Fiber optic cable guide and method of application

A fiber optic cable guide for removable placement on a connectorized fiber optic cable assembly having a fiber optic cable and at least one connector subassembly including a strain relief boot, the fiber optic cable having a minimum bend radius, the fiber optic cable guide comprising:

• an elongated member curved along its length with a radius of curvature not less than the minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable, the elongated member having a first end, a second end, a middle section between the first and second ends, and a channel extending from the first end to the second end for receiving the fiber optic cable and the strain relief boot, the first end removably attached to the strain relief boot, the second end including at least one primary securement element extending from the second end to releasably hold the fiber optic cable to the elongated member substantially within the channel, the primary securement element being formed of a material that is sufficiently flexible to yield to the cable, and being configured to extend over at least a portion of said channel so that upon application of a predetermined force to said cable, said cable is moved away from said channel, and said primary securement element resiliently deflects allowing egress of said cable from said channel without damage to said cable.

A method of removably fixing a fiber optic cable in a curvature not greater than that defined by a minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable, a connector subassembly being disposed at at least one end of the fiber optic cable, the method comprising the steps of:

• radially inserting the fiber optic cable into a first end of a guide member, the first end being configured to be disposed around a portion of the connector subassembly, the guide member being at least partially curved along its length with a radius of curvature not less than the minimum bend radius and defining a channel for receiving the fiber optic cable extending from the first end of the guide member to a second end of the guide member;
• and
• radially inserting the fiber optic cable in a direction toward the bottom of the channel past at least one securement element extending from the guide member spaced from the first end to hold the fiber optic cable to the guide member the securement element being formed of a material that is sufficiently flexible to yield to the cable as it is moved radially toward the channel, and being configured to extend over at least a portion of said channel so that as said cable is being inserted, said securement element resiliently deflects allowing ingress of said cable to said channel.