Conduit insert for optical fiber cable

Abstract

A flexible innerduct structure is configured to contain a cable within a conduit. The innerduct structure includes a pair of adjacent strip-shaped layers of flexible material that are joined along their longitudinal edges to define a channel through which the cable can extend longitudinally through the innerduct structure between the layers. The adjacent layers have differing widths between their longitudinal edges, whereby the wider layer bulges away from the narrower layer to impart an open configuration to the channel. Other features of the innerduct structure relate to the material of which it is formed. Such features includes the structure of the material, such as a woven structure, and further include properties such as melting point, tensile strength, elongation, coefficient of friction, crimp resistance and compression recovery.

The following is claimed:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for dividing a longitudinally extending conduit into compartments comprising a longitudinally extending insert, said insert being formed of at least two layers of a pliant material, said layers having lateral edges and being attached to each other near said lateral edges to form at least one compartment between said layers; 
 wherein said layers are of different lateral widths so that when said layers are attached, said compartment is formed.    
     
     
         2 . A method of dividing a longitudinally extending conduit into compartments comprising the steps of: 
 forming at least two layers of a longitudinally extending pliant material having lateral edges, wherein said at least two layers are formed with a different lateral width;    attaching the layers near their lateral edges so as to form at least one compartment between the layers; and    inserting the attached layers into the conduit.