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:
Dec. 07, 1999
Filed:
May. 13, 1998
Van L Huynh, Garner, NC (US);
John R Holman, Duluth, GA (US);
Randy D Wilkinson, Angier, NC (US);
Kenton A Blue, Raleigh, NC (US);
Mel B Nance, Fuquay Varina, NC (US);
Rhonda W Wood, Willow Spring, NC (US);
Gerald Leo Shimirak, Holly Springs, NC (US);
Other;
Abstract
An in-line splice closure for splicing two hybrid fiber and signal conductor cables includes an outer housing having opposing first and second ends for receiving respective ends of the cables. An organizer tube extends within the outer housing. Electrical connectors are positioned within the organizer tube for connecting signal conductors of the first and second hybrid cables. The splice closure preferably includes at least one optical splice for connecting optical fibers of the first and second cables, and an optical fiber support wrapped around an outer surface of the organizer tube for supporting the at least one optical splice and adjacent optical fiber slack portions. The organizer tube preferably has a predetermined diameter and the optical fiber support preferably supports the optical fiber slack portions so as not to exceed the minimum bend radius. The organizer tube preferably has a longitudinally extending groove in an outer surface portion for receiving buffer tubes of the cables. The optical fiber support may comprise a flexible substrate for supporting the fibers. The flexible substrate may comprise a body of flexible compressible material having a disk or oval shape and having radially extending slits for receiving optical fiber slack portions. The flexible substrate may alternately include integrally formed guide portions.