Patent ID: 6217227
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A connection device for optical fiber cables, the device comprising:a longitudinal support having a substantially plane top face extending longitudinally and two convex side flanks extending longitudinally on either side of said top face and going towards an underside of said top face, a radius of curvature of a cross-section of each flank being not less than a minimum radius of curvature of optical fibers of the optical fiber cables to be connected;a plurality of individual connection elements for connecting optical fibers in pairs, each connection element extending transversely over the top face of the longitudinal support; andan empty space left beneath the longitudinal support and defined in part by the support, the optical fibers penetrating into the connection device via said empty space and coiling freely therein prior to going directly to an individual connection element fixed on the top face of the longitudinal support by being held against one of the side flanks of said longitudinal support;said connection device being housed in a cylindrical box having inlets for cables at both ends, said inlets opening out beneath the longitudinal support into the empty space; andthe box comprising a cover and a base, the base being of a diameter that is sufficient to receive bottom edges of the side flanks of the longitudinal support when the longitudinal support is put into place in the base with a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal support parallel to a longitudinal axis of the box, such that the empty space is closed when the longitudinal support is put into place in the base and only two longitudinal slots remain between the side flanks and side walls of the base to constitute passages between said empty space and the top face of the longitudinal support.