Abstract:
An apparatus for use in a fiber optic network includes a furcation tube having a first end and a second end. An optical fiber passes through the furcation tube, the optical fiber having an end portion that extends outwardly beyond the second end of the furcation tube. A heat-recoverable tube fixes the optical fiber relative to the furcation tube adjacent the second end of the furcation tube, the heat-recoverable tube having a first portion affixed to the furcation tube and a second portion affixed to the end portion of the optical fiber.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/622,820, filed Apr. 11, 2012, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to equipment used in fiber optic communications networks. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods used for the splicing of optical fibers in fiber optic networks. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Fiber optic communication systems are becoming prevalent in part because service providers want to deliver high band width communication capabilities to customers. Fiber optic communication systems employ a network of fiber optic cables to transmit large volumes of data and voice signals over relatively long distances. A typical fiber optic network may include a system of trunk fiber optic cables including optical fibers. Fiber optic networks also include drop cables that interconnect to fibers of the trunk cables at various locations along the lengths of the trunk cables. The drop cables can be routed from the trunk cables to subscriber locations or to intermediate structures such as drop terminals. 
         [0004]    Optical fibers of cables (e.g., drop cables, trunk cables, etc.) are often connected to connectorized pigtails via splices (e.g., fusion splices). Splices are typically supported within splice trays. Such closures typically include sealed ports through which the trunk cables and drop cables enter the closures. While splice trays are effective for protecting splices (e.g., fusion splices) and for managing the optical fibers routed to and from splice locations, splice trays can be relatively large. Thus, at least for certain applications, splice trays can be a limiting factor in achieving high density in fiber optic connectivity. 
         [0005]    Alternative methods and equipment for splicing of optical fibers in a fiber optic network are desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to compact and cost effective arrangements for splicing of optical fibers in a fiber optic network. Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to compact and durable/rugged configurations for splicing connectorized pigtails to an optical fiber of a fiber optic cable. 
         [0007]    According to one inventive aspect, the disclosure relates to an apparatus for use in a fiber optic network, the apparatus comprising a furcation tube having a first end and a second end, an optical fiber that passes through the furcation tube, the optical fiber having an end portion that extends outwardly beyond the second end of the furcation tube, and a heat-recoverable tube that fixes the optical fiber relative to the furcation tube adjacent the second end of the furcation tube, the heat-recoverable tube having a first portion affixed to the furcation tube and a second portion affixed to the end portion of the optical fiber. 
         [0008]    A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosure herein are based. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an optical fiber protective tubing assembly in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view taken along section line  1 A- 1 A of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a transverse-cross sectional view of an optical fiber that is passed through a furcation tube of the protective tubing assembly of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of an example fixation means used to fix the furcation tube to the buffer tube of the drop cable of the assembly of  FIG. 1 , the fixation means provided in the form of a clamp structure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a cut-away view of the clamp structure shown in  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3C  illustrates a diagrammatic view of the clamp structure of  FIG. 3A  with the furcation tube affixed to the clamp structure and the buffer tube inserted within a bore of the clamp structure, the clamp structure shown in an unlocked orientation; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3D  illustrates the clamp structure of  FIG. 3C  in a locked orientation; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a kit for splicing a first optical fiber to a second optical fiber in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The present disclosure relates generally to compact solutions for protecting optical fibers in a splice arrangement. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an optical fiber protective tubing assembly  10  having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure is illustrated. 
         [0019]    In the illustrated example, the protective tubing assembly  10  is used in splicing a first optical fiber  12  (e.g., an optical fiber of a flat drop cable  14  having strength members  15 , see  FIG. 1A ) to a second optical fiber  16  (e.g., an optical fiber protected by a buffer layer such as a tight buffer layer  96 ). In the Figures, the second optical fiber  16  is part of a connectorized pigtail  20 , wherein a first end portion  22  of the optical fiber  16  is terminated to a fiber optic connector  24  (e.g., an SC-type) and a second end portion  26  has been stripped of the buffer layer  96  and coating layers for splicing with the first optical fiber  12  as will be described in further detail below. The strength members  15  can be anchored to provide strain relief. 
