Kenneth A James

US Patent:

6771861, Aug 3, 2004

Filed:

May 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/140642

Inventors:

Karl M. Wagner - Hickory NC
Kenneth T. James - Lenoir NC

Assignee:

Corning Cable Systems LLC - Hickory NC

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385100, 385114

Abstract:

This invention provides an apparatus and method for a high performance, flexible optical fiber furcation assembly that minimizes bending in the optical fibers throughout the life of the furcation assembly. The furcation assembly includes a flexible furcation body having a passageway with a first end and an opposed second end, the first end for receiving a fiber optic cable and the second end for routing a furcated leg, and holding material for flexibly securing and supporting the fiber optic cable and the furcated leg substantially within the single passageway. A method is provided for applying the furcation assembly to an optical cable. The apparatus and method of this invention apply to a variety of optical cable types.

US Patent:

20140199037, Jul 17, 2014

Filed:

Jan 17, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/743852

Inventors:

William Carl Hurley - Hickory NC, US
Kenneth Todd James - Lenoir NC, US
James Phillip Luther - Hickory NC, US

International Classification:

G02B 6/44

US Classification:

385114

Abstract:

A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a stack of fiber optic ribbons, strength members surrounding the stack, and a jacket defining an exterior of the cable. The jacket forms a cavity through which the stack and the strength members extend. The stack has a bend preference, but the strength members are positioned around the stack or are flexible in bending such that the strength members do not have a bend preference. Furthermore, the jacket is structured such that the jacket does not have a bend preference. The cavity is sized relative to the stack in order to allow the stack to bend and twist within the cavity with respect to the jacket as the cable bends, facilitating movement of the optical fibers of the fiber optic ribbons to low-stress positions within the cavity and decoupling the bend preference of the stack from transfer to the jacket.