Patent ID: 9669592
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: B29D,G02B

Claim:
1. A method of manufacturing a fiber optic cable, comprising steps of: manufacturing a subunit by: extruding a subunit jacket over a first reinforcement material; wherein the subunit jacket defines a passageway interior thereto; wherein the subunit jacket is an indoor jacket comprising a flame-retardant jacketing material; wherein the first reinforcement material constrains, within the subunit jacket, an optical fiber extending through the passageway such that the optical fiber and the subunit jacket are coupled to one another by way of the first reinforcement material; and wherein the first reinforcement material is at least one of so positioned and non-rigid in bending such that the subunit has essentially no bend preference; and manufacturing an outer portion of the fiber optic cable by: pressure-extruding an outer jacket over a second reinforcement material to tightly constrain components of the fiber optic cable interior to the outer jacket; wherein the outer jacket is an outdoor jacket comprising medium- or high-density polyethylene; wherein the second reinforcement material is between the outer jacket and the subunit jacket, whereby removal of the outdoor jacket and the second reinforcement material converts the fiber optic cable to an indoor cable; wherein the second reinforcement material is at least one of so positioned and non-rigid in bending such that, in combination with the subunit, the fiber optic cable has essentially no bend preference; and wherein hoop stress applied to the second reinforcement material by the outer jacket constrains the second reinforcement material between the subunit and outer jackets such that the second reinforcement material is held in position and oriented to provide anti-buckling support to the fiber optic cable and thereby mitigate effects on the optical fiber of jacket shrinkage due to low temperatures experienced by the fiber optic cable.