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:
May. 25, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2002
John T. Flower, Longmont, CO (US);
Joseph G. Long, Bozeman, MT (US);
Jeffrey V. Meuli, Belgrade, MT (US);
ILX Lightwave Corporation, Bozeman, MT (US);
Abstract
The invention is directed to an optical fiber holder apparatus for aligning and positioning an optical fiber such that a user can perform various testing and manipulation of the fiber. The apparatus comprises first and second sides coupled together along a common axis, each having a face containing a plurality of fiber engaging protrusions extending along the face. The fiber engaging protrusions of each side have a longitudinal groove formed therein for accepting an optical fiber. To capture and correctly position the fiber, the first and second sides are coupled together such that the fiber engaging protrusions of each side are interleaved with each other to gradually and repeatedly move an optical fiber placed therein towards the longitudinal groove of each side as the sides are rotated together in a mating relationship. The gradual movement of the optical fiber is facilitated by the broad angle presented between the interleaved fiber engaging protrusions of the first and second side and the relatively large dimensions of the protrusions relative to the fiber diameter.