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:
Apr. 29, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 31, 1999
Kerry D. Dellinger, Hickory, NC (US);
Carl M. Whisnant, Jr., Hickory, NC (US);
Alan T. Parsons, Newton, NC (US);
Corning Cable Systems LLC, Hickory, NC (US);
Abstract
A ribbon separation tool ( ) for separating optical fiber ribbons (C C C ) into subsets of optical fibers. Ribbon separation tool ( ) includes a stationary shearing device ( ), and a moveable shearing device ( ), the moveable shearing device ( ) is operative to move relative to the stationary shearing device ( ) during a shearing stroke. Optical fiber ribbon support elements ( ), with optical fiber ribbon receiving slots ( ) being defined therebetween, are adjacent shearing devices ( ). Moveable shearing device ( ) is moveably located between optical fiber ribbon support elements ( ) and includes moveable sub-slots ( ). When a cover member ( ) of tool ( ) is in a closed position, stationary sub-slots ( ) of stationary shearing device ( ) are aligned with moveable sub-slots ( ) to define shearing slots ( ). Shearing slots ( ) are each sized to receive a respective optical fiber ribbon (C C C ), and each shearing slot straddles a shearing plane (M) defined between shearing devices ( ). At least one shearing device ( ) is monolithically formed of a single piece of material.