Strain relief boot with flexible extension for guiding fiber optic cable
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsLarry R. Cox, Harry A. Loder, Edward B. Lurie, Mark D. Matthies
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a fiber optic cable assembly including a connector subassembly having a fiber optic cable terminated in a connector, the fiber optic cable having a minimum bend radius; and a strain relief boot attached to the connector subassembly, the strain relief boot having a core portion, a flexible extension with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end extending from the core portion. The flexible extension retains at least a portion of the fiber optic cable.
Claims37
A fiber optic cable assembly comprising:
- (a) a connector subassembly comprising a fiber optic cable terminated in a connector, the fiber optic cable having a minimum bend radius;
- and
- (b) a strain relief boot attached to the connector subassembly, the strain relief boot comprising a core portion, a flexible extension having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end extending from the core portion, and a means for retaining at least a portion of the fiber optic cable which is disposed along the flexible extension;
- wherein the flexible extension does not have a predetermined bend;
- wherein the strain relief boot is repositionable or non-repositionable;
- wherein the repositionable or the non-repositionable strain relief boot further comprises a connector mating end attached to the end of the core portion that is the opposite of the end from which the flexible extension extends;
- and
- wherein the repositionable strain relief boot has a longitudinal axis along its length and further comprises:
- (c) a plurality of slits in the core portion, the slits disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- (d) a rib extending from the core portion, the rib having a wire disposed therein.
A strain relief boot for use with a fiber optic cable having a minimum bend radius, the strain relief boot comprising:
- (a) a core portion;
- and
- (b) a flexible extension having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end extending from the core portion;
- and
- (c) means for retaining at least a portion of the fiber optic cable which is disposed along the flexible extension,
- wherein the flexible extension does not have a predetermined bend wherein the flexible extension does not have a predetermined bend;
- wherein the strain relief boot is repositionable or non-repositionable;
- wherein the repositionable or the non-repositionable strain relief boot further comprises a connector mating end attached to the end of the core portion that is the opposite of the end from which the flexible extension extends;
- and
- wherein the repositionable strain relief boot has a longitudinal axis along its length and further comprises:
- (d) a plurality of slits in the core portion, the slits disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- (e) a rib extending from the core portion, the rib having a wire disposed therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.