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. 01, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 15, 1997
Dennis C Dunn, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Richard L Swain, Sun Valley, CA (US);
PacFab, Inc., Moorpak, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved fiber optic end coupling apparatus for a bundle of optical fibers that is heat resistant and that can precisely and easily align different-sized fiber optic bundles along an axis of the beam of light. The end coupling releasably connects one end of a fiber optic bundle to a housing containing an illumination source to light an object, which, by way of example, can be a swimming pool, a spa or the like. The cable has a bundle of exposed coaxial optical fibers in a region adjacent to the end of the cable. The coupling includes a tubular body that has a forward end and that is mounted concentrically on the bundle so that the exposed ends of the fibers are out of contact with the body and extend axially forward from the forward end of the body. The coupling also includes a connector mounted on the body in releasable engagement with the housing to support the ends of the fibers close to the illumination source. A holder is mounted forward of the forward end of the body to locate the ends of the fibers in a position to receive the light emitted by the illumination source. Therein and this hole has a centerpoint located such that light is directed along the fibers.