Fiber optic cables having at least one tether optical fiber
View Patent ↗A distribution fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers, a main cable body with some of the plurality of optical fibers being disposed within the main cable body, at least one tether optical fiber, and a cable jacket. The at least one tether optical fiber is one of the plurality of optical fibers that transitions during manufacturing from a first location within the main cable body to a tether access location for a portion of the distribution cable. The cable jacket includes a main cable body jacket and a tether access jacket portion that are connected together by a continuous transition that is applied during cable manufacturing. Thus, the craftsman may conveniently access the at least one tether optical fiber for distribution into the optical network.
1. A distribution fiber optic cable comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers;
a main cable body, some of the plurality of optical fibers being disposed within the main cable body, and
at least one tether optical fiber, the at least one tether optical fiber is one of the plurality of optical fibers that transitions during manufacturing from a first location within the main cable body to a tether access location for a portion of the distribution cable; and
a cable jacket, wherein the cable jacket includes a main cable body jacket and a tether access jacket portion that are connected together by a continuous transition that is applied during cable manufacturing.
2. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 1 , wherein the tether access jacket is a portion of a tether cable.
3. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 1 , wherein the tether access jacket is a portion of a tether port.
4. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 1 , further comprising at least one tether strength member that is a portion of the tether access location, wherein the at least one tether strength member is attached to a portion of the main cable body for providing strain relief.
5. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 1 , the tether access location extending for a predetermined distance then ending.
6. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tether access locations.
7. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tether optical fiber returns to the main cable body.
8. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tether optical fiber returns to the main cable body at a different longitudinal position along the cable and then the same optical fiber transitions into a second a tether access location at a second position along the distribution cable.
9. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 1 , the at least one tether optical fiber being disposed in a tether optical fiber carrier.
10. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tether optical fibers disposed within the tether access location.
11. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 1 , wherein the cable has n+1 optical fibers, n of the optical fibers being disposed within the main cable body and the +1 optical fiber being the at least one tether optical fiber that is disposed in the tether access location, wherein the at least one tether optical fiber transitions into the main cable body at a predetermined position in the distribution cable.
12. A distribution fiber optic cable comprising:
a plurality of optical fiber carriers, the plurality of optical fiber carriers extending along a portion of a longitudinal length of the distribution fiber optic cable and forming at least a portion of a main cable body;
at least one tether optical fiber carrier;
at least one tether optical fiber, the at least one tether optical fiber being disposed in the at least one tether optical fiber carrier, wherein the at least one tether optical fiber carrier transitions during manufacturing from a first location within the main cable body to a second location which is a tether access location for a portion of the distribution fiber optic cable; and
a cable jacket, wherein the cable jacket includes a main cable body jacket and a tether access jacket portion that are connected together by a continuous transition that is applied during cable manufacturing.
13. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , wherein the tether access jacket is a portion of a tether cable.
14. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , wherein the tether access jacket is a portion of a tether port.
15. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , further comprising at least one tether strength member that is a portion of the tether access location, wherein the at least one tether strength member is attached to a portion of the main cable body for providing strain relief.
16. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , the tether access location extending for a predetermined distance then ending.
17. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of tether access locations.
18. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , wherein the at least one tether optical fiber carrier returns to the main cable body.
19. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , wherein the at least one tether optical fiber carrier returns to the main cable body at a different longitudinal position along the cable and then the same optical fiber carrier transitions into a second a tether access location at a second position along the distribution cable.
20. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of tether optical fibers disposed within the tether access location.
21. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , wherein the cable has n+1 optical fiber carriers, n of the optical fiber carriers being disposed within the main cable body and the +1 optical fiber carrier being the at least one tether access carrier that is disposed in the tether access location, wherein the at least one tether access carrier transitions into the main cable body at a predetermined position in the distribution cable.
22. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , the at least one tether optical fiber carrier being selected from the group consisting of a tube, a tight-buffer layer, a U-shaped fiber carrier, a bundle, a tape, a ribbon matrix, and a sheath.
23. The distribution fiber optic cable of claim 12 , further including a fiber optic ferrule, the fiber optic ferrule being attached to the at least one tether optical fiber.
24. A distribution fiber optic cable assembly comprising:
a main cable body;
a plurality of optical fibers, the plurality of optical fibers forming at least a portion of the main cable body;
at least one tether optical fiber, the tether optical fiber being one of the plurality of optical fibers that transitions from a first location within the main cable body to a second location that is a tether access location during manufacturing, wherein the tether access location includes at least one ferrule attached to the at least one tether optical fiber and
a cable jacket, wherein the cable jacket includes a main cable body jacket and a tether access jacket portion that are connected together by a continuous transition that is applied during cable manufacturing.