and affixed to said ferrule and said optical fiber second portion lying outside of said ferrule and inside of said first tube and a portion of said ferrule disposed inside of and affixed to said first tube;
• and,
• (c) an alignment device and a second tube, both of which are disposed in said first tube, wherein the alignment device includes:
• (i) a frame having a channel in lengthwise communication with an exterior surface of said frame;
• (ii) two rigid rods lying beside each other in said channel delimiting a groove therebetween which is in part occupied by said optical fiber second end portion;
• and,
• (iii) a lid covering said rigid rods.

An optical splice comprising:

• (a) a first tube;
• (b) a ferrule and an optical fiber, said optical fiber having first and second portions, said optical fiber first portion disposed inside of and affixed to said ferrule and said optical fiber second portion lying outside of the ferrule and inside of said first tube and a portion of said ferrule disposed inside of and affixed to said first tube;
• (c) an alignment device and a second tube, both of which are disposed in said first tube wherein said alignment device includes:
• (i) a frame having a channel in lengthwise communication with an exterior surface of the frame;
• (ii) two rigid rods lying beside each other in the channel delimiting a groove therebetween which is in part occupied by said optical fiber second end portion;
• and,
• (iii) a lid covering said rigid rods;
• and,
• (d) a housing-coupling device affixed to said first tube, said housing-coupling device adapted to be removably coupled to a receiving device.