Optical drop cable for aerial installation

An aerial optical cable comprising:

• a jacket body;
• a cavity disposed in a central portion the jacket body;
• first and second reinforcing members disposed on opposite sides of said cavity in end portions of the jacket body, the cavity and the first and second reinforcing members extending longitudinally in a common plane, wherein said first and second reinforcing members have a cross-sectional area which is greater than a cross-sectional area of said cavity;
• and
• at least one optical fiber loosely housed in said cavity, wherein said jacket body comprises a plastic material that does not contain phthalate platicizers which can migrate to a coating of said optical fiber.

An aerial optical cable comprising:

• a jacket body;
• a cavity disposed in a central portion the jacket body;
• first and second reinforcing members disposed on opposite sides of said cavity in end portions of the jacket body, the cavity and the first and second reinforcing members extending longitudinally in a common plane;
• and
• at least one optical fiber loosely housed in said cavity, wherein said first and second reinforcing members have a modulus greater than 200 GPa.

An aerial optical cable comprising:

• a jacket body;
• a cavity disposed in a central portion the jacket body;
• first and second reinforcing members disposed on opposite sides of said cavity in end portions of the jacket body, wherein the cavity and the first and second reinforcing members extend longitudinally in a common plane and the first and second reinforcing members each comprise a plurality of polybenzoxazole fibers;
• and
• a plurality of optical fibers loosely housed in said cavity without the use of a buffer tube or support member so that said optical fibers can move independently of each other.

An aerial optical cable comprising:

• a jacket body;
• a cavity disposed in said jacket body;
• an optical fiber housed in said cavity;
• and
• at least one reinforcing member disposed in said jacket body, said reinforcing member comprising a plurality of fibers having a modulus greater than 200 GPa and a density less than 2.0 g/cc, wherein said reinforcing member has a cross-sectional area which is greater than a cross-sectional area of said cavity.