Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080273854 | Fiber optic cable distribution box - A fiber optic cable distribution box has an interface compartment for interfacing a first set of fibers when routed inside the compartment, with a second set of fibers associated with a fiber optic cable that is routed to the box. A drum region is disposed beneath the interface compartment. The drum region includes a cylindrical wall for supporting a fiber optic cable wound about the wall. The drum region is formed so that the box can turn about the axis of the cylindrical wall when a cable is paid out from the drum region. The interface compartment and the drum region are constructed so that the first set of fibers inside the interface compartment, originate from an inside end portion of the cable wound on the drum region. | 11-06-2008 |
20080315030 | Fiber optic rapid spooling tool - A spooling tool for paying out a fiber optic cable prewound on a spool region of a drop box or on an associated spool, when installing a cable at a user's premises. In one embodiment, the tool includes a base plate and a stud projecting from one side of the plate. An elongate arbor has one end secured to the stud in such a manner as to support the arbor perpendicular to the base plate. The arbor is dimensioned to pass through an axial passage in the box so that the box pivots on the arbor when the cable is unwound by an installer. A cap mechanism at the opposite end of the arbor retains the drop box on the arbor, and applies enough drag on the box to inhibit it from free wheeling on the arbor. | 12-25-2008 |
20080317415 | Connector Cover For Pulling And Water Resistance - Embodiments of the invention include a connector system. The connector system includes a connector cover. The connector-cover has a cap to protect a connector from dust and water and an adapter attached to an optical fiber cable, which is configured to connect to the cap. The dimensions and configuration of the connector-cover allow it to be pulled through conventional conduit (i.e. a 90°-bent, 0.75 inch Schedule 40 conduit). | 12-25-2008 |
20120020635 | TOOL FOR ROUTING AN OPTICAL FIBER OR CABLE AT A LIVING UNIT OF CUSTOMER PREMISES - A tool for routing an optical fiber or a cable over a desired span on a visible supporting surface at a given premises. The tool includes a rod with a handle, and a reel or spool is mounted on the rod for storing a length of an optical fiber or a cable to be routed. An adhesive coating assembly is fixed on the rod for providing an adhesive on the fiber when the fiber is unwound from the spool during use of the tool. A fiber routing applicator is disposed at the distal end of the rod. The routing applicator is dimensioned and arranged to travel over the supporting surface at the premises to route the fiber with the adhesive thereon over the desired span, while urging the fiber against the surface so that the fiber adheres to the surface. | 01-26-2012 |
20120066987 | ATTACHING A LINE TO A SURFACE - Among other things, a communication line is attached along a target surface of a building by laying out the line from a tool. An outer surface of the line is in a temporarily tacky condition as the line is laid out along the surface. The line is in the temporarily tacky condition based at least in part on an adhesive component having been pre-applied to the outer surface of the line. The line becomes non-tacky after it has been attached. | 03-22-2012 |
20120138214 | OPTICAL FIBER INSTALLATION AT CUSTOMER PREMISES - An optical fiber is permanently routed easily, quickly, and unobtrusively at a customer premises using an inventive hand tool, without staples or other fasteners. The fiber has an adhesive outer coating that is activated as the fiber is applied by the tool on an exposed surface such as a wall, ceiling, molding, groove, or corner at the premises. When the activated coating hardens, the fiber is bonded to the surface on which it was applied, and the hardened coating also provides physical protection for the fiber. In the disclosed embodiment, the coated fiber is supplied on a spool that mounts on the tool, and the coating is activated by guiding the fiber as it unwinds from the spool through a chamber containing an activating substance. The fiber with the activated coating is then guided to an applicator wheel on the tool which applies the fiber to the surface. | 06-07-2012 |
20120294580 | OPTICAL FIBER OR CABLE STORAGE MODULE FOR INSTALLATION AT CUSTOMER PREMISES - An optical fiber or cable storage module includes a back wall and a number of resilient mounting fingers extending from the back wall, and a fiber supply spool having an axial bore formed to receive the mounting fingers and to engage the fingers when the spool is urged toward the back wall so that the spool is restrained from axial movement. The spool includes a hub, and a first winding section for containing a length of fiber sufficient to route between a service terminal outside a user premises and a location near a user terminal inside the premises. The mounting fingers have corresponding catches at the ends of the fingers, and the inner circumference of the bore in the supply spool has an annular groove formed to seat the catches for restraining the spool from axial movement. | 11-22-2012 |
20130020015 | Apparatus and Methods for Routing an Optical Fiber or Cable Inside a Building or Living Unit - Apparatus and methods for routing an optical fiber over a desired span on a structural surface at a given premises are provided. When the optical fiber is unwound from a spool, the optical fiber attaches to the structural surface by an adhesive material. The adhesive material can be applied along the desired span, or portion thereof, before, during, or after the optical fiber is routed over the desired span. | 01-24-2013 |
20130292035 | Methods For Routing An Optical Fiber Or Cable Inside A Building Or Living Unit of Customer Premises - Methods for routing an optical fiber over a desired span on a structural surface at a given premises are provided. When the optical fiber is unwound from a container, the optical fiber attaches to the structural surface by an adhesive material. The adhesive material can be applied along the desired span before, during, or after the optical fiber is routed over the desired span. | 11-07-2013 |
20130333822 | Methods For Routing An Optical Fiber Or Cable Inside A Building Or Living Unit of Customer Premises - Methods for routing an optical fiber over a desired span on a structural surface at a given premises are provided. When the optical fiber is unwound from a container, the optical fiber attaches to the structural surface by an adhesive material. The adhesive material can be applied along the desired span before, during, or after the optical fiber is routed over the desired span. | 12-19-2013 |
20140020815 | Preparing And Attaching A Communication Line To A Supporting Surface On Or Inside Of A Building - A communication line such as an optical fiber or cable is attached along a wall, ceiling, trim piece, or other selected surface on or inside of a building, by paying out the fiber from an applicator tool while the tool guides the fiber along the selected surface. The outer surface of the fiber is prepared so that the fiber will be in a temporarily tacky condition when the fiber is pressed onto the selected surface by the applicator tool. The fiber is pre-coated with an adhesive that is activated by a fluid supplied by the applicator tool. As the applicator tool presses the fiber onto the selected surface, the activated adhesive coating on the fiber quickly becomes non-tacky to attach the fiber firmly to the surface. | 01-23-2014 |