Optical fiber splice closure and method of installing fiber optic cables

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an optical fiber splice closure for joining two fiber optic cables. The optical fiber splice closure comprises a strain relief assembly that securely holds the two fiber optic cables being connected, and an enclosure that houses the strain relief assembly. The configuration of the strain relief assembly allows for securing the two fiber optic cables in a compact space, thus permitting a compact enclosure of the optical fiber splice closure, while also providing quick and easy installation in the field. A method of installing fiber optic cables using the optical fiber splice closure is also disclosed. The optical fiber splice closure and ease of installation also facilitates repairing damaged fiber optic cable. A method of repairing existing fiber optic cable is disclosed.

1 . A strain relief assembly for securing first and second fiber optic cables, each fiber optic cable having optical fiber, a strength member, and an outer sheath enclosing the optical fiber and the strength member, the strain relief assembly comprising:
 a bracket;   a first outer securing member coupled with the bracket for securing the outer sheath of the first fiber optic cable;   a second outer securing member coupled with the bracket for securing the outer sheath of the second fiber optic cable; and   at least one inner securing member coupled with the bracket for securing the strength members of the first and second fiber optic cables along lengths thereof where the outer sheaths have been removed;   wherein the at least one inner securing member is arranged closer to a center along a longitudinal length of the bracket than the first and second outer securing members.   
     
     
         2 . The strain relief assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inner securing member comprises first and second inner securing members. 
     
     
         3 . The strain relief assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the securing members comprises a pair of securing members. 
     
     
         4 . The strain relief assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the securing members are configured to be folded or crimped to secure the respective outer sheath or strength members. 
     
     
         5 . The strain relief assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket further comprises first and second support members for supporting the first and second fiber optic cables. 
     
     
         6 . The strain relief assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the bracket comprises a depression between the respective first and second support members and a length of the bracket along which the securing members are arranged, and wherein the depression has a bottom surface that is disposed lower than the length of the bracket along which the securing members are arranged when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         7 . The strain relief assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket further comprises a ridge for securing the strength members in conjunction with the at least one inner securing member. 
     
     
         8 . The strain relief assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the ridge is formed from a ridge-forming member coupled with the bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The strain relief assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the ridge is disposed at the center of the bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The strain relief assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one inner securing member comprises first and second inner securing members disposed at respective sides of the ridge. 
     
     
         11 . The strain relief assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is made of metal. 
     
     
         12 . An optical fiber splice closure for joining first and second fiber optic cables, each fiber optic cable having optical fiber, a strength member, and an outer sheath enclosing the optical fiber and the strength member, the optical fiber splice closure comprising:
 an enclosure having a base portion and a top portion connectable with each other, the base portion and the top portion when connected configured to define first and second openings for first and second fiber optic cables, respectively; and   a strain relief assembly disposed inside of the enclosure, comprising:
 a bracket; 
 a first outer securing member coupled with the bracket for securing the outer sheath of the first fiber optic cable; 
 a second outer securing member coupled with the bracket for securing the outer sheath of the second fiber optic cable; and 
 at least one inner securing member coupled with the bracket for securing the strength members of the first and second fiber optic cables along lengths thereof where the outer sheaths have been removed; 
   wherein the at least one inner securing member is arranged closer to a center along a longitudinal length of the bracket than the first and second outer securing members.   
     
     
         13 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one inner securing member comprises first and second inner securing members. 
     
     
         14 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of the securing members comprises a pair of securing members. 
     
     
         15 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of the securing members are configured to be folded or crimped to secure the respective outer sheath or strength member. 
     
     
         16 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 12 , wherein the bracket further comprises first and second support members for supporting the first and second fiber optic cables. 
     
     
         17 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 16 , wherein the bracket comprises a depression between respective first and second support members and a length of the bracket along which the securing members are arranged, and wherein the depression has a bottom surface that is disposed lower than the length of the bracket along which the securing members are arranged when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         18 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 12 , wherein the bracket further comprises a ridge for securing the strength members in conjunction with the at least one inner securing member. 
     
     
         19 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 18 , wherein the ridge is formed from a ridge-forming member coupled with the bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 18 , wherein the ridge is disposed at the center of the bracket. 
     
     
         21 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one inner securing member comprises first and second inner securing members disposed at respective sides of the ridge. 
     
     
         22 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure comprises a flooding compound disposed in an interior thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 12 , wherein the strain relief assembly is made of metal. 
     
     
         24 . The optical fiber splice closure of  claim 12 , wherein the top and bottom portions of the enclosure are made of LDPE or MDPE UV protected plastic. 
     
     
         25 . A method of installing first and second fiber optic cables in an optical fiber splice closure, each fiber optic cable having optical fiber, a strength member, and an outer sheath enclosing the optical fiber and the strength member, the method comprising:
 removing the outer sheaths at ends of the first and second fiber optic cables to be connected to expose the respective strength members and the optical fibers;   securing the outer sheaths of the first and second fiber optic cables with respective first and second outer securing members of a strain relief assembly, and securing the strength members of the first and second fiber optic cables with at least one inner securing member of the strain relief assembly, wherein the first and second outer securing members and the at least one inner securing member are coupled with a bracket, and wherein the at least one inner securing member is arranged closer to a center along a longitudinal length of the bracket than the first and second outer securing members;   splicing the optical fibers of the first and second fiber optic cables;   placing the strain relief assembly into the enclosure; and   closing the enclosure by connecting the top and bottom portions thereof.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein splicing the optical fibers comprises fusing the optical fibers. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising placing heatshrink over the fused optical fibers. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein splicing the optical fibers comprises mechanically splicing the optical fibers. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising filling the enclosure with flooding compound. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first fiber optic cable is fiber optic drop cable extending between a terminal box and a customer premise, and the second fiber optic cable is coupled with a pig-tail connector to the terminal box. 
     
     
         31 . A method of repairing existing fiber optic cable, comprising:
 cutting the existing fiber optic cable to remove a length of damaged portion, the existing fiber optic cable with the length of damaged portion removed having first and second exposed end portions;   cutting a length of new fiber optic cable corresponding to the length of damaged portion of the existing fiber optic cable, the length of new fiber optic cable having first and second exposed end portions;   joining the first exposed end portions of the existing fiber optic drop cable and the new fiber optic drop cable in a first optical fiber splice closure in accordance with the method of  claim 25 ; and   joining the second exposed end portions of the existing fiber optic drop cable and the new fiber optic drop cable in a second optical fiber splice closure in accordance with the method of  claim 25 .