         [0020]    In accordance with an exemplary method of splicing the first optical fiber  12  to the second optical fiber  16 , an outer cable jacket  28  of the drop cable  14  is stripped to expose a length of loose buffer tube  30  (e.g., having an outer diameter of about 900 microns) of the drop cable  14 . The buffer tube  30  is then further stripped to expose a length of the first optical fiber  12 . 
         [0021]    A transverse cross-sectional view of the optical fiber  12  that is exposed after the buffer tube  30  has been stripped is shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 2 . The exposed optical fiber  12  includes a core  32  having an outer diameter of about 10 microns. A cladding layer  34  having an outer diameter of about 125 microns surrounds the inner core  32 . One or more coating layers  36  having a total outer diameter of about 250 microns surround the cladding layer  34 . In certain embodiments of the optical fiber used in the splice arrangement of the present disclosure, the coating layers  36  have a total outer diameter that is less than 400 microns. In certain embodiments, the coating layers  36  have a total outer diameter that is less than 300 microns. In certain embodiments, the coating layers  36  have a total outer diameter that is less than 270 microns. In certain embodiments, the total outer diameter of the coating layers  36  is in the range of 230 to 270 microns. In certain embodiments, the total outer diameter of the coating layers  36  is in the range of 240 to 260 microns. 
         [0022]    It will be appreciated that the outer jacket  28  of the optical fiber  12  can be made of any number of different types of polymeric materials. In one embodiment, the outer jacket  28  is made of a medium density ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. 
         [0023]    The buffer tube  30  can also be made of any number of different polymeric materials. For example, the buffer tube  30  can be made of a polymeric material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Other polymeric materials (e.g., polyethylenes, polyurethanes, polypropylenes, polyvinylidene fluorides, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyester, or other materials) may also be used. 
         [0024]    The inner core  32  of the optical fiber  12  may be made of a glass material, such as a silica-based material, having an index of refraction. The cladding layer  34  is also normally made of a glass material, such as a silica based-material. The cladding layer  34  normally has an index of refraction that is less than the index of refraction of the core  32 . This difference between the index of refraction of the cladding layer  34  and the index of refraction of the core  32  allows an optical signal that is transmitted through the optical fiber  12  to be confined to the core  32 . 
         [0025]    The inner layer of the one or more coating layers  36  is normally a polymeric material (e.g., polyvinyl chloride, polyethylenes, polyurethanes, polypropylenes, polyvinylidene fluorides, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyester, or other materials) having a low modulus of elasticity. The low modulus of elasticity of the inner layer functions to protect the optical fiber  12  from microbending. If the optical fiber  12  has more than one coating layer  36 , the outer layer is normally a polymeric material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the inner coating layer  36 . The higher modulus of elasticity of the outer layer functions to mechanically protect and retain the shape of optical fiber  12  during handling. According to another example embodiment, the one or more coating layers  36  may include acrylate as a material. Further details of examples of optical fibers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,041,166, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0026]    After a length of the optical fiber  12  has been exposed, a furcation tube  38  is placed over the optical fiber  12 . The furcation tube  38  includes a first end  40  and a second end  42 . The first end  40  of the furcation tube  38  is configured to be affixed to the buffer tube  30  of the drop cable  14  via a fixation means  44 . The furcation tube  38  is preferably sized or cut such that the optical fiber  12  has an end portion  46  that extends outwardly beyond the second end  42  of the furcation tube  38  after installation. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the end portion  46  of the optical fiber  12  is defined as that portion that extends outwardly beyond the second end  42  of the furcation tube  38 . 
         [0027]    According to certain embodiments, the furcation tube  38  includes an outer diameter that is about 900 microns and inner diameter that is about 400 microns, thus allowing a 250 micron coated optical fiber  12  to pass freely through the tube  38 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the embodiments disclosed herein can utilize a dimensionally recoverable article as the fixation means  44  to assist in fixing the first end  40  of the furcation tube  38  to the buffer tube  30  of the drop cable  14 . In certain embodiments, the first end  40  of the furcation tube  38  is slid axially into the buffer tube  30  prior to fixation. In other embodiments, the furcation tube can slide axially over the buffer tube prior to fixation. 
