Multifiber invisible optical drop cable and methods for routing optical fibers within a multi-dwelling unit

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a process by which an optical fiber drop cable is created and routed in a multiple dwelling unit (“MDU”). The optical fiber drop cable is formed with a feeding tool, and the optical fiber drop cable includes a tube having optical fibers enclosed within the tube. The feeding tool creates a slit within the tube through which optical fibers are fed and thereby inserted into the tube along the tube's length. Once the tube exits the feeding tool with the optical fibers enclosed (thereby forming the optical fiber drop cable), the optical fiber drop cable is then routed into an individual dwelling unit of the MDU by a transition assembly including a transition plug and a routing plug that leads an optical fiber from an exterior of the individual dwelling unit to a subscriber termination point in an interior of the individual dwelling unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing and routing fibers within a multiple dwelling unit (“MDU”) that includes at least one dwelling unit comprising:
 preparing at least one optical fiber drop cable by:
 inserting at least one optical fiber into a feeding tool, wherein the feeding tool includes a blade and at least one passage, the blade protruding into the at least one passage; 
 inserting a tube into the at least one passage such that the blade creates a slit in the tube; 
 directing the at least one optical fiber into the slit of the tube to create the at least one optical fiber drop cable, wherein the at least one optical fiber extends along a length of the at least one optical fiber drop cable; 
 
 inserting the at least one optical fiber drop cable into a transition plug by:
 inserting the at least one optical fiber drop cable into a routing channel of the transition plug; 
 extracting at least one optical fiber from the at least one optical fiber drop cable and inserting the at least one optical fiber into a transition channel of the transition plug such that the at least one optical fiber protrudes from the transition plug; 
 
 inserting the transition plug into a wall of the at least one dwelling unit such that the at least one optical fiber extends into the at least one dwelling unit; and 
 coupling a routing plug to the transition channel of the transition plug such that the transition plug and the at least one optical fiber that has been inserted into the transition channel are securely mounted to the wall, wherein the routing plug includes anchor structures to engage the routing plug within the wall. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feeding tool includes:
 a body including a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite the first surface;   a first aperture positioned on the first surface and configured to receive a first optical fiber;   a second aperture positioned on the second surface and positioned opposite the first aperture, the second aperture configured to receive a second optical fiber; and   an internal passage between the first aperture and the second aperture, the internal passage configured to route the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber within the body.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one passage of the feeding tool includes:
 a first passage and a second passage each within the feeding tool and each defined by the body, the second passage spaced apart from the first passage;   wherein both the first passage and the second passage intersect the internal passage;   and the blade is positioned within the body such that the blade extends into both the first passage and the second passage.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein preparing the at least one optical fiber drop cable further includes:
 inserting at least one first optical fiber into the first aperture;   inserting at least one second optical fiber into the second aperture;   inserting a first tube into the first passage whereby the blade creates a first slit in the first tube as the first tube is inserted into the first passage;   inserting a second tube into the second passage whereby the blade creates a second slit in the second tube as the second tube is inserted into the second passage;   directing the at least one second optical fiber through the internal passage and into the first slit of the first tube such that the at least one second optical fiber is within the first tube when the first tube exits the feeding tool to form a first optical fiber drop cable; and   directing the at least one first optical fiber through the internal passage and into the second slit of the second tube such that the at least one first optical fiber is within the second tube when the second tube exits the feeding tool to form a second optical fiber drop cable.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the feeding tool further includes:
 a first wedge structure extending into the first passage;   a second wedge structure extending into the second passage; and
 wherein the first wedge structure and the second wedge structure are configured to open the respective first and second slits of the first tube and the second tube such that the at least one first optical fiber and the at least one second optical fiber can be inserted into the second tube and the first tube, respectively. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first passage and the second passage have different sizes to accommodate different sizes of the first tube and the second tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the routing plug includes an entry channel coaxial with the transition channel, the routing plug configured to guide the at least one optical fiber into the at least one dwelling unit, and
 wherein the routing plug and the transition plug are telescopically mated such that the transition assembly can engage with and accommodate different wall thicknesses.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transition channel of the transition plug includes a plurality of protrusions to engage with the routing plug. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the routing plug covers the transition channel of the transition plug such that the transition channel is within the entry channel of the routing plug. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the routing channel is substantially perpendicular to the transition channel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the routing plug contacts an interior of the wall of the at least one dwelling unit and the transition plug contacts the exterior of the wall. 
     
     
         12 . A system for preparing and routing a plurality of optical fibers within a multiple dwelling unit (“MDU”), the system comprising:
 a tube for receiving the plurality of optical fibers; 
 a feeding tool having a body, a passage extending through the body, and a blade extending into the passage, wherein:
 the passage is configured to receive the tube; 
 the blade is configured to create slit in the tube when the tube is received in the passage; and 
 the body is configured to direct the plurality of optical fibers through the slit and into the tube to form an optical fiber drop cable when there is relative movement between the feeding tool and the tube; 
 
 a transition plug configured to be arranged on the optical fiber drop cable at a first location, the transition plug including:
 a routing channel for allowing the optical fiber drop cable to extend through the transition plug; 
 a transition channel that communicates with the routing channel so that the transition channel can receive at least one optical fiber extracted through the slit of the tube; 
 
 and a routing plug configured to couple with the transition channel of the transition plug to provide an entry channel that is coaxial with the transition channel.