US2005281529A1PendingUtilityA1

Fiber splicing and gripping device

Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 22, 2004Filed: Jun 22, 2004Published: Dec 22, 2005

Est. expiryJun 22, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:James B. Carpenter Akihiko Yazaki Takaya Yamauchi

G02B 6/3888G02B 6/3806G02B 6/36G02B 6/38

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References

Claims

Abstract

An optical fiber splicing and gripping device includes a material having first and second members hingedly attached. A gripping region is formed in the material that includes first and second gripping portions disposed on first and second inner portions of each of the members. The material further includes separate first and second clamping zones along a length of the gripping region. The optical fiber splicing and gripping device further includes a cap engageable with the material to selectively actuate the first clamping zone independently of actuating the second clamping zone.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

1 . An optical fiber splicing and gripping device, comprising:
a material having first and second members hingedly attached; a gripping region formed in said material that includes first and second gripping portions disposed on first and second inner portions of each of said members, wherein the material further comprises separate first and second clamping zones along a length of said gripping region; and a cap engageable with said material to selectively actuate the first clamping zone independently of actuating the second clamping zone.

2 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 1 , wherein the cap includes a first cam and second cam, wherein said first cam is adapted to engage said first clamping zone prior to said second cam engaging said second clamping zone.

3 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 1 , wherein the material includes at least one slot disposed between the first and second clamping zones.

4 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 3 , wherein the material includes a first slot located on the first member and a second slot located on the second member, opposite the first slot.

5 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot extends into at least one of the first and second gripping portions.

6 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 3 , wherein the folded material includes a region of thinner material disposed between the first and second clamping zones.

7 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 1 , wherein the first clamping zone imparts a first amount of stress to a fiber inserted in said gripping region, and the second clamping zone imparts a second amount of stress to the fiber, said first amount different from said second amount.

8 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second gripping portions comprises a v-groove.

9 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 2 , wherein the cap includes a main body portion that extends along a length of the cap and couples a first cap member and second cap member extending therefrom.

10 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 9 , wherein said first cam is disposed on an inner surface of at least one of said first and second cap members.

11 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 9 , wherein said second cam is disposed on an inner surface of at least one of said first and second cap members.

12 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 10 , wherein said first cam includes a first transition portion sloping outwardly in a gradual manner from said inner surface.

13 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 12 , wherein said second cam includes a second transition portion sloping outwardly in a gradual manner from said inner surface, wherein said second transition portion is disposed closer to said main body portion than said first transition portion.

14 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 9 , wherein the cap further comprises at least one detent formed on an outer surface of at least one of the first and second cap members, said at least one detent adapted to engage with a housing for the fiber splicing and gripping device.

15 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 3 , wherein the material comprises at least two slots to define separate first, second, and third clamping zones along a length of said gripping region, and wherein the cap includes a first cam, a second cam, and a third cam, wherein said first cam is adapted to engage said first clamping zone independently of said second cam engaging said second clamping zone and said third cam engaging said third clamping zone.

16 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 1 , wherein the first member has a length different from a length of the second member.

17 . The optical fiber splicing and gripping device according to claim 7 , wherein 10 the first and second gripping portions of the first clamping zone include a first groove and the first and second gripping portions of the second clamping zone include a second groove, wherein the second groove has a different groove size than a groove size of the first groove.

18 . An actuating cap for engageably mating an optical fiber splicing and gripping device, comprising:
a main body portion that extends along a length of the cap; a first cap member and a second cap member coupled by and extending from said main body; and a first cam and second cam, wherein said first cam and said second cam are disposed on an inner surface of at least one of said first and second members.

19 . The actuating cap according to claim 18 , wherein said first cam includes a first transition portion sloping outwardly in a gradual manner from said inner surface.

20 . The actuating cap according to claim 19 , wherein said second cam includes a second transition portion sloping outwardly in a gradual manner from said inner surface, wherein said second transition portion is disposed closer to said main body portion than said first transition portion.

21 . An optical connector, comprising:
a base; and an optical fiber splicing and gripping device disposed in said base, the optical fiber splicing and gripping device including
a material having first and second members hingedly attached;
a gripping region formed in said material that includes first and second gripping portions disposed on first and second inner portions of each of said members, wherein the sheet of material further comprises separate first and second clamping zones along a length of said gripping region; and
a cap engageable with said material to selectively actuate the first clamping zone independently of actuating the second clamping zone.

22 . The optical connector according to claim 21 , wherein the cap includes a first cam and second cam, wherein said first cam is adapted to engage said first clamping zone prior to said second cam engaging said second clamping zone.

23 . The optical connector according to claim 21 , wherein the material includes a first slot located on the first member disposed between the first and second clamping zones.

24 . The optical connector according to claim 23 , wherein the material includes a second slot located on the second member, opposite the first slot.

25 . The optical connector according to claim 21 , wherein the material includes a region of thinner material disposed between the first and second clamping zones.

26 . The optical connector according to claim 21 , wherein the first clamping zone imparts a first amount of stress to a fiber inserted in said gripping region, and the second clamping zone imparts a second amount of stress to the fiber, said first amount different from said second amount.

27 . The optical connector according to claim 22 , wherein the cap includes a main body portion that extends along a length of the cap and couples a first cap member and second cap member extending therefrom, wherein said first cam is disposed on an inner surface of at least one of said first and second cap members and wherein said second cam is disposed on an inner surface of at least one of said first and second cap members.

28 . The optical connector according to claim 27 , wherein said first cam includes a first transition portion sloping outwardly in a gradual manner from said inner surface and said second cam includes a second transition portion sloping outwardly in a gradual manner from said inner surface, wherein said second transition portion is disposed closer to said main body portion than said first transition portion.

29 . The optical connector according to claim 27 , wherein the cap further comprises at least one detent formed on an outer surface of at least one of the first and second cap members, said at least one detent adapted to engage with the connector base.

30 . The optical connector according to claim 23 , wherein the material comprises at least two slots to define separate first, second, and third clamping zones along a length of said gripping region, and wherein the cap includes a first cam, a second cam, and a third cam, wherein said first cam is adapted to engage said first clamping zone independently of said second cam engaging said second clamping zone and said third cam engaging said third clamping zone.

31 . The optical connector according to claim 21 , wherein the first member has a length different from a length of the second member.

32 . The optical connector according to claim 21 , further comprising a fiber optic pigtail, wherein a first portion of the fiber optic pigtail is gripped by the first clamping zone.

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