Fiber optic cable protective apparatus

Apparatus for storing and independently extending and retracting a pair of sheathed optical fibers wound on separate spools, each of said sheathed fibers having a longitudinal axis, a free end, and a minimum bending radius, said apparatus comprising a housing;

• means mounting said spools in said housing for rotation about a common axis of rotation;
• and coupling means coupling the free ends of said first and second sheathed fibers in confronting, spaced apart relation at said axis of rotation and for rotation with the respective spools about said axis of rotation, said sheathed fibers having opposite ends, said housing having openings through which the opposite ends of said sheathed fibers may be extended to enable said sheathed fibers to be unwound from their respective spools, the unwinding of said sheathed fibers from their respective spools effecting rotation of the respective spools.

A 360° rotatable coupler for mounting a pair of spools for selectively conjoint and independent rotation about a common axis, said 360° rotatable coupler comprising a tubular bushing having a bore;

• first and second coaxial tubular ferrules rotatably accommodated in said bore and projecting beyond opposite ends thereof;
• and first and second coaxial sleeves each having a bore therein and abutting that end of said bushing from which the respective ferrules project, said sleeves accommodating in the respective bores thereof the projecting ends of said ferrules, said first and second ferrules having confronting ends within said bushing spaced from one another by an axial gap.