         [0029]    A dimensionally recoverable article is an article the dimensional configuration of which may be made substantially to change when subjected to treatment. Usually these articles recover towards an original shape from which they have previously been deformed, but the term “recoverable” as used herein, also includes an article which adopts a new configuration even if it has not been previously deformed. 
         [0030]    A typical form of a dimensionally recoverable article is a heat-recoverable article, the dimensional configuration of which may be changed by subjecting the article to heat treatment. In their most common form, such articles comprise a heat-shrinkable sleeve made from a polymeric material exhibiting the property of elastic or plastic memory as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,027,962 (Currie); U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,242 (Cook et al); and U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,372 (Cook), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The polymeric material has been crosslinked during the production process so as to enhance the desired dimensional recovery. One method of producing a heat-recoverable article comprises shaping the polymeric material into the desired heat-stable form, subsequently crosslinking the polymeric material, heating the article to a temperature above the crystalline melting point (or, for amorphous materials the softening point of the polymer), deforming the article, and cooling the article while in the deformed state so that the deformed state of the article is retained. In use, because the deformed state of the article is heat-unstable, application of heat will cause the article to assume its original heat-stable shape. 
         [0031]    In certain embodiments (e.g., in the depicted embodiments of the present disclosure), the heat-recoverable article is a sleeve or a tube  48  that can include a longitudinal seam or can be seamless. In certain embodiments, the tube  48  has a dual wall construction including an outer, heat-recoverable annular layer, and an inner annular adhesive layer. In certain embodiments, the inner annular adhesive layer includes a hot-melt adhesive layer. 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, the heat-recoverable tube  48  is initially expanded from a normal, dimensionally stable diameter to a dimensionally heat unstable diameter that is larger than the normal diameter. The heat-recoverable tube  48  is shape-set to the dimensionally heat unstable diameter. This typically occurs in a factory/manufacturing setting. The dimensionally heat unstable diameter is sized to allow the heat-recoverable tube  48  to be inserted over two components desired to be coupled together. After insertion over the two components, the tube  48  is heated thereby causing the tube  48  to shrink back toward the normal diameter such that the tube  48  radially compresses against the two components to secure the two components together. The adhesive layer is preferably heat activated during heating of the tube  48 . 
         [0033]    According to one example method, when performing a field operation, a craftsperson can install the heat-recoverable tube  48  over an end of the buffer tube  30  so that there is approximately 1 inch of overlap. The craftsperson can then insert the 250 micron coated fiber into the 900 micron furcation tube  38 , after cleaning the gel/grease off the fiber. The first end  40  of the furcation tube  38  is then inserted axially into the buffer tube  30 . As so inserted, the buffer tube  30  overlaps the furcation tube  38  and the heat-recoverable tube  48  overlaps both the buffer tube  30  and the furcation tube  38 . The heat-recoverable tube  48  can then be heated and shrunken down onto the loose buffer tube  30  and the furcation tube  38 . The adhesive material within the heat-recoverable tube  48  establishes a strong bond between the buffer tube  30  and the heat-recoverable tube  48  and between the furcation tube  48  and the heat-recoverable tube  48 . This coupling of the buffer tube  30  to the 900 micron furcation tube  38  via the heat-recoverable tube  48  is completed first, and then the second end  42  of the furcation tube  38  is processed next, as will be discussed in further detail below. 
         [0034]    Alternatively, the fixation means  44  used to fix the furcation tube  38  to the buffer tube  30  may include a clamp structure  50 . An example of a clamp structure  50  suitable for use in the protective tubing assembly  10  of the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 3A-3D . Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3D , the clamp structure  50  may include a main housing portion  52  having a first end  54  and a second end  56  and a bore  58  extending therethrough. Extending longitudinally from the second end  56  is a support structure  60 . The support structure  60  is configured to provide a platform for affixing the furcation tube  38  to the clamp structure  50 . According to one example embodiment, the furcation tube  38  can be fixed to the support structure  60  with further heat-recoverable tubing  62 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3C-3D . 
