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:
Aug. 12, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 28, 1996
Craig Dwayne Ray, Cary, NC (US);
Carney Preston Claunch, II, Cary, NC (US);
Terrance Donald Hunsinger, Raleigh, NC (US);
Robert Gerard Sember, Raleigh, NC (US);
James Randall Shaw, Garner, NC (US);
Amanda Coulter Smith, Raleigh, NC (US);
Stephen Elliott Wald, Raleigh, NC (US);
Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
A fiber optic cable system, such as a preterminated fiber cable, includes a main cable and one or more drop cables connected to the main cable at spaced apart locations along the main cable. The drop cable is spliced to the main cable using a splice closure including a fiber guide that secures spliced together end portions of the respective fibers in a longitudinally extending direction and devoid of any slack coils of optical fibers. Accordingly, the overall diameter of the splice closure is relatively small thereby permitting the cable system to be stored on a reel and to be readily placed within small diameter conduits. The splice closure includes a heat recoverable housing surrounding the fiber guide. Cable sheath end portions are sealed by melting C-shaped bodies of heat flowable material positioned adjacent cable sheath end portions.