Patent ID: 6650820
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An optical fiber winding tool for winding a strip of optical fiber into a coil, said optical fiber winding tool being mountable on a generally flat supporting surface and allowing manual winding of said strip of optical fiber by the hands of an intended user, said strip of optical fiber defining a strip first longitudinal end, an opposed strip second longitudinal end and a strip intermediate section extending therebetween, said optical fiber winding tool comprising:a guiding body having a body outer surface and defining a guiding recess, said guiding recess defining a recess peripheral edge delimiting a recess aperture leading into said guiding recess, said recess aperture being in an aperture geometrical plane; a recess peripheral wall having a recess peripheral surface that extends inwardly into said guiding body from said recess peripheral edge, said recess peripheral surface delimiting the boundary of said guiding recess; a fiber inlet aperture formed in said guiding body and leading into said guiding recess, said fiber inlet aperture being sized for allowing the slidable insertion of said strip of optical fiber into said guiding recess; said recess peripheral wall being configured and sized such that when said recess aperture is mounted over said supporting surface and said strip of optical fiber is inserted through said fiber inlet aperture, said strip first longitudinal end contacts said supporting surface and said recess peripheral surface abuttingly guides said strip intermediate section so that further insertion of said strip of optical fiber into said guiding recess causes said strip of optical fiber to wind into a coil against said recess peripheral surface adjacent said supporting surface.