Patent ID: 7343077
Filing Date: 2008-03-11
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A fiber optic drop cable splice kit, comprising: a fiber cable splice enclosure adapted to be filled with an encapsulating compound, said enclosure having a top cover portion and a bottom portion, said enclosure including a first open end region and a second open end region disposed on an opposite end of said enclosure from said first end region, said bottom portion including a first surface having a first longitudinal edge region and a second longitudinal edge region, said second longitudinal end region disposed on an opposite side of said first surface from said first longitudinal edge region; said first longitudinal edge region including at least a first cable engagement region and said second longitudinal edge region including at least a second cable engagement region, each of said first and second cable engagement regions forming a three-sided fiber optic drop cable engagement region having an opening with a width that is less than a width of said fiber optic drop cable, said three-sided fiber optic drop cable engagement region configured for directly, frictionally engaging with and retaining at least first and second fiber optic drop cables, each said first and second fiber optic drop cable including at least one fiber strand to be spliced; at least one spliced fiber cradle or slack fence, for holding and supporting at least the spliced first and second fibers, said at least one spliced fiber cradle including a first region configured for engaging with a fiber splice region of said spliced first and second fibers, and a second region for engaging with one or more un-spliced region of said at least first and second fibers, said cradle configured for holding and supporting at least the splice region of said first and second fibers and the un-spliced region of said at least first and second fibers a spaced distance away from said first surface of said bottom portion, for allowing said encapsulating compound to flow around and directly contact said at least first and second spliced fibers and said at least one spliced fiber cradle or slack fence; an encapsulating compound having an initial viscosity configured to allow said encapsulating compound to be fluidly introduced into and flow generally throughout said enclosure and said at least first and second spliced fibers and said at least one spliced fiber cradle or slack fence, and a final viscosity forming a generally hardened encapsulation of said at least first and second spliced fibers.