Fiber optic multi dwelling unit deployment apparatus including a seamed protection jacket
View Patent ↗An optical fiber terminal apparatus includes an optical fiber protection jacket including a pre-defined, longitudinally extending seam that can be opened at a selected location along the jacket to define an opening into the optical fiber protection jacket at the selected location. The apparatus further includes an adapter terminal configured to mate with an outer profile of the optical fiber protection jacket. The adapter terminal includes a body portion that is configured to support a coupling between an optical fiber extending from the opening in the optical fiber protection jacket to a customer optical fiber. The seam may be repeatably and selectively closable.
1. An optical fiber terminal apparatus, comprising:
an optical fiber protection jacket including a pre-defined, longitudinally extending seam that can be opened at a selected location along the jacket to define an opening into the optical fiber protection jacket at the selected location; and
an adapter terminal configured to mate with an outer profile of the optical fiber protection jacket, wherein the adapter terminal includes a body portion that is configured to support a coupling between an optical fiber extending from the opening in the optical fiber protection jacket to a customer optical fiber.
2. The optical fiber termination apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seam is repeatably and selectively closable.
3. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the adapter terminal is configured to be coupled to the optical fiber protection jacket.
4. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the adapter terminal is configured to be snapped onto the optical fiber protection jacket.
5. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the adapter terminal is longitudinally slidable along the optical fiber protection jacket.
6. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the adapter terminal is configured to be snapped onto the optical fiber protection jacket and wherein the optical fiber protection jacket comprises a wrap-around jacket with a first zip engagement member on a first transverse end thereof and a mating second zip engagement member on an opposite second transverse end thereof defining the seam and wherein the adapter terminal includes a zip engagement member receiving channel that is configured to receive the first and second engagement members when the adapter terminal is snapped onto the optical fiber protection jacket and the channel is configured to facilitate closing of the seam in the optical fiber protection jacket.
7. The optical fiber termination apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the optical fiber protection jacket is configured to limit a preferential bend direction of the optical fiber protection jacket.
8. The optical fiber termination apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the optical fiber protection jacket includes at least one longitudinally extending rib, a wall having a thickness that is varied at selected radial locations and/or a flexible material contained within the optical fiber protection jacket to limit the preferential bend direction.
9. The optical fiber termination apparatus of claim 7 wherein the optical fiber protection jacket comprises a cross-linked polymer and/or a plurality of co-molded different materials to limit the preferential bend direction.
10. The optical fiber termination apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a protective cover that is configured to limit longitudinal movement of the adapter terminal when the protective cover is placed over the body portion of the adapter terminal on the optical fiber protection jacket.
11. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the adapter terminal includes a first flexible arm portion and a second flexible arm portion extending from the body portion that are configured to extend around respective sides of the optical fiber protection jacket and couple the adapter terminal to the optical fiber protection jacket.
12. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the flexible arm portions each include a latch member at an end thereof displaced from the body portion and the optical fiber protection jacket includes mating latch members on the outer surface thereof that are configured to engage the latch member of the flexible arm portions when the adapter member is coupled to the outer protective jacket.
13. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the adapter terminal includes a first optical fiber port configured to receive a source connector coupled to the optical fiber extending from the opening in the optical fiber protection jacket and a second optical fiber port configured to receive a customer connector coupled to the customer optical fiber.
14. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the adapter terminal further comprises a dust cap having a closed position covering the second optical fiber port and an open position not covering the second optical fiber port to allow the customer connector to be inserted into the second optical fiber port.
15. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the dust cap is spring loaded towards the closed position and configured to be in the open position when the customer connector is inserted in the second optical fiber port.
16. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of clips configured to secure the optical fiber protection jacket in a selected location.
17. The optical fiber terminal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes a connector that is configured to couple the optical fiber extending from the opening in the optical fiber protection jacket to the customer optical fiber.