Sumitomo Electric Ligthwave Corp.

Ronald G Lindsay, Jr

John P Sarbell

A optical fiber ribbon midspan splitter tool for quick and easy midspan splitting of an optical fiber ribbon into separate ribbon sub-groups for mass splicing. The device comprises a pair of splitter tool sections each having a base and a lid and defining a slot through the splitter tool. The pair of elongate tool sections are rotatably mounted about a transverse hinge through both sections adjacent one end of the tool. The pair of lids are each mounted to a respective one of a pair of bases so as to open upwardly and outwardly for placement of an optical fiber ribbon in the slot defined within the two adjacent bases of the splitter tool. Magnets are provided at the juncture of the splitter tool sections for maintaining the splitter tool sections in releasable alignment, and a pair of magnets are provided in each splitter tool section at the juncture of the base and the lid for releasably maintaining the base and lid in abutting enclosed relationship. Thus, an optical fiber ribbon can be inserted into the tool and the pair of splitter tool sections twisted in opposite directions to split the ribbon into two separate sub-ribbons for midspan mass splicing. A second embodiment of the splitter tool is also described.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Ronald G Lindsay, Jr