Bonding assembly for fiber optic cable and associated method

A bonding assembly for a fiber optic cable of the type including an elongate core, a metallic shield surrounding the core, at least one strength member extending longitudinally adjacent the shield, and a jacket surrounding the shield and the at least one strength member, the fiber optic cable having a portion of the jacket removed thereby exposing the underlying metallic shield and the at least one strength member, said bonding assembly comprising:

• a base member having an end adapted to be inserted between an exposed shield portion and a corresponding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable;
• a shield clamping member adapted to overlie the exposed shield portion and cooperate with said base member for clamping the exposed shield portion therebetween, said shield clamping member having a first portion adjacent where the exposed portion of the at least one strength member emerges from the cable jacket, the first portion of said shield clamping member having at least one guide opening therein adapted for receiving therethrough the exposed portion of the at least one strength member;
• a strength member clamping member adapted to overlie the exposed portion of the at least one strength member and cooperate with said shield clamping member for clamping an exposed portion of the at least one strength member therebetween so that the exposed portion of the at least one strength member is guided first in an outward direction, and then is guided in a generally longitudinal direction after passing through the at least one guide opening of said shield clamping member;
• and
• connecting means adapted for connecting together said base member, said shield clamping member, and said strength member clamping member.

A method for bonding a fiber optic cable of the type having a core, a metallic shield surrounding the core, at least one longitudinally extending strength member extending longitudinally adjacent the shield, and a jacket surrounding the metallic shield and the at least one strength member, the fiber optic cable having a portion of the jacket removed thereby exposing the underlying shield and the at least one strength member, said method comprising the steps of:

• establishing both an electrical and mechanical connection to an exposed shield portion of the fiber optic cable;
• guiding an exposed portion of the at least one strength member to extend first in an outward direction and then in a longitudinal direction adjacent the electrical and mechanical connection to the exposed shield portion;
• and
• securing the longitudinally extending exposed portion of the at least one strength member to the electrical and mechanical connection to the exposed shield portion.