         [0035]    The buffer tube  30  of the drop cable  14  is first inserted through the bore  58  of the clamp structure  50  in a direction extending from the first end  54  toward the second end  56  of the main housing  52 . The bore  58  and the support structure  60  are configured such that when the furcation tube  38  is placed over the exposed fiber  12  and is affixed to the support structure  60  of the clamp  50 , the furcation tube  38  generally aligns with the buffer tube  30  that has been inserted through the bore  58  of the clamp  50 , and in some embodiments can slide axially inside or axially over the buffer tube. 
         [0036]    Clamp structure  50  further includes a lever arm  64  that is pivotable with respect to the main housing portion  52  via, for example, a living hinge  66 . The lever arm  64  includes a camming lobe portion  68  that communicates with the bore  58  of the clamp structure  50  and that is used to press down on the buffer tube  30  for locking it in place. The camming lobe  68  is preferably sized so as to not damage the optical fiber  12  within the buffer tube  30 . 
         [0037]    A free end  70  of the pivotable lever  64  is provided with a first snap-fit structure  72  that is configured to interlock with a second snap-fit structure  74  provided on the main housing portion  52  for locking the buffer tube  30  in place after the lever  64  has been pivoted. As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the first and second snap-fit structures  72 ,  74  may be provided in the form of protrusions  76  on the lever arm  64  and recesses  78  on the main housing portion  52 . The protrusions  76  are angled outwardly from the lever arm  64  so as to be able to ride over portions of the main housing  52  forming the recesses  78  when the lever arm  64  is pivoted toward the main housing portion  52  and locked into place and so as to prevent their disengagement from the recesses  78  in an opposite direction. The recesses  78  include complementary shapes for providing the one-way interlock. 
         [0038]    The clamp structure  50  is configured such that the amount of buffer tube compression is controlled by the amount of travel imparted to the lever arm  64 . The desired amount of compression to the loose buffer tube  30  is preferably engineered to be enough to mechanically interfere and clamp the tube  30  in place, but to avoid creating interference with the optical fiber inside the loose buffer tube  30 . Loose buffer tubes  30  can typically range from about 1.9 mm in outer diameter to 3.0 mm in outer diameter. According to certain embodiments, the clamp structure  50  can be configured to accommodate buffer tubes  30  of varying outer diameter. As such, the camming lobe portion  68  of the clamp  50  can be designed to provide varying amounts of interference based upon the travel of the cam-lever arm  64  for accommodating buffer tubes  30  of varying outer diameters. According to one example embodiment, the clamped buffer tube with the optical fiber therein along the clamping direction has a total outer dimension of about 1.5 mm. As such, if a 3 mm buffer tube is used, the resultant interference created by the cam lobe  68  must be about 1.5 mm. And, if a 2 mm buffer tube is used, the resultant interference created by the cam lobe  68  must be about 0.5 mm. 
         [0039]    The clamp  50  may include a plurality of different interlock positions for locking the lever arm  64  to the main housing portion  52  for accommodating different sized buffer tubes  30 . In this manner, depending upon the size of the loose buffer  30  clamped to the main housing  52 , the varying profile of the cam lobe  68  can be utilized by locking the lever arm  64  in a plurality of discrete positions. 
         [0040]    The bore  58  of the clamp structure  50  may include a dimension along the clamping direction of about 3.1 mm to accommodate loose buffer tubes of the varying sizes noted above. According to one example embodiment, the targeted compression location on the loose buffer tube  30  is about 12 mm from the end of the buffer tube. Thus, 12 mm of uncompressed tube could provide mechanical interference to the cam lobe  68  if the cam lobe  68  were pulled toward the end of the tube. 
         [0041]    The clamp structure  50  or the portions of the clamp structure providing the controlled mechanical deformation to the loose buffer tube  30  can be made from a metal or a polymeric material. 
         [0042]    In accordance with the protective tubing assembly  10 , once the buffer tube  30  and the furcation tube  38  are affixed, the end portion  46  of the optical fiber  12  that extends outwardly from the furcation tube  38  receives another heat-recoverable tube  80 . Similar to tube  48  that might be used to fix the furcation tube  38  to the buffer tube  30  of the drop cable  14 , the heat-recoverable tube  80  utilizes a layer of heat recoverable material surrounding an adhesive layer. A first portion  82  of heat-recoverable tube  80  is affixed directly on the furcation tube  38  and a second portion  84  is affixed to the optical fiber portion  46  that extends beyond the furcation tube  38 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As such, the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  is affixed on the one or more coating layers  36  around the cladding layer  34  of the optical fiber  12  (e.g., via adhesive or friction). 
