Protector device for fused optical fiber joints and method of use

Abstract

A device and method of use for a fused joint between a pair of optical fibers. The device comprises a housing having a longitudinal axis and a generally U-shaped compressible adhesive strip located within the housing. The housing comprising a pair of elongated trough shaped sections pivotally connected to each other by a longitudinal hinge assembly. The adhesive strip is secured to the inner surfaces of the housing sections and includes an adhesive outer surface. The housing sections are temporarily held in an open position by cooperating members of the hinge so that the fused joint and contiguous sections, e.g., buffers, of the optical fiber can be inserted within the housing between portions of the adhesive outer surface of the strips. The housing are pivotable together so that housing sections assume a closed position, whereupon portions of the strip which are contiguous with the splice joint and the buffers are compressed to accommodate the splice joint and buffers. When so closed, portions of adhesive outer surfaces of the strips abut each other and other portions engage the splice joint and buffers to adhesively secure the splice joint and buffers to the strips and the strips to each other. Plural hooks are provided along the top edge of one of the housing sections to engage latch surfaces of the other housing section to permanently holding the housing sections closed, thereby permanently sealing the joint within the housing.