Mid-span access tool for buffer tubes

Abstract

A cable slicer or sheath cutter is comprised of two components, each component including a main body portion, a two part disconnectable hinge mechanism serving as a coupling device at one end or side of the main body portion and a T-shaped handle disposed at an opposite end of the main body portion. The coupling device rotatably couples the two components together. A channel runs along an interior length of at least one of the main body portions, which provides a path into which the cable to be stripped is inserted. A blade housing on at least one of the components of the main body portion securely holds a blade with a predetermined amount of the tip or edge of the blade protruding into and generally perpendicular to the channel. The exposed portion of the blade slices or shaves the sheath or covering of an interior layer of the cable by a precise, predetermined amount without cutting or shaving the cable in the interior.

1 . A device for shaving, slitting, or cutting a layer of a cable, the device comprising:
 a first component and a second component, each of the first and second components having a main body portion having a length, an exterior side and an interior side, a first end and a second end opposite the first end;   at least one of the first and second components including at least one channel that runs along the entire length of the interior side of at least one of the first and second components; and   at least one blade housing, located within the main body portion of the first component, the at least one blade housing configured for securely and removably holding at least one blade in a position generally perpendicular to the at least one channel such that at least an edge portion of the at least one blade protrudes into an interior region of the at least one channel.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel runs along the entire length of the interior side of both the first and second components and wherein the first component includes a flattened channel and the second component includes a rounded channel. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one blade is an adjustable blade and the adjustable blade is configured to be disposed at variable depths. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the blade housing further includes a removable portion, a fixed portion and at least one screw, wherein the at least one screw is configured to hold the at least one blade between the removable portion and the fixed portion of the blade housing. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second components are made from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, aluminum and a composite material. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the plastic material is an acetyl polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a two part disconnectable hinge mechanism located proximate a first end of said body portion of said first and second components, a first part of said two part hinge mechanism located on the first component and a second part of said two part hinge mechanism located on the second component, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured to attach the first component to the second component and allow the first component and second component to rotatably couple to one another, thereby allowing the device to be positioned around said cable at any point along a length of said cable when the two part disconnectable hinge mechanism of said device is disconnected. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further including an attachment mechanism located proximate a second end of the body portion of the first and second components, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to fixably hold the first and second components together in a closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel forms a path when the first component and second component are brought into a closed position confronting one another, and wherein the path that is formed has a generally oval shape designed to accept a flatfiber optic cable. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel forms a path when the first component and second component are brought into a closed position confronting one another, and wherein the path that is formed has a round shape designed to accept a round fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel is configured to accept an insert that includes, on one side of the insert, a channel of a desired shape and size. 
     
     
         12 . A device for cutting or scoring a layer of a cable, the device comprising:
 a first component and a second component, each of the first and second components having a main body portion having a length, a first portion and a second portion, an exterior side and an interior side, a first end and a second end opposite the first end;   each of the first and second components including at least one channel that runs along generally the entire length of the interior side of the first and second components;   a two part disconnectable hinge mechanism located proximate a first end of said body portion of said first and second components, a first part of said two part hinge mechanism located on the first component and a second part of said two part hinge mechanism located on the second component, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured to attach the first component to the second component and allow the first component and second component to rotatably couple to one another, thereby allowing the device to be positioned around said cable at any point along a length of said cable when the two part disconnectable hinge mechanism of said device is disconnected; and   at least one blade housing, located within the main body portion of the first component.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one blade housing comprises a removable portion, a fixed portion, at least one blade and at least one screw, wherein the at least one screw is configured to securely hold the at least one blade between the removable portion and the fixed portion in a position perpendicular to the at least one channel such that at least an edge portion of the at least one blade protrudes into the interior region of the at least one channel. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one blade is an adjustable blade, and wherein the adjustable blade is configured to operate at variable depths. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of notches, wherein the notches are configured to allow a user to determine which of the at least one channels are the appropriate size prior to cutting or scoring a cable. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12 , further including an attachment mechanism, which is located on a second half of the body portion of the first and second components, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to fixably hold the first and second components together in a closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the attachment mechanism further includes a locking feature that securely locks the first and second components together. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one channel is formed by an upper portion of the channel located on the first component and a lower portion of the channel located on the second component. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the upper portion of the channel has a flattened shape and the lower portion of the channel has a rounded shape. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the device features a plurality of channels and at least one of said plurality of channels is configured to accept an insert that includes, on one side of the insert, a channel of a desired shape and size.