Fiber optic cable breakout configuration with retention block

Abstract

A telecommunications cable includes a distribution cable, a tether that branches from the distribution cable, and a tether retention block affixed to the distribution cable. The tether retention block includes a first portion and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to secure a tether buffer tube and a strength member of the tether. Each of the first and second portions defines at least a first half-channel configured to cooperate with the first half-channel of the other portion to receive the strength member of the tether.

1 . A telecommunications cable comprising:
 a distribution cable including a cable jacket and at least a first buffer tube positioned within the cable jacket, the first buffer tube enclosing a first optical fiber, the distribution cable including a mid-span location where a portion of the cable jacket has been removed and where at least the first buffer tube includes a fiber access location through which the first optical fiber is routed out of the first buffer tube;   a tether that branches from the distribution cable at the mid-span location, the tether including a tether jacket, at least one strength member positioned within the jacket, a tether buffer tube positioned within the jacket, and a second optical fiber that extends through the tether buffer tube, the second optical fiber being spliced to the first optical fiber at a splice location; and   a tether retention block affixed to the distribution cable, the tether retention block including a first portion and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to secure the tether buffer tube and at least the strength member of the tether, each of the first and second portions defining at least a first half-channel configured to cooperate with the first half-channel of the other portion to receive the strength member of the tether.   
   
   
       2 . The telecommunications cable of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second portions defines at least a second half-channel configured to cooperate with the second half-channel of the other portion to receive a second strength member of the tether. 
   
   
       3 . The telecommunications cable of  claim 1 , the tether retention block defines a passage through which the tether buffer tube extends, the passage being defined by the first and second portions. 
   
   
       4 . The telecommunications cable of  claim 1 , wherein the retention block defines a groove along which the distribution cable extends when the retention block is affixed to the distribution cable. 
   
   
       5 . The telecommunications cable of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion of the tether retention block defines the groove on a first side and defines the first half-channel on a second, opposite side. 
   
   
       6 . The telecommunications cable of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible closure that surrounds the distribution cable and covers the mid-span location, the closure being factory installed, the closure being elongated along a length that extends along the distribution cable. 
   
   
       7 . The telecommunications cable of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a separation block coupled to the distribution cable at an opposite side of the mid-span location from the tether retention block, the separation block at least partially enclosing the first optical fiber;   a tube extending from the separation block to the tether retention block, wherein the second optical fiber splices to the first optical fiber within the tube.   
   
   
       8 . The telecommunications cable of  claim 7 , wherein each portion of the tether retention block includes a U-shaped flange configured to be inserted into one end of the tube. 
   
   
       9 . The telecommunications cable of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the tether retention block is positioned within the closure. 
   
   
       10 . The telecommunications cable of  claim 1 , wherein the closure includes overmolding. 
   
   
       11 . A method of securing a tether cable to a tether retention block having a cover and a base, the method comprising:
 preparing the tether cable to expose a buffer tube and at least a first strength member;   positioning and securing the first strength member within a first side groove of the base;   positioning and securing the buffer tube within a central groove of the base; and   arranging the cover over the base including aligning a first side groove of the cover with the first side groove of the base to form a side passage through which the strength member at least partially extends and aligning a central groove of the cover with the central groove of the base to form a central passage through which the tether buffer tube at least partially extends.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein preparing the tether cable to expose a buffer tube and at least a first strength member comprises:
 stripping a portion of an outer jacket of a tether cable; and   removing an end portion of the buffer tube to expose the optical fiber within the buffer tube.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein positioning the first strength member comprises positioning the first strength member having a length that is less than a length of the base; and wherein positioning the buffer tube comprises positioning the buffer tube having a length that is shorter than the length of the base and longer than the length of the first strength member. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein arranging the cover over the base comprises:
 aligning mating posts on one of the cover and the base with depressions provided on the other of the cover and the base; and   pressing the mating posts into the depressions.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein aligning the mating posts with the depressions comprises aligning mating posts extending downwardly from the cover with depressions defined in a top of the base. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising applying an adhesive between the cover and the base to securely affix the tether cable to the retention block. 
   
   
       17 . A tether retention block for securing a tether cable to a distribution cable, the tether retention block comprising:
 a first portion having a first side and an opposite, second side, the first side of the first portion defining at least a first groove;   a second portion having a first side and an opposite, second side, the first side of the second portion defining at least a first groove configured to cooperate with the first groove of the first portion to define a passageway configured to receive a strength member and a tether buffer tube of the tether cable;   wherein the first portion defines a third groove configured to receive the distribution cable to secure the tether cable to the distribution cable, the groove being separate from the passageway.   
   
   
       18 . The tether retention block of  claim 17 , wherein the first groove of the second portion is configured to align with the first groove of the first portion to form a first tunnel in which the strength member of the tether cable is secured. 
   
   
       19 . The tether retention block of  claim 17 , wherein the second groove of the second portion is configured to align with the second groove of the first portion to form a second tunnel in which the tether buffer tube of the tether cable is secured. 
   
   
       20 . The tether retention block of  claim 17 , wherein the third groove is provided on the second side of the first portion.