Fiber optic loose tube buffer to fan-out tube adapter system

An adapter system for protecting a plurality of optical fibers when said plurality of optical fibers is transitioned from a close-pack configuration within a rigid loose tube buffer to a fanned-out configuration using a plurality of fan-out tube assemblies, each of said plurality of fan-out tube assemblies including a hollow furcation tube surrounded firstly by a stranded strength member and secondly by an outer jacket surrounding said stranded strength member, said adapter system comprising:

• a first sleeve secured to an end of said loose tube buffer by a compressor type fit, wherein said plurality of optical fibers exit said end;
• a second sleeve joinable to said first sleeve;
• a first spacer plate incorporated in said second sleeve and provided with a first plurality of spaced apart holes, each of said first plurality of spaced apart holes sized to receive therethrough one said furcation tube from said plurality of fan-out tube assemblies;
• and
• a second spacer plate maintained within said second sleeve and spaced apart from said first spacer plate, said second spacer plate being provided with a second plurality of spaced apart holes aligned with said first plurality of spaced apart holes, each of said second plurality of spaced apart holes sized to receive one of said plurality of fan-out tube assemblies, wherein said stranded strength member and said outer jacket associated with each of said plurality of fan-out tube assemblies terminate between said first spacer plate and said second spacer plate while said furcation tube associated with each of said plurality of fan-out tube assemblies extends through a corresponding one of said first plurality of spaced apart holes in said first spacer plate, wherein each of said plurality of optical fibers exiting said end of said loose tube buffer is inserted through one said furcation tube from said plurality of fan-out tube assemblies such that said plurality of optical fibers are maintained in a spaced apart configuration when passing through said first spacer plate and said second spacer plate.