         [0043]    According to one embodiment of the protective tubing assembly  10  of the present disclosure, the optical fiber  12  is centered within the second portion  84  of the heat-recoverable tube  80  so that when heat-recoverable tube  80  is stripped to expose the optical fiber  12  for splicing, it can be done without damaging the optical fiber  12 . 
         [0044]    According to one example embodiment of the protective tubing assembly  10  of the present disclosure, the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  that is affixed to the optical fiber  12  may have an outer diameter similar to the size of the outer diameter of the buffer tube of the connectorized pigtail  20 . According to one embodiment, the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  that is affixed to the optical fiber  12  has an outer diameter less than 1100 microns. According to another embodiment, the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  that is affixed to the optical fiber  12  has an outer diameter less than 1000 microns. According to another embodiment, the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  that is affixed to the optical fiber  12  has an outer diameter in the range of 850-950 microns. According to another embodiment, the outer diameter of the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable  80  may be between about 910 microns and 925 microns. The heat-recoverable tube  80  closely surrounds the coated fiber  12  and forms a tight or semi-tight buffer about the coated fiber  12 . 
         [0045]    According to one embodiment, heat-recoverable tube  80  is shrunk-down on the outer diameter of the optical fiber  12  such that the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  has an inner diameter that matches the outer diameter of the optical fiber  12 . For example, when the optical fiber  12  has an outer diameter less than 400 microns, the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  has an inner diameter that is less than 400 microns. As another example, when the optical fiber  12  has an outer diameter less than 300 microns, the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  has an inner diameter that is less than 300 microns. As another example, when the optical fiber  12  has an outer diameter in the range of 230-270 microns, the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  is shrunk-down on the outer diameter of the optical fiber  12  such that the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  has an inner diameter that is in the range of 230-270 microns. 
         [0046]    After heat-recoverable tube  80  has been affixed to both the furcation tube  38  and the optical fiber  12  of the drop cable  14 , a length of the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  is stripped away to expose a length  86  of the optical fiber  12  that extends outwardly from heat-recoverable tube  80 . When stripping heat-recoverable tube  80 , the one or more coating layers  36  of the optical fiber  12  are also stripped at the same time to expose the cladding layer  34  of the optical fiber  12  or can be stripped in a subsequent step. As noted above, the exposed cladding layer  34  has an outer diameter of about 125 microns in certain embodiments of the optical fiber  12 . 
         [0047]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , this exposed portion  86  of the first optical fiber  12  is the portion that is to be spliced (e.g., fusion spliced) to the second optical fiber  16  of the connectorized pigtail  20 . 
         [0048]    As noted above, the first end portion  22  of the connectorized pigtail  20  is terminated to a fiber optic connector  24  (e.g., an SC-type) and the second end portion  26  is the portion that is configured to be spliced to the first optical fiber  12 . In a fiber optic connector having an SC footprint, a connector body  88  is surrounded by a slidable release sleeve  90  that is used to release the connector  24  from an SC-type fiber optic adapter, as is known in the art. An end of the first end portion  22  of the pigtail  20  is terminated to a ferrule  92  mounted at a front end of the connector body  88 . The connector  24  includes a boot  94  at a rear end of the connector for providing bend radius protection to the second portion  26  of the pigtail that protrudes from the fiber optic connector  24 . 
         [0049]    The second portion  26  of the pigtail  20  that protrudes from the fiber optic connector  24  includes the tight or semi-tight buffer tube  96  that closely surrounds the second optical fiber  16 . The second optical fiber  16  can have a construction similar to the first optical fiber  12 . For example, the second optical fiber  16  can include a core having a diameter of about 10 microns, a cladding layer having an outer diameter of about 125 microns, and one or more coating layers having a total outer diameter of about 250 microns. 
