Fiber optic cable having spliceless fiber branch and method of making

A method of making a fiber optic cable assembly utilizing a distribution cable having a predetermined length and having first and second ends, said distribution cable further having a branch point and a disconnect point each being positioned along the length of said distribution cable, said distribution cable including;

• optical fiber buffering means of said predetermined length, at least one optical fiber of said predetermined length disposed within and enclosed by said buffering means, said optical fiber having first and second ends coincident with said first and second ends of said distribution cable, and at least one branching optical fiber having first and second ends and having a first portion extending between the branching optical fiber first end being coincident with said distribution cable first end and said branch point and having a second portion extending between said branch point and the branching optical fiber second end being coincident with said disconnect point, said branching optical fiber being disposed within and enclosed by said distribution cable buffering means, and at least one branch cable having buffering means, said method comprising the steps of:
• removing a portion of said distribution cable buffering means at said branch point so that said branching optical fiber is accessible;
• removing said branching optical fiber second portion from within said distribution cable buffering means so that said branching optical fiber second portion is disposed outside of said distribution cable buffering means;
• and
• configuring said branch cable buffering means so that it encompasses said branching optical fiber second portion.

A method of making a fiber optic cable assembly utilizing a distribution cable having a predetermined length and having first and second ends, said distribution cable further having a branch point and a disconnect point each being positioned along the length of said distribution cable, said distribution cable including;

• optical fiber buffering means of said predetermined length, a plurality of optical fibers of said predetermined length disposed within and enclosed by buffering means, said optical fibers having first and second ends coincident with the first and second ends of said distribution cable, and at least one branch cable having buffering means, said method comprising the steps of:
• removing a portion of said distribution cable buffering means at said disconnect point so that said plurality of optical fibers are accessible;
• cutting at least one of said plurality of optical fibers at said disconnect point;
• removing a portion of said distribution cable buffering means at said branch point so that said at least one optical fiber is accessible;
• moving from within said distribution cable buffering means the length of said at least one optical fiber extending between said branch point and said disconnect point so that said length of said at least one optical fiber is disposed outside of said distribution cable buffering means;
• and
• configuring said branch cable buffering means so that it encompasses said length of said at least one optical fiber.

A fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:

• a slotted core distribution cable having a predetermined length and having first and second ends, said distribution cable further having a branch point being positioned along the length thereof, said distribution cable including;
• a longitudinally extending slotted core central strength member having at least one groove therealong and having a length substantially equal to said predetermined length and having first and second ends, at least one optical fiber of substantially said predetermined length disposed within said groove, said fiber having first and second ends substantially coincident with the first and second ends of said distribution cable, and at least one branching optical fiber having first and second ends and having a first portion extending between its first end being coincident with said distribution cable first end and said branch point, said first portion being disposed within said groove and having a second portion extending between said branch point and its second end, said second portion being disposed outside of said groove and being continuous with said first portion;
• and
• at least one branch cable having buffering means for encompassing said second portion of said branching optical fiber.

A method of making a fiber optic cable assembly utilizing a slotted core distribution cable having a predetermined length and having first and second ends, said distribution cable further having a branch point and a disconnect point each being positioned along the length of said distribution cable, said distribution cable including;

• a longitudinally extending slotted core central strength member of said predetermined length having at least one groove therealong, at least one optical fiber of said predetermined length disposed within said groove, said optical fiber having first and second ends coincident with said first and second ends of said distribution cable, at least one branching optical fiber having first and second ends and having a first portion extending between the branching optical fiber first end being coincident with said distribution cable first end and said branch point and having a second portion extending between said branch point and the branching optical fiber second end being coincident with said disconnect point, said branching optical fiber being disposed within said groove, and outer jacketing means for encompassing said optical fibers and said central strength member, said method further utilizing at least one branch cable having buffering means, said method comprising steps of:
• removing a portion of said outer jacketing means at said branch point so that said branching optical fiber is accessible;
• removing said branching optical fiber second portion from within said outer jacketing means so that said branching optical fiber second portion is disposed outside of said outer jacketing means;
• and
• configuring said branch cable buffering means so that it encompasses said branching optical fiber second portion.