Patent ID: 6377735
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising:first and second cables, each cable having a strengthening portion and an optical fiber positioned inside of the strengthening portion, each said optical fiber being longitudinally movable with respect to its respective strengthening portion, each said optical fiber having a terminal end; and a housing, said housing including opposed first and second longitudinal end portions, said first longitudinal end portion of the housing being coupled to the strengthening portion of the first cable, said second longitudinal end portion of the housing being coupled to the strengthening portion of the second cable, said housing further including a friction imparting element having a curved outer surface arranged to provide a holding force over an area of the fiber wherein said optical fiber of said first cable is tensioned around the curved outer surface of the friction imparting element, said terminal ends of the optical fibers being spliced together at a splice location to form a continuous optical fiber.