The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 05, 1995
Filed:
Jun. 10, 1994
Douglas J Blew, Hickory, NC (US);
Bruce J Carlson, Hickory, NC (US);
John C Chamberlain, Hickory, NC (US);
Jana Horska, Hickory, NC (US);
CommScope, Inc., Catawba, NC (US);
Abstract
An aerial self-supporting fiber optic cable includes a pair of longitudinal strength members extending along respective opposite sides of a core, and a jacket surrounding the core and strength members, wherein the jacket has a generally elliptical outer cross-sectional shape. A major transverse axis of the generally elliptical jacket is generally aligned with an imaginary line defined between the pair of longitudinal strength members. The cable core includes at least one elongate buffer tube and at least one optical fiber disposed within the buffer tube. The strength members has a predetermined tensile strength to support the fiber optic cable between adjacent vertical supports. The jacket may have a generally elliptical shape with an enlarged central lobe surrounding the core, and a pair of relatively smaller lobes on opposite sides of the central lobe and surrounding respective longitudinal strength members. An armor layer surrounds the core and provides protection for below ground installation of the cable as well. The fiber optic cable is also preferably flexible to facilitate twisting thereof between adjacent vertical supports to define a more irregular shape for wind passing over the fiber optic cable to thereby reduce wind-induced motion of the cable. An apparatus and method for making the cable are also disclosed.