Patent ID: 6091875
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical fiber ribbon midspan splitter tool comprising:(a) a pair of elongate splitter tool sections having a base and a lid and in side-by-side alignment wherein said splitter tool sections are relatively rotatable about first hinge means extending transversely through both splitter tool sections adjacent one end of said splitter tool;(b) said lid of each splitter tool section being mounted to its respective base by second hinge means adjacent the outer side of each respective splitter tool section so that each of said lids can be pivoted upwardly and outwardly toward its respective splitter tool section outer side to open said splitter tool for insertion of an optical fiber ribbon to be split;(c) a longitudinally extending slot defined within the adjacent bases of said two side-by-side aligned splitter tool sections for snugly receiving an optical fiber ribbon therein, and the top of said slot being defined by the adjacent lids of said two side-by-side aligned splitter tool sections;(d) first magnet means mounted at the juncture of said pair of splitter tool sections for releasably maintaining said pair of splitter tool sections in side-by-side alignment; and(e) second magnet means mounted in each of said pair of splitter tool sections at the juncture of said base and said lid thereof for releasably maintaining said base and lid in abutting relationship;whereby an optical fiber ribbon can be inserted into said splitter tool and said pair of splitter tool sections twisted in opposite directions in order to shear the fiber ribbon into 2 separate sub-ribbons to facilitate midspan mass splicing.