         [0050]    The tight buffer tube  96  may include an outer diameter of about 900 microns. And, similar to the first optical fiber  12 , the second optical fiber  16 , in certain embodiments, may include coating layers having a total outer diameter that is less than 400 microns. In certain embodiments, the coating layers may have a total outer diameter that is less than 300 microns. In certain embodiments, the coating layers may have a total outer diameter that is less than 270 microns. In certain embodiments, the total outer diameter of the coating layers may be in the range of 230 to 270 microns. In certain embodiments, the total outer diameter of the coating layers may be in the range of 240 to 260 microns. 
         [0051]    According to the protective tubing assembly  10  and the splicing method of the present disclosure, the buffer tube  96  of the second end portion  26  of the connectorized pigtail  20  is stripped to expose a length  98  of the optical fiber  16  that extends outwardly from the tight buffer tube  96  of the pigtail  20 . When stripping the tight buffer tube  96 , the one or more coating layers of the second optical fiber  16  are also stripped at the same time to expose the cladding layer of the second optical fiber  16 , or can be stripped at a subsequent step. As noted above, the exposed cladding layer has an outer diameter of about 125 microns in certain embodiments of the second optical fiber  16 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , this exposed portion  98  of the second optical fiber  16  is the portion that is to be spliced (e.g., fusion spliced) to the first optical fiber  12  of the drop cable  14 . 
         [0052]    In splicing the first optical fiber  12  of the drop cable  14  to the second optical fiber  16  of the connectorized pigtail  20 , a splice protection tube or sleeve  100  is used. The splice protection tube  100  is positioned over the splice between the first optical fiber  12  and the second optical fiber  16 . According to the present assembly, the splice protection tube  100  is also a heat-recoverable tube that is affixed to the second portion  84  of the second heat-recoverable tube  80  and to the buffer layer  96  of the connectorized pigtail  20 . Similar to heat-recoverable tubes  48 ,  80 , the splice protection tube  100  includes a heat recoverable layer formed of a heat recoverable material surrounding an adhesive layer. In addition, the splice protection tube  100  includes a reinforcing rod  102  positioned inside the heat recoverable layer, wherein the reinforcing rod  102  is configured to extend across the splice and be adhesively affixed to the buffer layer  96  of the connectorized pigtail  20  and the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80 . An example splice protection tube or sleeve similar to sleeve  100  and the method for use thereof are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,181, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0053]    According to one embodiment, both the second portion  84  of heat-recoverable tube  80  and the outer buffer layer  96  of the connectorized pigtail  20  are similarly sized in that each have an outer diameter in the range of about 850 to 950 microns. Furthermore, an active alignment device can be used to align the cores of the fibers  12 ,  16  prior to splicing. Because the fiber  12  is tightly covered by the tube  80  and the tube  96  tightly covers the fiber  16 , the tubes  80 ,  16  can be held by the active alignment device during active alignment of the fibers  12 ,  16 . 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the optical fiber protective tubing assembly  10  of the present disclosure may be provided in the form of a kit  104 . The kit  104  can be supplied as a package containing telecommunications parts. According to one embodiment, the kit  104  includes the heat-recoverable tube  48  that is used to fix the furcation tube  38  to the buffer tube  30  of the drop cable  14  and the heat-recoverable tube  80  that is used to fix the optical fiber  12  of the drop cable  14  to the furcation tube  38  at the other end of the furcation tube  38 . As noted previously, heat-recoverable tube  48  (the one that is used for fixing the furcation tube  38  to the buffer tube  30  of the drop cable  14 ) may be replaced by the clamp structure  50  and an additional heat-recoverable tube  62  that is used with the support structure  60  of the clamp  50 . The kit  104  also includes a length of the furcation tubing  38 . The kit  104  further includes the splice protection tube or sleeve  100  that is used to be positioned over the splice between the two optical fibers  12 ,  16 . A fiber optic connector  24  with a pigtail  20  extending therefrom, wherein the pigtail  20  includes an optical fiber  16  having a 900-micron buffer tubing  96  is also included in the kit  104 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0055]    From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that modifications and variations can be made in the devices or methods of the disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive aspects.