Fiber splicing and gripping device
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJames B. Carpenter, Akihiko Yazaki, Takaya Yamauchi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical fiber splicing and gripping device includes a material having first and second members hingedly attached. A gripping region is formed in the material that includes first and second gripping portions disposed on first and second inner portions of each of the members. The material further includes separate first and second clamping zones along a length of the gripping region. The optical fiber splicing and gripping device further includes a cap engageable with the material to selectively actuate the first clamping zone independently of actuating the second clamping zone.
Claims20
An optical fiber splicing and gripping device, comprising:
- a splice element having first and second members hingedly attached;
- a gripping region formed in said splice element that includes first and second gripping portions disposed on first and second inner portions of each of said members, wherein at least one slot is disposed between first and second clamping zones formed along a length of said gripping region;
- and a cap engageable with said splice element to selectively actuate the first clamping zone independently of actuating the second clamping zone, wherein the cap includes a first cam and second cam, wherein the first cam imparts a first amount of stress to a fiber inserted in said gripping region in the first clamping zone, and the second cam imparts a second amount of stress to the fiber inserted in said gripping region in the second clamping zone, said first amount different from said second amount.
An optical connector, comprising:
- a base;
- and an optical fiber splicing and gripping device disposed in said base, the optical fiber splicing and gripping device including a splice element having first and second members hingedly attached;
- a gripping region formed in said splice element that includes first and second gripping portions disposed on first and second inner portions of each of said members, wherein at least one slot is disposed between first and second clamping zones formed along a length of said gripping region;
- and
- a cap engageable with said splice element to selectively actuate the first clamping zone independently of actuating the second clamping zone, wherein the cap includes a first cam and second cam, wherein the first cam imparts a first amount of stress to a fiber inserted in said gripping region in the first clamping zone, and the second cam imparts a second amount of stress to the fiber inserted in said gripping region in the second clamping zone, said first amount different from said second amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.